The Economic Spectrum of Forgiveness….

When I think of man’s sinful nature, his pride, or selfishness, I realize why so many people stay away from God. Pride tells a man he can do it himself, he doesn’t need help. Pride tells a man he is good enough. Pride tells a man when he messes up he doesn’t need to apologize for any wrong doing. Pride tells a man he has to earn things by working hard. Pride tells a man he doesn’t need God, or his works will make himself right with God. This is not biblical. If it were true, then why does God consistently say throughout scripture that He hates pride, or that He opposes the proud? Sin is such an offense to God that it demands shed blood. Sin demands our death as a restitution payment. Yet God in His merciful character allows the shedding of an animal’s blood as a temporary, substitutional payment for our sin. Not only that, but He allows substitutions for the sacrifices based on our ability to provide it. Our economic status is considered in our “making things right with God”. In Leviticus chapter 5 we read that according to our ability to provide the sacrifice, it can either be a female goat or sheep (for the wealthy), doves or pigeons (for the middle class), and flour (the poor). God takes into account all things, and provides ways to be made right with Him, because He knows the severity of sin. Does this sound like the God Our society tries to paint a picture of? An old, antiquated, controlling Dictator of a god? The point to all of this is God provides a way to be made right with Him and there’s no excuse we can legitimately have for not adhering to His view of sin. When you realize you’ve sinned, make it right (repent). Don’t allow Pride to step in and stop the process. Sin (every time) will make you want to run from God. He knows this, that’s one reason why He takes it so seriously. And in His great love for us, He has provided the One and Only way to be completely, not just temporarily anymore, made right with Him. Jesus covers the economic spectrum of forgiveness. And it’s absolutely free, mind you, it does cost you your pride. Are you willing? Daily? Dying to self? God is good, no matter what you choose to believe. But once you do see this, there are no excuses.

1 “ ‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.2 “ ‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground) and they are unaware that they have become unclean, but then they come to realize their guilt; 3 or if they touch human uncleanness (anything that would make them unclean) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; 4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. 6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.7 “ ‘Anyone who cannot afford a lamb is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8 They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck, not dividing it completely, 9 and is to splash some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar; the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. 10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way and make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.11 “ ‘If, however, they cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. 12 They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest will make atonement for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, as in the case of the grain offering.’ ” Leviticus 5:1-13