THE WAY OF THE CROSS (II)

*DAILY DEW 16TH/SEPTEMBER/2021*

*THE WAY OF THE CROSS* (II)

_Key Bible Text:_

*Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.* (1 Peter 2:24 (KJV))

_Bible Insight:_

*Through Christ’s death on the cross, those who turn to Him are delivered from both the penalty and the power of sin.* (1 Peter 2:24 New American Standard Bible)

What are the benefits that accrue to us from following the cross, or carrying the cross to follow Jesus? In answering this, we need to understand that it is the death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross that gives the cross its power. 

"1. Through Christ’s death on the cross, those who turn to Him are delivered from the penalty of sin."

This is clearly the meaning of the words, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree.” By using the word “tree” rather than “cross,” Peter no doubt had in mind Deuteronomy 21:22-23, where it prescribes the penalty for a condemned criminal, that his body be hanged on a tree: “For he who is hanged is accursed of God.” The apostle Paul refers to the same text in Galatians 3:13: “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.’” Both apostles are saying that Christ took on Himself as our substitute the condemnation which we deserved.

The holiness and justice of God demand that a penalty be paid for sin; Christ took that penalty on Himself on the cross. By mentioning Christ’s body, Peter calls attention to the fact of His humanity. Since the human race sinned, a member of the race had to pay the just penalty God demands. But only one who was sinless Himself could pay such a penalty, since others would have to pay for their own sin. Jesus Christ, who alone among the human race committed no sin (1 Pet. 2:22; Isa. 53:9), is the only one capable of bearing the sins of the human race. This bearing of sins was a legal transaction in which God the Father transferred to God the Son the penalty we deserve.

That God sent Christ to bear our sins means that God does not just shrug off our sin. We live in a day of loose justice at best. People commit horrible crimes and get off with a slap on the wrist.

*MEDITATION*

*Yet I talk to people all the time, many of them Christians, who think that God’s justice is like that. They shrug off sin as if it’s no big deal to God. They think He will just overlook it. But the Bible is very clear: All sin must be judged! Either your sin is on you and you will bear the penalty; or your sin is on Christ who bore the penalty. Either way, God does not take sin lightly! The just penalty must be paid.*

Culled from Steven J. Cole's "Lesson 13: The Meaning Of The Cross (1 Peter 2:24-25)"

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