Rejoice in Our Divine Substitute
How many of my sins are covered by the atoning death of Jesus
Christ? Is His death on the cross sufficient to cleanse me of every sin? Can His death
alone be trusted to bring us to God?
The apostle Peter wrote of Jesus who “died for sins once for
all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death
in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).
The very thought should cause us to break forth with shouts of praise
to the LORD God. When we focus our faith on Christ who suffered for our sins on the cross
it should cause us to worship with all our personal being.
God can save us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ because His
atoning sacrifice is sufficient to cover every sin of the one who calls upon Him for
salvation.
“Christ has once suffered for sins.” There is no need for
any more suffering for sin. “The wages of sin is death.” Jesus died and rose
from the dead. That is the full payment. I cannot atone for my sins. Only a sinless,
perfect substitute provided by God can do that for me.
The perfect man, the Son of God, was the perfect sacrifice for
sinners. He has suffered all that I ought to suffer to pay for my sins. The justice of God
was fully satisfied in His death. The atonement for all my sins is complete. Nothing
remains to be paid or fulfilled.
The wrath of God was being poured out on Him as if I were the one
being executed when He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He
died my death. He paid my debt. There is nothing else to be done. “It is
finished!” “Done!” “Complete!” Jesus declared. He drank the whole
cup of the wrath of God for me.
The sacrifice of Jesus was complete, and acceptable unto His Father.
“Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring
us to God.”
All praise is to God! All glory is to Him
alone! “The debt is paid in full. Justice is satisfied. The law is magnified.
Righteousness is established. For all His people’s sins Christ has made a complete
atonement, and for their justification He has risen from the dead,” writes Spurgeon.
Since God is satisfied with the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
how can we in the slightest degree be dissatisfied?
Since God is satisfied with Jesus how can we think less of Him? How
can we ever cease to rejoice and praise Him?
The only way we can ever be saved is by grace through faith in Him
alone. He “has once suffered for sins,” declares the apostle Peter. We are saved
by faith in Jesus Christ, and in Him alone.
“Do not seek to make a savior of your own feelings. Do not think
you must experience this, or that, before you come unto Jesus Christ. Christ wants no
preparation from you,” admonishes Spurgeon. “Salvation consists in simply
casting yourself down on Christ.” It is God’s gift purchased for us at Calvary.
All we do, and can do, is to believe on Him and receive it (John 1:12-13).
If Jesus Christ were a human savior, perhaps we would have to add our
works of obedience and merits to His atoning death, but He is not. His sacrifice is
perfect and all we need to do is believe on Him and be saved.
C. H. Spurgeon concluded a message: “Look to Jesus, and be
saved. Do you say, ‘My heart is hard’? Jesus can soften it. Do you exclaim,
‘Alas, I am so unworthy’? Jesus loves the unworthy. Do you feel, ‘I am so
vile’? It is the vile Jesus came to save. . . Jesus suffered for your sins upon
Calvary’s cross. Turn your eyes thither; see Jesus only. He suffers. He bleeds. He
dies. He is buried. He rises again. He ascends on high. Trust Him, and you are safe. Give
up all other trusts, and rely on Jesus alone, alone on Jesus, and you shall pass from
death unto life. This is the sure sign, the certain evidence of the Spirit’s
indwelling, of the Father’s election, of the Son’s redemption, when the soul is
brought simply and wholly to rest and trust in Jesus Christ, who ‘has once suffered
for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.’”
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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