against ourselves, against our
fellow men, and against God.

It is indeed a black picture, and with whitened faces and rapidly
beating hearts we ask, Is there any hope? I bring you God's gracious
answer to this important question: "I, even I, am he that blotteth out
thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."
Notice, it is the voice of God speaking. "I, even I," he exclaims,
"will blot out your transgressions."

It is, first of all, a commercial term. We were in debt to God,
hopelessly in debt, and our obligation has been canceled; over against
our sin is placed the righteousness of the Son of God, and we are free.

"Jesus paid it all,
All to him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow."

It is also a chemical expression, for it is a picture of God applying
the blood of Jesus Christ to every page of the written record. The
sins of our youth long ago passed out of mind; the sins of our manhood,
which have taken up every part of our being, the sins of to-day--all
have gone, for he himself has blotted them out. When we realize that
we are forgiven of God it means more than if we were forgiven of men,
for in the might of his forgiveness our past sins are gone, they shall
not even be mentioned against us; the fear of judgment is taken away,
for Jesus himself says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting
life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death
unto life" (John 5:24). It is the Passover story over again, "When I
see the blood, I will pass over you." Thus are our sins blotted out.

II

It is with God's hand that the work is done; and for very many reasons
this is a great comfort to us.

First: Because it was God's hand that made the record, he it was who
put down all your sins. He never rested in his work; week after week,
month after month, year after year, the recording work was being done
until your record became blacker than the blackest midnight; and behold
the hand that made the record blots it out.

Second: It was his hand against which you offended. Your sin was
against yourself. It is true it hurt your character, lowered your
self-respect; but more especially was it against God, for you despised
his authority, forsook his service, broke his laws, defied his justice;
you grieved his spirit, and you crucified his Son. And behold it is