All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

One of the truly amazing things about The Bible is that it is made up of 66 books written by around 40 different authors and yet they all tell the same story – the story of God and His people. The Bible constantly cross references itself and self-verifies the information it contains. The Old Testament tells you what’s going to come in the New Testament and the New acknowledges the Old as truth.

The point is to show that Jesus is exactly who He says He is and that He did exactly what He promised to do. The Old Testament tells us through the prophets that He was coming and so when we preach the gospel or share our faith with other people we can do so knowing that we are telling the truth. And, Jesus came to take away our sin and our shame. There are quite literally 100’s of references to His coming in the Old Testament but to quote just one from Isaiah, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isa 53:5).

This is what was promised for all of us. This is what God sent from heaven – a Saviour who would redeem the world for no reason other than His unfathomable love for everyone in it. Jesus is simply the most extraordinary gift to a people who did not deserve His love and grace which He gave freely and willingly anyway.

Can you believe in love like that?

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Application:

Soak in the words of today’s verse. Turn it over in your mind. Read it and re-read it until it’s embedded in your memory and then pray.

Prayer:

Lord God I give You thanks and praise for Your Son Jesus. Thank you for His life given for me on the cross. Thank you that He came to take away my sin and to restore me to a right relationship with You. Help me Lord to receive the knowledge that I have been redeemed by Jesus, that my sins have been removed and that He is my Saviour now and forever. Amen.