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July
25 Today’s Reading: Isaiah
45-48 “A Just God and a Saviour” Isaiah 45:21 The Lord our God, the one true
and living God of heaven and earth, is a God who freely and abundantly
forgives sin through the blood of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what
God himself says, “I, even I, am he
that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember
thy sins.” The People Forgiven Who are the people to whom God
will be merciful? They are not good, righteous, and morally upright men and
women. So long as a man thinks that he is good and righteous, he will never
obtain mercy from God. The characters to whom God says he will be merciful
are sinners. The grace and lovingkindness of Jehovah is reserved for sinners.
Until you see that your supposed righteousness is an abomination to God, you
will never obtain the righteousness of God in Christ (Romans 10:1-4). Every
promise of the gospel is made to sinners. — “The Son of man came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance” (Matthew 11:28-30;
Isaiah 1:4-6, 18; 55:6-7). The grace and mercy of God is for sinners. Christ
died for sinners. The gospel is sent to sinners. God saves sinners. God
forgives sinners. I rejoice to tell you that our God is a God of mercy (Psalm
103:8-14). There is mercy in Christ and forgiveness for sinners. Mercy’s Deed Mercy’s great deed is the
blessed forgiveness of sin. It is the glory of grace to forgive sin. It is
the majesty of mercy to forgive sin. It is the character of God to forgive
iniquity and transgression, and sin (Exodus 34:5-7). God is the only one who
can forgive sin. God’s forgiveness is the only forgiveness we need, desire,
and must have for the salvation of our souls and the peace of our troubled
consciences (Psalm 130:3-4). Just Forgiveness How does God forgive sin? There
is only one way for a holy and just God to forgive sin. — God can only
forgive sin through the obedience and sacrifice of an all-sufficient
Substitute. God’s forgiveness must be a just forgiveness. Justice must be
satisfied, or sin cannot be forgiven. The Lord Jesus Christ is that
Substitute by whom divine justice has been satisfied! In him, and only in
him, is there forgiveness with God (Romans 3:23-26; 1 John 1:9). In Christ he
who is our God is both “a just God and
a Savior.” The Reason Why does God forgive sin? He says, “for mine own sake!” The greatest honor and glory of God is his
mercy, his holy, righteous, and just mercy in forgiving sin (Psalm 106:8;
Ezekiel 16:62-63). Never Remembered What is the promise which God makes
to sinners whose sins are forgiven by him? What a promise this is! — “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy
transgressions, and will not remember thy sins.” There are some things God himself cannot do. He cannot lie. He
cannot break his covenant. He cannot forsake his people. He cannot be unjust.
He cannot remember the sins of his people. I do not mean that God is not
aware of the fact that we have sinned. I mean that in so far as his law and
justice are concerned, our sins do not exist; therefore, God cannot remember
them. He will never remember our sins so as to treat us any the less
graciously because of them. He will never remember our sins so as to bring
them up and require payment for them while we live. God will not remember our
sins when we stand before Him in judgment (Jeremiah 50:20). God will not
remember our sins in the distribution of his heavenly crowns and gifts. Would you be
forgiven of all your sins? Then confess your sin, and put God in remembrance
of this promise. — “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake,
and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together:
declare thou, that thou mayest be justified” (Isaiah 43:25-26). Don Fortner |
Pastor Fortner’s |