What would life be like if Jesus didn’t die for our sins?!
As I got to pondering this, a sad reality came to me. For most, life wouldn’t look much different. Now, let me explain.
Jesus came and lived and died and rose again, now seated on the right hand of the throne of God, forever making intercession to God for us (believers). In other words, He is vouching for us. There have been many times in my life, having been a manager, teacher, and pastor that people have asked me to give them references for a job. In other words, they have asked me to vouch for their character. Now, I don’t know about you, but I won’t vouch for the character of a person who isn’t going to uphold that character. I believe that’s exercising good judgment and most christians would feel the same way as I do about this. However, at the same time we expect Jesus to vouch for us when we refuse to live in good godly character. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” What is a new creation? Well consider something brand new. It smells good, it looks clean, it’s not bruised, dented or broken, and it works as intended. New means new. We accept Jesus’s free gift of salvation but never decide to uphold our end of the agreement by living as NEW creatures.
Remember Romans 12:1? It says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Some translations say “reasonable service”. This means that if we’ve been saved, it’s both reasonable and spiritual, meaning it proves both our gratitude and true born again spirit nature when we live holy! Look at Hebrews 10:26, “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” We want Him vouching for us, but are we living a life without Him in it?
Romans 5:21 – 6:3, “so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” An unbeliever sees no reason not to sin but what’s a Christian’s excuse? Many Christians bear the name of Christ in their minds, but what about in their hearts? Many Christians will show up for church but will they show up for God?
I love Psalms 119:162, which says, “I rejoice at Your word, As one who finds great spoil.” Some translations say treasure or as one who struck it rich. We are rich because of the Word of the Lord! Our answers are available, His path clear and navigable, the love of God so easy to see, yet we often live as though those things aren’t available to us anyways.
So what would it look like if we erased what Jesus did for the world? Unbelievers already have a world view where Jesus isn’t a part of it, so to them life as they know it wouldn’t change while they lived on earth. Now, in eternity terms, it would change everything. There would be no salvation, none in Heaven, no one with life everlasting. We’d all be destined for a life of torment, as Matthew 13:42 says, we’d all be “in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” But Jesus DID die for us. He did bring the gift of salvation to anyone who would call upon the Lord to rule and reign in their hearts.
Ponder and ask yourself this, “IS MY LIFE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF JESUS?” (Depending on that answer you may have some work to do.) Let’s stir ourselves up to that good work! Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” I implore you, live like Jesus died for you.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Renée
