Who Did It?

He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed. 1 PETER 2:24 AMP

A small bit of biblical history will help here. God's prescription for sin under the old testament was a sacrifice requiring blood. Blood symbolises life, and more or less meant a life being given for a life. A life was the price to pay for sin, since sin itself was a claim on life too. Sin had a price, which could only be settled by blood. Unfortunately, those who sinned could not pay it, and the only one who could pay it knew no sin. This is the foundation of the dilemma.

Unfortunately also, the blood offered under the old covenant wasn't sufficient to deal with sin. The blood offering only covered up the sin; it couldn't deal with the foundation of sin. Enter in the perfect sacrifice. Recall the process highlighted above and relate it to today's extract: first, a substandard offering wasn't made, it was the final and perfect offering. Second, the offering wasn't offered on our behalf by imperfect priests, it was offered by the great High Priest himself. He didn't take blood which could only cover; he offered his own blood as a once and for all perfect sacrifice for sin. His offering deals with the nature, power, penalty and consequences of sin. His offering opens the door to a fresh start, new hope and a new life. I have been empowered by the greatest power in the world to live right, do right, talk right and end right.

All I can ask myself is this: " would I let all these go to waste in my life?". Won't I take full advantage of what has been offered? This is a question whose answer will reverberate throughout eternity. His time of favour is here.