Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen!
“Repent”, Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”
But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous, his faith is credited for righteousness.–How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered! How joyful is the man the Lord will never charge with sin!
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…We have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ the Righteous one!
Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead… He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immorality to light through the gospel!
Gal.1:1; Acts 2:38-40; Rom.4:5-8; I Jn.1:9;2:1; II Tim.2:8; 1:9,10
In light of the profound reality of these verses and of this Easter season in which we celebrate their good news I’ve been feeling woefully underwhelmed. Have I become as a fish in the wide ocean who takes for granted the water in which he lives and breathes and has his being? Perhaps. Or maybe I’m just needing to get my bearings again after three weeks spent with kids and grands! I have missed my quiet mornings with the Word, having had to snatch it in rushed increments instead. But the theme of forgiveness keeps finding its way into my thoughts. It’s at the heart of the gospel that I so much want my little grands to grow up knowing. And I tend to carry the burden of this in an unhealthy way, feeling guilty for failing to give them Jesus in the bustle of all the Lego play and puzzle building, the puddle-jumping walks and cinnamon bun collaboration. How can I have neglected to share Jesus somehow? Upon our return home I found myself journaling my dismay, words that finally became a prayer…
Give them ears to hear, minds to know the sweet light of the gospel, that though they are naughty, you forgive. Though they fail to please, there is Jesus who did everything perfectly on their account so that they may stand unashamed before their good good Father who is intimately acquainted with all their ways and always attentive to them when parents fall short, as we all ultimately do…
And it struck me! This is the very same sweet gospel that I need to glory in myself! This same forgiveness when I’ve done badly. This perfection of Jesus in exchange for my failure. This intimate love of a good good Father who’s aware of my weakness, and has given me Jesus as my strong Saviour.
Indeed the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe–for grandkids, their parents, AND their grandparents! For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, for all of us. Thank-you God for the reality of this Good News. Bring it to life in our souls this Easter season!
–LS