Posts Tagged: Hebrews 4:16

“Overwhelming Sins, Overwhelming Forgiveness”

On November 14, 2019 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

 “Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,

and to you shall vows be performed.

O you who hear prayer,

to you shall all flesh come.

When iniquities prevail against me,

                        you atone for our transgressions.” (Psalm 65:1-3, English Standard Version)

I am always struck by the second line of vs. 3.  The first line doesn’t surprise me in the least.  Iniquities often prevail against me.  I’m only too familiar with that dynamic.

But to say that when my wrong-doings overwhelm me, then—precisely then—God atones for those wrong-doings?!?  What!  That is non-sequitur on steroids!

And yet, that is what the psalmist is saying.

Sometimes, those of us who are Christians fall into the trap of thinking that the Old Testament is about law and God’s wrath, and the New Testament is about grace and God’s loving forgiveness.

Nope!  Law and wrath, grace and loving forgiveness are in both the New and the Old Testaments.

So, as the author of Hebrews (New Testament) says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, New International Version)

How much it cost God to atone for our transgressions is made fully apparent at the cross of Christ.  Such love and forgiveness can be received as a gift, but it should never be taken for granted.

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