April 25, 2023

Colossians 2: 13, 14 He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. (NIV)

When we die under grace, we die debt-free!*

Sin is like a credit card that has been maxed out. Under the Law, animal sacrifices merely satisfied the minimum monthly payment. Even if we didn't keep adding charges to our balance of sin, it's already too late to pay it off. But then along comes Jesus. With his death on the cross, he canceled our legal indebtedness. Every time we sin, his blood makes the payment.

Can we repay Jesus for restoring our credit score? No. No amount of godly living can make us even. Does this give us carte blanche to keep on incurring debt? Shall we abuse grace by continuing to choose sin? Paul poses the question in Romans 6: 1, “Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase?” and answers, “By no means!” He proceeds with a discussion of dying to sin – which is very important theology – but what he fails to say is, “Shame on you!”

At the cost of his own blood, Jesus wiped out your debt. The least you can do is to show your gratitude by not exploiting his generosity. But why would you want to do the least you can do for the one who loves you so much? Can’t you love him back?

Jesus said, “If you love me you will obey what I command you.” (John 14: 15). What has he commanded us to do? The greatest commandments, he said, are to love God and love others; all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments (Matthew 22: 38-40). These two rules form the framework of the life of a Christian. As long as we are trying to live lovingly, Jesus will keep clearing up our debt of sin. If we confess our sin, he will faithfully and justly forgive us and purify us (I John 1: 9). That’s a promise you can take to the bank.

Grace rightly understood and personally accepted demands the greatest works of all: a life of spontaneous loving gratitude to the Father.*