November 18, 2018
HE REMEMBERS YOUR SINS NO MORE
Hebrews 10:11-25
“He remembers your sins no more”
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
One of my favorite poems was written by Alfred Lord Tennyson. As I read the words feel free to close your eyes; just remember you have to open them in just a few moments.
I
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
II
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
III
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the six hundred.
IV
Flashed all their sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wondered.
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right through the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reeled from the sabre stroke
Shattered and sundered.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.
V
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell.
They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.
VI
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
(You can open your eyes now. Please open your eyes now) Within this poem I am struck by the words “Into the valley of death rode the six hundred…Someone had blundered! Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die.” People give wrong orders, make wrong decisions, or give wrong advice, and often a tragedy ensues for those who follow.
Ever since the fall of man into sin the world was tainted; all mankind became tainted with sin. The very first children born to Adam and Eve: Cain and able ended with the first murder; a brother killing his brother. Generation after generation saw mankind turn away from God. Even God’s people turned away and sinned. Abraham gave up his wife to other rulers. David had a soldier killed to take his wife. Judah slept with his daughter in law. Mankind, believers and unbelievers alike, have constantly given wrong orders, made wrong decisions, given wrong advice, and sinned.
Scripture is quite clear about mankind. “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18)
And so mankind continues to ride into the valley of death. We have all blundered and as sinners all we can do is die. Left on our own that is all we can do. On our own there is no hope, no peace, and no joy.
But God did something. God acted. God sent His Son. “The Holy Spirit bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” (Hebrews 10:15-17)
God says “I will remember their sins no more.” That is absolute forgiveness. Through Jesus’ sacrificial death God the Father sees our sins no more. They are completely washed away through the blood of Christ. And when sins are washed away God sees you as perfect. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
Your sins are forgiven. They are remembered no more. You have been made perfect by and through Christ. As forgiven people our text exhorts us: “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:22-25)
Hold fast to your confession of the true faith without wavering. Stir up one another to love and good works. Love each other. Love your neighbors. Love your family. Love your enemies. Continue to do good works by loving others. And keep meeting together. Keep going to Church. Keep hearing God’s Word. Keep receiving forgiveness. Keep receiving strength through Jesus blood. Keep coming to the place Jesus promises all these things! Here! His house! His Church!
Why? To receive faith and forgiveness. To store up treasures, loved ones, by sharing our faith that they might believe in Christ and give thanks to Him as well. Why? Heaven. With all the Saints. With Jesus forever. Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
