As we journey closer to Easter, it is good to remember what Jesus has done for us. This morning I read from a daily reading by Charles Haddon Spurgeon - one of the greatest preachers in all history. Pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, England in the mid to late 19th century, he was known as the prince of preachers...and this is one of the demonstrations of why that was so.
For our sake he made him to be sin who
knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [2 Corinthians 5:21]
Mourning Christian, why are you weeping? Are you
mourning over your own sins and failings? Look to your perfect Lord, and remember,
you are complete in Him. You are in God's sight as perfect as if you had never
sinned; more than that, the Lord our Righteousness has clothed you with a royal
robe of righteousness, which is wholly undeserved—you have the righteousness of
God.
You who are mourning by reason of inbred sin and
depravity, remember, none of your sins can condemn you. You have learned to
hate sin; but you have also learned how that sin is not yours—it was laid upon
Christ's head. Your standing is not in yourself--it is in Christ. Your
acceptance is not in yourself, but in your Lord; you are just as accepted by
God today, with all your sinfulness, as you will be when you stand before His
throne, free from all corruption.
So I urge you, take hold of this precious thought—perfection
in Christ! For you are "complete in him."1 With
your Savior's garment on, you are as holy as the Holy One. "Who is to
condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is
at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."2
Christian, let your heart rejoice, for you are
"accepted in the beloved"3—what do you have to fear? Keep
a smile on your face! Live near your Master; live in the suburbs of the
Heavenly City; for soon, when your time has come, you will rise up to where
Jesus sits and reign at His right hand; and all because the Lord Jesus was made
"to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God."
1) Colossians 2:10, KJV
2) Romans 8:34
3) Ephesians 1:6, KJV
2) Romans 8:34
3) Ephesians 1:6, KJV
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