Celebrate the Love
Sunday School Teachers: Jesus died for your sins. Students like me: I know.
But I did not know. I had heard this brief explanation of Christ’s “sacrifice on the cross” many times but had no idea how to apply the information to my own life. Even though my parents were quick to punish my wrong-doing and often taught us to share, be kind, and love others, I had no idea it was “sin” by God’s definition not to do those things.
That was until the Lord clearly showed me the sinful person I was. Then, I could understand that, because He said, “The wages of sin are death,” someone had to pay that penalty for my sin. Finally, the idea of a substitutionary death made sense and I could understand how to apply this truth to my life.
Salvation that I did not know I needed was given to me. Amazing grace.
It seems that the Lord has recently been opening my eyes to the great truth of His love for His own children. “God is love” is another one of those teachings that I heard often and “knew” but was unaware of how important it is to understand this truth. Knowing that everything God does comes from His love for us makes a big difference when heading into a dire set of circumstances thinking (consciously) that God can only act from His loving being. This means there is something in the circumstances that will ultimately benefit me. Really? Being run over by a car? My husband’s cancer? My own fear of losing my eyesight? A recession or depression?
Often it is in a clichéd way that we quote Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Celebrate the Love
So, this “working together for good” is not just of God’s love but requires our love for Him. I fear that we use this verse universally but the Lord has given us two conditions – our love for Him and His calling us to His purposes.
As I have studied different passages of scripture it is clear that God does do special things for His people. In Revelation 18:4-5 God warns His people to get out of “Babylon” (Jerusalem) as He warns them that if they stay they will be caught in His judgment on the evil being done there (as He had also done with Noah and Lot). He had already warned them in Luke 20:20-21, telling His people to flee the city of Jerusalem when they saw the armies coming.
SO, as the Sunday School teachers have taught, Christ did die for the sins of His people, substituting His life for ours as He died on the cross. This is the basic truth of the Gospel. But, as we grow and mature in faith, knowledge and understanding of the gospel, we see that His love and guidance for us did not stop at the cross. In the turmoil and trials of this life He will direct our steps. He is the God of love who will remind us that He expects and honors a reciprocal love for Him. His Word says that if we love Him we will obey His commands.
One of the wonderful things about Easter is that our loving God and Father reminds us that our Savior did not stay on the cross that He died on for us. He is risen! Resurrected! He is alive! Living and actively participating in our lives. He is not just observing but intervening and warning and reminding us, even commanding His angels concerning you! (Psalm 91:11-12)
Though many Sunday School teachers stop short of the complete teaching of our sinful ways and need for this Savior willing to die for us, God’s Word is clear and expands beautifully all the truths we need to know and understand so that we can be assured in His love for us.
Jesus Christ has done considerably more than die for our sins, He lives for us, He loves us. In our joy. In our pain. In conviction of sin. In grace extended by Him and by others. His mercy, forgiveness and grace are all extensions of His love.
His death for us is a demonstration of His gracious love. His resurrection and active participation in our lives, because of His love for us, are also reasons to worship and celebrate Jesus Christ every day of the year.