In a recent Pastor’s Point Faith Column, Jeraldine Bjornson of Knox United Church made a couple of good points with regard to our accumulation of “stuff” and how advertising often infers that if we just had enough of whatever they are trying to sell us life would be better. However, there was one particular statement that was of great concern to me.
Jeraldine wrote, “Jesus doesn’t die in order to make some kind of payment to God or to satisfy God’s wrath or to pay the penalty for sin.” I cannot reconcile this statement with any portion of scripture.
The Old Testament makes very clear our need for a Saviour who would pay the penalty for our sins. The New Testament clearly states that this Saviour is Jesus Christ, who indeed did die for our sins and saves us from God’s wrath. Two of the multitude of scriptures that bear witness to this truth are Isaiah 53:5-6 and Romans 5:8-9.
What Jesus did for us on the cross expresses the magnitude of God’s love for us. Sin separates us from God. God does not ignore or deny our sin, but in His great love and mercy He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. He sent His own son to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins. If we will accept what Jesus Christ did for us we are reconciled to God.
If we deny what Jesus did for us on the cross we deny Him and we deny that we are sinners in need of a Saviour.
Mary WhitemanQualicum Beach