God's Merciful Grace

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-18

Many, many years before this was written, beginning in Exodus and Leviticus where God gives the law to Moses and He sets down the rituals that the priests (the Levites) had to go through themselves—cleansing/sanctification/consecration and atonement for their own sins—before they are allowed to present offerings of any kind on the behalf of others.

Later, in the New Testament, the writer of the book of Hebrews, compares Jesus to the high priest of old by saying,

For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9:24-26 (NIV)

And even before this passage, in the very beginning of Hebrews the author says,

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:1-3 (NIV)

Note the last part of verse 3 tells us that before Jesus sat down at the right hand of God, He “provided purification for sins”.

Back in Matthew 12:31, Jesus speaking, tells of the unforgiveable sin.

And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

What does this mean? What is the unforgiveable sin? The unforgiveable sin is repeatedly saying “no” to the urging of the Holy Spirit when you are placed under conviction of sin and thereby dying in your sin without ever having accepted Christ as your personal Savior.

In the book of John, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit further by saying,

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me. John 16:7-9 (NIV)

In Romans, Paul has a great deal to say about righteousness through faith, and God’s merciful grace,

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:21-26 (NIV)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:8-11 (NIV)*

Paul sums it all up like this:

"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." Romans 4:7 (NIV)

And also Romans 8:1 which says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

PRAISE GOD!

*For additional reading, see Romans 6:1-14, 17-18, 20-23 and a favorite passage of mine called “The Believers Triumph” in Romans 8:31-39