Sovereign Grace Church

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins

(ISAIAH 40:2)

Reader, do you know what comfort is to be found in having the Spirit of God reveal to your heart the meaning of this one blessed word ‘double’?

You see, our good and ready to forgive God declares that His people have received of His hand double! Not only has God forgiven His people for the iniquity of trying to establish their own righteousness (while they were dead spiritually); He has also forgiven them of all their transgressions! [PSALM 86:5, ROMANS 10:3-4, ISAIAH 64:6, EPHESIANS 2:1]

You see, as a sinner, this writer needs two things to enter into the Kingdom of God. First, I need all my transgressions forgiven, and thanks being to God, by the blood of His darling Son, I have been undeservedly granted a full and complete pardon for all my sins. Second, I also need a perfect righteousness, and again thanks being to God, He made His Son, who knew no sin, to be sin for me, that I might be made the righteousness of God in His Son, Christ Jesus my Lord. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 CORINTHIANS 5:21).

Reader, do you now see the blessedness of this one little word double? You see, God’s people not only rejoice in the blessedness of His Son’s redeeming death that cleanses us from all sin (1 JOHN 1:9), much more, we also rejoice in His Son’s perfect righteousness. Again and again, all throughout the scriptures, we read the blessed gospel of both Christ and Him crucified; how that all our iniquity and all our sins are pardoned, for we have received double of the LORD’S hand.

Beloved, “we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Not only have we been reconciled to God by the precious blood of His well pleasing Son, much more beloved, we have been reconciled to God by His Son's perfect righteousness, who ever liveth to make intercession for us [HEBREWS 7:25].

What a blessed word, double! Not only is the Lord Jesus Christ all our justification, He is also all our sanctification. Indeed beloved, He has accomplished all our salvation [1 CORINTHIANS 1:30, COL 2:10, HEB 12:2].

Beloved believing sinner of God, rejoice! You have received of the LORD’S hand double! For He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, AND to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. AMEN!