"By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil."
Proverbs 16:4
There is no sin that is too great for God's love and through Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, we have the assurance that all our mistakes and failures can be washed out of our lives if we believe that God's sanctifying work is more than enough for us.
Have you ever wondered whether there is a limit to God's forgiveness? We know that God is all loving and that His mercies endure forever, but what if we were talking about a criminal asking for God's forgiveness? The society we live in screams for justice, and that's because justice matters.
But when it comes to the eternal things of God and His willingness to forgive sin, there is indeed no amount of failure that is too big for God to wash clean. Not because He's a loose God with loose morals, but because justice has already been fulfilled by Jesus Christ once and for all.
Colossians 2:13-14 declares, "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."
We think about the apostle Paul, the man responsible for the death of dozens of Christians, and we see grace displayed in its fullest. Paul was a murderer, but Jesus showed up to Him ready to extend not just mercy, but grace. God not only gave Paul a new life, but He also gave him a purpose. God is not just in the business of covering the multitude of our sins. He also works to empower us to serve a new purpose and work for Him as redeemed, restored servants.
If you think that you, or anyone you know, is undeserving of grace, then you're probably right. No one deserves grace, but once given they receive it nonetheless. God's forgiveness comes not because of our faithfulness but His, because though we could not make our own way to God, Jesus did.
Psalm 86:5 says, "For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you."
Because of God's love, He sent Jesus Christ to be the atonement to our sins once and for all. Now any multitude of sin can be amended through the blood of the Lamb. Forgiveness is made available to all because Christ has paid the price. Hallelujah!
