Thursday, December 13, 2007

"When the Fulness of Time was Come, God Sent Forth His Son"




"Christ is the Son of God, and of a woman, who for us sinners, was made under the law, to redeem us who were under the law. .... It is very profitable for us to have always before our eyes this sweet and comfortable sentence, and such like, which sets out Christ truly and lively, that in our whole life, in all dangers, in the confession of our faith before tyrants, and in the hour of death, we may boldly and with all confidence say: O law, you have no power over me; therefore, you accuse and condemn me in vain. For I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whom the Father sent into the world to redeem us miserable sinners oppressed with the tyranny of the law. He gave His life, He shed His blood for me. Therefore, feeling your terrors and threatenings, O law, I plunge my conscience in the wounds, blood, death, resurrection and victory of my Savior, Christ. Besides Him I will see nothing, hear nothing." -Martin Luther

There actually IS no condemnation for those who have trusted Christ; who have become crucified with Christ; who live in Christ; who have received the forgiveness of our sins, and not only God's gracious forgiveness, but also a robe of the righteousness of Christ covers us, and has been imputed to our souls for all eternity. The Father did all this through His Son, for us. What a Savior!

This is what Christmas is all about. Christ coming to redeem a people for His glory and for Himself. Why did He do this? That's the question that only heaven can answer. The secrets things are for God's heart alone. But the manifested truths in the Bible are treasures for us to embraced, cherish, and enjoy.

4 comments:

jazzycat said...

Don,
Exactly, no condemnation because we are covered by the righteousness of Christ. We can not proclaim it too much as we know that some can so pervert grace that believe in weeping and gnashing of teeth in heaven. We must shout it from the roof tops that Jesus paid it all....

donsands said...

Amen Wayne.

Craver Vii said...

"I plunge my conscience in the wounds, blood, death, resurrection and victory of my Savior, Christ. Besides Him I will see nothing, hear nothing."

It would seem that Luther had a keen awareness of his own sin, and a passionate struggle as he laid his offenses at the foot of the cross.

donsands said...

Good thoughts craver. Issac Watts had the same heart methinks.

"When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood."