Romans 3:21-28 (NLT) Christ Took Our Punishment
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
Why did Jesus come into the world? He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Who are the lost? Verse 23 above says, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That means we all need saving; we are all lost. Jesus came for us! He is the Christ, the Anointed One; the Savior of the world. In order to save us, He had to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice. That sacrifice was made on what we now call Good Friday. I have always wondered why it is called Good Friday.
Anyway, there was need of a sacrifice and Jesus was it. He gave His life for you and me on the cross. Many are not sure what that means. Since I was a kid, I heard the expression, “Jesus died for our sins.” Most people do not understand the depth of His sacrifice. It was just as if Jesus took our place on that cross and suffered the wrath of God that belongs to us. But not just the wrath. Everything that the world and our enemy has against us, Jesus came to remove. That includes our sin, our disease, our death, our separation from God, everything. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
How did He do it? How did Jesus take away all the bad and give us more good than we can ask or imagine? What was required to pay for all that sin and death. Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV) says, “22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.” Jesus willingly shed his blood for you and me. He was the perfect sacrifice. He made us right with God by that sacrifice. He reconciled us back to Abba, Daddy God and all creation with us. We don’t have to work for it; Jesus already did all the work for us on the cross. We just need to put our faith and trust in Him.
Have you put your trust in Him? If not, why not? He has given everything for you. All He wants in return is your heart. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the way to the Father. The debt was paid on Friday. Now comes the blessings of Deuteronomy 28. You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. Blessed when you go out and blessed when you come in. He will cause your enemies to be defeated and guard you in all your ways. The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself. Isn’t that what you want? Here is your chance to be holy to Him. Take it. He died and rose again all for you. He loves you! So much, in fact, that He gave Himself up for you. Come to Him. Today is the day of Salvation. He is risen for you!
Lord, there are no words to express our gratitude for all You have done for us. You have absorbed all our sin, and sickness into Yourself. How can You love us so much? It is more than we can ask or imagine. You gave it all for us. On this Easter, help us to give our all for you. In Your name I pray!