Centuries before Christ, the Psalmist said:
βIf thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquitiesβ¦ who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Theeβ¦β (Psa. 130:3,4).
It is doubtful whether the Psalmist understood the basis upon which a just God, through the ages, has so graciously forgiven sins, but this has since been revealed in the Epistles of Paul.
There we read: βGod for Christβs sake hath forgiven youβ (Eph. 4:32). But this is only part of the truth, for God forgives sinners, not merely because Christ desires this, but because Christ paid for their sins and purchased their redemption. Thus Eph. 1:7 declares: βIn [Christ] we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.β
Obviously such forgiveness can never be rescinded or revoked, for it is based upon the full and complete payment of our whole debt of sin by βthe precious blood of Christ.β
Sad to say, many people do not feel they need forgiveness, for they have not seen themselves as they truly are in the sight of a holy God, but those who are conscious of their sins and are willing to say with the prodigal son: βI have sinned,β may experience the peace and joy of sins forgiven by faith in Christ who paid sinβs penalty for us.Β source
