‘“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool”‘ (Isaiah 1:18 NLT).

BRING YOUR SINS TO THE LORD

Isaiah begins his prophecy with a terrifying appraisal of Israel’s sin. Yet before he even finishes the first chapter, he offers this hope of forgiveness and covering from the Lord. For the Lord invites us to come to Him and “settle” our sin problem. Though our sins are deeply dyed as scarlet and doubly red like crimson, yet the Lord is able to make them white as new snow or sheep’s wool. We cannot remove sin’s stain, but the Lord can.

For as Isaiah later writes, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). Who is this “Him” upon which the Lord will lay our sins? It is the Lord Jesus Christ. For when we bring our sins to the Lord asking for forgiveness and believing in His Son, our sins are “laid” on the Lord Jesus Christ, who died in our place. Our sin account is settled because Jesus paid off the balance in full.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for not only forgiving our sins, but also removing sin’s stain. We rejoice in the gift of grace through Jesus Christ our Lord! Even though we are still in this world, we are justified and clean before Your heavenly throne. Help us to walk in the Spirit today sharing the Good News of Your grace to all we meet. In Jesus’ name, amen.