Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow!

 “Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 NASB)

Prisoners are forgiven! 

When I was a new Christian seeking to serve God, I visited prisons with my friend, Harley Goodwin, who had a prison ministry to what he called, “the forgotten men.” I watched him reach through the bars and touch these broken people, as he prayed earnestly for them. He often opened the Bible to Isaiah 1:18, and then he would point to the passage and ask the prisoner to read it out-loud. He would then say to them, “No matter what you have done, no matter how bad or ‘red’ your sins are, God will forgive your sins completely, and make you brand new and ‘white as snow’”. I often saw these men break down and weep for joy as they prayed with Harley to receive Christ, and know they were completely forgiven.

Freedom for prisoners!

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” (Luke 4:18 NIV)

“Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.” (Heb. 13:3 NIV)