October 5

Loved And Loosed

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood, who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen. — Rev 1:5-6 BSB

Whatever else the blood of Christ may signify, it surely means that Christ viewed our sin as a matter of utmost seriousness. To Him, sin is not a slight illness to be remedied by a mere change of habits. It is deep-rooted, dangerous, threatening the very health of our souls and their future.

No religion that overlooks this basic fact of human nature can last. To say, as Buddha does, that sin can be erased with good deeds, or as Mahomet teaches, that God is kind and won’t be harsh, is inadequate. The religion that deals most deeply and decisively with sin will always resonate most with the human heart. And it is because Jesus Christ did not take sin lightly, but freed humanity from it through His blood, that He is forever enthroned.

It is in this way that He speaks to every soul burdened by sin, painfully aware of its binding chains, and yearning for the freedom of being a child of God. This forgiveness and freedom are yours. What Christ was at the beginning, He remains at the end. He is the same today as He was yesterday. All that He did for the first believers, He waits to do for us if we humbly repent and trust in Him. He loves us! He redeemed us, not with corruptible things like silver or gold, but with His precious blood. He breaks the power of cancelled sin and assures us that we are free from its bondage. We are free, and we need not return to the sins that once held us captive, just as the woman He healed did not need to remain bent over (Luke 13:11-13). Let us stand upright, glorifying God in our lives, and reign in this life through the one man, Christ Jesus (Romans 5:17).

Prayer

Most holy and gracious Lord, who has freed me from my sins, I joyfully accept the redemption You have purchased and the freedom from guilt and sin’s power. Help me to walk in newness of life. To You, my Lord and King, be glory and dominion forever. Amen.