Today we shift our attention on the Divine Promise of Forgiveness. But before we get there I want again to look at what Jesus brought about in His dyeing on the tree the old Romans cross. And we will make use of Pastor Hoekstra's writing on it and the ESV translation in my E-Sword program.
"Jesus Fulfilling the Law"
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17)
"The standard of the Law of GOD is infinitely high and lofty: "be Holy, be Loving, be Perfect." This is because the Law reflects the very Character of GOD. In light of this we may wonder if there is any way that the Law can be fulfilled. How could the righteous demands of the Law ever be met in our lives? The answer to this vital question is contained in the Truth that Jesus came to "to fulfill" the Law. And believe there are many out there who think and believe otherwise and by so doing take the Law unto themselves in the process. As blind guides leading the blind. Not hearing and believing what the scriptures have revealed on the matter. Their own heart and minds being veiled to the Truth.
Consider how comprehensive was Jesus' Fulfillment of the Law. He Fulfilled the Law in His own life, becoming our example. As Jesus lived, He showed us what life would look like if one could always, in every way, live up to the Heavenly Standards of GOD. Jesus' testimony was "I always do those things that please Him" (John 8:29).
Further, He Fulfilled the Law in His death, becoming our substitutionary sacrifice. The Law included a penalty for violation, and that penalty was death. "The soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Jesus lovingly died in our place to pay that penalty which we owed. "But GOD demonstrates His own Love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Additionally, He wants to Fulfill the Law now in our daily experience, by being our life. "Christ Who is our life" (Colossians 3:4). The LORD Christ Jesus wants to live in and through the lives of His disciples, as we daily put our faith in Him. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God" (Galatians 2:20).
Yes, Jesus fulfills the Law comprehensively!"
The Promise of Our Forgiveness A Divine Promise:
Leviticus 5:7-10 "But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for his own the sin offering. He shall wring its head from its neck but shall not sever it completely, and he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering. Then the priest shall offer the second for a burnt offering according to the rule. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven."Psalm 103:1-5 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Ezekiel 18:21-23 "But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all My statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the LORD GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?"
Matthew 6:9-14 (Jesus is speaking) "Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Mark 3:28-30 (Jesus is speaking) "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"— for they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."
Acts 5:27-32 "When they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the High Priest questioned them, saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey GOD rather than men. The GOD of our fathers raised Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. GOD exalted Him at HIS right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, Whom GOD has given to those who obey Him."
Acts 13:26-41 "Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear (reverence and respect) GOD, to us has been sent the message of this Salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize Him nor understand the utterances of the Prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning Him. And though they found in Him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have Him executed (to fulfill the Law and the Prophets). And when they had carried out all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But GOD raised Him from the dead, and for many days He appeared to those who had come up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what GOD Promised to the fathers, this HE has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are MY Son, today I have begotten You.' And as for the fact that HE raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, HE has spoken in this way, "'I will give you the Holy and sure blessings of David.' Therefore HE says also in another Psalm, "'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.' For David, after he had served the purpose of GOD in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but He Whom GOD raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by Him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the Law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: "'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'"
Acts 26:12-18 (Paul is here speaking) "In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the Chief Priests (those who opposed Him). At midday, O king, I saw on the way a Light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' I said, 'Who are you, LORD?' And the LORD said, 'I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen Me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to GOD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'"
Ephesians 1:3-14 "Blessed be the GOD and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in (through) Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as HE chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy and Blameless before HIM. In Love HE predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of HIS Will, to the praise of HIS glorious Grace, with which HE has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His Grace, which HE lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of HIS Will, according to HIS purpose, which HE set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of HIM Who works all things according to the counsel of HIS Will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of HIS Glory. In Him you also, when you heard the word of this Truth, this Gospel of your Salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance (Psalm 2:6-8) until we acquire possession of Him, to the praise of His Glory."
James 5:13-18 "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the LORD will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven (this is our healing of restoration the better promise). Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit."
1John 1:5-10 "This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that GOD is Light, and in HIM is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the Truth. But if we walk in the Light, as HE is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus HIS Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and this Truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make HIM a liar, and HIS word is not in us."
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