Freedom through Forgiveness

Freedom through Forgiveness (I John 1:7)

I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Last night in Bible Institute class we studied Hebrews 8:6-13. This studied reminded me of a sermon illustration I once used. The illustration goes as follows. André Cassagnes, the French-born inventor, was in his early thirties when he created a plastic device with a glass screen on which children could draw by turning little knobs. Since the inside surface of the screen was coated with aluminum powder, moving the knobs resulted in drawing images on the screen as an unseen movable stylus scraped away the powder. By turning the device upside down and shaking it, the little black images would magically disappear. Cassagnes called his little invention "L'Ecran Magique," or "the magic screen." The Ohio Art Company renamed Cassagnes's toy Etch A Sketch and began distributing it in the United States beginning in 1960. Since that time more than 100 million of the little laptop drawing machines have been sold, allowing it to be named one of the top 100 toys of the 20th century. It's unlikely that André Cassagnes had any idea the toy he created in his basement half a century ago would become so popular. It's also unlikely that he imagined his hand-held creation would provide Christians with such a powerful illustration of grace. Like an Etch A Sketch, sin makes it mark on the screen of our lives. The evidence of our disobedience is indisputable. It's not a pretty picture, but when we trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the blotches of sin on the screen of our lives are erased and we are made like new.

The principle of cleansing and a new beginning is seen in David’s life in Psalm 51. David devastated not only his life, but the lives of Bathsheba and Uriah by his wickedness. Uriah was dead and Bathsheba was pregnant from her adulterous affair with King David. David sought God’s forgiveness for what he had done. He wanted a new beginning in his life and realized that cleansing was an important factor in starting over again. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, and as a result, we are freed from the guilt of sin. When we walk in the light of Christ, God sees our sins covered by the blood of Christ. He accepts us in Christ. Our sins are forgiven by the blood of God's Son. The word “cleanseth” means that the blood of Christ continually cleanses us from sin. If we are walking in the light of Jesus Christ, then His blood is always cleansing us from our sins. If we walk in fellowship with Jesus Christ, we are constantly confessing our sins, we are living in open confession before Him.

Man is guilty of offending God and of transgressing God's law. Therefore, just as with any law, when the law is broken, the penalty has to be paid. The lawbreaker has to pay, or else someone has to step forward to pay the penalty for him. This is just what Jesus Christ did. He not only came to reveal God to us, He came to take our sins and transgressions upon Himself, all the guilt of them. Jesus Christ died for our sins. He faced the judgment for us and suffered the punishment for us. Jesus bore the condemnation for us. The blood of Jesus Christ was shed upon the cross for us. Therefore, to walk in the light of Christ means that we walk believing that Christ died for us. The believer is to walk in fellowship with Christ all day long every day. He is to walk acknowledging God in all His ways, praying, praising, and confessing his shortcomings and sins all day long. The believer who walks in fellowship with Jesus Christ like this is being constantly cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:22, “Without shedding of blood is no remission…” Where sin makes us dirty, Jesus' blood cleans us up. Robert Lowry's hymn "Nothing But The Blood" says it well, "What can wash away my sin, Nothing but the blood of Jesus." Part of the great gift of salvation is not only that our sins have been forgiven, but that God never holds them against us again. Once we have confessed and forsaken our sins, God welcomes us back into full fellowship with Him, and He restores the joy that we forfeit when we sin. Satan always tries to obscure what we lose when he tempts us to sin. But God is faithful to forgive, and while there may be lasting consequences for what we have done, He never holds our sin against us again when we seek forgiveness.

This is the point so often missed by man; no person can erase the sins of their past. He has no way to pay the penalty and judgment of his sins, as they have already been committed. Therefore, the penalty must be paid. The payment must be made by Someone who is perfect, for God is perfect. Only perfect sacrifices can be acceptable to God. And this is the terrible problem that man faces, for who is perfect other than God? No man is, only the Son of God is perfect. This is the reason the Son of God had to come to earth. He had to come to sacrifice Himself for man. He had to take man's sins upon Himself and become man's substitute in death. He had to die for man. It is His death, the sacrifice of the blood of God's Son, that covers our sins. No person is ever acceptable to God unless he is free of sin, unless his sins are cleansed and forgiven by the blood of Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, You are so faithful in accepting our heartfelt repentance and giving us a clean heart and a right spirit within us when we acknowledge guilt and the sin that produced it. Thank You that when we come to You brokenhearted for mercy, You are ready to forgive and restore. In particular, thank You for the times You have restored to me the joy of my salvation. I know I can’t be free any other way. In Jesus’ freedom-giving name I pray, Amen.

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