The Good News of Jesus Christ is that in Him, our sins are forgiven. He took care of them 2,000 years ago!

11 Through Me [Christ] your days will be many, and years will be added to your life [extended into eternity]. 12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker [and refuse to listen], you alone will suffer [the consequences].

One of the most liberating passages I know is 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. Christ died for everyone! Let’s read it:

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

The phrase, “once for all” referring to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is used in Romans 6:10, Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:26 (my favorite), Hebrews 10:2, and Hebrews 10:10. Jesus did away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:26). It’s now a matter of people trusting Jesus enough to allow the Holy Spirit to enter them, cleanse them, and begin the work of sanctification in them (making them to be like Jesus in righteousness and holiness; see Ephesians 4:24).

Want more proof? Here’s 2 Corinthians 5:18,

¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

The whole point of Jesus bearing our sins on the cross was to bury them in death–and leave them there! Let’s look:

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18

²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

Just as Jesus died with our sins and then rose again without our sins, we, too, can “die” to sins and live for His righteousness. Our sins are forgiven, buried, forgotten. From now on, it’s a matter of turning to Him for life, fellowship, instruction and training, all for the new kingdom that He is in the process of building right now! Following Christ is not about the hereafter, but the here and now! The hereafter will take care of itself as we walk in step with the Spirit of Christ. Let’s do it!

Abba, I am so excited to have such good news to share with my neighbors! May You orchestrate an opportunity for me to share it with them. Amen.