“For my name's sake, O Lord, pardon
my guilt, for it is great.” Psalm 25:11 (NRSV). Like the
psalmist, a believer can call upon God to pardon his or her
iniquities. He or she does this by seeking His grace. God is
infinite with divine attributes and pardons sins as soon as a
believer or non-believer asks Him to do so. In His divine majesty,
God the supreme Governor, and Judge, dispenses amazing grace.
Charles Stanley (b. 1932), the senior
pastor of the First Baptist Church in northern Atlanta, Georgia,
founder president of In Touch Ministries observed, “The amount of
time we spend with Jesus – meditating on His Word and His majesty,
seeking His face – establishes our fruitfulness in the kingdom.”
Stanley's quote goes to show that God, although he's willingly
pardons our sins, will still continue to bless us with fruitfulness
for His kingdom.
Plead for Pardon
In promoting righteousness, God will
forgives our wrong-doings as soon as we ask Him. When people beg for
His bread, He will feed them. Every day, He's willing to renew our
personal encounter with Him. Often, He greets us with a redeeming
embrace, for being faithful, He will then consider us obedient
disciples.
Voltaire (1694 – 1778), a French
Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher remarked, “What is
tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are formed of
frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly –
that is the first law of nature.” Just like how God pardons us,
persons ought to do likewise and pardon their fellowmen. This is
a divine requirement.
The Blood of Christ
Through the blood of Jesus Christ on
the cross, all people have hope by His name. Christ's blood cleanses
us, makes us a holy people, and guides us into bringing the Word of
God to others. From age to age, this fidelity of the Christian
tradition has been passed down. In church, we commemorate the death
and resurrection of Christ with the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Desmond Tutu (b. 1931), a South African
social activist, retired Anglican bishop, and opponent of apartheid
felt, “Hope is being able to see there is light despite all of the
darkness.” When believers participate in the Eucharistic rite,
it's a demonstration in the hope of blessings to come to them, that
are not yet seen. This is a powerful expression of which Christians
are apart of, every Sunday, when they worship their Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
Mediator for Offenders
Christ is our ideal mediator who was
chosen by God for His role in our salvation. Through His goodness
and grace, He continues to bless Christians that glorify Him. These
Christians honor His holiness and work to imitate Him. They know the
justice of God is free from any blemish. Jesus Himself is our prime physician of compassion, and many Christians will practice a
Christocentric spirituality.
Norvalis (1772 -1801), a poet, author,
and philosopher of early German Romanticism believed, “Nothing is
more dispensable to true religiosity than a mediator that links us
with divinity.” This was the role of our premiere mediator Jesus Christ; priests, and the religious, who intercede for us, beseeching
God to forgive us of our sins, and to bless us.
Anyone God-fearing person can be a mediator. Their qualifications are based on the fact that they are humble, devout, obedient, and walk in the ways of the
Lord. Such a mediator will be always there for us, offering up
prayers to God, encouraging us in our walk in righteousness, and they will be setting an example for the flock to follow.
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