Salvation

Salvation

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

Psalm 130:3-4

The story is told in Spain of a father whose relationship with his teenage son had become strained. The son ran away from home. His father, however, began a journey in search of his rebellious child. Finally, in Madrid, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in the newspaper. It read: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven. I love you. Your father.” The next day at noon in front of the newspaper office eight hundred Pacos showed up, all seeking forgiveness and love from their fathers.

The Bible teaches that God forgives sins completely. Although sin deserves punishment because it violates God’s holy character, he is also a God of grace and pardon who initiates forgiveness and salvation.

Before God can forgive sin, two conditions must be met. A blood sacrifice must be made, and a person must have a repentant heart. In Old Testament times, animal sacrifices were made over and over to cover sin, pointing ahead to Christ. And when Jesus came, he became a once-for-all sacrifice—the just for the unjust.

Before we meet Christ, we are all Pacos needing to meet our fathers in front of the newspaper office. But the beauty of Christ’s forgiveness is that we can receive it anytime and anywhere, as long as we have admitted our sin and trust in his blood.

Father,

Thank you so much for your complete forgiveness. May our lives show how much we appreciate your amazing gift of salvation. Amen.