Him who the Son sets free is free indeed. (John 8:36)

The absolute pardon that comes by turning to God and believing in His Son is beyond comprehension.

By Tom Shanklin

I recently was visiting with a friend who had gone through a very difficult time in his life. He has been a Christian for many years, but during this season in his life, he had experienced great trauma and began to make some very poor and even ungodly decisions.

As a result he had suffered great loss, both financially and in his relationships. Emotionally and spiritually, he had come to the bottom of the barrel.

In his time of despair, however, God had brought him to a church where he began to hear the message of the cross and the grace of God. That message and God’s love through His Son brought this man from the pit of despair into peace and a revelation of the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. “Man does not forgive,” he said, “but God does forgive and forget.”

This conversation made me remember what a wonderful thing it is when God Almighty forgives our sin. As the scripture says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:12, KJV.

Now the distance from the east to the west is a long way. It is so great that you cannot measure it. When something is that far away it is gone, gone, gone. And that is exactly what God has done for you in Christ when He allowed His Son to die on a cross for you.

Think of the power of that forgiveness—the completeness, the absolute pardon that comes by turning to God and believing in His Son. It’s beyond comprehension.

I think back to the time when I came to the Lord in 1977. My lifestyle was sick. My heart was dark. But the Lord said to me, “Turn from the things of the world.” When I said, “Yes Lord!” everything changed. My heart. My desire. My countenance. Joy began to spring up and God’s glory was revealed in my life.

God spoke to me during that experience, He said, “Precious is the blood of the lamb, which was shed for you.” Think of it! The blood of Jesus was shed for me. Jesus literally died for me. My sins were placed upon Jesus on the cross. That’s love. That’s mercy. That’s grace. That’s my God!

Then He went on to say, “I give you a new life, free from the bonds of iniquity.” Oh praise God! Washed in the blood! Cleansed! Forgiven! No longer a slave to sin. Those chains now broken. A new heart. A new desire. A new purpose. A new creature in Christ. It’s like the old song:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

Forgiveness is such a powerful gift. Everything else hinges on it. Without forgiveness we are separated from God, strangers from the covenant, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. But when we turn from our sin and receive Christ, we are grafted in and Jesus becomes our peace. We can now flourish in the house of God. We can walk in liberty on this earth and know that we have an eternal home in heaven.

Here are some of the benefits of God’s forgiveness:

He heals you and redeems your life from the pit…

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;” Psalms 103:2-4, KJV.

He makes you righteous…

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21, KJV.

He delivers you from condemnation…

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1, KJV.

He gives you assurance of eternal life…

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28, KJV.

He causes good works to spring up in your life…

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10, KJV.

All of us need forgiveness. Some of us just realize it more than others. Once you become aware that you have sinned and need forgiveness, then you can find it through the cross of Jesus Christ. God is a merciful and forgiving Father!

I think of the Prodigal Son who realized the error of his ways. He returned to his father’s home and said, “…I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” Luke 15:21, KJV.

His statement was 100 percent honest and 100 percent correct. He had sinned and he was no longer worthy to be called his father’s son.

But the one thing he did right is that he came clean. He “fessed up” and took responsibility for his own sin. He did not say, “Father, I would have done better if you had not been so strict. It was you that caused me to rebel.” No! He took ownership for the cause of his own problems rather than shifting blame.

Notice the father’s reaction. “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:” Luke 15:22, 23, KJV.

The Prodigal had thought perhaps he could find a place in the bunkhouse with the servants. Perhaps the father would let him share a can of beans with the hired help.

But the Father had other plans for his son who had come home, just as our heavenly Father has good plans for you. He had a robe of righteousness. He had a fatted calf. He had many blessings. Likewise, your heavenly Father will forgive you completely and forget about your sins. He will restore you to full sonship with all the family privileges.

Just get honest with God and come to him. As the scripture says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9, KJV.

Pray this prayer from your heart:

Father, Thank you for Jesus. I believe He died for me and rose again. I have sinned. I have failed you and failed myself. Forgive me! I confess Jesus is my Lord! Thank you for totally restoring me, in Jesus name. Amen.

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