redemption

I’m Sorry

Carol Purves Carol's Blog ,

It seems that it is increasingly difficult for people in high places to say that they’re sorry. They manage to blame everyone except themselves, they seldom think they are in the wrong. An admission of sorrow seems to be an admission of guilt. It seems they can never appear to be guilty.

How different it is for Christians. The Bible says, ‘All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.’ Romans 3:23. We know that in the sight of God we are sinners, our sins and shortcomings are only too evident to us. The good news is that we don’t need to be bowed down with the guilt. The blood of Jesus gives us forgiveness and redemption.

Forgotten

Carol Purves Carol's Blog ,

I wonder if Moses was ever haunted by his younger life when he had killed an Egyptian? Did David recall with horror his past sins? We read of his remorse in his psalms. What did Paul think when he recalled his persecution of Christians before his conversation on the road to Damascus? Maybe they were able to act out the words of Isaiah 43:18 ‘Forget the former things, says the Lord, do not dwell on the past.’

I know I can recall the ‘sins of my youth.’ I didn’t always do things well as i tended to go down a few wrong paths.Some of my omissions and wrong acts have affected my life today. But Isaiah reminds us that God tells us to forget. God has banished our sins ‘as far as the east is from the west.’ Why should I carry the load around? God has redeemed my sins and by the power of the Holy Spirit I must let them go.

Getting Nearer

Carol Purves Carol's Blog , , ,

Each day this week and next week we are getting nearer to the time to when Jesus dies on the cross for our sins and then rises on the third day. We know what is going to happen on the 15th of this month; the disciples didn’t. These men didn’t know that their time with Jesus was down to a few days. They imagined Jesus their Master would continue preaching and healing and some believed He would then conquer the Romans. It was outside their imagination that He would be crucified and their dreams would come crashing down. From where they were standing they didn’t know the concept of substitution and redemption.

Matters are so different for us. We are the other side of the crucifixion and resurrection. We know Jesus dies and rises from death. We know it was for our sins. Their incomplete picture is made complete for us. We can rejoice and not weep. Hallelujah Christ has risen.