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Reflecting on Truth #24

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New City Catechism Question 24

Q: Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die?

A: Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him. (Colossians 1:21-22)

Why does this matter?

It is humbling to be reminded that we receive the good thing we don’t deserve and don’t receive the bad thing we deserve. We are, by the nature of being the descendants of Adam, sinners. As promised in the beginning (Gn 2:17) and has been manifesting till now, sin leads to death. And beyond death? The righteous wrath of God for the sins we have committed against Him.

But thanks be to God, He loves us. His love is revealed ultimately in Christ who, in becoming fully human, willingly takes on our sins together with their consequences. Not only Christ who is sinless and perfect did not receive the glory and honor due him for his sinlessness and perfection, he received death and God’s righteous wrath that are due our sins that he bore. At the cross, the justice of God in meting out the consequences of sin and the mercy of God in redeeming unworthy sinners meet.

Why did Christ do that? A couple of answers come to mind. First, because he alone can conquer death. Second, so that the Great Substitution may take place, that we receive the benefit of redemption we don’t deserve because he has paid the price of redemption he doesn’t deserve, and doesn’t need to but did. Now, we are the recipients of God’s amazing grace. And as a result, we have been given forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life, thanks to Christ.

What does this mean for us?

Because this Great Substitution is accomplished by Christ who in himself and his works is sure and secure, we can be sure and secure of the benefits of redemption he has guaranteed for us. This means that we can freely come to God’s throne of grace with confidence because in God’s eyes, what belongs to Christ is considered ours. We are now worthy, not because of what we have done, because of what Christ has graciously given to us.

Because we have been delivered from the penalty of sin, we don’t need to live with worries since our ultimate future is sure and secure in Christ.

Because we have been delivered from the power of sin, we don’t need to live in sin anymore since we can ask the Spirit of Christ who strengthened Christ to strengthen us.

Because Christ has conquered death, we should no longer fear death because what awaits us is life everlasting with our Lord and Savior, the one who satisfies us.

May we live confidently in Christ, unwavered by our circumstances, since Christ has redeemed our eternal joy with his own life.