Reveal | Day 25- March 22 | Psalm 51

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1

Through the ministry of Jesus, the Gospels narrate sinners calling out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Throughout Jesus’ ministry the awareness of spiritual inadequacy leads to a repentance connecting sinners with God’s forgiveness. All those captive to sin are bankrupt or empty of transformational love. A sinner is redeemed when they repent of their sin and seek divine forgiveness and reconciliation with the Lord.

Let’s consider this picture: our sin is recorded in a heavenly book. The bookkeeper is God, and our sins are entered into a ledger in our debt column. The psalmist openly confesses his sin and actively pleads with God to erase the record of his sin and cancel his debt. It is clear that God is the only one who can wipe away our spiritual defilement. For those who put their faith in Jesus as Lord, God credits the blood of Christ to fulfill or cancel the debt of sin and transgression. In receiving God’s gift of salvation, the book is wiped clean and the only debt that remains is to love one another.

In ancient times, legal documents were prepared with a reed or quill pen and black ink. When a scribble error was made, it was blotted out. God blots out sins and transgressions by Jesus’s blood of every person who will turn to him in faith to receive salvation and forgiveness. No amount of religious fervor, activity, good deeds or intentions can act as credit towards the covering of our sin. The Bible leads us to understand in receiving forgiveness we are to extend forgiveness to those who have harmed us.

How will you respond to your awareness of sin and separation from God? Jesus grants forgiveness at the crucifixion with his own words in Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus demonstrates God’s forgiveness that transforms a believer and offers reconciliation in the place of punishment or judgment.