We have been in a series for several weeks now entitled “The Power of the Cross.” Last week, we looked at Colossians 2 which talks about the reality that if you are “In Christ”, you have been raised with Him. This week I’ve titled the sermon “He Nailed It.” We use that term to say that someone did something perfectly. They passed the driving test, they did an outstanding gymnastic routine, they performed the dive with perfection…. they nailed it. My definition: “a perfect, immaculate rendering of that which needs to be done.”
God the Father has brought us into relationship with Himself through His Son Jesus on the cross. And He did it perfectly and immaculately, He absolutely “nailed it" so to speak. We have been talking about the “power of the cross" …. through the cross we have been cut off or separated from the world, we have been buried with Christ; last week we talked about the fact that we have been raised to a new life.
But the question remains: how is a sinful person like me and you, even though we have been forgiven and raised to new life, how can we stand before a holy God? How can we be justified; or how can it be proper or right or fitting for us as sinful people to stand before an absolutely holy God?
Colossians 2:13 He has …. forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
So, in this verse there is a detailed explanation as to how God justified us. “He nailed it”… our justification, that is, He provided a perfect and holy way for us to be justified through the cross. What are the components of this justification?
Forgiveness is Granted…. He has forgiven all of our trespasses. This is complete and total forgiveness. My Debt is Canceled….my sin debt is canceled and the certificate of debt that was against me, Christ has paid. Legal Demands are Removed….. God, through the cross of Christ not only canceled the sin debt but also removed the legal demands…. He permanently removed it. My Invoice is Paid …through faith in Him, Christ has forgiven us… He has taken our sin upon Himself… God takes our invoice…the bill for all the things we have done and nails to the cross of His Son Jesus who is the atoning sacrifice for all of our sins.
And so, we are able to stand before God justified and free of all of the debt…it has been cancelled, the legal demands that were contrary to us and against us are removed and the invoice of our sin has been taken and nailed to the cross and we are right now spiritually righteous, we are Justified… just as if we have never sinned as we stand before the living God. The devil can no longer raise an accusing finger against us because we are righteous now in the sight of God. He nailed it!
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “He Nailed It ! ”
Blessings,
Kevin
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