Jesus Took Our Place - Part 517

For He hath made Him to be sin for us, [He] who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Consider that the same God who created the world was in Jesus reconciling us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and that, as a consequence, has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

"To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses [or sins] unto them" (as we might in our human thinking against our fellow man) but rather committing unto us "the Word of reconciliation."

The "vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away in Christ." Up until this point, their minds were blinded. Even when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless, it is no longer this way. For the Bible states, "when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away." And it was. "Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (II  Corinthians 3:14-17)

Therefore, the greatest love story ever told can be found in His Word -- our God and Saviour. A love story that is so deep that we are moved by the breadth and depth of love that God has shown. And a love story that is so simple that children can understand how much God loves us.

Remember that in the beginning, it wasn't God who messed up. Indeed, it was Adam and Eve that sent us on the road that we now travel. Still, God -- whose footstool is earth -- cared so much about you and I that He would make a decision to become flesh and shed His humanity on the cross for us. In His mind, there wasn't anyone else that even measured up. This is the love that passeth all understanding.

This is why John 3:16 - For God so loved - is so significant. Because in the "so loved" He knew that the only way that men and women could be saved -- and once again partake in daily fellowship with their Creator is to become as one of them and make the ultimate sacrifice. And He did so in order that we could become ambassadors for Jesus the Christ, staying in His stead so that we can be reconciled to Him.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." Let Jesus dwell in you today, and walk with you because He said. "I will be their God and they shall be my people." Let the light that God commanded shine in our hearts so that the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ could be told near and far.

Jesus loves you! He is the way, the truth and the life. Stand in the offering plate!