In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins…” (Ephesians 1:7).
At the root of the Greek word translated into English as “forgiveness” is the idea of “sending away”. When used in connection with Christ’s redemption from sin, it is a most glorious tribute to His rightful authority and His blood’s powerful ability.
As the Old Testament clearly, painfully, and repeatedly demonstrates, the Law of Moses had neither the authority nor the ability to permanently remove the stain, debt, or disease inherent in sin. The Law identified sin. It condemned sin and sinners. It provided a stopgap solution for sin, but its distinct and timeless testimony is “there is no righteous, no not one…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:9, 23); “therefore, by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20).
Because it used only the blood of bulls and goats, the Law did not have the authority to permanently cleanse sin’s stain, pay sin’s debt, or drive into remission this horrific, spiritually terminal disease (Hebrews 10:4). But Christ does. His stepfather Joseph was told by an angel of the Lord, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). In Christ and His gospel, “the righteousness of God apart from the Law is revealed” (Romans 3:21).
Because of His sinlessness, Christ’s atoning, redeeming blood has the powerful ability to cleanse a conscience stained by sin’s guilt, to separate a sinner from his crushing debt of sin, and to make whole the spiritually sick. He can cast all your sins into the depth of the sea (Micah 7:19); He can remove your transgression as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).
He can send your sin away.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul!” (Psalm 103:1).
