God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement. . . . to demonstrate his justice . . . . Romans 3:25
God forgives our sins. This is such common knowledge that we are often not amazed. Yet we ought to be.
After all, bred into our bones is the conviction that evil must be punished. We rightly feel outraged when someone gets away with murder, or when torturers live out their days in secluded luxury. Should God forgive the wicked? Is that fair? What about the victims of their wickedness?
The Bible itself repeatedly tells judges to condemn the guilty (see Deuteronomy 25:1). Proverbs 17:15 adds, “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—the Lord detests them both.” God is holy. He cannot turn a blind eye to sin or give it free rein in his creation. God has been most forbearing toward us.
Here is a question to consider carefully: How can a holy God declare sinners righteous without either condoning sin or compromising his holiness?
God’s answer is the cross. Here is a forgiveness that shows God is irreconcilable to evil. James Denney writes, “Nothing else in the world demonstrates how real is God’s love to the sinful, and how real the sin of the world is to God.”
There are those who despise the gospel because of the cross, saying there’s too much blood in it. On this day we say that the blood is the reason we embrace the gospel.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we thank you for becoming one with us and taking on the punishment we deserved. Thank you, Lord God, for forgiving us through Jesus’ gift of his life for ours. Amen
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1 comment:
I don't think we can even begin to comprehend what agony Jesus went through as he willingly, obediently substituted His life for God's elect. Lord, help us to catch a glimpse of the true meaning of the cross and not take it for granted. Even more, give us eyes to see our sin as You see it so that we can comprehend its seriousness - the seriousness that cost God's only begotten Son's life!
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