1 John 4.7-12
Sin is our problem. We were born sinful; we sin; and there is nothing we can do to free ourselves from the judgment of sin. We can try to be right with God, to be free from the judgement of sin by doing what is good and right, by helping others and being concerned for their needs, by reaching out to the poor, by giving financially to good causes. We can do lots of things. But none of these will ever take care of our sin problem. We will still be sinners, dead in sin, lost in sin, and condemned because of sin. However, there is hope for each one. That hope is found only in the person of Jesus Christ, in recognizing and accepting His sacrifice made for us on the Cross of Calvary. This is why He came, why He was born. He came to live, to die, to shed His blood that we might be cleansed of all sin. He rose from the grave showing His victory over sin and the death. He ascended to heaven and is now interceding for all who have trusted in Him for salvation. And someday He will come again, to receive His own to Himself for eternity.
How has all this been possible; why did it happen. Simply, yet profoundly stated, because God loves us. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4.9-10). In love, God reached out to us in our sinfulness to save us. In love, Christ came to be the propitiation for our sins, making atonement before God for all our sins. Christ alone satisfies the wrath of God which is against all sin; the work of Christ alone cleanses us of all sin. This great salvation was not initiated by us, but rather by God, for He sent his only Son out of a heart of love for us. He sent his only Son so that we might enjoy true life, free and not captive in the bondage of sin; free to live in harmony with the Lord God; and free to live in anticipation of eternity in His holy presence.
Forgiven and alive in Jesus – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry
My Morning Desk 