Yesterday in the Florida Times Union was an article on judges handing out unusual punishments for crimes such as stealing, shoplifting, property damage and such. It referenced the colonial times that those guilty would be placed in stocks in a public common area to shame them. A particular judge referenced offers a choice to the guilty to hold a sign in front of the store that thief stole from that said “ I am a thief who stole from this store” or something similar. The point of course is to embarrass this thief to death so as to not do it again and make others think twice before stealing.
The person’s sin (wrongdoing) being displayed to all wasn’t a first in the Colonial times. I read about it this morning in my daily Bible study in Colossians. In the 2nd chapter in the book of Colossians are references to two types of debt acknowledgement (such as the sign being held up for all to see).
Col.2:13 “ …. He had made alive together (you) with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Emphasis mine).
Wiped out the handwriting refers to the handwritten certificate of debt by which a debtor acknowledges his indebtedness. Paul graphically compares God’s forgiveness of believer’s sins to wiping ink off a parchment.
The list of crimes of a crucified criminal was nailed to the cross with that criminal to declare the violations he was being punished for. Both wiping out the handwriting and nailing it to the cross express the forgiveness of Jesus. Because he took our sin upon Himself. He bore the shame of our sin as His own. Can you visualize it now? My sin of____________ was placed upon Him for all to see. How shameful. Through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, God has totally erased our certificate if indebtedness and made our forgiveness complete. Believer’s sin (this requires action on your part to be a believer, it isn’t automatic) were all put to Christ’s account, nailed to His cross, He fully bore the punishment for them all. Thank you Jesus for Your sacrifice.
I am thankful that my sin will not again be declared to the world. I asked Jesus to forgive me, and he did. I asked Him to restore me, and He did! I repented (turned away) from my selfish and wicked ways and turned to Him. God tells us (John 14:6) I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.
Words in blue font (MacArthur Study Bible)
The person’s sin (wrongdoing) being displayed to all wasn’t a first in the Colonial times. I read about it this morning in my daily Bible study in Colossians. In the 2nd chapter in the book of Colossians are references to two types of debt acknowledgement (such as the sign being held up for all to see).
Col.2:13 “ …. He had made alive together (you) with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Emphasis mine).
Wiped out the handwriting refers to the handwritten certificate of debt by which a debtor acknowledges his indebtedness. Paul graphically compares God’s forgiveness of believer’s sins to wiping ink off a parchment.
The list of crimes of a crucified criminal was nailed to the cross with that criminal to declare the violations he was being punished for. Both wiping out the handwriting and nailing it to the cross express the forgiveness of Jesus. Because he took our sin upon Himself. He bore the shame of our sin as His own. Can you visualize it now? My sin of____________ was placed upon Him for all to see. How shameful. Through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, God has totally erased our certificate if indebtedness and made our forgiveness complete. Believer’s sin (this requires action on your part to be a believer, it isn’t automatic) were all put to Christ’s account, nailed to His cross, He fully bore the punishment for them all. Thank you Jesus for Your sacrifice.
I am thankful that my sin will not again be declared to the world. I asked Jesus to forgive me, and he did. I asked Him to restore me, and He did! I repented (turned away) from my selfish and wicked ways and turned to Him. God tells us (John 14:6) I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.
Words in blue font (MacArthur Study Bible)
No comments:
Post a Comment