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Sermon Outline

Growing in a Relationship With God

Repentance and Forgiveness

Lesson #10 for June 6, 2026

Scriptures:Isaiah 61:10; Hosea 6;Acts 3:18-19; Exodus 34:1-10; Romans 6:23; Matthew 22:1-14.

  1. Do we need repentance? Do we need forgiveness? Or, do we need to be changed?

[From the Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide=T-BSG:] This week’s lesson responds to last week’s examination of the nature of sin. Last week, we considered the hopelessness that our sinful condition generates. This week we will consider God’s response to the human problem of sin.

After humanity fell, God did not remain at a distance in heaven, indifferent to our misery. At the appointed time, Jesus, the Son of God, came down in the likeness of human flesh to undertake a rescue operation. God, in the person of His Son, died for our sins. At the cross, Christ paid the high price of justice [What does that mean?] for our salvation. Since that time, the Lord Jesus has interceded in heaven for us to secure our place with Him in His kingdom. And now, at the time of the end, Christ pleads with us through His Spirit to change our sinful ways, which lead to death, and to accept instead His gift of eternal life. The only solution to the problem of sin is to hear God’s call to repent (Hosea 6). [That is: TURN FROM OUR SINS!]

Last week, we learned that, as sinners, we are in a lost condition apart from Christ and, thus, are walking in darkness (1 John 1:6). This week, we will learn how to walk out of darkness into God’s marvelous light (1 John 1:7). Without the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, our sin is unforgivable, and we are slaves to sin and death (Gen. 2:17,Rom. 5:12). In this week’s lesson, we will explore how we stand alive in Christ, amazed at God’s wonderful gift of grace (Exod. 34:1–10). Without this gift, we are like Adam and Eve at the Fall, ashamed of our nakedness (Gen. 3:7). This week, we also will see how God’s grace covers us as it covered a penitent Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21,Rev. 7:13–17,Matt. 22:12).—T-BSG* 132.†‡§ [Do our sins just need to be covered over? Or, do we need to be changed?]‡

The Golden Calf—Sin and Repentance?

  1. After escaping from Egypt and passing through the Red Sea, the children of Israel reached the plain at the foot of Mount Sinai fairly quickly. However, there they experienced a number of things, including the building of the tabernacle/tent which consumed almost a year. That promise about the land flowing with milk and honey began to seem further and further away. Then, Moses disappeared into the cloud on the top of the mountain. What happened to him? Was he consumed by the fire? Or, did he just starve to death with no food or water. In Egypt, they were accustomed to seeing their “gods.” So, they surrounded the tent of Aaron and demanded that he make them a “god” which they could see. The very sad story of the golden bull calf is described in Exodus 32-34. Read especiallyExodus 32:12: The response of Moses to God’s “anger”!

Exodus 32:12: “Why should the Egyptians be able to say that you led your people out of Egypt, planning to kill them in the mountains and destroy them completely? Stop being angry; change your mind and do not bring this disaster on your people.”—American Bible Society. (©1992). The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation®* [GNT] (Today’s English Version) [TEV], Second Edition (Exodus 32:12). Philadelphia: American Bible Society [abbreviated as Good News Bible-TEV* or GNB-TEV*].†‡ [Do we pray like that? What prepared Moses for that response?]‡

  1. This is a very interesting statement from Moses addressed directly to God. Moses essentially said: “Lord, you need to be concerned about your own reputation! Don’t abandon your people in your ‘anger.’ Change your mind and take care of your people!”
  2. Does the ensuing conversation sound to you like a father and mother arguing over the misbehavior of their children? Was Moses actually able to “convince” Yahweh to stop being angry? What did it seem like God was going to do in His anger?
  3. After spending so much time with God, what happened to Moses’s face when he came down the mountain? What kind of light was that?
  4. In the New Testament it says we are to love our enemies. (Matthew 5:44-48) Why was God so determined to wipe out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites who lived in the land of Canaan? Did God already know what these children of Israel were going to do about 1000 years later?

2 Chronicles 33:9: Manasseh led the people of Judah to commit even greater sins than those committed by the nations whom the Lord had driven out of the land as his people advanced.—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

  1. What do you think God intended for us to learn from the account in Exodus?

[From the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide=BSG:] This account is just one story from Scripture that teaches us about repentance and forgiveness, the theme of this week’s lesson study.—BSG* for Sabbath.‡

  1. God had promised forgiveness in the days of Moses and Jeremiah, hundreds of years before Christ came to this earth. Forgiveness is a part of God’s very nature. It is extended to every person living on this earth. However, it will not do us any good unless we repent, turn from our sins, and are transformed by beholding and being changed into His very likeness. Forgiveness alone does not save us!

Jeremiah 31:31-34: 31The Lord says, “The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. Although I was like a husband to them, they did not keep that covenant. 33The new covenant that I will make with the people of Israel will be this: I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34None of them will have to teach a neighbor to know the Lord, because all will know me, from the least to the greatest. I will forgive their sins and I will no longer remember their wrongs. I, the Lord, have spoken.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*† [This promise is repeated inHebrews 8:8-12, with no mention of the death of Jesus or the shedding of any blood!]‡

Hebrews 8:8-12: 8 “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will draw up a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.

9It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors

on the day I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt.

They were not faithful to the covenant I made with them,

and so I paid no attention to them.

10Now, this is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel

in the days to come, says the Lord: [This was written after 34 a.d.]

I will put my laws in their minds

and write them [not on stone tablets but rather] on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

11None of them will have to teach their friends

or tell their neighbors,

‘Know the Lord.’

For they will all know me,

from the least to the greatest.

12I will forgive their sins

and will no longer remember their wrongs.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†‡

  1. Do the busy and urgent tasks sometimes crowd out the important?

[BSG:] [Do we sometimes act] like Martha, “distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40, NKJV)…. [Jesus said:] “ ‘You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’ ” (Luke 10:41, 42, NKJV). That good part. Sitting at Jesus’ feet out of a deep love for Him—not just on Sabbath, but every day.—BSG* for Sunday, May 31.‡§

Luke 10:40-42: 40Martha was upset over all the work she had to do, so she came and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!” [Wasn’t that a fair request?]

41The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, 42but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*‡

  1. How many of us have had similar experiences?

[BSG:] The purpose of this example [of being too busy with “the little things”] is not to focus on what we should or shouldn’t do on Sabbath; rather it is a reminder of why it’s important for us to notice the things that weaken or break down our relationship with God. When our hearts feel the pain of sin and separation and we call out to Him, Jesus is very close (Ps. 53:2). In His bloodstained hands, He holds a white robe. He sees our tears of repentance and takes away our dirty clothes.—BSG* for Sunday, May 31.†‡§

  1. Remember that being treated as a sinner, although He was not a sinner, and thus, being separated from His Father, the only Source of life, is what caused the death of Jesus. That will be what causes the deaths of the wicked in the end.

[From the writings of Ellen G. White=EGW:] …. The wrath of God against sin, the terrible manifestation of His displeasure because of iniquity, filled the soul of His Son with consternation. All His life Christ had been publishing to a fallen world the good news of the Father’s mercy and pardoning love. Salvation for the chief of sinners was His theme. But now with the terrible weight of guilt He bears, He cannot see the Father’s reconciling face. The withdrawal of the divine countenance from the Saviour [sic-British spelling] [God’s wrath/anger] in this hour of supreme anguish pierced His heart with a sorrow that can never be fully understood by man. So great was this agony that His physical pain [on the cross] was hardly felt. [For the first time in His life, Jesus felt separation from His Father!]

Satan with his fierce temptations wrung the heart of Jesus. The Saviour [sic-British spelling] could not see through the portals of the tomb. Hope did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror, or tell Him of the Father’s acceptance of the sacrifice. He feared that sin was so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal. Christ felt the anguish which the sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race. It was the sense of sin, bringing the Father’s wrath upon Him as man’s substitute, that made the cup He drank so bitter, and broke the heart of the Son of God. [It killed Jesus.]—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 753.1-2.†‡

[Underlining of text is added for emphasis.]‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.3718&index=0]‡

[EGW:] Amid the awful darkness, apparently forsaken of God, Christ had drained the last dregs in the cup of human woe. In those dreadful hours He had relied upon the evidence of His Father’s acceptance heretofore given Him. He was acquainted with the character of His Father; He understood His justice, His mercy, and His great love. By faith He rested in Him whom it had ever been His joy to obey. And as in submission He committed Himself to God, the sense of the loss of His Father’s favor [God’s wrath/anger] was withdrawn. By faith, Christ was victor.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 756.3.†‡ [Underlining of text is added for emphasis.]‡ [ComparePsalm 53:2 and Revelationit 7:14.]‡ [https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.3735&index=0]‡

How God Deals with Sin

  1. Zechariah 3:1-5 (as quoted in Item #30 below) describes the judgment with God taking away the filthy garment (sin) and giving new clothes to the sinner.

Isaiah 64:6: All of us have been sinful; even our best actions are filthy through and through. Because of our sins we are like leaves that wither and are blown away by the wind.—Good News Bible-TEV.*

Isaiah 61:10: Jerusalem rejoices because of what the Lord has done.

She is like a bride dressed for her wedding.

God has clothed her with salvation and victory.—Good News Bible-TEV.*

  1. It is not the wedding dress that makes the bride and causes her fiancé to love her; it is the bride that makes the wedding dress so appealing!

[BSG:] The Holy Spirit often prompts our minds to think about the sins that we commit. Our hearts are moved because of these promptings, but it can be easy to push away that still, small voice as we justify why we acted a certain way. One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to “ ‘convict the world of sin’ ” (John 16:8, NKJV). What an incredible gift from God (Luke 11:13), for we need such convictions to repair the distance that can creep into our walk with Him!—BSG* for Monday, June 1.‡§

  1. The story of Hosea and his wife, Gomer, is an interesting one, illustrating God’s relationship to the children of Israel.
  2. Read Hosea 6. Notice that God essentially said: “What I want from you is plain and clear: I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me.” (CompareJohn 17:3.) Turn from your sins!

[EGW:] We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences to ourselves; but this is not repentance. Real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Saviour [sic-British spelling], and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross. By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh; and as we look upon Him whom we have pierced, we mourn for the sins that have brought anguish upon Him. Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 300.3.†‡ [Knowing the truth about sin, do we keep sinning?]‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.1428&index=0]‡

  1. Jesus mourns not so much because of what we have done to Him, but because of what we are doing to ourselves. His challenge to us is recorded in John 15.

John 15:4: “Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*

[BSG:] The truth is, we can’t grow in our relationship with God when chosen and cherished sins stand between us and Him. We’ve all fallen short of the glory of God, but we can—and should—repent of our sins when the Holy Spirit brings them into our minds (Eph. 4:30).—BSG* for Monday, June 1.‡§

Ephesians 4:30: And do not make God’s Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God’s mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free.—Good News Bible-TEV.*

Isaiah 59:2: It is because of your sins that he doesn’t hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him.—GNB-TEV.*†

What Is Real Repentance? Should We Pray for Repentance?

[BSG:] The secular world bombards us with messages of independence, indulgence, and self-promotion—the opposite of the principles of God’s kingdom. Interestingly, the first words recorded in the Bible by John the Baptist and Jesus were similar. John said, “ ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ ” (Matt. 3:1, 2, NKJV). Jesus said, “ ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’ ” (Mark 1:14, 15, NKJV; see alsoLuke 24:46, 47). Both Jesus and John called those listening to repentance [turning from one’s sins] because the kingdom of heaven was near. Could it be that this same message is equally as relevant to us today?—BSG* for Tuesday, June 2.†‡§

  1. What God calls for is clear: Turn away from your sins!

Matthew 3:1-2: 1At that time John the Baptist came to the desert of Judea and started preaching. 2 “Turn away from your sins,” he said, “because the Kingdom of heaven is near!”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

Mark 1:14-15: 14After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God. 15 “The right time has come,” he said, “and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

Acts 3:18-19: 18 “God announced long ago through all the prophets that his Messiah had to suffer; and he made it come true in this way. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins.”—GNB-TEV.*†

  1. Nothing is going to change in our relationship with God until we are ready to turn away from our sins!

[BSG:] Repentance involves two steps: (1) sincere pain and sorrow for our sins; and (2) the honest decision to abandon sin. In the Bible, repentance is almost always connected to forgiveness. We genuinely repent; God forgives.—BSG* for Tuesday, June 2.‡ [Repentance follows forgiveness!]‡

Romans 2:4: Or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.—Good News Bible-TEV.*

1 John 1:9: But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us [change us] from all our wrongdoing.—Good News Bible-TEV.*†‡

  1. The fact that we become children of God does not mean that life is going to be easy.

Revelation 3:19: “I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.—GNB-TEV.*†

[BSG:] Jesus suffered, died, and rose so that when we repent, His grace can work a miracle in our lives. Contrary to the world, which tells us we are fine just the way we are, God asks that we turn to Him in repentance and faith (Acts 20:21), placing ourselves fully in His hands so that He can prune [away the sins] and beautifully shape our characters into His likeness, to testify of Him (John 15:2, 8). We then grow and produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt. 3:8).—BSG* for Tuesday, June 2.‡§

John 15:1-2,8: 1 “I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes [away the sins off] every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit….

8 “My Father’s glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†‡

Matthew 3:8: “Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

[EGW:] No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation. The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct. Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 555.6-556.0.†‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.2707&index=0]‡

[BSG:] Repentance leads to life (Acts 11:18) and is a vital part of growing in a relationship with God. In the process of surrender, repentance [turning away from sin], and allowing God to prune you [cutting away your sins], what step is most challenging for you?—BSG* for Tuesday, June 2.‡§

  1. We must remember that “repentance” involves turning away from our sins, not just confessing that we did something wrong in the past. The death of Jesus on the cross was a demonstration of the terrible results of sin and should be more than enough evidence to convince us to stop committing them! We need to change!
  2. As we have already mentioned, God is more than willing to forgive us if we turn back to Him. But, of course, this means we must be willing to turn away from our sins. God cannot exist in cooperation with sins.

[BSG:] The fact that the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy is also the very reason Jesus died on the cross—so that our relationship with God could be made right again [to show us the terrible consequences of being separated from God, the only Source of life].

It’s when we are willing to acknowledge and confess our sin; when we say, O, Lord, here I am again . . . “ ‘Be merciful to me a sinner!’ ” (Luke 18:13, NKJV), that Jesus—who has already been working in us and for us with the Holy Spirit before we even call out to Him—sees the weight and takes it from us.—BSG* for Wednesday, June 3.†‡§

  1. Review the following verses. Try rewording these verses!

[BSG:] “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23, NKJV). [If God just leaves, we are lost!]

“But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 5:20, 21, NKJV).—BSG* for Wednesday, June 3.‡§

  1. So long as we are committed to sinning, God cannot do anything for us except keep us alive long enough for us to realize, hopefully, that we need to change our ways!

The Most Expensive Robe—Not a Covering Up of Sin

[BSG:] Nice clothing too often defines the rich by worldly standards. Some people say, “I dress this way to express who I am.” But in heaven, everything other than our relationships will fade away (Matt. 6:19–21, NKJV). Our personal identity should be wrapped up in Jesus and His perfect robe of righteousness.—BSG* for Thursday, June 4.‡§

  1. It is not any outside robe, but a transformation of heart that makes us safe to admit to heaven. It is the transformation that takes place when we, by beholding Him, become changed into His likeness. ReadMatthew 22:1-14. See especiallyMatthew 22:11.

[BSG:] Jesus called the man without a robe “friend,” and despite his lack of response, they must have had a relationship. The man must have known about the robe but had chosen not to wear it. Jesus’ character is perfect and spotless, and He offers it to us that His church “should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white” (Rev. 19:8), “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Eph. 5:27).—BSG* for Thursday, June 4.‡§

Ephesians 5:27: In order to present the church to himself in all its beauty—pure and faultless, without spot or wrinkle or any other imperfection.—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

  1. Good deeds do not happen because we put on new clothes! We need to be changed.

[EGW:] By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ’s true followers will possess. To the church it is given “that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white,” “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.”Revelation 19:8;Ephesians 5:27. The fine linen, says the Scripture, “is the righteousness of saints.”Revelation 19:8. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour [sic-British spelling].—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons* 310.3.†‡ [Faith means knowing God! (SeeJohn 17:3.)]‡ [https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p15.1367&index=0]‡

[BSG:] Adam and Eve wore a white robe of soft light before they sinned; after they sinned, they realized they were naked (Gen. 3:7) and made clothing of fig leaves. Then God replaced their fig leaves with clothing made of animal skins.—BSG* for Thursday, June 4.‡§ [From where did those skins come? Later, sacrifices were burned whole, not skinned.]‡

[EGW:] …. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for covering….

Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. “I counsel thee,” He says, “to buy of Me … white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.”Revelation 3:18.—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons* 310.4-311.3.†‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p15.1368&index=0]‡

  1. We need to be changed daily from the inside by focusing on the life and death of Jesus. Christ will not put His robe over a sinful heart! We must be willing to change.
  2. Through Bible study, prayer, and witnessing, we are giving God a chance to enter our minds and transform us into His likeness. We cannot make those changes ourselves.

[EGW:] It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. It becomes assimilated to that which it is accustomed to love and reverence. Man will never rise higher than his standard of purity or goodness or truth. If self is his loftiest ideal, he will never attain to anything more exalted. Rather, he will constantly sink lower and lower. The grace of God alone has power to exalt man. Left to himself, his course must inevitably be downward.—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy* 555.1.†‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p132.2513&index=0]‡

Philippians 2:12-13: 12So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation, 13because God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey his own purpose.—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

[BSG:] One great example of what clinging to God means can be found in these verses: “Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the Lord thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day” (Deut. 4:3, 4).—BSG* for Friday.‡§

Numbers 25:7-9: 7When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest, saw this, he got up and left the assembly. He took a spear, 8followed the man and the woman into the tent, and drove the spear through both of them. In this way the epidemic that was destroying Israel was stopped, 9but it had already killed twenty-four thousand people.—GNB-TEV.*†

Deuteronomy 4:3-4: 3 “You yourselves saw what the Lord did at Mount Peor. He destroyed everyone who worshiped Baal there, 4but those of you who were faithful to the Lord your God are still alive today.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*

  1. Remember that 24,000 people died there in rebellion against God! God just stepped away from them because of their sins. God “stepping away” is “God’s wrath.”
  2. We often pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” What do we expect God to do when we pray that? Do you understand clearly what happens when you take on the robe of Christ’s righteousness? Could you explain that to a non-Christian or new believer? Review Ellen White’s book, The Great Controversy, page 555 above.
  3. Is Christ’s robe of righteousness somehow connected to the message of the sanctuary? What is happening in the sanctuary right now?

Zechariah 3:1-5: 1In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. 2The angel of the Lord said to Satan, “May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire.” [Notice who is condemned in the judgment!]

3Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. 4The angel said to his heavenly attendants, “Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing.” Then he said to Joshua, “I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear.”

5He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua’s head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there.—Good News Bible-TEV.*†‡ [Notice that there is no mention of sacrifice or blood!]‡

Daniel 7:9-10: 9While I was looking, thrones were put in place. One who had been living forever [God] sat down on one of the thrones. His clothes were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire, 10and a stream of fire was pouring out from it. There were many thousands of people there to serve him, and millions of people stood before him. The court began its session, and the books were opened.—Good News Bible-TEV.*‡

[BSG:] Summary: Identifying our sins in response to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and surrendering self in repentance are vital parts of having a thriving relationship with God. Knowing that we are completely forgiven and covered by Jesus’ robe of righteousness is the most transformative experience for a human being. Not only do we feel the weight of sin lifted, but we feel the love of God surround us as we are drawn closer to Him. This binds us to God, strengthens us spiritually, and compels us to love Him with every fiber of our being.—BSG* for Friday, June 5.‡

  1. Growing in our relationship with God does much more than cover us with Someone else’s robe! It transforms us day-by-day into His image. The change happens in our hearts and minds, and it grows from the inside out!
  2. Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden and immediately lost their clothing of white light. After they tried to cover themselves with fig leaves, God provided animal skins.

Revelation 3:5: “Those who win the victory will be clothed like this in white, and I will not remove their names from the book of the living. In the presence of my Father and of his angels I will declare openly that they belong to me.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*

Revelation 3:18: “I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*

Revelation 19:8-9: 8 “She has been given clean shining linen to wear.” (The linen is the good deeds of God’s people.)

9Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”—Good News Bible-TEV.* [Will we be among that group?]‡

©2026, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged. *Electronic version. †Bold type is added. ‡Brackets and content in brackets are added. §Italic type is in the source.

Last Modified: April 23, 2026                                                                                    Email: [email protected]