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Tag: forgiveness

The Apostles Creed 10 the Remission (forgiveness) of Sins
We believe in ..the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins…

The Apostles’ Creed — foundational to our Apostolic Christian faith

Today we have reached the second to last points of our brief look at the Apostles’ creed, the forgiveness or remission of sins.

(We’ll also take a brief glance at ‘the communion of saints,’ mentioned in part in our previous look at the Church.)

For an overview and more instructive view of the outline of our SERIES, take a look at the Roman Creed below:

I BELIEVE or WE BELIEVE IN:

Structure of Christian CREEDS

Here’s a brief outline found originally in The Roman Creed:
1. I BELIEVE IN God almighty (or the Father almighty)
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord
3. Who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
4. Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and was buried
5. And on the third day rose from the dead
6. Who ascended into heaven
7. Siteth at the right hand of the Father
8. Whence He cometh to judge the living and the dead
9. (I or WE believe in:) The Holy Ghost
10. The Holy Church
11. The remission of Sins
12. The resurrection of the flesh
- (and life everlasting).
source: apostles-creed.org

The early church taught what is basically in the Apostles creed…

It was not till heresies and divisions in the church that any creeds were established.

source:

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in

the communion of the Saints,
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If you haven't read our previous post about the Church you may find helpful definitions not repeated here. 
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The Apostles Creed 9 We Believe in The Holy Church

Last time we addressed one of the two definitions included in this section of the Apostles Creed:
- hagios
  - most holy thing, a saint
Today let’s also take a brief look at what the Creed means by communion.

(In a sense, it’s not what you think of first.)

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized..

Acts of the Apostles 2:41a KJV
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(Now they are the saints or Holy ones of Christ, because of the remission of their sins.) 
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And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine

and fellowship, G2842

and in breaking of bread,

and in prayers.

Acts of the Apostles 2:42 KJV

Note that communion here is the fellowship of the saints whick follows learning the teaching or doctrine of the Apostles.

AND that Communion (as we call it) is a corporate breaking of the bread [klasis artos], a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s broken body.

They devoted themselves to

(from the CSB) (and in addition to;)
- the apostles’ teaching,
- to the fellowship (communion of the saints),
- to the breaking of bread,
- and to prayer.
ALL these together, as Christ’s local church, to keep them holy and separate from the sin and surrounding sinners of whom they once embraced.

κοινωνία koinōnía, koy-nohn-ee’-ah; from G2844; partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction (giving to the benefit of the church):—(to) communicate(-ation), communion, (contri-)distribution, fellowship.

Source: BlueLetterBible.org

I believe in

the forgiveness of sins

Nehemiah 9:
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After the Hebrews had abandoned the Law of Moses and their priest Ezra reads it to the people.
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.. the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.
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repentant prayer
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.. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers,
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sanctification or holiness apart from the sin of their former life
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and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
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Confession to God precedes asking for forgiveness. 
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But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage:

but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

Nehamiah 9:16-17 KJV

the remission of sins,
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Admittedly 'remission from the Creed is a little 'King James' in its sound. But recognize the New Testament application with which you may be able to relate from a familiar prayer and Scripture. 
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Forgive us our debts
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(Which comes from this OT application of the Law)
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“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts.

מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע־שָׁנִים תַּעֲשֶׂה שְׁמִטָּה׃

Deuteronomy 18:1 LSB

‘And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Gospel of Matthew 6:12 LSB

“For if you forgive others for their transgressions,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

“But if you do not forgive others,

then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Matthew 6:14-15 LSB – the teaching of Jesus, the Son of Man, to followers

paraptōma – transgressions
- to fall beside or near something
- a lapse or deviation from truth and uprightness
  - a sin, misdeed
Do you imagine that God, in His Holiness and perfect justice, can allow any of these sins or transgressions — without Someone paying your debt?

And you were dead in your transgressions G3900 and sins..

Apostle Paul to the Ephesians 2:1

For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 NIV

The remission of Sins through Christ
- the concept of “wages,” which implies a payment or consequence that is earned. In the biblical context,
- sin refers to any action, thought, or attitude that falls short of God’s holiness and commands.
- Death here is both physical and spiritual, indicating separation from God.
  - Theologically, this underscores the seriousness of sin and its inevitable outcome without divine intervention.
Contrasting with the earned wages of sin, the “gift of God” emphasizes grace, which is unmerited favor. Eternal life is not something humans can earn; it is a gift freely given by God.

It is only through Jesus Christ, His death, and resurrection, that believers receive this gift. Jesus is seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament types and prophecies, such as the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) and the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53).

Source: BibleHub.org – commentary on Romans 6:23

In Him we have redemption through His blood,

the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Ephesians 1:7 NKJV

NEXT: Resurrection!

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
December 30, 2025
Leviticus – Preparation of a Priest for the Sacrifice
SEALED within the Ark of the Covenant as testimony of the LORD on Sinai — the TEN WORDS –– written in Exodus and Deuteronomy as you know, but also referenced in Leviticus.

The Office of Priest – כָּהַן

“So the priest who is anointed and ordained to minister^H3547 as^H3547 a^H3547 priest^H3547 in his father’s place shall make atonement:

he shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments, and make atonement for the holy sanctuary,

and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting

and for the altar.

He shall also make atonement for the priests

and for all the people of the assembly.

16:32-33 וַיִּקְרָא

Who would know more about the Altar of Sacrifice than the Priest appointed to the atonement for all worshipers of the LORD?

The LORD established certain laws of holiness for the priests in addition to the Commandments of the LORD for His chosen people.

“Then you shall bring the bull near before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. “You shall slaughter the bull before Yahweh at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

… it is a sin offering.

Exodus 29:10-11,14b LSB

“For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and set it apart as holy; then the altar shall be most holy, and whatever touches the altar shall be holy.

.. lambs each day, continuously.

Exodus 29:37,38b LSB

atonement כָּפַר

כָּפַר kâphar, kaw-far’; a primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen);
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Bitumen, also known as mineral tar, is derived from the partial distillation of crude petroleum. - source 
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figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel:—appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile(-liation).

Strong’s H3722 – kāp̄ar

‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the [soul] life.’
Leviticus 17:11 LSB

Picture it: a Priest standing between the HOLINESS of God and the Altar upon which your sins have been covered with blood of the sacrifice and the remains burned beyond recognition.

“According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall make it.

Exodus 25:9 LSB

a Blueprint for the Place of Sacrifice and Worship

Exodus 25 CSB
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A brief look at the LORD's instructions for building the Tabernacle (LIST from the CSB should help us visualize it in contemporary terms and measurements.) 

8 “They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them.
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- 10 “They are to make an ark of acacia wood, forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.
- Overlay it with pure gold; overlay it both inside and out. Also make a gold molding all around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it..
- 14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them.
- 14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them.
- 17 Make a mercy seat of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide.
- 18 Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.
- 21 Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the tablets of the testimony that I will give you into the ark. 22 I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.
IT IS A MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH!

Table for the Ark of the Covenant
- 23 “You are to construct a table of acacia wood, thirty-six inches long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.
- 31 “Youa are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold.. 37“Make its seven lamps,and set them up so that they illuminate the area in front of it.
- 26:1 “You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains.. 2 Each curtain should be forty-two feet long and six feet wide;
- 7 “You are to make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tabernacle; make eleven of these curtains. 8 Each curtain should be forty-five feet long and six feet wide.
- 15 “You are to make upright supports of acacia wood for the tabernacle. Each support is to be fifteen feet long and twenty-seven inches wide.
- 31 “You are to make a curtain .. bring the ark of the testimony there behind the curtain, so the curtain will make a separation for you between the holy place and the most holy place.
- 34 Put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
- 35 Place the table outside the curtain.. 36 “For the entrance to the tent you are to make a screen…
Community Worship outside the HOLY Tabernacle
- Exodus 27:1 You are to construct the altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, 7 1/2 feet long, and 7 1/2 feet wide; it must be 4 1/2 feet high. 2 Make horns for it on its four corners..
- 9 “You are to make the courtyard for the tabernacle. Make hangings for.. the courtyard out of finely spun linen, 150 feet long.. 12 For the width of the courtyard, make hangings 75 feet long,, 14 make hangings 22 1/2 feet long for [each] side of the gate,
- 16 The gate of the courtyard is to have a 30-foot screen
- 18 The courtyard is to be 150 feet long, 75 feet wide at each end, and 7 1/2 feet high..
- 21 In the tent of meeting outside the curtain that is in front of the testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamp from evening until morning before the Lord.
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In addition to these for the place of worship, Exodus provides instructions related to worship and the Priests, followed by a book with more detail. 
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Leviticus – Prescription for Perfect Worship, Priestly Requirements

Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them:

Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

—Leviticus 19:2

Observe the progressive path of worship established between the people worshiping the Lord our God from beyond the tent of meeting, to the altar of sacrifice, into the more holy hidden places and before the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat and the Very Presence of the LORD — and again, atonement from the LORD via the Priest to the tent of meeting.

No man should know the significance of the sacrifice — and atonement — more than the Priest.

Think about his separation of holiness from the everyday people as you view the priests preparing for worship. Let’s look at a few of the requirements from their prescriptive handbook.

וַיִּקְרָא אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֵלָיו מֵאֹהֶל מֹועֵד לֵאמֹר׃

וַיִּקְרָא (Leviticus) 1:1 WLC

priest – kōhēn- כֹּהֵן
1. Instructions for Burnt offerings
2. Grain offerings
3. Peace offerings
4. Sin offerings
5. Guilt offerings
Moral and ethical laws

Holiness

Blessings and curses

Vows
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and much more... 
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A Levitical Outline for Priests
- True worship requires priests set apart in holiness
And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation…

And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.

Leviticus 8:4,10 KJV

And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.

Leviticus 9:15 KJV
- True worship requires people set apart in purity
“When a case of serious skin disease may have developed on a person, he is to be brought to the priest.

Leviticus 13:9 CSB
- True worship requires propitiation in blood
Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the LORD, and died; and the LORD said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

Leviticus 16:1-2 NKJV

“Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.

Leviticus 16:15 NKJV
- True worship requires people set apart in purity
- True worship requires priests set apart in holiness
- True worship requires prescribed sacred feasts and offerings
  - Does even the most liberal of Common Era christian churches dare ignore a Holy Week or Easter Sunday? YET do we observe any fasts of preparation?
- True worship requires proper fidelity to Yahweh as a nation and personal fidelity to one’s pledge
Preparation of a Perfect High Priest

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying,

“Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Gospel of Matthew 26:26-28 ESV

Preparation of a High Priestly Prayer

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,

“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent…

Gospel of John 17:1-3 ESV

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.

John 18:1 ESV

Garden of Gethsemane

Lent 2025 C.E. – a time for contrition

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
March 28, 2025
Interrupting Jesus 12 – interrupting sin

`… to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy… build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince… the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. Daniel 9:24-25 KJV excerpt

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus answering the religious leaders. Luke 5:32 KJV

The following is the conclusion of a 12-part series on Interrupting Jesus.

What interruption are you expecting to your day today? What interruption to your mission and ‘to do’ list? Who has stepped into time you thought was your own?

Will you take time, like a loving and merciful God, to love those who get in the way of what you had planned for today?

Jesus made people the focus of His time. No sinner was too unimportant to receive His love and healing. You are not so important or unimportant for God Incarnate to grant you grace, forgiving your sins.

The LORD had interrupted men like Abram, Moses, David and the Prophets. The LORD made covenant and promise. He has given the Law to Israel and made judgment on nations. God IS the LORD!

Why would the eternal GOD interrupt the time of history, even the measured mortality of one man or one woman?

The LORD is Almighty, yet God loves the world – the sons and daughters of the generations – enough to interrupt the rebelliousness of our sin with the love, mercy and grace of a Perfect Heavenly Father.

God interrupted the sin of mankind in the Person of Christ Jesus.

Jesus loved every sinner who interrupted His mission and ministry; from His mother at the wedding where He turned water into wine, to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, to the tax collector Zaccheus in the tree, to you and me.

Jesus Christ loves the people of the world with a personal love and forgiveness of God the Father.

Every generation has looked for God or selfishly ignored God.

The LORD may not have appeared to your grandfather Abraham and your father and mother. The LORD may not have promised a home to your twelve children in a land of milk and honey. The LORD may not have given your leader the Law or appeared to your High Priest. The LORD may not have called you to rebuke kings and nations or given you writing on the walls of history.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17

The LORD God is known. The LORD IS. In the Person of Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit, God is present to those who believe, repent and obey His will; those who believe in Him, as a faithful child follows a loving Father.

Ungodly men seek to do as they please and lead other men into their own sinful ambitions. Israel and all nations look to strong men to lead us into a promise of land and riches for our own ambitious pleasures. False prophets and evil leaders of men will seek your sacrifice for their gain of land and riches.

Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple had been destroyed. September 21, 520 B.C., Temple rebuilding resumes and is completed in 515 B.C., only to be destroyed once again. A faithful exiled Hebrew Prophet had predicted this and more from Babylon (modern day Iraq) under Nebuchadnezzar and later under Cyrus II of Persia (modern day Iran) who overthrew Babylon and allowed some of the Hebrew captives to return to Judah.

Daniel, Prophet of God, lives a godly and high priestly life in a foreign land from about 605-535 B.C. Here the testimony of God through Daniel:

Daniel 9:

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— ²in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years…

“O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

⁵we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.

⁶We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. ⁷To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame…

¹¹All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside,refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. ¹²He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity…

¹⁵And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly…

The Israel of Moses and Joshua had not yet received the true promise of the promised land. Jacob and the twelve sons of Israel did not reap the harvest of the leading of God. David and even Solomon would suffer defeats of a mighty kingdom and evil kings to follow did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Prophets of the LORD, like Jeremiah and Daniel had warned the people of their sin, yet like us… like those leaders of defeated Judah who lived comfortable in their ‘religion’… most souls will not have the ears to hear the LORD. Israel did not expect the kind of Messiah the LORD had sent to personally give accountability for our sins. Jesus was not a leader like them.

Five hundred years after the Prophet Daniel, Herod the Great [37-4 B.C.] envisioned himself as the kind of King Israel should have to restore the kingdom. Many others recognized the true godliness of a Prophet like John the Baptist.

John 1:

¹⁹And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

²⁰He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

During the time of the Messiah in the Person of Jesus Christ, men of Judah, living under the strong rule of a Roman Empire, expected a Messiah King to restore their land to the glory of David and Solomon. Jesus Christ, a Son of Man, came to us that all might be restored to the glory of God by receiving forgiveness of our sins through His Holy and Perfect Sacrifice.

The LORD God is just. The Lord God is a loving Father. Christ Jesus IS sacrificed for us. He IS risen to return once more to judge all souls in the Light, forgiving those who repent and turn back to the righteous LORD.

Three years of earthly ministry of Jesus Christ lead to the gates of Jerusalem more than once, a final time as the Passover Sacrifice for the sins of all mankind on a Cross. An interruption of the centuries and generations by Almighty God gives rise to all nations and all mankind – hope to all the generations for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with the LORD God, our Father in Heaven.

Not only does Jesus interrupt history with a resurrection of His soul, as one might expect; but the greatest interruption of all: Jesus rises from the grave of death in the body and appears to more than five hundred over a time of fifty days!

The Prophets and the Psalmist had spoken and written of the Messiah, who would be King of the Jews. The Scriptures had spoken of the King to whom all will bow down. It was not to happen on earth, in the brief lifetime of Jesus of Nazareth or in yours or mine. Yet Scripture and the promises of the LORD will be fulfilled.

Another interruption is yet to come:

Daniel is not the only true Prophet to see the handwriting on the walls of what the LORD will surely do. Read more of the Prophets about the day of the LORD.

Jesus Christ, our Lord, also warned of His return on the clouds. The Apocalypse written at the close of the New Testament is well-known to the world as an interruption of history yet to come, though the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John is little understood even by believers.

Do you live your life in expectation of the return of Christ our Lord on the clouds?

Revelation 21

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end…

Do you give the souls who interrupt your day the same love and compassion Christ Jesus has given us by showing a most personal interest in our forgiveness of sins?

Revelation 22 KJV

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

LORD, interrupt our mortality with your own loving immortality.

Amen.

September 21, 2015