Bible Creed

I put up a post a few days ago which contained a quote by John Stott from his landmark work, Basic Christianity, regarding the sinfulness of mankind. I stated that I had every intention on composing a follow up post dealing with the Good News centering on what God has done  through His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin. Without a doubt, there would be nothing but despair and darkness if God had decided to leave us to our own devices to save ourselves. And it must be stated that God was under no obligation to do anything for us; after all, when the angels in glory rebelled against God He gave them no second chance (2 Peter 2:4). The only reason we can have hope is because God has done something for us that He was in no way under compulsion to do.

The only reason we can have hope is because God, motivated by love (John 3:16), extended His grace to us in Christ Jesus. Stott so very clearly explains the Good News of what God has done for sinners like you and me through  Jesus. After quoting 2 Corinthians 5:21 (which says, “God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”), Stott says,

“As we begin to reflect on the cross, we can begin to understand the terrible implications of these words. At twelve noon ‘darkness came over the whole land’ that continued for three hours until Jesus died. With the darkness came silence, for no eye should see, and no lips could tell, the agony of soul that the spotless Lamb of God was now enduring. The accumulated sins from the whole of human history were laid upon him. Voluntarily he bore them in his own body. He made them his own. He took full responsibility for them” (pg. 113).

He continues;

“And then in desolate spiritual abandonment a cry was wrung from his lips, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ It was a quotation from the first verse of Psalm 22… He quoted this verse from the Bible… because he believed that he  himself was fulfilling it. He was bearing our sins. And God whose ‘eyes were too pure to look on evil’ and who ‘cannot tolerate wrong’ turned his face away. Our sins came between the Father and the Son. The Lord Jesus Christ, who was eternally with the Father, who enjoyed unbroken communion with him throughout his life on earth, was momentarily abandoned. Our sins sent Christ to hell. He tasted the agony of a soul alienated from God. Bearing our sins, he died our death. He endured instead of us the penalty of separation from God that our sins deserved” (pg. 113-114)

He concludes with these words;

Then at once emerging from that outer darkness, he cried out in triumph, ‘It is finished,’ and finally, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ And so he died. The work he had come to do was completed. The salvation he had come to win was accomplished. The sins of the world had been carried away. Reconciliation to God was available to all who would trust this Savior for themselves and receive him as their own. Immediately, as if to demonstrate this truth publicly, the unseen hand of God tore down the curtain in the Temple. It was no longer needed. The way into God’s holy presence was no longer barred. Christ had ‘opened the gate of heaven to all believers.’ And thirty-six hours later he was raised from the dead, to prove that he had not died in vain” (pg. 114).

This is Good News indeed. That which makes us deserving of the wrath of God (sin) has been removed. Salvation is now free for the taking. Those who repent of their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ can have peace with God; those who receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior can enjoy eternal life through Him.