"Apart from God's grace, no one has power to do anything but sin... grace is the only hope for any sinner."
Atonement ... a definition I like is the work that Jesus did in living and dying to earn our salvation.
As I read this, it really makes me think... oh man, without the grace of God, our destination is hell. No matter how hard I try to earn my salvation or to earn God's favor, it's impossible. My offering and my sacrifice is imperfect. I would be bound to punishment for my sin from a God who cannot be with any sort of sin. Someone has to pay for sin, right?
Yet, God in His amazing and faithful love chose to send Jesus. Why? So I wouldn't have to pay. Even if I tried to pay, it would be like trying to give my two cents to a debt of a bajillion dollars. (if that even existed!) It would fall completely short. Jesus, in His perfection, knew that He was the perfect sacrifice and He was obedient to the point of death. Obedient, knowing that my obedience would fall short and that only He could appease the wrath of God. And He paid the price that I couldn't pay and He gave His life freely so that I could receive freely.
Jesus lived the perfect life and earned the salvation that we ourselves cannot earn. Why? Cause we'll fail no matter what, we'll fall short, our attempts are imperfect.
He lived the perfect life and died the perfect death so that I could die to myself and to find life once again in Him.
What I could not atone for (nor can anyone else) was atoned for by the gracious love of God. The wrath I deserved was placed upon Jesus at the Cross and there I was freed. The salvation that I could not earn and atone on my own, Jesus did.
You don't get any more awesome than that.
Thank You Jesus for living the perfect life, dying the perfect death and resurrecting in perfection to top it all off!
Haha thank You Jesus!
