Real Pardon

Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

Micah 7:18-19

HAVE YOU EVER thought about what forgiveness from God really means? Let’s focus for a moment on what it doesn’t mean.

It doesn’t mean it didn’t cost God anything to be able to forgive. No, it cost the blood and life of Jesus for God to forgive anyone, anywhere.

It also doesn’t mean that you should take it lightly. One woman said, “God will forgive me. That’s his job.” She said it just as she was about to commit a sin. No, God’s forgiveness comes only at the point of faith and repentance, nothing less.

But what does it mean? The Bible comes at this truth in many ways, but look at the last part of the verse above. It says God throws our sins into the depths of the ocean. While today we know just how great those depths are, to the people of Micah’s day, the oceans seemed beyond penetration or comprehension. To throw our sins into those depths means that God utterly hides them from sight. No one will ever see them again.

Do you ever worry that someday God might bring up your sins in heaven? It can never happen. His promise is that he’s cast them into the ocean, never to be seen again.