A wonderful Saviour

 


 Romans 5:8 says, “But God comendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  John says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us (1 John 3:16);" and then later he adds, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Consider for a moment our problem.   We are, by nature, pathetic creatures destined for hell. Why?  because God is good, and we are not. We were born in sin. We breathe it in, and we breathe it out.  It marks and mars every day of our lives.  We sin in our words, sin in our actions and sin in our thoughts. We sin by what we do, we sin by what we fail to do. And our just condemnation is not merely because of what we did, but rather why we did it. We are self-centered creatures whose whole orientation is away from God.  Apart from the miracle of new birth we do not seek Him, we do not want Him and we do not glorify Him. We live as if we were the center of the universe and there were no God at all.  

Christians, think about what you say to God as believers when you confess your sin. Like David you go to Him and tell Him, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest…”  In using words like those we are admitting that God  is justified when He judges us. We are confessing that we deserve every bit of His wrath, which is to say that we deserve the punishment of eternal hell.   As Ephesians 2 says, we were by nature in dead in sins. And then right there in Ephhesians 2 comes that wonderful word, but: "But God who is rich in mercy."  And then later, "by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God."

There we were lost in a sea of sin, wretched creatures who loved our sin and wanted to stay in it. And what did Jesus do?  Leave us to our sin?  Cast the whole wretched lot of us into hell?  Listen again to the words of Isaiah as He prophesies of the coming Lamb of God. Its the same word we read in Ephesians: but. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  And then verse 11: “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” 

No wonder we boast in the cross! Our dear Saviour has paid it all.  "God made him to be sin for us who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."  And what was it that compelled Him to do this?  Why did He do it?  Love.  He loves you.  Though time and time again you have and will sin against Him, Christ died for you.  He loved you then and loves you still, and so He raises up preachers to come and plead with you to be reconciled to Him.  They come - as ambassadors - to tell you not only of your sin but of the Saviour who gave himself for you.

Reader, Acts says “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  Jesus has the words of eternal life and He will lose none of those whom the Father has given Him. 

Are you troubled by your sin? Are you uncertain of your salvation? Are you without God and without hope in the world? Perhaps you are uncertain of how you stand with God. Consider what you do know. You know you’re a sinner. Isn’t it wonderful to think that Jesus is the Friend of sinners?  Why don’t you come to Him, then, as the Friend of sinners and ask His help?   I have often reminded Jesus that He is the Saviour of sinners. I tell Him about my sin, and then I remind Him that He came to save sinners from their sin. And I tell Him “Jesus I want to be delivered from my sin.”  

Reader, are you sin sick?  Jesus is the Great Physician.  Are you weak and overwhelmed with what you cannot do?  He is omnipotent. Why don’t you put Him to work?  He loves to be put to work.  Think of His gladness when one lost sheep is found.  Do you know how glad you would make Him if today you put Him to work for you? Tell Him the trouble. Tell Him your sin; and then trust Him to do the saving.  Its what He came for.  Think of what He did at the cross.  Why should Jesus say of you as He did when He wept over Jerusalem, "I would have gathered you but you would not."  Come and hide yourself under His wings.  Look to Jesus today and live!

He is a wonderful Saviour.

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