How does a Holy God call wicked men into fellowship with him and still be Holy? If a just God pardons sinners, then He is not just. How does a just God remain just, and yet allow sinful men to one day dwell with Him? God is righteous and good, so He must condemn our sins. But then, what hope does sinful man have?
The answer is found in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the crucifixion and death of Christ, we see the full sacrifice for our sins. God is just, so He sends His Son to this earth, to live a perfect life. Christ then goes to that tree and is crucified for our sins. Our sins are cast on Him. You see, all the wrath, all the justice of God that we deserve is thrown down on the head of Christ. On the cross He bore our sins. He loved us so greatly that He was prepared to lay down His own life. God was prepared to send His Son, His ONLY begotten Son, very well knowing that He would be crucified. Christ’s crucifixion was required to satisfy the fullness of God’s justice; someone had to pay for all man’s sins. After Christ was crucified, He said “it is finished”, meaning that He had done what was required of Him, He had paid the ultimate price. God’s Word states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Christ paid for our sins that day on the cross. He paid the price for our sin, and He paid it in full.
In the book of John 15:13, Jesus says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Christ not only laid down His life for His friends, He laid it down for the whole world, even for those who would never love Him. There is no greater sacrifice in the world than this, and this is where God’s grace is so important to those who sin, to all mankind that have done wrong and have lived that wicked life. He gives them a way out. It’s not always an easy way out, but it is free, it’s God’s gift.
Can we then continue to sin, since we have been pardoned, since our sins were thrown down on the head of Christ? Does this give us a “license” to sin? No, no, no, absolutely not. Romans 6:1,2: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid…” Christ’s death is not something to be used or abused for our own unrighteous will, but rather a way of atonement. He is the propitiation for our sins, the intercessor between us and God. 1 John 2:1,2: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” The Word of God has very strong Words to say to the person who believes it is still ok to just keep on sinning, but I will speak of this some other time.
So, how do you know whether someone is a Christian? Well, the answer is that it will continue. It does not simply “end there” when you believe. You will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of God. You will continue in your repentance; you will continue to deepen in your faith. Little by little you will continue to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. The Bible states, in Philippians 1:6 that “...he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” You see, as a true believer God will watch over you as a true Father, with loving parental guidance AND discipline.
Hebrews 12:6,7: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”
Once you have become a Christian, you have become part of God’s providence, and He that begun a good work, will finish it.
