Micah 7:19

He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19)

Gone. Removed and disappeared from existence. Forgotten and never to be remember any more. That’s what Jesus does with our sin. He takes them and cleanses us so that we are a clean slate.

Micah uses the picture of our sins being cast into the depths of the sea. Where exactly is that? How deep is “the depths”? There are so many places in the ocean that still have not been explored. There are places so far removed from us and are difficult, if not impossible, for us as humans to go and explore. We can not fathom or comprehend what is down there because we don’t have access to it. We are ignorant and have no knowledge of what’s in the depths of the sea.

That is just like our sin. Micah is on to something. God doesn’t just forgive our sins but he removes them and takes them to a place out of our reach. He takes them to a place we are not able to reach because they no longer exist. Poof! Just like that they are gone.

Gone. In a moment “the blood of Jesus washes us clean of all sin.” (1 John 1:7) When we repent God takes our sins and exchanges them for a new life. The Bible says it like this, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” (1 Cor. 5:17) You are a clean slate.

Let me give you another word picture from the Bible. The Psalmist says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sin from us.” (Psalm 103:12) Just how far is that? Well, the east goes one way and the west goes another. They are in opposite directions and they never meet. No matter where you go there is always East one way and West the other. The word of God is telling you he takes your sins and pushes them so far from you they will never meet you again. That is awesome. When you come to Jesus and repent of your sins he removes them and makes you a new and clean child of God.

Let me ask you, my friend, is that how you live? Clean, free, new, and forgiven! Do you live as a new creature who has been forgive and made new? Or, do you wallow in regrets of the past? Do you beat yourself up and remind yourself of your failures? Are you reverting to the old you forgetting that you are a new creature?

Let me remind you of something. If God has forgiven you and you don’t forgive yourself you are judging yourself about something that doesn’t exist. Are you God? Who is the Judge? He is a just and fair God. Let him be God and every man a liar! Including you. (Romans 3:4) Live like you are forgiven. Live like you are free.

If you are new in Christ, don’t return to your former ways. (2 Peter 2:20-22) You are no longer bound by sin. (Romans 6:12-13) The Holy Spirit dwells in you and empowers you to overcome. You’ve got this my friend. Come out from under condemnation and live in the Spirit. You are free in Jesus Christ. Don’t return to your former ways and don’t use your liberty for an occasion to sin. (Galatians 5:13)