Jeremiah 31:33-34

“No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” vs. 34

Jeremiah’s vision of the new covenant must have seemed bizarre to a people steeped in rituals, traditions, and law codes. If what he said was true there’d be no more need for sacrifices, priests, or even a temple. Instead God’s desires would be programmed into the DNA of every human being. There’d be no need for laws…everyone would know what to do…and they’d do it! Justice and peace would abound…it would be the kingdom of God on earth. Of course, that world doesn’t exist. So what’s gone wrong? The simple answer is “sin.” Sinners abound and they really mess things up. Even though they’re programmed for good, they keep on doing evil and the results have been horrendous. Many agree with that assessment and their prescription is a return to the old covenant, an emphasis on law and order with harsh penalties for wrongdoing. Followers of Jesus would agree that sin is a potent force, but they propose Jeremiah’s solution, a grace-filled emphasis on forgiveness. He spoke for the Lord, “I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” Jesus put that teaching into practice and changed lives. It’s still happening today! Forgiveness is the key to kingdom living!

Thought for the Day: If forgiveness is so powerful, why do we turn to the law?