Moderator
Staff Member
"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; "and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39
The new covenant in Jesus’ blood is so much better than the old covenant. Under Moses’ law, the Jews could make a sacrifice and be forgiven for minor offenses and “sins committed in ignorance” (Hebrews 9:7) and escape a death penalty. But for sins like murder and adultery, there was no reprieve. The guilty party was to be executed. Period. “Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy” (Hebrews 10:28).
But Jesus bore God’s wrath in our place, enabling John to say, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). No matter what sin you are guilty of, God can and will forgive you—even the worst sins.
Notice that it says that God is faithful and just to forgive you. God will not only be invariably true to His promise (faithful) to forgive, but He is just in so doing. You might have expected this to say that He’s merciful to forgive you, but it states that He’s just. Why? Because His requirement for justice has been fulfilled by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Rejoice! You have been forgiven!
The new covenant in Jesus’ blood is so much better than the old covenant. Under Moses’ law, the Jews could make a sacrifice and be forgiven for minor offenses and “sins committed in ignorance” (Hebrews 9:7) and escape a death penalty. But for sins like murder and adultery, there was no reprieve. The guilty party was to be executed. Period. “Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy” (Hebrews 10:28).
But Jesus bore God’s wrath in our place, enabling John to say, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). No matter what sin you are guilty of, God can and will forgive you—even the worst sins.
Notice that it says that God is faithful and just to forgive you. God will not only be invariably true to His promise (faithful) to forgive, but He is just in so doing. You might have expected this to say that He’s merciful to forgive you, but it states that He’s just. Why? Because His requirement for justice has been fulfilled by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Rejoice! You have been forgiven!