“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9 NKJV
Welcome to the 15th weekly devotional recap of the year. This week, we saw different colours that can be used to describe God’s grace in salvation and learnt to extend it to others because it is for everyone.
We started the week on Monday with an emphasis on the fact that salvation is the demonstration of God’s love and mercy (Ephesians 2:8-9). In the Old Testament, God permitted sacrifices and ceremonies to help man understand the gravity of his fallen state. Yet, none could fully restore man to righteousness (Hebrews 10:4). We could never have earned salvation by our effort, but in His amazing grace, God made it such that all that is required of us is to believe (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-13). What a gift!
On Tuesday, we learnt that though sin and its repercussions can feel like a permanent crimson dye, irreversible by human effort, God can make it white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). By faith in the blood of Jesus, our sins are covered and we are cleansed from all unrighteousness (John 1:29, 1 John 1:9). We see this truth in the lives of people like the apostles Paul (1 Timothy 1:15) and Peter (Luke 22:61, 1 Peter 5:1). Because of the cleansing blood of Jesus, you can be confident that you are a new creation in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old has passed away, and what remains is a life redeemed! If God no longer holds your past against you (Isaiah 43:25), why should you?
Wednesday’s article showed us that despite human efforts—good deeds, apologies, and promises to “never do it again”— to try to erase the spiritual debt that sin creates, only God can cleanse what we’ve corrupted. Jesus didn’t come to merely improve us; He came to rescue us with His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). His sacrifice gave us a full reset, not a patchwork solution.
On Thursday, we learnt that salvation in Christ is for everyone (John 3:16). Unlike the world’s system of rewarding people based on behaviour, salvation is a gift from God, independent of what anyone has done or can do (John 14:6). Just as anyone could have been saved if they had believed God’s word through Noah and entered the Ark, salvation is available today to everyone—upright or flawed, wealthy or poor, regardless of tribe—who believes in the redemptive work of Christ (Romans 10:9-10).
We ended the week with a charge to extend the grace we received in Christ to those around us (Colossians 3:13). To extend grace is to recognise that just as you received undeserved mercy, you must offer the same to others. We were guilty, yet Christ died for us so we could receive forgiveness of sins (Romans 5:8), and now He expects us to do the same (Matthew 18:23-35). Strive to walk in love, bear with others, and forgive freely.
Child of God, salvation in Christ has made you a new man, free from the penalty and bondage of sin. Rest in this truth, and be eager to tell everyone you know about it.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Bible Reading Plan: 1 Samuel 10-14; Mark 8:22-9:29