By Beverly Rainwater
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. (Colossians 2:14)
Through Christ we who were dead in sins are now quickened. We now have a means by which our sins are blotted out, done away with and we can become white as a new snow. We have this opportunity because Christ was crucified on the cross taking away our sins, and all we have to do to receive this great blessing is to accept Him as our Lord and Savior, repent of our sinful ways, and be buried with Him through baptism to wash away our sins and walk with Him. By fulfilling the Father's will Christ wiped out, took away ,and nailed to the cross the Old Law of many ordinances and demands that were hard to adhere to and in so doing gave us a New Law that frees us from sin. It doesn't just move the sin forward but completely blots it out and so that we are as newborn babes with no sin and no baggage. We're made brand new souls ready to work and live for the Lord and follow His commands so that we can walk in newness of life.
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
Christ's sacrifice, the giving of His life on the cross, gave us a means by which we can become children of God and have the hope of eternal life. This sacrifice was an unselfish, love filled act that should cause us to lift Him up in awe and in glory.
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. (Psalm 4:4)
Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. (Psalm 33:8)
O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8:1)
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. (Psalm 8:5)
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. (John 2:11)
Christ, because of His love for us and His humble obedience to His Father gave all He could give, not because He sinned, but because we do and therefore need a way of escape. He gave Himself, even though He didn't want to.
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, "Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, "My soul is exceeding sorrwful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me." And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from except I drink it, thy will be done." And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (Matthew 26:36-44)
We can see from this reading of Scripture that Christ didn't want to have to suffer, but because of His great love for His Father and for mankind He conceded to the Father's will that it would be done. Christ's great sacrifice shows us an unconditional love, a willingness to follow the will of the Father no matter the consequence to self. In this we should know that Christ's love for us as well as His Father was one to be held in glory and honor and one to be thankful for. His great sacrifice should be held up, lifted up, honored and glorified. Never can we be overly thankful.
All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson,Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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