Scripture Reference: Luke 24:44-53
The Guilt of Us All
Sin is the common denominator of us all, all of mankind is cursed with it. It is the guilt of us all. The best man in the Old Testament, Job, cried, saying: “Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men?” (Job 7:20). Vice is against society. Crime is against law and order. Sin is against God. That is why in Psalm 51:4 David said, “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.” We only sin against God. We violate law. We scorn the law. We disobey all of the prerogatives and mandates of men. But sin is against God and God alone.
No need to say to me, “Do not sin.” I have sinned. To lecture me about it, to speak to me about it, to ask a reform concerning it has no pertinency whatsoever. I have already sinned.
What I want to know is, what is a message in a word for me when I have sinned? “What shall I do, O watcher of men, for I have sinned?” The answer to that question is the address of the gospel message. That is what the Bible is all about. The stain in my soul and the sin in my life, is there a forgiveness of my sins of which somebody knows? Is there a way of salvation so that, even though I have sinned, I still might see the face of God?
The whole Bible has to do with the purging, the forgiveness of our sins. In the Garden of Eden the Bible tells of forgiveness of sins, beginning with a covering. The Lord slew an innocent animal and poured out its blood, and the earth drank it up. God took skins of an innocent animal which laid down its life to cover the nakedness of our first parents. In the Temple worship the mercy seat was sprinkled with the blood of atonement. The message of the prophets such as Isaiah is:
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” – Isaiah 1:18.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6.
The ministry of the Lord Jesus is that He shall save His people from their sins. The Lord Himself came to give His life as a ransom for many. The blessed installation and introduction of the Lord’s Supper is, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” – Matthew 26:28. It is the preaching of the apostle Peter. When the convicted people cried, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”, the reply as recorded in the next verse is: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:37-38). The Beloved Apostle John wrote, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans:
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:6–8.
This is the glorious apocalyptic revelation:
“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – Revelation 1:5–6.
“Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. – Revelation 7:13–14.
The message from our Lord Himself is that Christ suffered and was raised from the dead and that forgiveness and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all people. That is the good news. That is the message. That is the gospel! Let us be enthusiastic and diligent to spread that good news to all men!
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
You must be logged in to post a comment.