"Blotted Out"

by Marc W. Gibson

A news report from the Associated Press, July 11, 2000, tells the story of scientists at the Rochester Institute of Technology who are restoring a 10^th century manuscript - the only known copy in the original Greek of some of the writings of mathematician Archimedes (287-212 BC). The text, believed to be copied in the 10^th century by a scribe from Archimedes' original scrolls, was erased 200 years later by a monk who reused the valuable parchment for a prayer book. It was only with the help of modern digital cameras and processing techniques as well as ultraviolet and infrared filters that the scientists were able to capture the images of the original words and drawings that had been washed away and then covered with a new text. One of the scientists stated, "There is always a residual, traces of what was there. It's amazing what can come out. Soon, nothing will be secret or hidden."

All of us have erased something we had written, either because we did not want others to see it or we wanted to write something else. Erasing may remove the writing from the naked eye, but the effect of that writing is still there, and can be restored by techniques such as those described in the news story above. Even when a computer deletes a file, the information stays in memory for a period of time and it can usually be restored again. It is hard to completely blot out certain information in our society. Man has devised sophisticated ways to restore erased material. The Bible tells us that God has blotted some things out. Can they be restored by someone who did not want them to be erased? How completely gone are the things God has blotted out?

The Greek word used in the New Testament for "blot out" is exaleipho. W. E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words explains that it is a compound word meaning "to wipe out," and "signifies to wash, or to smear completely. Hence, metaphorically, in the sense of removal, to wipe away, wipe off, obliterate." It would seem clear that "blotted out" means a complete removal. No man has the ability or authority to restore what God has blotted out.

Blotted Out Sin

God will blot out the sins of an individual when he obeys the will of God by faith. The apostle Peter preached, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19). The gracious God who loves us offers this most wonderful blessing of salvation. This blotting out of sin is complete and forever: "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" (Hebrews 8:12). When God forgives sin, it is never laid to one's charge again. What a comforting thought!

As King David suffered under the burden of his sin with Bathsheba, he implored God with these penitent words: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sinHide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities" (Psalm 51:1-2, 9). Saul of Tarsus was told, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Sins that are washed away will not be remembered against us by God. No amount of human technology will bring them back once they are forgiven. The blotting out of sin by the blood of the Lamb will make us as white as snow. "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

Blotted Out Old Covenant

The Bible tells us that the Old Covenant made with Israel at Sinai was blotted out, "having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (Colossians 2:14). A parallel passage tells us that Christ "abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace" (Ephesians 2:15). It was not that the old covenant was inherently bad, but man had sinned and fallen under its condemnation, and it fulfilled its role as a "schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (Galatians 3:24-25). When it was no longer needed, it was taken out of the way, not to be restored again. In His death, Jesus "takes away the first [covenant] that he may establish the second [covenant]" (Hebrews 10:9). While some try hard to restore the practices of the old covenant (Sabbath-keeping, Instrumental Music, etc), what has been wiped out by God cannot be restored by man. We must follow Christ and His new covenant today (Hebrews 1:1-2; 8:6).

Blotted Out Names from the Book of Life

Jesus said, "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (Revelation 3:5). If one's name could not be blotted out from the Book of Life ("once saved, always saved"), it would hardly be necessary for Jesus to give us this promise of not being blotted out if we are faithful. The truth is a child of God can fall into apostasy and be lost (Hebrews 3:12; Galatians 5:4). Once blotted out of the Book, no one has the authority to write that name in again except God. There are no loopholes or excuses to escape God's judgment (Hebrews 10:26-27). God can write a fallen Christian's name back into the Book of Life, for "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Is your name written there? If you remain faithful, He will not blot your name out.

Blotted Out Tears

As the beautiful description of the future new heaven and new earth are given, one striking detail is that "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 21:4a). This is not just a temporary wiping of tears, but a blotting out. There will be no more tears forever! We are told why: "there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4b). All the causes of sorrow and tears will be absent in the eternal home of the redeemed. There are so many things in this present world that bring a tear to the eye that it is hard to imagine not having a reason to weep. God has the power to make it so, and has promised eternal joy to the faithful who overcome the evil one.

When God blots out something, it is removed as long as God desires it to be absent. Forgiven sins are forever gone. The old covenant is past history. A name is blotted out of the Book of Life as long as one remains in sin. Tears will be forever gone in the eternal city of God. Man cannot change, or reverse, any of God's righteous ways. Hear Him, and obey.