Friday, December 22, 2017

Peace With God

Isaiah 53 is a prophecy about the Messiah, written 700 years before it happened. Every detail was accurately fulfilled by Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Sinless, Suffering Servant, voluntarily and sacrificially suffered and died on the cross for our sins. God laid on Him the punishment that we deserved so that we may obtain peace with God. Christ was crushed by the weight of our sins upon Him. He experienced rejection, ridicule, pain, torture, humiliation, and death. He endured great sufferings and sorrows so that we will be saved from sin and spiritual death. By His wounds/suffering, we are spiritually healed from soul sickness caused by sin. Our sins were imputed to Him and His righteousness is imputed to us (to all who trust in Him as Lord and Savior and trust in His finished work of redemption at the cross). The greatest exchange of all time! Because of His death, we are offered salvation, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God. God's wrath/justice was satisfied; peace was granted. "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2) Christ was pierced, bruised, beaten, and died on our behalf...because He loves us and wants us to be with Him for eternity. He suffered and died so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24) We receive atonement and justification, not through our obedience but through Christ's obedience (through the blood of Christ).

"It (Sin) is the opposite of Peace--the root of discord and enmity between us and God. It is a disease of the spirit--difficult to heal. It is a foolish and willful wandering, like that of a stray sheep. And it is a heavy burden, which crushes him on whom it lies. So many and serious are the aspects of sin." (B. J. Gibbon.)

"I show men the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, but they show me their own, and all hope of dealing with them is gone. Unless I can prove that their righteousness is worthless, they will not seek the righteousness which is of God by faith. Oh, that the Lord would show you your disease, and then you would desire the remedy!" (C.HSpurgeon)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for dying the death I deserved to pay for the debt/punishment I could never pay for! I am forever grateful. Thank You for rescuing me, forgiving me, and healing me! You not only bring me peace, You are my Peace. May I rest in You always! Lord, open the spiritual eyes of the unbelievers to see their sin-sick souls and the need for Your salvation/remedy. The world needs You so desperately!


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