1215. From Sin–The Delivering Power of the Atonement

From Sin–The Delivering Power of the Atonement

"And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own Blood" (Rev_1:5).

It is a wonderful thing when we remember that through the Blood of Christ we are loosed from our sins. Three things again may be said concerning this glorious deliverance.

1. We are delivered from sin's burden. In Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," "Christian" is pictured with the burden of his sins upon his back, pressing his way toward the Cross. "Christian" was almost overwhelmed by the sense of his guilt and by the weight and woe of his wicked ways; but, when he came to the Cross, his burden rolled away.

"It is just like Him to take my sins away.

It is just like Him to keep me day by day.

It is just like Him to help me all the way.

It is just like His great love."

The sinner in his sin cries out, "Who shall deliver me?" The saint, saved by the Blood, cries out, "I thank God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Christ came to open the prison bars and set the prisoner free.

2. We are delivered from sin's bondage. Not only are we saved from the burden of sin, but from bondage, or dominion of sin. Sin's power is broken, its captive is set free. Jesus Christ, upon the Cross spoiled principalities and powers; He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Today He leads us in the train of His triumph. "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for we are not under the Law."

Our Lord Jesus Christ did not save us from sin's penalty, to leave us dupes and slaves of sin's power. Jesus Christ died upon the Cross that He might "deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Many a believer is living far beneath his privileges.

"Lord, lift me up and let me stand,

By faith on Heaven's tableland.

A higher plane than I have found,

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

3. Deliverance from sin's banishment. In deliverance from sin's burden, sin's presence is removed, and we stand justified before God. In the sight of God we are as though we had never sinned. "God hath beheld no iniquity in Jacob."

In deliverance from sin's bondage, sin's power is broken, and God puts victory into our souls. We walk in the Spirit and crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof.

In deliverance from sin's banishment, sin's penalty is annulled. This penalty was death, eternal separation from God, but through the Blood of Jesus Christ we have been brought back into fellowship.

Adam when he sinned was driven out, Adam's sons when they are saved are welcomed in. Adam was separated from the Tree of Life, Adam's saved sons have a right to the Tree of Life.

When Christ was made sin for us He died outside the camp. This is a type of a sinner's separation from God. When the sin question was settled Christ passed through the Heavens and sat down in the presence of God. This is the type of the believers' return from banishment and of his welcome into the presence of God.

The Word of God is very plain, "But now in Christ Jesus, ye, who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ." Christ broke down the middle wall of partition that guarded the way into the holiest of all. Christ abolished in His flesh, the enmity. Christ reconciled both Jew and Gentile unto God, in one body by the Cross, having slain the enmity thereby. Thus it is that through Jesus Christ our banishment to the far country is made void, and we have now our access unto the Father. We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but we are fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God.

Let us thank God for the deliverance from sin's banishment; let us have boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus, "by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh" (Heb_10:20).

Thank God, when Christ died the veil of the Temple was rent in twain. Sin which separated from the Father is taken away through the atonement.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR