During a prayer meeting in 1865, Elvina Hall wrote a poem inspired by the redemptive power of Christ’s sacrifice. Her writing paired with the music of John Grape, the church organist, became a liberating hymn.

Several passages in the New Testament speak of the purification offered to us when we accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. When we exchange our life with His, we receive the forgiveness of our sins. The beauty of this story is that God’s forgiveness is available to all: no matter the journey. No matter how many chaotic relationships we had, no matter how bad the sins we committed, nothing escapes the power of this act of redemption. We can do nothing to deserve it: He paid the ultimate price even before we were born and, therefore, even before our offences.

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8 NKJV).

The effect of His sacrifice does not end on the day of our salvation. Even when our name is written in the book of life, we still sometimes give in to the temptations of the flesh, we sometimes take a direction that is not in the will of God. Although the consequences of our momentary wandering can be painful, if we are sincere, we can run to the foot of the cross to cover ourselves with the blood of the Lamb and return to the right path. “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2 NKJV).

So even though we have made bad choices in our romantic relationships; even if we gave in to some temptations while dating, it’s never too late to start over. We are never too far from His grace and forgiveness. Our reputation may be tarnished, but it is not our reputation that gives us access to the Father, it is the blood of Jesus.

The apostle Paul goes even further in his letter to the Hebrews. “Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:18-19 NKJV). Jesus not only washed away our sins, He opened a new way for us to walk without sin. He not only wiped the stains off our coat, He gave us a new coat. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, we are no longer slaves to our desires, we have authority over our bodies, and we can say no to temptations. By walking in our new identity, we can live without sin. That is also what the apostle John taught. “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:18-20 NKJV).

Jesus paid for everything, and walking in holiness is possible. It is not by following a list of prohibitions that we have a good conscience, but it is simply by walking with the Holy Spirit. Like a child who learns to walk by falling often, we are going to need His grace on our journey. But His wisdom is there, His blood is still effective, and the path is still ahead of us. Let us refuse defeatism and move forward in newness of life.