Furthering Thoughts for May 31st 2019
As you know, we have been accomplishing many renovations to our church property in the last year. Whether it be the underground pipes that needed to be redone or the fellowship hall that faced a much needed overhaul, I learned that when things are broken you must fix them.
Band aids don’t work.
When we speak of our sin, it is the same. No matter how many band aids we affix on ourselves, these will not heal the sin problem. And there many band aids that we use. Whether it be the moral band aid, or the legalist band aid, or the “sweep it under the rug” band aid, or the “justifying ourselves” band aid, we very well know how fleeting these are within the brokenness of sin.
When things are broken you must fix them. Because of original sin, “do-it-yourself” salvation is impossible. The chasm is too great in this horrible sin condition. But with God all things are possible as He sends His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to be our restoration.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” Matthew 5:17. Jesus came to fulfill the law. “He did this by keeping the Law perfectly. He was the Lamb without blemish, pleasing and acceptable to God, ready to make atonement. When He offered Himself, not only did He fix the foundation that was broken, but He also fixed it with Himself becoming the chief cornerstone”.
Indeed. Jesus fixed the broken foundation. He didn’t use band aids to cover up our sorrow and grief. He didn’t use band aids to heal our guilt and shame. Jesus gives us the greatest remedy: His own body and blood shed on the Cross.
The other day I was teaching about the two natures of Christ. The conversation went like this,
“What do people know about Jesus? And the answer: “He died on the Cross”. Of course! Yet we also must understand that Jesus was actively obedient in His entire life as He kept the Law perfectly [as the lamb without blemish] in order to be the perfect sacrifice on the Cross for us”.
Indeed, Jesus fulfilled the law for you! His mission was to be your restoration by way of His sacrificial death and resurrection. “For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” [Rm5:19].
When things are broken, you must fix them. We can’t but Jesus can! And through His merits as our chief cornerstone, you are righteously restored by His gracious work. Thanks be to God!
Amen.