A Glorious Substitution
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18
Prisons are full of men claiming their innocence. Though some have been mistakenly pronounced guilty, the majority deserve to be there. It’s the criminals that are never caught that make us uneasy, since we know the penalty needs to be paid for the offense.
There is a dreadful day coming when all will face the judge of the earth. Our crimes against God are well known to Him and we can’t escape His justice. What about you? Do you believe?
God says if we acknowledge His Son, we will no longer fear punishment but have confidence on the day of judgement. How can this be?
Do you hear Jesus cry “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?” That was the night He faced the Judge in our place and paid for the crimes we had committed.
When God separates the sheep from the goats, His sheep will be found in Him through faith, with a righteousness that comes from Him. Our confidence is in His promise that He will keep us firm to the end so that we will be blameless on that day.
We will hear these words, “There sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” “Come you blessed of My Father take the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
God lives in us now, so we can know and rely on the love He has for us and there is no longer any fear. (1 John 4:15-19)
“Lord, I know that I deserve judgement for the many sins I have committed against You. The axe was laid at the tree when you decided to pardon me. Thank you for dying in my place.”