Grace, Part 4

God does not want you to misunderstand the abundance of His grace, so He gives us several word pictures to paint His decisive deliverance for us.
If you are truly born again and you still struggle with fear or hopelessness, you need to get this image in your mind. If you struggle with a feeling that God is against you, you need to see the way God thinks. If you feel that you are worthless and bankrupt you need to get these images in your mind and heart. They will change the way you think and feel about yourself.

First, “But God” has taken our sin: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
Think about this. If journey to the North Pole, you will eventually cross the crown of the earth and begin heading south. If you head south, you will eventually begin to head north again. North and south eventually meet at some point. If you head west and keep going, you will never reach “the east.” You will always be traveling west. If you head east, you will never reach “the west.”
What is this word picture mean?
It tells us that God’s forgiveness is infinite! God’s forgiveness is total and complete! He has taken our sin so far away from us that it is no longer attached to us or associated with us. It is completely removed!
Some people live as if the text said, “as far as the north is from the south.”
We live as if God has removed our sin from us quite a distance. We live as if God has not completely removed our sins. We believe that if He wanted to, He could find them again. He could hold them against us. In Christ Jesus our deliverance from sin is complete.

Second, “But God” has hidden our sin behind His back.
Isaiah 38:17 NIV “In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.”
How big is God? He has taken our sins and placed them behind his back. They are completely hidden from view. By the grace and mercy of God through Christ, God has chosen to not let our sin stand between Him and us. Through Christ Jesus we have received His forgiveness. He has chosen not to hold them against us or to see us through them. Instead He sees us through the righteousness of Jesus. God no longer sees us in the clothing of our sin. We have been clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Our sinful, dirty clothes are behind His back. He sees us clean and holy in Christ.

Third, “But God” has blotted out our record
Isaiah 43:25 NIV “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

© 2004 PreachingToday.com gives the story of Bob Sheffield before he became a Christian.
He played professional hockey in Canada. He was tough, loved to fight, and found himself in jail one night after a barroom brawl. Later, Bob and his wife became Christians. They…accepted a temporary assignment with The Navigators…in the States.
Bob had to apply for landed immigrant status, which would allow him and his wife to continue in ministry in the United States. But because he had a criminal record, his request was denied…. They decided to apply in Canada for what is called the "Queen's Pardon." Following thorough investigation, the pardon was granted. Bob Sheffield received the following notice in the mail:
Whereas we have since been implored on behalf of the said Robert Jones Sheffield to extend a pardon to him in respect to the convictions against him, and whereas the solicitor general here submitted a report to us, now know ye therefore, having taken these things into consideration, that we are willing to extend the royal clemency on him, the said Robert J. Sheffield. We have pardoned, remitted, and released him of every penalty to which he was liable in pursuance thereof.
Now on any document Bob can honestly say that he has no criminal record. The pardon released him from any possible punishment for the crimes. The record of the crimes was completely erased.

That is the kind of pardon we have in Jesus Christ. We are free from any penalty or punishment. The answer is, there is: "no record, I have been pardoned by the blood of Christ."

Fourth, “But God” has hurled all our sin into the sea
Micah 7:19 NIV You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

When you throw something in the sea, it’s gone. When God throws our sin into the sea, there are no maps or directions given. God’s forgiveness is irreversible.They are ALL gone! God’s forgiveness is complete. The sea of God’s mercy is big enough to hold everything He throws into it. It is deep enough to hide it forever.

The blood of Jesus Christ can wash away every stain!
Have you accepted Christ as your Savior? Have you accepted God’s offer of forgiveness in Jesus? Then your sin and failure is out somewhere beyond where the west ends – He no longer attaches it to you -- it’s gone! It’s hidden from view behind the back of God – He no longer sees it when He looks at you. It’s been wiped from His books – there is no record anywhere to be held against you. It’s been buried in the depths of the ocean of His forgiveness – it will never surface again!

Do you believe it? Do you feel it? Is it part of your experience as well as your belief? You are no longer God’s enemy, you are His friend. You no longer need to fear Him, you have His peace. You are no longer hopeless; you have His hope of eternal life. You are no longer bankrupt; you have the riches of Christ. You are no longer despised; you are a beloved child of God.
Have you received the “Wonderful Grace of Jesus?"
Wonderful, the matchless grace of Jesus.
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea.
Higher than the mountains
Sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient grace for even me.
Broader than the scope
Of my transgressions.
Greater far than all my sin and shame.
O, magnify the precious name of Jesus!
Praise His name!