February 27: “Hope of Forgiveness” by Dr. Brent Gentzel

Romans 8:1-4, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.”

Across these weeks we have seen how a whole host of “isms” fail to provide real help and hope for our world, for our neighbors, or for our children. Today, Paul reminds us of one more such “ism” - legalism. Even our best efforts at strict adherence to the good and righteous law of the Old Testament can’t bring about a perfect life or a right relationship with God.

As with every other “ism” we have studied, our sin, humanity’s sin, gums up the works. Our tendency to- ward selfishness and the weakness of our sinful nature destroy all our good and (sometimes lofty sound- ing) efforts to be good.

With every passing year, we are more and more aware of all the sinful decisions that litter our lives. People we love have been hurt by our selfishness. At times, we have flatly rejected God’s leadership in our lives. We know the truth. We feel the guilt. We can’t deny our failings. How could God ever allow someone like you or me to join in His good purposes in this world or the fellowship of His family? If God is good and just, how could He welcome us into His perfect Heaven when this life is over?

Jesus is our hope. He created the path to the good future that our hearts long to know. His love and sacrifice makes it all possible.

And it’s not just the hope we know. In a world full of despair, we offer this sure and certain hope to all who will, like us, stumble in darkness.

Have you trusted Jesus Christ to forgive your past and lead your future? Do you know the hope that comes when you are set free from the chains of sin and death?

Merciful and Gracious God, today I claim Your greatest promise. Thank You for loving me and sending Jesus to die for my sins. Thank You that I do not stand condemned...though surely I deserve justice. Thank You that Heaven is my future, though it surely should be Hell. Thank You for being my sure and certain hope in this life and the next. Help me to offer this hope to all I encounter. In Jesus’ name, Amen.