Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so that Christ could make us acceptable to God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (CEV).
We Christians talk a lot about salvation. But do we think or meditate on the how and why of that salvation?
I am a sinner. No getting around that hard fact. I can compare myself to others and attempt a rationalization that “Well, I’m not like ______!” or “I’m so much better than I used to be.” But the fact remains that I am (present tense) a sinner. Now I have grown in the sense that I know my weaknesses and I know that I need God’s strength to get through every day. And so I pray for His help and I reach out for His hand. But the fact still remains that I am not without sin.
Without going into details, I remember reading stories of serial killers and I have read about the Nazi concentration camps. These make my stomach queasy and I am beyond disgusted and horrified. I believe God feels the same way about the sin of this world, which includes my sins. Only the perfect sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ could be enough, be perfect enough to wipe out sin. God could not overlook sin. In fact, I would ask “God, how is forgiveness even an option?”
Forgiveness, salvation is possible because of His great love. How great? When I think of the sins in my life God has forgiven – I cannot help but weep and thank my Father again and again and again for saving me.
Jesus went to the Cross and gave Himself in a perfect sacrifice for me, for you, for us all. He agonized between two thieves. One of them could not see or hear the opportunity for eternal life. But one of them did. Maybe he had heard something about this Jesus as they prepared them to walk up the hill for their crucifixion. I don’t know what theology this thief had but his request was simple, “Jesus, remember me when you get to your Kingdom.” And Jesus did not ask the man for a formal profession of faith or whether he had attended Temple school. Jesus just gave him an eternal promise, “This day you will be with Me in Paradise.”
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5 (NIV)
Jesus did it all for me. He suffered the punishment that I deserved. And every time I think about this, I am thinking about God’s love. Before I loved Him, God loved me. And that brings me back around to sin.
God’s Laws, His commandments, His precepts, are there in His Word. How God wants me to live is there in the gospels. Jesus walks out a Spirit-filled life for my example. And more and more I find myself choosing to live Jesus’ way because I am getting a more clear picture of how much God loves me and I want to live a holy life. I want to live in close communion with my LORD. I am making my choices out of love.
Love You So Much written by Rusell Fragar & sung by Darlene Zschech & Hillsong
