By Jeff Arnette Via Bulletin Gold
Psalm 31:17 reminds us that we have no reason to be
ashamed: “O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call
upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go
silently to Sheol.”
In Christ, we have redemption the greatest gift
imaginable. There is nothing greater than being certain that
we have been saved by grace. To know that our heavenly
home has been bought and paid for by Jesus is a source of
unparalleled joy and assurance: “how much more will the
blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himselfwithout blemish to God, purify our conscience from
dead works to serve the living God.” (Heb. 9:14)
Truly, we are the most blessed people in the world.
Why don’t we have to be ashamed? It is because we have
called on the name of the Lord, and our sins have been
erased and forgiven by Jesus: “To him who loves us and has
freed us from our sins by his blood.” (Rev. 1:5)
This redemption can only come from God. It is a miracle
of the highest order. There is no other way for our sins to be
forgiven and for us to be given a new life:as far as the east
is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions
from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into
death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of
life.” (Rom.
But who should be ashamed? The wicked-those who rely
on their own devices to navigate this life. While their way
may seem to work temporarily, it is fleeting. One day,
Jesus will return, and they will face eternity in hell. In that
moment, they will wish they had trusted in the Lord: “so
that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through
righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.” (Rom. 5:21)
Let us remember these truths and rejoice in the hope we
have in Christ.
Groveland, FL