Recently I have seen a T-shirt advertised that says, “If you bring up my past, you should know that Jesus dropped the charges.” That sounds good. The problem is this isn’t true.
The Bible says we all have sinned; all have broken God’s law. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23) It also says that there is a penalty for sin. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23) God’s justice will not allow sin to go unpunished.
I have been found guilty, and the penalty must be paid. Jesus bore my sin on the cross in my place. Jesus bore the wrath of the Father against my sin in my place. Jesus suffered and died in my place to pay the penalty for my sin. Jesus was raised from the dead, showing that His sacrifice had been accepted by the Father.
No, the charges haven’t been dropped. The penalty for my sin has been paid in full by Christ, my Savior and Redeemer. We see God’s love demonstrated in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God doesn’t dismiss charges. He does something much greater. In Christ, our penalty has been paid. As we sing in “It Is Well with My Soul:” "My sin – oh, the bliss of this glorious tho’t: My sin not in part, but the whole Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.”
God has not dismissed the charges. He marks them: “Penalty paid in full by Christ Jesus.” Praise the Lord!
Pastor Haney
