A Greater Sickness VIII: Christ's Work For You
We’ve spent several weeks talking of the greater sickness: sin. We’ve discussed what it is, how it acts, and how it is against a loving God and against ourselves and our own happiness.
Last week, we began to talk about the only cure for sin. The Cure is a Person and the Person is Jesus Christ. This week, we’re talking about how Christ is not only mighty to save, but also to heal.
How does Christ and His dual-nature heal the infinite chasm made by sin?
Jesus rescues us from the disease of living against God by living for God
Our sin is against God’s rule, rules, promises, warnings, character, and existence. In every way that we have lived against God, Christ has perfectly and obediently lived for God. The entirety of His Person was devoted to do God’s will.
2. Jesus died to reconcile you and God by removing the offense that divided
When we embrace Christ, His righteousness is given to us. The law no longer comes to you to condemn you, but it comes to us through Christ, who has perfectly fulfilled the law, as a friend. Christ became the curse for us. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE."
Paul Washer writes, “In Deuteronomy 27 and 28, God divided the nation of Israel into two separate camps, placing one on Mount Gerizim and one on Mount Ebal. Those on Mount Gerizim were to pronounce the blessings that would come to all who diligently obey the Lord their God. Those on Mount Ebal were to pronounce the cursings on all who refused such obedience. Though Christ had the right to the blessings of Gerizim, it was from Mount Ebal that His own Father thundered against Him.” Christ bore the curses of Deuteronomy 28. The curses of God pursued and destroyed Christ, even though He was the One man who did not deserve it. In order to remove the offense, He became the offense.
We see the foreshadowing of Christ’s coming and cure all throughout Scripture. We see Him in the Levitical priests. We see Him in the scapegoat who carries away the shame of the people.
“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity
And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in unchanging love.” (Micah 7:18)
We stand in Christ, the only place we can escape the wrath of God and the weight of our sin and shame. Let this truth stir you to worship this Christ, a gracious Savior.
Dear Gracious Father, O for the grace to contemplate the love You have shown me in the Son.
Lord, I would be lost, swallowed up, day by day in the unceasing meditation of it.
Dearest, blessed, precious Jesus, give me to think of nothing else; to speak of nothing else; but, by faith, to possess in anticipation the joys of Your redeemed, until I come, through You, and in You, to the everlasting enjoyment of them, in Your kingdom of glory. Amen.
(Robert Hawker)
A Guide to Family Worship
This prayer is taken from our new book, A Guide to Family Worship.
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