you wrote above: “….That can be understood in a narrow sense but it certainly cannot mean that our sins are gone. …”

Exactly!

It seems the longer I live on the earth serving my neighbors the stronger it is His Faith is that grows in me because of that very fact.

Now I don’t have to hide my head in the sand. Now, in His Hope, I can, by His Faith, serve my neighbors, even though my sins are not gone, but very much alive in my flesh!

It is only when I leave this flesh pot at my passing away from the earth, will it truly be said that I am indeed separated from my sins. Until then, by Faith and Patience, in this world, I enjoy the promises of God.

Now the Law, which is Holy, Righteous and Pure, does its work in me, setting forth for me to see the law of sin and death.

Now the Gospel, which is Holy, Righteous and Pure, does its work in me, setting forth for me the service that beckons me to serve my neighbors for Christ’s sake.

And so I point to these words of Jesus too, as you have pointed to them yourself when visiting and serving us here in my church going about making proper distinctions between the Law and Gospel:::>

Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Mat 25:36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
Mat 25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
Mat 25:38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
Mat 25:39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
Mat 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

michael
eureka, ca.