The Average Jane Journal #44 - Easter Sermon

I saw this Easter sermon in a book I'm reading. I thought it was good how the pastor used the word "debt" instead of "sin" in his sermon. I'm already a Believer and have accepted all that Jesus did for me, but it was a reminder of the awesome gift of forgiveness we have in His arms.

Wouldn't it be great if someone came to you and said, "I'll pay off all your debts. No matter whether they're foolish debts, notes you took out for less-than-savory reasons, accounts that have been in arrears for years-I'll pay them off. You'll be debt free."

And what if this person said to you, "I want you to be so grateful that you don't go out and incur more debts." We'd all agree to that, wouldn't we?

Now imagine that same person saying, "However, if you do get into more debts-and you will, simply because you're human and won't be able to resist the lure of ninety days with no interest-I will take care of that debt too."

You'd expect for there to be strings attached, wouldn't you? There are no strings.

"But I do have expectations," your generous benefactor would say. "I expect you to do things for others with the extra money you will now have. I want you to be generous."

Now imagine this fabulous person instructing you to tell people who it was who got you out of debt and saved your life. "Tell everyone you meet," this person would say, "and that I will do it for them also."

There probably isn't a person here who wouldn't agree to all of that, if our debts could be wiped clean-and not only the ones we already have, but the ones we'll incur in the future, even though we swear we never will.

Wouldn't it be fabulous? Isn't it fabulous? Substitute the words seperation from God-also called sin-for the word debt. Replace the benefactor's voice with that of our Lord, Jesus Christ. See what happens.

That is what the Cross is all about. The death we grieve this Season, there on that cross, was the final payment on all your debts-your sins. The shame and the guilt-GONE. Now hear-and hear me well-because this is the Easter message. In His eyes, no matter what you have done-at the foot of the cross, it it as if it never happened. NEVER.