As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
As far as the east is from the west, God puts transgressions far away from the sinner and removes them completely and totally. It is a song of praise for His forgiveness and compassion, bringing restored body and renewed hope to the sinful and suffering. That pardon rests on Christ's sacrifice, with the punishment of sin laid upon the Son so the believing sinner is counted innocent and Christ's righteousness is credited to them. It is for those who fear God and surrender to Him in loyalty, who put away self-exaltation, confess rather than cover their sins, put them away in repentance and contrition, and believe they are forgiven because He promised. This forgiveness is more than release from condemnation, for redeeming love reclaims from sin and transforms the heart, and He deals tenderly and patiently rather than according to sins, bearing with weakness and making forgiveness possible by grace.
Complete Forgiveness in Christ
Psalm 103:12 belongs to a song of praise for God's forgiveness and compassion, and that praise is joined to restored body and renewed hope for the sinful and suffering as seen in the healed paralytic. As far as the east is from the west, God removes transgressions completely and totally from the sinner, putting sins far away from those who fear Him in abundant loving-kindness and mercy. The same removal is for the one who surrenders to Jesus and seeks the Lord wholeheartedly, whose sins are forgiven so that anger has turned away and He comforts. This forgiveness is more than release from condemnation; it reclaims people from sin through redeeming love that transforms the heart.
He does not deal with people according to their sins, but is tender, patient, long-suffering and ready to pardon and forgive, bearing with weakness and defects, with grace making forgiveness possible. He does not deal with wayward and disobedient people in anger but removes their transgressions far from them and pities them as a father pities his children. Though they fail to walk perfectly before Him and grieve Him continually, He bears with them gently and forgives, remembering their weakness and their lack of opportunity to gain self-control.
Pardon rests on Christ's sacrifice, with the punishment of sin laid on the Son, so the believing sinner is counted innocent as Christ's righteousness is credited and imputed to them. That complete removal is for those who fear God, for those who surrender to Him and remain loyal, and for those who put away self-exaltation and self-righteousness and come into living connection with Him. It is for the one who seeks Him wholeheartedly, and those who ask for forgiveness are to believe they are forgiven because He promised.
While Jesus pleads as great High Priest and Advocate in heaven, those who confess rather than cover their sins will find mercy and grace. Those who put them away and loathe the sins that caused His suffering, and pour out their souls in repentance and contrition, receive a new heart with transgressions totally taken away. In that surrender they may know anger has turned away and He comforts them.
Separation and Merciful Living
The east is set from the west by an immense and immeasurable distance that pictures complete separation. The children of light are to be as distinct from the children of darkness in customs, practices, and spirit as east is from west. That separation from the world becomes more marked as the end of time approaches. The image marks the great moral divide between the children of light and the children of darkness, so believers must watch continually and pray always so they are not overcome by Satan's devices.
Thoughts and feelings can stand far separated from God by that same immeasurable distance. Feeling is not faith but is as far removed from faith as the east is from the west.
The Lord does not treat people as they may treat one another but treats them with more mercy. Even when they err and make mistakes He does not forsake or forget them or leave them to their own ways. He calls them to repent and confess. His fatherly dealing is the pattern for parents in disciplining children, requiring obedience firmly and kindly without storms of angry words, never striking in anger, deferring punishment until self is controlled and God is sought for forgiveness and wisdom, and dealing gently in remembrance of their own faults and of tendencies to wrong received from them.
As far as the east is from the west, God puts transgressions far away from the sinner and removes them completely and totally. It is a song of praise for His forgiveness and compassion, bringing restored body and renewed hope to the sinful and suffering. That pardon rests on Christ's sacrifice, with the punishment of sin laid upon the Son so the believing sinner is counted innocent and Christ's righteousness is credited to them. It is for those who fear God and surrender to Him in loyalty, who put away self-exaltation, confess rather than cover their sins, put them away in repentance and contrition, and believe they are forgiven because He promised. This forgiveness is more than release from condemnation, for redeeming love reclaims from sin and transforms the heart, and He deals tenderly and patiently rather than according to sins, bearing with weakness and making forgiveness possible by grace.
Complete Forgiveness in Christ
Psalm 103:12 belongs to a song of praise for God's forgiveness and compassion, and that praise is joined to restored body and renewed hope for the sinful and suffering as seen in the healed paralytic. As far as the east is from the west, God removes transgressions completely and totally from the sinner, putting sins far away from those who fear Him in abundant loving-kindness and mercy. The same removal is for the one who surrenders to Jesus and seeks the Lord wholeheartedly, whose sins are forgiven so that anger has turned away and He comforts. This forgiveness is more than release from condemnation; it reclaims people from sin through redeeming love that transforms the heart.
He does not deal with people according to their sins, but is tender, patient, long-suffering and ready to pardon and forgive, bearing with weakness and defects, with grace making forgiveness possible. He does not deal with wayward and disobedient people in anger but removes their transgressions far from them and pities them as a father pities his children. Though they fail to walk perfectly before Him and grieve Him continually, He bears with them gently and forgives, remembering their weakness and their lack of opportunity to gain self-control.
Pardon rests on Christ's sacrifice, with the punishment of sin laid on the Son, so the believing sinner is counted innocent as Christ's righteousness is credited and imputed to them. That complete removal is for those who fear God, for those who surrender to Him and remain loyal, and for those who put away self-exaltation and self-righteousness and come into living connection with Him. It is for the one who seeks Him wholeheartedly, and those who ask for forgiveness are to believe they are forgiven because He promised.
While Jesus pleads as great High Priest and Advocate in heaven, those who confess rather than cover their sins will find mercy and grace. Those who put them away and loathe the sins that caused His suffering, and pour out their souls in repentance and contrition, receive a new heart with transgressions totally taken away. In that surrender they may know anger has turned away and He comforts them.
Separation and Merciful Living
The east is set from the west by an immense and immeasurable distance that pictures complete separation. The children of light are to be as distinct from the children of darkness in customs, practices, and spirit as east is from west. That separation from the world becomes more marked as the end of time approaches. The image marks the great moral divide between the children of light and the children of darkness, so believers must watch continually and pray always so they are not overcome by Satan's devices.
Thoughts and feelings can stand far separated from God by that same immeasurable distance. Feeling is not faith but is as far removed from faith as the east is from the west.
The Lord does not treat people as they may treat one another but treats them with more mercy. Even when they err and make mistakes He does not forsake or forget them or leave them to their own ways. He calls them to repent and confess. His fatherly dealing is the pattern for parents in disciplining children, requiring obedience firmly and kindly without storms of angry words, never striking in anger, deferring punishment until self is controlled and God is sought for forgiveness and wisdom, and dealing gently in remembrance of their own faults and of tendencies to wrong received from them.