Whether we were abused by a parent or a priest, whether we have abused others or ourselves, no matter what we think that we have gotten away with or not, our conscience is at work, demanding that every right be wronged, every loss be compensated or restored.
There is a way for us to enjoy complete satisfaction for all that we have lost, to be set free for all that we have done, and that is at the Cross, where Jesus Christ died for all our sins, the sins of the entire world, the once-and-for-all sacrifice that atones for all our sins and restores and much more all that e have lost.
Everyone knows John 3: 16:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
"Everlasting life" sounds like nothing much, except when we accept that this is Christ Himself living in every person who believes on Him for salvation:
"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." (John 14: 6)
This life is not just outside of us, something that everyone of us has to strive to arrive at, but a gift given to everyone who will receive it by faith.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)
This is a life which offers so much more, through His grace:
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can
be against us?
"He that spared not
his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)
Even Jesus promised that His followers would receive so much more for their faith:
"Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
"And he said unto them,
Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or
brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
"Who
shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come
life everlasting." (Luke 18: 28-30)
Please note that "world" would be better rendered "age", speaking of the age of Grace which has been visited upon the world since the release of God's Holy Spirit upon the earth (Acts 2: 33)
The writer in the Book of Hebrews explains the totally of Jesus' sacrifice for us:
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them
that obey him;
"Called of God an
high priest after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebres 5: 9-10)
and
"And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
"But this man, after
he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of
God;
"From henceforth
expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
"For by one offering
he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 11-14)
And His sacrifice, which has taken care of man's sin problem, also takes care of his conscience:
"How much more shall
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot
to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" "(Hebrews 10: 14)
In Christ, all of our sins are forgiven. The prophet Micah declared it:
"He will turn again, he
will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast
all their sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7: 19)
John declares it:
"My little children,
these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
"And he is the
propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins
of the whole world." (1 John 2: 1-2)
He even points out that His blood keeps cleansing us:
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)
Paul confirms it:
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" (Colossians 2: 13)
We live with Christ! If you believe on Hin, behold the riches which He accords to us, as well:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
"According as he hath
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love:
"Having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the
good pleasure of his will,
"To the praise of the
glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
"In
whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of his grace;" (Ephesians 1: 3-7)
We have redemption, grace, acceptance, and we reign in life:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one,
Jesus Christ.)
"Therefore as by the
offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the
righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification
of life.
"For as by one man's
disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be
made righteous." (Romans 5: 17-19)
Abundance of grace, the gift of righteousness, we are called to receive these two precious gifts, by which we are privy to every promise in Christ (Romans 8: 15-17; 2 Corinthians 1:20)
Indeed, in Christ all of our sins are paid for, and in Him we receive far more for all that we have suffered, endured, or even perpetrated!
Instead of harping about those who have wronged us "getting theirs", let us rejoice in Christ and Him Crucified, through whom Someone has paid for all the sin in our lives, and then some!
No comments:
Post a Comment