| “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” |
| —1 Peter 3:18 |
We who worship the Great King Jesus sometime forget that the world around us does not necessarily understand why we do so. They don’t “get it.” They even do not understand why Jesus had to die.
In spite of all the terrible sinfulness that has so taken over our culture, and in spite of the fact that people become almost numb to the unrighteousness that prevails, the Image of God within people does prompt many people to realize the difference between right and wrong. While they might not willingly admit it, most people know when they do something that would offend the holiness of God. So, that means they truly do understand, in the core of their beings, what sin is and why sin is wrong. And, that’s what the death of Christ is all about.
A holy God cannot stand sin—it is an affront to His holiness. Thus, because men, women, boys, and girls have inherited the sin nature from Adam—and because all humanity sins willfully in the course of their daily lives—in our condition of being stained by sin, we humans are unworthy to have fellowship with the God who loves us and created us. The penalty for sin must be paid. The justice of God demands it.
In order for us to become reconciled to God, the sin that offends Him must be removed. The perfect and dearly loved Son of God was the only One who could have removed that sin. He did so through His death and resurrection from the dead. And, that’s why Jesus died in our place. The Apostle Peter summarizes this brutal fact with this statement found in 1 Peter 3:18:
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
As we begin another day, let’s remain aware that many people who cross our pathway may not fully understand the message of the gospel. In a careful and gentle way, we can share the truth of what Jesus has done for us. The Holy Spirit will use our sharing to irresistibly draw those whom God has chosen to belong to Himself. So, let’s be willing and able to have God use us as His ambassadors of mercy, grace, and abiding love.
Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, November 2, 2017
