The Way Back

I’ve grown up learning about forgiveness my whole life it seems. I’m pretty sure that I’ve needed forgiveness since I was very young. No matter what you may or may not think of me, I know me quite well. I am definitely NOT perfect. I am a sinful man who is saved by the Grace of God. I am not sure I can be more clear – I have been guilty of poor judgement on many occasions and I’m thankful that the Lord provided a way back to Him.

Since the early days of this young nation, the Lord set the boundaries and we as humans have been breaking the boundaries. In those early days, the Lord provided a way back. Check this out….

² “Suppose one of you sins against your associate and is unfaithful to the Lord. Suppose you cheat in a deal involving a security deposit, or you steal or commit fraud, ³ or you find lost property and lie about it, or you lie while swearing to tell the truth, or you commit any other such sin. ⁴ If you have sinned in any of these ways, you are guilty. You must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found, ⁵ or anything obtained by swearing falsely. You must make restitution by paying the full price plus an additional 20 percent to the person you have harmed. On the same day you must present a guilt offering. ⁶ As a guilt offering to the Lord, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. ⁷ Through this process, the priest will purify you before the Lord, making you right with him, and you will be forgiven for any of these sins you have committed.” (Leviticus 6:2-7 NLT)

This way home wasn’t a “piece of cake”.  I have a feeling that if I had to bring one of my animals and kill it as a punishment for my sin, I would have been less likely to do that very often.  I can only use my imagination in this way, I have killed and animal for food, but I can’t imagine killing an animal because I did something sinful/stupid.

Jesus became the FINAL sacrifice needed for sin. There is no need for an animal to die for my sin. I am so thankful that through Jesus, my sin was paid for and grace was introduced to the world. I am a long-time recipient of grace and I’m thankful every day for the way back home to the Lord. Jesus is the ONLY WAY back to the Lord. Jesus didn’t come to destroy the old law, but He did replace it with a new law of love. The way back to the Lord looks way different today, but it’s similar. There is a sacrifice for my sin and Jesus was enough to cover the sins of the world and reconnect us to God.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ² And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. ³ The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.  So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. ⁴ He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4 NLT)

Pressing On!

Dwayne