Freed By the Cross

Legal term meaning “acquittal,” a declaration that someone is in the right. Sinners are in the wrong before God. They have broken his laws, they deserve punishment, but on the cross Christ took their place. Now, when they put their trust in Christ, they are declared to be in the right, acquitted, justified.

The cross shows God to be just, not simply in the fact that he forgives, but in the way he forgives. To pass over sins would show mercy, but it would not show justice. Forgiveness by the way of the cross shows both (Romans 3:25-26).  - The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, Walter A. Elwell, Editor, (Harold Shaw Publ., Wheaton , IL; 1984), pp. 351-352

Here's a scenario: For just a minute, imagine that you owed a mind-boggling amount of money. Then one day, an incredibly wealthy man decided to give to the people of your town live access to several million dollars to pay their debts. All you had to do was go down to the local bank and present your bill statements. After which, from this account your bills would then be paid.

Now, upon hearing this good news, you go and gather up your bills. Then, you present those bills to the bank teller. Presently, a transaction would take place in the accounting department at the bank. After turning in your debts, the bank would use some of the rich man's money to pay them off. Wow! Incredibly, you would walk out of that bank free of debt. Imagine that!

In a way, that's what happens when you place your faith in Christ. One comes to God admitting that she is a sinner, admitting that she can do nothing to justify herself, and relying on Jesus Christ to pay the debt of her sin.

In the accounting department of heaven, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is given to her account, and she is forgiven all of her debt. God rubber stamps her account "Paid In Full." She can be as sure of heaven as though she were already there. She takes God at His word and her faith is counted as righteousness.

Christ was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification. Justification is the act of God not only forgiving the believer's sins but ascribing to him the righteousness of Christ. Beloved, justification is not earned through out own works; more precisely, we are covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5). The Christian, being declared righteous, is thus freed from the guilt of sin.

Once a person is justified, there's nothing else she needs in order to gain entrance into heaven. There is no ritual, no sacrament, no deed that can make us worthy of the righteousness of Christ. It's only by His grace, in response to our faith, that God has credited to us the holiness of His son. (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).

Edward Koehler put it this way: "The justice of God in the Gospel is that, because Christ has atoned for our sins, God will not hold them against us, but will impart forgiveness to all who penitently confess their sins and believe in Jesus Christ."

In summary, because of this miracle of God's grace I am justified, not because I'm simply sorry for my sin, or because I've repented, but because of what Jesus has fulfilled through the atonement of His cross.

Scripture: Galatians 3:11; 2 Peter 1:10; Psalm 32:2; Romans 8:33; Galatians 3:24   

Prayer: Holy Father, Your death on the cross cleansed me of my sin; as it was the only way. I offer my eternal gratitude for Your sacrifice, and pray that I may always remember that You did this because You love me so. Amen

Have a blessed weekend,

Klarice