“Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.””

Hebrews 10:17 NLT

Our first family cat was named Purdy. When we got her as a kitten from the RSPCA they told us that she had fair skin and would need to be kept indoors to stop her getting skin cancer on her ears and nose. So we did exactly that.

One day, when she was at least 10 years old, I wanted to get her out of the house quickly. So I picked her up and carried her outside in my arms. As the door closed behind me she went into full panic mode, and scrabbled to get back inside so hard I had to put her back inside immediately. We had thoroughly convinced her the outside world was not a safe place for her!

Likewise I think the church has concentrated so much on sin that many people live in fear of their sins. I have even met people who seemed to be of the belief that one unconfessed sin would be enough to exclude them from God’s presence and protection forever. Constant concentration on sin only serves to convince us we are hopelessly sinful. Then fear of sin becomes a cage to our identity, stopping us from knowing we are the beloved children of God.

The Biblical teaching about salvation is clear: Jesus sacrifice was enough and STILL IS ENOUGH to cleans us from ALL sin. Because of Jesus sacrifice God declares we are clean from sin today, tomorrow and forever. When God says,“I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds” what He means is, “I will NEVER AGAIN remember their sins and lawless deeds. So no matter how often we bring our sins up, old or new, God has no idea what we are talking about. He has forgotten them completely. No we don’t deserve such grace but it is part of what Jesus paid for on the cross. Jesus deserves that and so much more for His sacrifice. Our judgement has fallen on Jesus shoulders and been paid for – end of story. God has no record of our sins and neither should we. And when we really start to live in this freedom we find it becomes easier and easier to live God’s way. Jesus sinlessness becomes ours too.

So how can we receive this revelation of our sinless state from God?

“Sin free, Sin free is God’s record of me! ”

Resting in God to make it real to you, use that statement

1. for a time of meditation

2. as the basis of a daily thanksgiving prayer.

3. As an affirmation as you look at yourself in a mirror.

4. As inspiration for an artwork, writing or movie

5. As inspiration for a song or chant

6. However else you can think of to remind you

“Sin free, Sin free is God’s record of me! ”

“Sin free, Sin free is God’s record of me! ”

“For by that one offering [Jesus] he [God] forever made perfect those who are being made holy.”” Hebrews 10:14 NLT

We know that if we go into a dark room and turn on a bright light, the room is no longer dark. The presence of the light transforms that room to a more welcoming and useful environment for as long as that light is on.

We know that if we want to live healthy lives we need to regularly eat healthy food and exercise.

We know that basic hygiene facilities such as toilets and easy access to fresh clean water can transform the health of a community in a very positive way from the day they are available.

Many resources have both immediate and on going benefit.

I can get in a car, but unless someone turns the engine on and drives it, I will not go anywhere. The car will not function as it is designed to unless a driver drives it.

I can go to the doctor when I am sick and get some medicine. But unless I take that medicine as directed by the doctor it is not going to make me well. Leaving it on the shelf will not help me.

I could go through a wedding ceremony and marry someone, but unless I chose to live with them as my partner I will never experience the joys that marriage can bring. A ceremony and a legal certificate by themselves are not a marriage.

Many situations in life require us daily to chose to act and be involved to get the full benefits.

The sacrifice of Jesus is the same. It has both immediate and ongoing impacts on our lives and we need to actively receive it and live in its benefits if we want to experience being children of God. Jesus sacrifice has made us perfect because our old imperfect life died with Him and now His perfect life lives in us. It is such a powerful thing that as we receive it and learn how to live in it, it makes us holy. It is a one off gift of perfection that transforms us to be holy. As we sit in this gift, receiving it, Jesus changes us so we belong in the culture of heaven.

So how can we receive perfection from God?

“Jesus perfection lives in me, making me holy daily”

Resting in God to make it real to you, use that statement

1. for a time of meditation

2. as the basis of a daily thanksgiving prayer.

3. As an affirmation as you look at yourself in a mirror.

4. As inspiration for an artwork or writing picturing you as perfect

5. As inspiration for a song or chant

6. However else you can think of to remind you

“Jesus perfection lives in me, making me holy daily”

“Jesus perfection lives in me, making me holy daily”

“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” Hebrews 10:10 NLT

Choices are a powerful thing. The choices we make go a long way to determine who we are as a person.

I chose education and got a doctorate in medical biology, becoming a research scientist. Although I did not continue in that career once I had children, the training and experience I got doing that has impacted the rest of my life in a very positive way.

I knew a couple once who chose to adopt a child from an orphanage in a foreign country. Although they loved the child dearly, he turned out to have quite severe social problems that were a constant challenge for them to deal with. He changed the priorities in their lives quite significantly.

The choices other people make can also have a big impact on us.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic our government has put parts of our country into lock-down, restricting our movements and activities. It was necessary to stop too many people from dying but has been a real struggle for people to adjust to. We are not used to having our freedom of movement and socialisation so restricted.

Hebrews 10:10 tells us that it was God’s decision, God’s choice to make us holy, for all time, by the one time sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It was a momentous decision for God because it meant sacrificing His one and only Beloved Son, in a horrific way. It was a momentous decision for Jesus because it meant He had to suffer that death. But God chose to do it because that one action would have such a big and positive impact on all of humanity, enabling them to be what they were born to be, God’s children, just like Jesus. God and Jesus chose to do it for the joy of having us as part of their family. God, the most powerful being in our universe chose to make us holy, like Him and knowing that is real, now, is to experience the awesome transforming power of Jesus in us.

So how can we receive this revelation from God?

“Holy, Holy, Holy, God You’ve made me Holy”

Resting in God to make it real to you, use that statement

1. for a time of meditation

2. as the basis of a daily thanksgiving prayer.

3. As an affirmation as you look at yourself in a mirror.

4. As inspiration for an artwork or writing picturing you as holy

5. As inspiration for a song or chant

6. However else you can think of to remind you

“Holy, Holy, Holy, God You’ve made me Holy”

“Holy, Holy, Holy, God You’ve made me Holy”