ICS Daily Devotions
We Have a Mediator
Romans 5:1-3 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance
When we are in a period of crisis, we will usually try to make sense of what we have done that has brought about such suffering, just like Job and his friends. Teachings about Karma or retribution belong to the devil, and neither should we dwell too much on past or generational sins because God remembers them no more. Yes, we should repent and ask God for forgiveness for the sins we have committed in order to repair the hedge of God that He has placed around us, but we should also remember that we have a mediator in heaven who has done all to appease God’s wrath towards us.
In the Old Testament, the blood of goats and lambs was necessary to remove the sin of the people. The blood of those animals would cover the sin temporarily, but it could never take away the sin. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice prepared by God. He sprinkled His blood in the heavenly tabernacle after His resurrection, and all our sins are completely removed from His record. Jesus’ offering was once and for all settled in heaven. He is our High Priest who finished the work and sat down thereafter because there is no longer any need for further sacrifices.
We must not take this truth that we have peace with God for granted because Job was struggling with having God to forgive him for his sins. He lacked the inner confidence that God was not holding anything against him. We, on the other hand, have peace with God through the work of Jesus Christ because we are justified by the His blood. The wrath of God towards the sin of mankind was placed on Jesus Christ, whose death and shed blood has appeased God against our sins. Therefore, Jesus is the mediator, the middle man, who has dealt with the sin issue. God is no longer against us because the penalty of sin has been paid by Jesus, and neither does He want to punish us because Jesus has been punished on our behalf.
God has promised us that nothing will separate us from His love and He will never leave nor forsake us. This restored relationship with us is the very purpose and plan of God to send Jesus to die for us so that He can journey with us during our tribulation on earth. When we have the Lord journeying with us and His grace being infused into our hearts, we will be able to produce perseverance in the midst of suffering.
Sermon Series: Job & I
