Refiner's Gold

Golden Thought:

The cross did not pretend our sin never existed; it declared that the debt was paid in full.

Now Christ presents His people faultless before the throne.

In the evening, before bed, I have a small ritual. Not a ritual for ritual’s sake, but something that helps my memory and my heart settle in the truth. I take a small drop of frankincense oil and anoint Robyn and myself before we pray.

Frankincense has a long story in Scripture. It was used in the priesthood under Aaron. It was offered in the temple as part of worship. And when the Magi came to honor the newborn King, they brought gifts that quietly foretold His life: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

So when I smell that familiar scent, it reminds me of something deeper.

Christ is now our High Priest. One of the things I often say when we pray is this:

“Thank You, Jesus, for being our High Priest and presenting us faultless before the throne.”

That word has been on my mind lately. Faultless. Without blemish. Without defect. Even without accusation.

Not because we lived perfect lives, but because the full debt of sin has already been paid. The cross did not merely reduce our guilt. It removed the sentence entirely.

When Jesus declared “It is finished,” the payment for sin was complete — once and for all. Because of that finished work, believers are not merely tolerated in God’s presence.

We are presented faultless. Scripture says that Christ will present His people,

“Faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”

That truth can be overwhelming. Because if we are honest, we know ourselves too well. We know the things we regret. The failures we wish we could undo. The sins that still whisper accusations in the quiet hours. The enemy loves to remind us of those things.

That is where one of my favorite responses from Martin Luther comes in. When he spoke about the devil accusing him of sin, Luther said something wonderfully simple:

“Yes, and what of it? I know that I am a sinner. But Christ died for sinners.”

In other words,

“Yes, the charges are real”

“Yes, the failures happened.”

“But the payment has already been made.”

The cross does not pretend our sin never existed. It declares that the price has been fully satisfied. So when accusations rise — whether from our own conscience or from the enemy — the answer is not denial.

The answer is the same one spoken from the cross:

“It is finished.”

Because of that finished work, something extraordinary happens. We are not merely forgiven.

We are made new.

The broken past does not define our standing before God.

Christ does.

And the High Priest who paid our debt now stands before the throne presenting His people — not as condemned sinners — but as those who have been washed clean by His sacrifice.

As Faultless.

Not because we achieved perfection.

But because His perfection now covers us.