Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear
Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Colossians 1:13-14.
I can't think of anything concerning our salvation that is not worth getting excited about! Consider
some of the things we have-a home in heaven, the indwelling of the Spirit of God, membership in the body
of Christ, an opportunity to serve-and we could go on talking about all the wonderful benefits God has
given to us.
But, if you had to pick the most glorious aspect of salvation, what part might you select? I believe
that the most glorious part of salvation is referenced to in our text. We read the little phrase, "Even
the forgiveness of our sins." I would like to share with you three reasons why I believe that the most
glorious aspect of our salvation is the fact that we have been forgiven.
REASON #1: Forgiveness is the most glorious because it's the first and the most basic ingredient in
our salvation. Do you realize that everything else we have in Christ came after we received the forgiveness
of our sins? I have a wonderful home in heaven. The Bible teaches that it has gates of pearl and streets of
gold. Heaven is a place where the sun never shines because the glory of Christ illuminates it. Heaven is a
place where the angels of God will be-a place of eternal joy and bliss. It is a wonderful place indeed,
but before I got the deed to that property, I first got forgiveness for my sins! If I had not gotten the
forgiveness of my sins, I would not have that glorious mansion in heaven.
The Bible also teaches me that I have a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. The day I got saved,
the Spirit of God moved inside of me and He has changed me in glorious ways. But before the Holy Spirit moved
in, I first received the forgiveness of sin.
So it is with every gift God has given me. Every one of them was preceded first by the wonderful gift
of forgiveness. Forgiveness is the first and the most basic ingredient of salvation. Have you been
forgiven of your sins? If not you are missing all the things God wants you to have!
REASON #2: Forgiveness is the most glorious because of what forgiveness means. Let me give you my
simple definition of forgiveness. Forgiveness is when God takes me and makes me as if I had never sinned.
For that to happen to us, God must remove both the sin and the penalty for our sin. Since God is holy, He
cannot just erase our sins. No, they must be paid for. That is the whole point to the salvation story.
Jesus, God's sinless Son, put on robes of flesh that He might pay our sin debt. When Jesus died on the
cross, He made the payment and the sins were removed. With the payment made, now the penalty of those
removed sins is also removed from our account. In God's eyes, we are now as if we had never sinned at
all. We have been forgiven! Aren't you glad that Jesus has removed your sin? Aren't you glad you won't
have to die and go to hell to pay for them yourself? If you have trusted in Jesus' death on the cross
that is exactly what forgiveness has done for you.
REASON #2: Forgiveness is the most glorious aspect of our salvation because it is complete.
When you came to Christ, you were completely forgiven of every sin or else you have never been forgiven
of a single sin. Contrary to what some think, forgiveness doesn't come one sin at a time. When Jesus
died on the cross for us more than two millenniums ago, He paid for all our sins. Hence He cried out
"It is finished!" and we sing out, "Jesus paid it all; All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain;
He washed it white as snow!" When you were saved, you received God's complete forgiveness.
Now, for those who have been saved, our eternity is secured, but have you been forgiven? Have you
ever looked up to heaven as a wretched, vile sinner, understanding that there is not one worthy bone in
our being, and poured yourself out before God? Have you ever called on Jesus to save you? If not,
would you bow your head and do so now?
