All week during our Bible study time together, we have talked about the hopelessness of our human condition. Indeed, we have a sin problem, and that sin has grave consequences. This hopelessness would be our fate if we were left to our own devices. Amidst the darkness and bleakness of our human condition, Christ offers hope. He came at just the right time to rescue humanity and bring healing, freedom, and salvation for all who place their faith in Him.
We left off in our Bible study yesterday in Romans 7, where we read Paul’s explanation of the battle between his desire to honor God and obey Him and his flesh. He explained in this passage of Scripture, “I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (verse 23). We can all relate to this struggle, can’t we? We all struggle at times in the battle against sin, at time giving in to sin that we never wanted to give in to. Paul continued writing in Romans 7 about this struggle, saying, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (verse 24). It is clear from these words that Paul understood that his, and our, situation was hopeless on his own. We needed someone to rescue us. We needed someone to free us from sin and its consequences, including death. Yes, our situation was hopeless, but we are not without hope. That’s why Paul continued writing in the very next verse, “Thank God! The answer is Jesus Christ our Lord” (verse 25). What is the answer to our sin problem? Who is the one who can rescue us? The answer is, of course, Jesus Christ. He is the hope of the entire world and the only one able to rescue us.
Exactly how did Jesus rescue us from sin and all of its consequences? Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples during His earthly ministry, tells us exactly how in 1st Peter 2. He wrote that although sinless, Jesus “personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed” (verse 24). When Jesus, who lived a sinless life, bore our sins on the cross and rose from the grave, he brought freedom. Those who place their faith in Christ, because of His death and resurrection on the cross, “are dead to sin and live for what is right.” What a Savior we have! What hope He has offered to us! This truth has changed everything for those who place their hope in Him.
My friend, if you have placed your faith in Christ, you have been set free from sin and its consequences. You are “dead to sin.” Even more, you are alive in Christ! May you cling to the hope of your Savior today!
The gift of salvation is something we must not take for granted. The hope of salvation that Christ offers changes everything. Write out a prayer of gratitude, focusing on the amazing gift of salvation and hope that is available through Him.
“God, as I consider all that You have done for me and the freedom found in You, I thank You for…”
1So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.”
7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”
8 And,
“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
10 “Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
22 He never sinned,
nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins
in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
By his wounds
you are healed.
25 Once you were like sheep
who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,
the Guardian of your souls.
