Beyond Forgiveness

The Lord does much more than simply forgive sins.  Yes, God is about justice and righteousness.  However, He is about much more than simply justice and righteousness.  The Lord does forgive our sins, then He also removes our sins, and finally He heals the wounds caused by them.

“As far as the east is from the west, [so] far has He removed our transgressions from us.” — Psalm 103:12

There are those who take these mercies for granted.  Those who wish to receive such grace without the painful process of faith and repentance, confession and absolution, sorrowing over sin and forsaking it, the experiences of genuine remorse.  Such will receive nothing from the Lord except His condemnation and rejection.  Such will only hear, “I never knew you.”

Nevertheless, the broken, the contrite, the poverty stricken in spirit — the publican, who has spent his life beating his chest in tears over his sin — these shall receive the blessing of the Lord and a home among the palaces of God.