In The Solitudes of That Voiceless Ocean

The picture here is of an ocean, not near the shore, but far beyond sight of land, in the midst of a wide wilderness of waters, the illimitable horizon stretching on every side; and when the sounding line is let down, it cannot fathom the depth or reach the bottom! 

There, in the solitudes of that voiceless ocean, a plunge is heard! The surface is ruffled only for a moment; then the waves resume their usual calmness. The load, whatever it is, is never more seen. It is buried somewhere in these dark caverns! No spirit of the deep can ever come up from the silent caves to tell its story! 

Ships cross and recross where it fell, but no distinguishing marker is left on the unstable highway, to mark the spot. The sea can be tempted by no bribe; to give up the secret of its keeping, all trace is lost from sight and memory forever! 

That is a picture of what God does for all His redeemed people! 

[John MacDuff] 

Micah 7:19 ... He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

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At Calvary ...

The cross is God's way to punish sin and forgive sinners at the same time.

[Adrian Rogers] 

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Ephesians 1:7 ...  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Colossians 1:14 ... In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Hebrews 10:10 ...  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ❤

Black as Night, and As Hideous as Hell!

Oh, that blessed word all. It includes willful sins and unintentional sins, sins against gospel light, sins against the love of God, sins wantonly perpetrated, sins against man and against God, sins of body and of soul, sins of thought and word and deed, sins of every rank and character, sins as immense as the sea all, all are removed, no matter how many, or how vile they are! 

What comfort there is here for every believer! However heinous your sins may be, there is a sin-offering which cleanses away every sin. However, you may have defiled yourselves, though you are as black as night, and as hideous as Hell yet there is power in the sin-atoning blood of the incarnate God to make you as white as newly fallen snow! 

What a joy it is to think, not only has Christ put away my sin; but now for me, He is a sweet savor to God, and I am for His sake accepted; for His sake beloved; for His sake delighted in; for His sake precious unto God. The immaculate Christ has died, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. Washed once in the fountain opened for sin and for impurity there shall remain upon you no trace of guilt! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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1 John 1:7 ... But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Colossians 1:13-14 ... Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Romans 4:7-8 ... Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.❤

Pardoned!!

 When people bring up your past, tell them that Jesus dropped the charges!

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Micah 7:19 ...  He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Numbers 14:19-21 ... Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.

Psalm 103:12 ... As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Romans 4:7 ... Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. ❤

Corporate Religion

Pastor Tony Evans is stepping down due to a “sin” years ago. 

This is why corporate religion masked as Christianity is so destructive, we punish people for things that they did years ago, why? To appease our traditions. 

This is not grace. This is religion. I don’t know this man, but he did something years ago, so? Who hasn’t? 

But, religion needs its pound of flesh. Grace forgives and forgets. Men, on the other hand… 

He should have rejected calls to step down and just embrace the grace he was given by God.

[Christopher Gregory]

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Isaiah 43:25 ... I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Psalm 103:12 ... As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Hebrews 8:12 ... For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. ❤

Be Changed!!

 You have never gone too fat that God can't redeem you. Retore you. Forgive you.

The Lord is a God of second chances.

1 John 1:9 ... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ezekiel 36:26 ...  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Colossians 1:14 ...  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ❤

Broke Her Heart All in Pieces

The more a man apprehends of the love of God, and of the love of Christ the more that person will grieve and mourn that he has offended, provoked, and grieved such a Father, and such a Son. The more clear and certain evidence a man has of the love and favor of God to his soul, the more that man will grieve and mourn for sinning against such a God. 

 There is nothing which thaws and melts the heart, which softens and breaks the heart like the warm beams of divine love as you may see in the case of Mary Magdalene. She loved much, and she wept much for much was forgiven her. A sight of the free grace and love of Christ towards her, in an act of forgiveness, broke her heart all in pieces. 

A man cannot stand under the shining of divine love with a frozen heart, nor with dry eyes. The more a man sees of the love of Christ, and the more a man tastes and enjoys of the love of Christ the more that man will grieve and mourn for all the dishonors that he has done to Christ. 

[Thomas Brooks] 

Luke 7:38 ...  And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

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Beggars

Christians have nothing to be smug about. We are not righteous people trying to correct the unrighteous. As one preacher said, Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. 

The chief difference between the Believer and the Unbeliever is forgiveness. 

[R. C. Sproul]

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1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ... Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Colossians 1:14 ... In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ❤

Trust in Him...

Trust in the death and resurrection of Christ for forgiveness of your sins.

Colossians 1:13-14 ... Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

2 Corinthians 1:9-10 ... But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

1 Corinthians 15:2-4 ... By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  ❤

Sin Forgotten.

Stop asking God to forgive what he’s already forgotten.

Micah 7:19 ... He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Isaiah 43:25 ...  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

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

Psalm 103:12 ... As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

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G░O░D░ ░L░O░V░E░S░ ░Y░O░U

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The Precious Blood

Only one thing can wash away sin. Only one thing can make someone whole again. Only one thing can cover you, restore you, heal you, and cause you to stand in righteousness, victory, and freedom. Nothing else. Nothing but the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:7 ...  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Colossians 1:14 ... In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Romans 3:25 ... Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1 John 1:7 ... But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ❤

Bouyancy in The Cross

Cling to the cross though your sins rise up before you like mountains for their size; like the sands on the seashore for their number and glowing like scarlet and crimson, in color!

For no sins, however great, or however numerous should tempt us to despond, or to let go of our hold on the cross seeing the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from ALL sin.  There is a 'buoyancy' in the cross which will never let anyone sink, who clings to it!

If our sins were as ponderous as the globe, or as numerous as all the particles of created matter yet embracing the cross of Jesus they are all forgiven and forgiven forever!

They are all blotted out like the dark clouds, which obscured the sun for a little while on the summer's morning!  They are all blotted out like a stone cast from an angel's hand into the depths of ocean!  They are all forgiven and forgotten forever!

Cling to the cross!

[James Smith]

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Isaiah 1:18 ... Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Colossians 1:14 ...  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Galatians 6:14 ... But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  ❤

Where They Need To Be

 You got hammered at the bar on Saturday, but came to church on Sunday, you can sit with me, you’re right where you need to be.

You’re a drug addict who came to church high this Sunday, you can sit with me, you’re right where you need to be.

You’re divorced and the last church you attended condemned you for it, you can sit me, you’re right where you need to be.

You’ve had an abortion and it’s slowly eating away at your heart, but you came to church on Sunday, you can sit with me, you’re right where you need to be.

You’ve been unfaithful to your spouse but came to church on Sunday, you can sit with me, you’re right where you need to be.

Here’s the thing, people don’t come to church on Sunday for you to sit in the pew and quietly judge them because you feel that you’re somehow better than them.

People come to church because in their deepest, darkest, most painful moments, they heard about a man named Jesus that could save their soul and transform their life and they’d like to know him.

The man that just snorted cocaine off his kitchen table isn’t a bigger sinner than you who told your boss a lie on Monday so you could leave work early.

The drunk man lying on the bar isn’t a bigger sinner than you who occasionally has too much to drink at home in private.

The woman that just got caught cheating on her husband isn’t a bigger sinner than you who had sex with your now husband before you were married.

Stop judging others because their sin is different than yours.

There isn’t a person in this world too bad, too broken, too mean, or too damaged for Jesus to save. Amen.

[message from the Internet]

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Romans 3:23 ... For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 10:13 ... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1 John 1:9 ... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ❤

Forgive Them.

Luke 23:34 ... Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.❤

Newton Song

In evil long I took delight,

Unawed by shame or fear;

Until a new object struck my sight,

And stopped my wild career!

I saw One hanging on a tree,

In agonies and blood.

He fixed His languid eyes on me,

As near His cross I stood.

Sure never til my dying breath,

Can I forget that look!

It seemed to charge me with His death,

Though not a word He spoke.

A second look He gave, which said,

I freely all forgive;

This blood is for your ransom paid,

I die, that you may live!

[John Newton]

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Mark 10:45 … For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.❤

The Sin of a Pardoned Soul!

A deep sense and clear sight of sin, its heinousness and the punishment which it deserves--should make us lie low before God's throne. As Christians we have sinned! Alas! that it should be so. Favored as we have been, we have yet been ungrateful. Privileged beyond most we have not brought forth fruit in proportion. What Christian is there who will not blush when he looks back upon his past sins?

As for our days before we were regenerated, may they be forgiven and forgotten; but since then, though we have not sinned as before, yet we have sinned against light and against love, spiritual light which has really penetrated our minds, and the love of Jesus which we have experienced. Oh, the atrocity of the sin of a pardoned soul! An unpardoned sinner sins cheaply when compared with the sin of one of God's own elect ones, who has had communion with Christ and leaned his head upon Jesus' bosom.

Look at David! Many will talk of his sin but I beg you to look at his repentance, and hear his broken bones, as each one of them moans out its dolorous confession! Mark his tears, as they fall upon the ground, and the deep sighs with which he accompanies the softened music of his harp! We have erred, let us therefore seek the spirit of penitence.

Look, again, at Peter! We speak much of Peter's denying his Master. But remember that it is written, "He wept bitterly!" Have we no denials of our Lord to be lamented with tears?

Alas! these sins of ours would consign us to the place of inextinguishable fire if it were not for God's sovereign mercy which has made us to differ, snatching us like brands from the burning! My soul, bow down in humility under a sense of your natural sinfulness, and worship your God. Admire the grace which saves you; the mercy which spares you; the love which pardons you!

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Daniel 9:8-9 … O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

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The Only Weapon To Fight Sin

We go to Christ for forgiveness, and then too often look to our own strength to fight our sins. Paul thus rebukes us, "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (Galatians 3:3)  Take your sins to Christ's cross, for the old man can only be crucified there. The only weapon to fight sin with, is the spear which pierced the side of Jesus!

To give an illustration: you want to overcome an angry temper how do you go to work? It is very possible you have never tried the right way of going to Jesus with it. How did I get salvation? I came to Jesus just as I was, and I trusted Him to save me. I must kill my angry temper in the same way! I must go to the cross with it, and say to Jesus, "Lord, I trust You to deliver me from it." This is the only way to give it a death-blow.

Are you covetous? Do you feel the world entangle you? You may struggle against this evil as long as you please but you will never be delivered from it in any way but by the blood of Jesus. Take it to Christ. Tell Him: "Lord, Your name is Jesus, for You save Your people from their sins. Lord, this is one of my sins save me from it!"

Ordinances are nothing, without Christ as a means of mortification. Your prayers, and your repentances, and your tears, the whole of them put together, are worth nothing apart from Him. "None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good;" or helpless saints either. You must be conquerors through Him who has loved you, if conquerors at all.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Romans 8:37 … Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

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Take Both Sorrow and Sin to The Same Place!

It is well for us when prayers about our sorrows are linked with pleas concerning our sins when, being under God's hand, we are not wholly taken up with our pain but remember our offences against God.  It is well, also, to take both sorrow and sin to the same place.   It was to God that David carried his sorrow it was to God that David confessed his sins.

We must take our sorrows to God. Even your little sorrows you may roll upon God for He counts the hairs of your head. You may also may commit your great sorrows to Him for He holds the ocean in the hollow of His hand. Go to Him, whatever your present trouble may be and you shall find Him both able and willing to support you.

But we must also take our sins to God. We must carry them to the cross, that the blood may fall upon them to purge away their guilt, and to destroy their defiling power.

The special lesson of the text is this that we are to go to the Lord with sorrows and with sins in the right frame of heart.  Note that all David asks concerning his sorrow is, "Look upon my affliction and my pain."  But the next petition is vastly more express, definite, decided, and plain, "Forgive all my sins!"

Many sufferers would have put it, "Remove my affliction and my pain and look at my sins."

But David does not say so. He cries, "Lord, as for my affliction and my pain, I will not dictate to Your wisdom. Lord, look at them, I will leave them to You to do as You think best. I would be glad to have my pain removed but do as You will. But as for my sins, Lord, I must have them forgiven! I cannot endure to lie under their defiling power for a moment!"

A Christian counts his sorrow lighter in the scale, than his sin. He can bear that his troubles should continue but he cannot support the burden of his transgressions.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Psalm 25:18 … Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.❤

Into the Depths of The Sea!

The sinner outside of Christ is bound over to the wrath of God. He is under an obligation in law to go to the prison of Hell, and there to lie until he has paid the utmost farthing.   But "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

The believer's sins are pardoned, and the guilt of them is removed. The bond obliging him to pay his debt is canceled. God the Father takes the pen, dips it in the blood of His Son, crosses off the sinner's accounts, and forever blots them out of His debt-book!  Being united to Christ, God says, "Deliver him from going down to the pit for I have found a ransom!" (Job 33:24)

The sentence of condemnation is reversed, and the believer is absolved and set beyond the reach of the condemning law. His sins, which previously were set before the Lord, (Psalm 90:8) so that they could not be hidden.  God now takes and casts them all behind His back. (Isaiah 38:17)  Yes, God "will tread our sins underfoot, and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea!" (Micah 7:19) 

What falls into a brook may be retrieved but what is cast into the sea cannot be recovered.  But there are some shallow places in the sea. True, but their sins are not cast there but into the depths of the sea. The depths of the sea are devouring depths, from whence their sins shall never come forth again.

But what if they do not sink? God will hurl them in with such force that they shall go to the bottom, and sink as lead in the mighty waters of the Redeemer's blood!

Their sins are not only forgiven but forgotten. (Jeremiah 31:34) "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." And though their after-sins do in themselves deserve eternal wrath, and do actually make them liable to temporal strokes, and fatherly chastisements, according to the tenor of the covenant of grace, (Psalm 89:30-33) yet they can never be actually liable to eternal wrath.

[Thomas Boston]

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Forgotten

Only the devil or his children brings up the past of a believer. When a Christian is forgiven by faith, everything has been erased, it no longer exists. Be careful when you see a brother or sister in the faith and decide which past you want to remember, because God has forgotten it, and the only other who remembers it is not your friend, but your enemy.

[Christopher Gregory]

Jeremiah 31:34 … And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Micah 7:19 … 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Hebrews 8:12 … For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.❤