Your sins are forgiven

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And put a new and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

 

Read Matthew 9:1—8

Two forces are in operation here, the forgiveness of sins and the healing of the man from paralysis. I must admit — this says something about me — I am even more impressed by the second, the physical healing, than the first, which I suppose you could call ‘spiritual.’ But the scribes seem all of a dither because of the forgiveness of sins. That for them was unconscionable. Its significance dwarfed the other healing. Forgiveness of sin was something only God could do. Now I see that they are right. Not right about Jesus, but about the magnitude of it. If Jesus can forgive sin, he can decide eternal destiny. I no longer have to take into my encounter with God in eternity all that I have done to spoil my life. I’m free. In fact, Jesus is my encounter with God.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, I am taught that you are the judge of the living and the dead and I believe it. I shall meet you at the conclusion of all things. In fact I shall meet you as the conclusion of all things. All things were made through you and for you. So I am responsible to no one else as I am to you. And here I see you pronouncing the forgiveness of sins. So I thank you that you are the one who gives me life restored, renewed, and who guarantees my future. For all this I thank you this night.