1 Minute Daily Devotions
July 23, 2008
No Greater Freedom
"When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." - Colossians 2:13-14
Do we really comprehend the incredible gift we were given when Jesus died for our sins? Not that we take this act for granted, but we have spoken about it so routinely that we might not absorb the full scope of this gift.
It's as though all of our sins were listed on a writing board. And then Christ has come along with a cloth and erased them forever. It's as though they were never even there. On that board, somebody puts a receipt that says, "PAID IN FULL." That's what the nails of the cross did—paid the penalty for our sin in full. Christ has done it all. Our sins have been nailed to the cross; they've been taken care of. Nothing more is needed for forgiveness other than our accepting this amazing gift.
Have you done that? Have you claimed the liberating forgiveness of knowing that Christ has paid the full debt of your sins? If not, why not let Christ give you a clean slate? After all, He's already "paid in full." Our choice is simply to accept His gift in faith.
Comments on this Devotion
From Melanie on Jul 23rd:
One of my favorite hymns...Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimsom stain, He washed it white as snow...
"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Isaiah 1:18
We have so much to be thankful for. The problems of this world will be like a blip, thanks to the incredible gift we have through Christ.
From Janice on Jul 23rd:
Thank you, RFTH, for this special reminder of the miracle that Jesus accomplished on the cross. These verses would be good to memorize for those times when the accuser tries to bring up past sins that have been forgiven. You are right with the title, "No Greater Freedom". I enjoyed using the Bible Gateway system by keying in on the verse reference to see these verses in the various translations offered. Sometimes one translation has wording that is easier to memorize than another.
From Jacob on Jul 23rd:
Oh praise the one who paid my debt, and raised this life up from the dead. My sin had left a crimsom stain, He washed it white as snow.
From Luke_13 on Jul 23rd:
Love that song, Melanie and Jacob! And thanks for this devotional, I love the analogy of the writing board! OH PRAISE THE ONE INDEED!
From Mary on Jul 23rd:
I'm so elated to see so many of my brothers and sisters in the Lord giving Glory and Praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who indeed has paid it all for us.
There is no Greater Love than this that a man lay down his life for his friends and if I lay it down I have the power to pick it up again. And that is exactly what he did, this is how 'we' are able to live lives that are victorious.
It is true our sin debth was one we could not pay but God saw fit in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us but dieing wasn't all after 3 days Christ rose from the dead with all power in His hands. Power to save us, power to keep us, and Power to deliver us to The Father as His one of these days. Amen