We’ve talked about love. We’ve talked about unity. We’ve even talked about the deep things of God. Now we have to talk about what makes all those things possible: forgiveness. Colossians 1:12-14 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (KJV) In Hebrews chapter 9, it says there is no forgiveness, or remission, of sins without the shedding of blood. It was talking about the Old Testament sacrifices, applying them in the New Testament through Jesus’ own death on the cross.
How great a salvation has Jesus purchased for us! He didn’t pass a law. He didn’t write a paper. He died! Not only did He die, He paid the full price for all the curse that came on the earth through Adam and Eve, and then He rose from the dead! He paid that awful, unfathomable price by shedding every drop of blood in His body. Even after He died, a soldier stabbed Him in the heart, and the final few drops of blood and water in His body gushed out. What a terrific price!
From that very cross, enduring wave after wave of pain and torture, He was actually able to ask His Father to forgive the ones who had lied about Him, unlawfully condemned Him, beaten Him without mercy, crammed biting thorns down on His head, driven Him up that hill, tore off His clothes, hammered nails into His hands and feet, and raised up that cross; He asked His Father to forgive them. He said they did not know what they were doing. Not know?! Deliberately causing Him as much horrible pain and anguish as they could think of!
What was it that they did not know? None of them from Judas on had any idea that they were fulfilling scripture, right down to casting lots for His clothes. Fulfilling scriptures, doing God’s will! The longer we meditate on it, the bigger it gets. Like St. Paul said in I Corinthians 2:7-8, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (KJV)
And in the face of all this, we get salvation! We get the forgiveness of our sins! In both I Corinthians 6:20 and I Corinthians 7:23 St. Paul says we are bought with a price. That terrific price! That is what makes us His own. We are not our own. We belong to Him, spirit, soul, and body. In every aspect of our lives, we can’t ever forget that. It is through His divine ownership that we can claim our salvation. Not just me, myself and I. Every born-again human being on the face of the earth is my brother and sister.
How could we ever understand these truths without the revelations God gave to St. Paul? It takes the revelation from the throne of God Himself by His Holy Spirit to explain such a deep subject as forgiveness of sin. Every day in every way we continue to learn more about this colossal subject. It is vital to our spiritual growth and understanding that we study these truths about our salvation and grace. Not just individually for myself. I am in a family now! I have to really learn about love, laying down my life. Serving others. Being other-centered, not self-centered.
And, on top of everything else, forgiveness! Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (KJV) So this is the family I now find myself in.
O my Lord, if I need help with anything, this is it! Thank You for salvation, and thank You for Your precious Holy Spirit Who is my only hope of ever learning and growing in these truths! Amen.
Restoration Ministries 