Mark Vestal Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

Sin does not put us into debt with God today. Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, was made to be sin for us, and God was in Christ on the cross reconciling the world unto himself, no longer imputing the world's trespasses. This is not an open invitation to serve yourself with sin, but an open invitation to now serve God through Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21
"17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

The verse you quote from Matthew is the prayer that Jesus instructed the twelve apostles to recite for the nation Israel. Notice that the prayer is specific to Israel's promised earthly kingdom that they were and are still awaiting (Acts 1:6-7). This prayer, along with the entirety of Christ's earthly kingdom gospel to the Hebrews, was prior to the death of Jesus Christ. The soon to follow revealing of the hidden "mystery" gospel of God's grace is where we learn the significance of Christ's death on the cross and specifically God's forgiveness of our sins. This gospel was given to and through our apostle Paul from Christ ascended into heaven for us today (Ephesians chapter 3 KJV).

All of Israel's past sins were forgiven by the death of Jesus Christ at the cross. All of Israel's post-cross sins will be forgiven when Christ returns for His millennial reign in Israel's earthly kingdom, at the times of refreshing (Acts 3:19). 

We have been offered something much greater during today's dispensation of God's grace. ALL of our sins were forgiven when Christ died for us (Colossians 1:14), and we may accept God's free gift of salvation by belief in this, having faith alone in Christ and His finished work performed on the cross on our behalf. We today have been promised all spiritual blessings and a part of God's heavenly home as a member of the church which is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

We go into debt with God by believing there is something more required of us in addition to what Christ already completed. If we could add to what Jesus Christ already accomplished we would be trusting in our own self-righteousness and not submitting to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3). God made it clear that salvation is the free unmerited gift and nothing of ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9). We reject a free gift when we attempt to pay for it, which then puts us in debt (Romans 4:4-5).

Be ye reconciled to God! How? By believing that the death of Jesus Christ was the completed perfect payment for what WOULD have been our sin debt. Believe that He alone took the punishment on the cross that we deserve. Believe that He was dead and buried, but He overcame death and rose from the grave on the 3rd day for our justification, so that by belief (having faith alone in Christ alone) we are then made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

The gospel of God's grace through Jesus Christ crucified:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

March 08 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report