The Passion of Christ - The Rest of the Story

Posted on Jan 18, 2016 Topic : Weekly Devotionals

While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8).

Jesus took on the cross what you will have to take for all eternity if you don’t take Jesus. He died such a violent death to illustrate how horrible sin is, how holy God is, and how much we need him to die in our place for our sins.

- 52 Weeks with Jesus

These days it seems like much of sin is getting a pass. In fact, “sin” is hardly considered sin anymore. What used to be spoken of in hushed tones is now broadcast into millions of homes every night. What was once decried as ruinous to a person’s life is now celebrated as yet another option. If John Newton was writing “Amazing Grace” today, he’d have naysayers suggesting he change that line about grace saving “a wretch like me.”

A wretch? The truth is, sin has lost its wretchedness reputation. It has been dumbed down to accommodate those who find pleasure in it. And yet—and this is the tragedy—sin hasn’t lost one ounce of its power to destroy lives. Daily we see the devastation of sin, though few are willing to acknowledge it these days.

The good news is that, although sin is still as destructive as ever, the cross is as powerful as ever. Nothing can diminish what Jesus did at Calvary for us. We have at our disposal an antidote to the sin in our lives and the sin in our culture.

Though you’ve sinned as have I, we can take comfort in the resolute fact that the penalty for our sins has been fully paid. “Amazing grace” is truly Christ, the godly, dying for you and me, the ungodly.