For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. Psalms 103:11-13 (NIV)
This may offend you, but we are all big fat sinners in need of a Savior – every.last.one.of.us. – and we are all works in progress. None of us are there yet or we would be home with the Lord. Believers are normal humans in a pursuit of a Holy God. And for the believer in Christ Jesus – through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit – God is transforming us to look more and more like His Son so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. As we die to self and live for Him, He brings to light things that need transforming into His image – usually one at a time so as not to overwhelm or paralyze us. And again, if we are still here, He is still working on us. And we desperately all need encouragement as well as examples to help us learn to walk in a manner worthy of the great Gospel we profess. This enables us to endure in all our faith challenges, keeping us from falling and continuing on in our belief – seeking to stand firm in His will, mature and fully assured. Enabling us to shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the Word of Life as the great Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:15-16 (NIV).
God pardons and delights in showing us mercy despite our great iniquities. Not only does God forgive sin for the believer in Jesus, He casts them far away. His desire is for His children to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Micah 6:8 (NIV) tells us: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Further in the same Book, Micah goes on to say in Micah 7:18-19 (NIV): “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” What a beautiful thought -all the transgressions of the believer in Jesus, God hurls into the depths of the sea. Because of the blood of Jesus believers are seen in God’s eyes as holy and set apart.
Remember, God acts on behalf of His people – He treads their sins underfoot. Through the blood of Jesus there is forgiveness for those who believe in Him – apart from Him there is no salvation. There is no problem He cannot address. No pit so deep that His Hand does not go further still. No wound He cannot heal. He is tender hearted and compassionate turning no one away who willingly seeks Him. There is no enemy He cannot overpower. God is true to His Word and loyal to His oaths. This indeed is a great source of comfort to all believers.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)