August 14, 2024
It is one thing for us to have come to the knowledge of our sin and need for Christ on our own ... to have figured this out by our ability.
But that is not how this happened. It was God's initiative and action. The proof of this is that Paul reminds us of our true condition: We were dead in our trespasses and sin and entirely under Satan's domination. It's impossible for a dead man to accomplish anything (Ephesians 2:1-5).
Look what Christ did when we were utterly helpless to remedy our separation from God.
"For Christ also 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)
“CHRIST ALSO DIED FOR SINS”
We could not atone for our sins. Our seemingly good works could not resolve the crisis. Only Christ’s substitutionary death would accomplish the necessary atonement
“ONCE FOR ALL”
Once accomplished on the cross, there was no need for any other work to be done.
"THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST"
We were totally sinful, and He was totally sinless. And this is why He could stand and take the punishment in our place before a holy God.
"SO THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD"
Here is the great initiation and great work. His death and resurrection brought us to God. It provided the legal work necessary for us to be forgiven and brought back into God’s presence by Christ. This finalized the pursuit that the Father had been in since the Garden. We left His presence in our sins, and He planned for His Son to provide a way for us to return to His presence … to be brought back to Eden.
Notice that it is Christ's work. Christ "brings us to God." This is consistent with what Paul says in Romans 5:1-2.
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."
Christ brings us, introducing us by His grace to be forgiven and to stand in the Father's throne room every moment of every day for the rest of eternity! We are able to come because of Him and we do come because He brings us there by His grace. And now, we stand with peace as we face God.
It was the great pursuit of the Father, accomplished by the great sacrifice of the Son, that brought about the great rescue of sinners like you and me.
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