Ron Cosby
“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice… If thou, Lord, wouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee…” (Psa. 130:1-4).
We want God to hear us in times of despair. There is hope. Though man’s sins are many and shameful and degrading, still “there is forgiveness with Thee.” There awaits us loving kindness that will not fail.
If the Lord of Glory should mark iniquities, none could stand, for all men have sinned (Rom. 3:23, 9). No, man did not inherit sin from Adam or anyone else. Each one of us bears his own sin: “…the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son…” (Ezek. 18:20). My sin is too heavy. Will God forgive?
No one has to beg God for pardon; He is “ready to forgive” (Psa. 86:5). Do you want proof of God’s loving kindness? The cross (Jn. 3:16). “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn. 4:10). After watching the movie “The Passion of Christ,” a viewer exclaimed, “I love my son too much to allow him to suffer what God allowed His Son to endure!” This is understandable. However, in addition to loving Jesus, God also loves the sons who were guilty of crimes against Him, and their salvation demanded the death of the innocent Son (Rom. 5:6-8).
Though forgiveness is available for all, it is only granted through the Son. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:30-31). Like any inheritance, conditions accompany God’s inheritance. A believing, penitent persecutor of Christians was told to “arise and be baptized” (Acts 9, 22, 26). If you are a penitent believer like Saul, then be immersed for the remission of sins.
Reportedly, “in a graveyard somewhere around New York City is an unmarked grave, no name, no date of birth, no date of death, no inscription but this: “FORGIVEN!” One day all of us will stand before the glorious throne of the eternal God. Will we hear Him say, “Forgiven”? To hear this then, one must call upon Him now!
