FORGIVEN BECAUSE OF JESUS’ ATONING BLOOD
The Bible tells us that because of the sacrificial blood of God’s Son: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (John 316; 1 John 1:7-9). And “Though the [repentant] righteous fall seven times, they rise again” (Proverbs 24:16).
The Bible gives us examples of people who fell into sin and repented, and then rose again because of the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing this may increase our faith in God’s love and forgiveness when we confess our sins.
A KING SINNED AND WAS FORGIVEN BECAUSE JESUS’ ATONING BLOOD
The Bible says God called David “a man after my own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). But David apparently did not know he had a weakness that would cause him to sin against God.
One evening King David got up from his bed and walked on his roof; he saw a beautiful woman bathing naked and was overcome with a passion of lust. He sent for her, although he knew she was married. He committed adultery with Bathsheba. Later, she told him she was pregnant with his child.
Her husband, Uriah, was away at war; but in an effort cover his sin of adultery, David sent for Uriah to come home so he could sleep with his wife. However, Uriah refuses to sleep with his wife while his men were fighting and dying in battle.
Determined to cover up his sin of adultery and impregnation of another man’s wife, David sent Uriah back to the battlefield. But he also sent instructions to his field commander to position Uriah in the battle where he was sure to be killed.
Nevertheless, God sent his prophet Nathan to tell David about his sins. David admitted, “I have sinned against the LORD.” He repented and confessed his sins. The Lord forgave him, and permitted him to keep his position as king. (2 Samuel 11; 12:1-15).
David learned that you cannot hide anything from God. And he seem to realize, to some extent, what another prophet of God said about the deceitfulness of the heart: The heart is deceit above all things and desperately wicked and only God can fully understand and cure it (Jeremiah 17:19). Moreover, he recognized his need to pray: “search me God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24).
Further revealing his love and forgiveness, God enabled David to foresee, “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8”34; Matthew 22:43-44).
A DISCIPLE FELL AND WAS FORGIVEN BECAUSE OF JESUS’ BLOOD
Peter was one of the Lord’s closest disciples, who was confident he would never forsake he Lord. However, when Jesus was about to be arrested and crucified, he told his closest disciples, “you will all fall away on account of me.” Peter responded, “even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” But Jesus told him, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” Peter insisted, “even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And the other disciples said the same thing.
When Jesus was arrested by guards of the religious leaders, all his disciples fled. But Peter followed at a distance. And he watched from the courtyard where Jesus was being tried. Some in the courtyard pointed to him three times, accusing him of being one of Jesus’ disciples. The third time one of them accused him, he cursed and swore, “I don’t know the man.”
Peter heard a rooster crow–he remembered that Jesus had told him: “before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” Then Peter went outside and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:31-75).
The Lord who knows the heart of all people (John 2:25), knew that Peter repented and wanted to be forgiven and restored in his relationship with the Lord. After he was crucified for our sins and rose from the dead, Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to affirm the Lord. On an occasion when he was eating fish with his disciples after he arose, he asked Peter three times, “do you love me more than these?” (Jesus knew Peter’s life involvement as a fisherman inclined him to have a great love for fish). Peter answered each time, “yes, Lord, You know I love you.” But the third time the Lord asked, Peter was hurt; and he said, “Lord, you know all things. …You know I love you.” In a forgiving and assuring manner, the Lord told Peter, “feed my sheep;” and, “follow me.” (John 21:1- 19).
WE ARE FORGIVEN BECAUSE OF JESUS’ ATONING BLOOD
The Lord who forgave David and Peter is the same Lord who died for the sins of all repentant believers. God shows his love and forgiveness today in permitting believers who have fallen into sin to come boldly to his throne through his interceding Son Jesus Christ for forgiveness (Hebrews 4:14-16).
However, it is not Gods will that we should continue to sin that his grace may increase (Romans 6:1; Matthew 18:21-22).
Yet, because of the sacrificial blood of God’s Son on a cross “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7-9).
The Lord knows our hearts and will forgive us no matter how many times we fall by sinning, when we earnestly repent and ask him to forgive us for our sins. But to avoid continuing to sin against God, we should pray like David: “Search me God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24).
The Lord promised: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[a] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[b] in you” (John 14:15-17).
Because of the atoning blood of God’s Son, Jesus Christ: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7-9). If we fall and repent our Lord God will enable us by the Holy Spirit to rise again–until we rise with our Lord to fall no more (Roman 8:11).
