HE BORE OUR SINS
“…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
—1 Peter 2:24-25
IN OUR TEXT, the Apostle Peter teaches every believer that Jesus Christ “bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” On the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” so that all who trust in Him would never have to utter that phrase. Jesus willingly suffered being forsaken by God so that all who trust in Him would never be forsaken by God. Jesus allowed the darkness of Hell to enclose Him because He refused to allow that darkness to enclose “the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand” (Psalm 95:7). Jesus is the Good Shepherd who drank the cup of God’s infinite, eternal wrath as a Substitute for His people so that we might be called the children of the living God! (1 John 3:1). The price for our redemption from the bondage of Satan, sin, and the wrath of God was the blood of the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, the only One who knew no sin, yet “He became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
THE SECOND MEMBER of the Godhead took upon Himself human nature so that He could be our Substitute and become a curse for us (Gal. 3:13), so that God’s wrath, which was rightly due to each of us, was applied to Jesus our Redeemer. Do you realize that Christ became a curse for a multitude of sinners from every tribe, tongue, and nation, which no man could number? It’s beyond our comprehension to understand the infinite price Jesus Christ paid for our redemption. Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Does your faith rest solely and completely upon Jesus Christ as your only Substitute before God? It’s only by trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ that a sinner can enter a covenant of everlasting peace with the true and living God.
Tuesday Encouragement: November 26, 2024
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
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A WEAK CHRISTIAN'S SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER
My Father and My God,
Thank You for saving me from all my sin, guilt, misery, and the Hell that I have merited. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for living and dying in my place so that I might be granted everlasting life. Thank You for perfectly fulfilling the Covenant of Works in my place. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross to satisfy the justice of God against my sins. Thank You for turning away God's wrath from me by absorbing it all in Your own body and soul on the Cross. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being forsaken in my place so that I might never be forsaken by God. Lord Jesus, You were condemned in my place so that I might sing, "There is therefore no condemnation for those in Christ!"
Holy Spirit, thank You for infusing true faith into my soul by Your Word and Power. Thank you for enabling me to believe the Gospel and trust Jesus as my Redeemer! Thank You, Father, for Your forgiveness of my sins! Thank You that when I confess my sins to You that You are faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from unrighteousness. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your kindness, mercy, grace, love, and compassion to such a weak, sinful, frail, and fragile vessel as I.
Sovereign God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I do love You because You first loved me. You have implanted Your love in my heart. Yet, my love for You and for others is not what it ought to be. I daily fail to love You with my whole heart! I fail miserably! Daily I have sinful thoughts, words, and actions! Of myself, I am unworthy to stand in Your presence and unworthy of the least of Your blessings and truth. But praise Jesus that He never failed to love You, O Father, with His whole heart, soul, mind, and strength on my behalf and that of all His people.
And so, by faith in Jesus, which brings me into union with Him and all His merits and benefits, I stand before You covered and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. What Amazing grace of Jesus that saved a wretch like me! O God, increase my love for You! I once was lost but Jesus found me, I was blind but Jesus gave me sight! Oh, how I love Jesus!
Heavenly Father, I need Your constant forgiveness as I have not
reflected Your glory as I ought! I need Your continual abiding presence and Your face shining upon me lest I slip into despair, discouragement, or depression. I feel myself weak and sinful and that I need You every moment of every day! Strengthen and increase my faith! "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!" Revive me again, O Lord, to serve You with zeal and vigor all the days of my life. Humble me when I walk in obedience, discipline me as Your child when I disobey.
Bless the worship of Your people this Lord's Day. Bless the preaching of Your Word so that Christ increases and the preacher decreases! Bring honor, glory, and praise to Yourself through the proclamation of Your Word. Regenerate sinners, sanctify saints, all for the glory of the great Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In this, Heavenly Father, You are well pleased. For when the Son is honored the Father is honored as well.
I ask all these things in Jesus' name!
Amen!
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