“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are  as red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” -Isaiah 1:18

In Psalm 51:7, the Psalmist says “Purify me… and I will be clean; Wash me, I will be whiter than snow.” Have you ever woken up to the first snow of winter? You know, when you’re standing there inside your window drinking a nice hot mocha, looking out at the beauty of the white blanket covering everything? So beautiful & pure… In the Hebrew text, the word used in the verse from Isaiah for “shall be as white” is “laban,” which in it’s verb form means to make white, often used as a metaphor for “purify.” That is what we are  when we receive salvation from Christ. We are now in Christ, & we are made pure, washed clean of all sin & impurity.

“I, only I, am He who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.” -Isaiah 43:25

“I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” -Isaiah 44:22

How merciful is our God, that He promised, time & time again throughout the Old Testament, to redeem us & wash us clean, & then He sent His Son to fulfill that promise!

God knows that we are imperfect humans, & it hurt Him to see us separated from Him because of the sin nature in us. So, He made a plan & a promise to redeem us.

“Let the wicked leave (behind) his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion (mercy) on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” -Isaiah 35:7

Abundantly pardon. THAT is the sweet sound of grace- God is not angry at you or out to get you for any of the wrongs you may have committed, He loves you; He is waiting for you to come to Him, & He will pardon you for all, washing it away, never to be remembered by Him!

“Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed & practices justice & righteousness, he will save his life.” -Ezekiel 18:27

It’s so simple, & so many people miss it! All it takes is a true heart change- turn from sin, receive the forgiveness of Christ, & you will be washed clean & saved! Will you mess up? Yes. We all do. But our heavenly Father is so gracious, that when we acknowledge our wrongs, He will forgive us time after time. It’s not an excuse to continue in sin, it’s a reassurance of His grace when we slip up.

No matter what you have done in the past, rest assured that you do not have to work for your forgiveness, it’s already yours. You have been purified & made righteous, & nothing can undo what Christ has done for you!