Orange Moon Friday, March 19, 2021. "Sin, Forgotten"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

(A repeat from 2011)

"Sin, Forgotten"

    

     One of the godliest men who ever lived was also a man who consigned a brave, noble warrior to death so that he could steal his wife after impregnating her - II Samuel 11; Acts 13:22).

     King David suffered terrible consequences for his depraved sin against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah.  Scripture chronicles the dark episode in all its shame and gore.   The New Testament, however, does not mention David's waywardness. He rather shines forth as "a man after Mine own heart," and most importantly, the New Testament writers frequently affirm the relationship between the Psalmist and the Lord Jesus Christ. "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead" (Acts 13:22; II Timothy 2:8; emphasis added).

    Surely no overlooking or minimizing of sin is implied by the New Testament omission.  Instead, the Holy Spirit spotlights and maximizes the wondrous grace of God: "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20). The mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ provides forgiveness and cleansing to the humble, repentant heart far beyond any measure we can conceive, fulfilling the Old Testament proclamation that "as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). That's a long way, a long way of grace, and a distance we do well to establish and nurture in our fundamental doctrine and belief.

    The horrors of sin most reveal themselves when compared with the extent to which God went to provide forgiveness. The Lord Jesus Christ was tortured to death and forsaken by God and man in order to provide forgiveness and newness of life.  Thus, God ever views His Son's atoning work on our behalf as infinitely greater than our sins.  He so justifies believers that He "will not impute sin" to us (dealing with us as a loving Father rather than a condemning judge - Romans 4:8).  David of the Old Testament trusted in such a coming redemption, and found a grace so justifying that the David of the New Testament is never referenced  in any negative manner.

     Our spiritual enemies tempt us to believe that no hope of restoration exists if we fall into some deep pit of unbelief and disobedience. King David would tell us that no greater lie has ever been told.  Indeed, if we will come by the way of grace through faith paved by the Lord Jesus, and stained by His blood, we will discover with David a Father who runs to greet us with forgiveness and restoration.  Moreover, in perhaps the most redeeming aspect of His mercy, we will hear the voice of the Spirit in the pages of Scripture as He proclaims the one thing a God of infinite understanding forgets...

"Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."

(Hebrews 8:12)

Weekly Memory Verse

    For in Him we live and move and have our being.

(Acts 17:28)

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