|
Through the law, we realize that we are sinners before God, and it is inevitable that we should discover that we are lost and that really all we can do is ask God to forgive us. In this way, we come to know God's purpose in giving us the law.
|
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)
|
|
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." (Galatians 2:16)
|
Early on, Jesus said,
|
"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).
|
From Jesus' words, we can see that any religious zeal that we may have today, living in our present age, is weak beyond comparison when we consider the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees living at the time of Jesus. If this is the case, there is no way that we can go to heaven by our own strength. So God made the way wide open for us through Jesus Christ.
|
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
|
That's right. There is only this one way. There is only this one new and living way that God opened through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
In the past, we too were all sinners, wandering lost and ignorant of this path.
We were just like wandering sheep that had lost their way. So, as Jesus was first preaching the gospel to the Jews, He said,
"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd"
(John 10:16).
|
So Jesus died for sinners who are wandering lost, including Gentile sinners.
It is just as Jesus said:
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."
(John 10:11)
|
and as it says elsewhere in the Bible,
"who [Jesus] Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree,..."
(1 Peter 2:24)
|
and,
|
"who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification" (Romans 4:25).
|
If you have definitely come to believe the truths contained in these words and all your doubts have disappeared, you cannot help but praise the great love that God the Father has bestowed upon us.
In the Bible it says that now there is no one who can condemn me, or you, or any of us.
|
"Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:34-35)
|
Thus, the Holy Spirit of God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead, has brought each of us individually to believe this gospel in our hearts, and since we have been justified freely, this truth becomes a definite experience of forgiveness of sins for each individual and we are to enjoy peace in our hearts. It was ordained long ago that this should be accomplished for the praise of God's glory.
"This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise."
(Isaiah 43:21)
|
Amen.
|
