Did you know God cannot simply forgive sin? He doesn’t just decide to pass over sin because we sound sincere in an apology.

We must understand the high cost of forgiveness. To be pardoned of an offense is not something to be taken lightly.

Our earthly legal system is a shadow of the courts of heaven. God is just, and there are laws, codes, and statutes that must be upheld. The violation of these laws cannot be simply overlooked.

Scripture tells us that life is in the blood and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. So each and every sin requires the payment of blood. In the courts of heaven, when we are found guilty of an offense, the sentence is death.

By the mercy of God, He has made legal allowance for a substitute to stand in place for the guilty. On behalf of another, the shedding of innocent blood satisfies the righteous requirements of the law.

Forgiveness then becomes a legal transaction where your guilt is put on another’s life. The sentence of death you deserve is placed on them, and the shedding of their blood buys you life.

They stand in your place of death, as you stand in their place of life.

In the Old Testament, the way made to foreshadow forgiveness was the sacrificial shedding of blood of spotless animals. This was a tedious process and was needed repeatedly because it only provided temporary pardon.

God had a better way.

God came to earth in the form of man to empty His innocent blood and be the substitute we all needed. Jesus Christ, the sinless sacrifice, once and for all satisfied the righteous requirements of the law for those who believe.

In the righteous courts of heaven, our sin can be placed on Jesus. His blood buys our pardon. In this legal transaction, our guilt is placed on Him, and His death buys us life.

This is the high cost of forgiveness:  Jesus stands in our place, as we stand in His. 

In the heavenly courtroom we will all be found guilty. Everyone of us. Guilty and deserving of death because righteousness cannot be attained through the law. The only hope for pardon we have is the blood of Jesus Christ. Faith alone in His sacrificial death is our only righteousness.

In light of the high cost of forgiveness, let’s not take sin lightly. Let’s be separated from it, wholly stripped of it, and cleansed by God’s Holy Presence.

Forgiveness has been purchased for us by Jesus Christ. In faith, let’s stand under the blood.