Together, we have faith

April 26, 2024

All Sins Covered

John 1:29; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:2, 3

“In ancient times there were some sins for which no sacrifice was appointed, and which therefore could not be purged away by any ceremonial oblations whatever. But there are no sins, blessed be God, however deep their dye or millionfold their number, from which we may not be justified by faith in Jesus. As all the iniquities

of the children of Israel which were confessed and laid upon the head of the goat were borne away and heard of no more, so all the sin and guilt laid in faith upon Jesus he taketh entirely away. To mark the blessed completeness of this, the sin-laden goat was not merely sent away beyond the camp, but even beyond all sight and track of man, into a land wild and uninhabited, there to remain unseen and forgotten till it finally perished. Could brighter picture be given of the full and enduring pardon so graciously secured to us? It is no mere respite we get through Christ, but an eternal acquittal.”

All sins covered. The Old Testament priestly role of laying both hands on the head of a goat and then sending it away into the wilderness was a picture of Christ bearing our sins, all our sins, and taking them all away by his sacrificial death on the cross. All sins have been covered by Christ for those who believe, secret sins, presumptuous sins, sins of ignorance, sins of omission and commission, all sins. Forgiveness through the blood of Jesus is total and complete. No more sacrifice is required or demanded. All sins are buried in the deepest seas, never again to surface. Rejoice, O Believer, in such comprehensive forgiveness!!

A Puritan Prayer —

“O Lord of Grace,

The world is before me this day, and I am weak and fearful, 

but I look to thee for strength; If I venture forth alone 

I stumble and fall, but on the Beloved’s arms I am firm as the eternal hills; 

If left to the treachery of my heart I shall shame thy Name, 

but if enlightened, guided, upheld by thy Spirit, I shall bring thee glory. 

Be thou my arm to support, 

my strength to stand, 

my light to see, 

my feet to run, 

my shield to protect, 

my sword to repel, 

my sun to warm. 

To enrich me will not diminish thy fullness; 

All thy lovingkindness is in thy Son, 

I bring him to thee in the arms of faith, 

I urge his saving Name as the One who died for me. 

I plead his blood to pay my debts of wrong. 

Accept his worthiness for my unworthiness, 

his sinlessness for my transgressions, 

his purity for my uncleanness, 

his sincerity for my guile, 

his truth for my deceits, 

his meekness for my pride, 

his constancy for my backslidings, 

his love for my enmity, 

his fullness for my emptiness, 

his faithfulness for my treachery, 

his obedience for my lawlessness, 

his glory for my shame, 

his devotedness for my waywardness, 

his holy life for my unchaste ways, 

his righteousness for my dead works, 

his death for my life.”