Grace Life Church of the Shoals, Muscle Shoals
The most logical and natural response of humans to their Creator/God should be to “love the Lord your God with all your heart … soul … mind … strength” (Mark 12:30). Tragically, man has miserably failed. Man is not God-centered in his thoughts and deeds but is self-centered. Second Timothy 3:2 and 4 says “For man will be lovers of self … rather than lovers of God.” Instead of following after God with total love and devotion “each of us has turned to his own way” (Isa. 53:6). Envy, jealousy, anger, lust, hatred, selfishness, lying, stealing, gossiping, cheating, fornication and adultery are some common ways man has proven that he hasn’t lived up to God’s expected behavior of him.
All presently stand as guilty and condemned before Him. John 3:18 says man is “judged already.” Revelation 15:3 declares God is “righteous and true” in His punishment of men. And Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” Yet there is hope.
In order to glorify Himself, God has chosen that “judgment” would not be the final word but “love and grace.” God’s amazing love is demonstrated in His work of saving man from the wrath to come.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And Isaiah 53:10 says, “But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering.” In effect God took the crushing blow of judgment man deserves and placed it on His Son, Jesus.
If today you feel your desperate need for God’s forgiveness and believe He has judged and punished Jesus in your place, you can be forgiven and restored to a right standing before God. Cry out to Him confessing your sin and tell Him you believe Jesus took your sin and punishment. The Scriptures promise, “He who believes in Him will not be disappointed” (Rom. 9:33).
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