-Strength for Today- "The Cross Was Mankind's Only Chance!" - Acts 4:12.
Mankind, because of Adam’s “disobedient act,” will never again experience the “goodness” that was once shared in the Garden of Eden with God, apart from the cross. But because His “immeasurable” and “infinite grace,” He purposefully planned His Son’s “willfulness” to “suffer” as mankind's "unblemished sacrifice” for mankind.” Because only this “obedience” act could satisfy His Father’s “wrath.”
So, the cross became man’s “cue” for seeking God’s righteousness. To reject God’s “grace,” would be to “commit spiritual suicide,” to “the soul.” And as “good news reporters” of God’s Word, even though this isn't a new story, but is one to bring the facts of Calvary about God’s “wrath,” “punishment,” and “eternal separation,” but most of all, “salvation through faith” in Jesus’ completed work on the cross. “Salvation by grace,” something we didn’t deserve, but because of His “unconditional love” and our “connectedness to Jesus,” God made all this available for us.
God, through His Son prepared everything, so that salvation is free! We can’t earn eternal life, it’s a gift from God. Because through His “love,” and “grace” Jesus’ sacrificial death did us a favor. All we have to do is except this free gift by faith. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but my Me.”
Again, because He died in our place, we can go to God 24/7.
- When Jesus died, God’s “sacrificial purposes” were completed, therefore nothing else was needed to pay for man’s sin.
- When Jesus died, by faith we were “justified,” and now have peace with God, because of the “blood of the Lamb!”
So, in God’s economy, on the cross, mankind’s Savior paid it all!
So, what can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; For my cleansing this my plea, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone, nothing but the blood of Jesus; naught of good that I have done,
nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my hope and peace, Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness, Nothing but the blood of Jesus. When Jesus died, the “grave couldn’t hold Him,” because early Sunday morning he arose from the dead with all “power of Heaven,” and “earth in His hands!”
Author: Plez Lovelady, Jr., PhD