December 2000
This month many people will be celebrating Christmas. For those who do not believe in Christ, it is a celebration to the one called Santa Clause. To those who attend Church, it is a celebration of Christ's birth. And yet, why did Christ come? One of the greatest confusions in regards to Christ's accomplishment on earth is whether he came to save us in our sin or whether he came to save us from our sin. In fact, many Christians neither know the difference between the two nor its implication on their lives. What does it mean to be saved? Two 13 years old boys lived above Niagara Falls. One day they thought it would be fun to canoe down some of the rapids, thinking they had a lot of time to get out before the falls. As they proceeded down the river, they found the best rapids were toward the middle; they maneuvered their way over. Their excitement increased with every rapid not realizing how far down river they had traveled. Suddenly one huge rapid swamped the canoe and for the first time the excitement was overcome by fear. Soon they found themselves out of the canoe rushing down the river. The rapids would take them down under, then allow them to bob back to the surface for air, sputtering as the current swept them closer to the falls. Two men, who were fishing at the end of a damn which diverts water to the hydro plant, noticed the boy's plight. Two life rings were hanging there: one with a rope attached, the other just the ring by itself. The men threw them and they landed close enough to each boy. The one boy who received the life ring with the rope attached, was slowly pulled out from the river. The other boy was saved from drowning, but continued down the river. He was saved from drowning, but he still suffered from the effects of being in the river, eventually dying as he went over the falls. One was saved from the river the other saved in the river. Which do you relate to when thinking of your experience with sin? When Mary told Joseph she was expecting, he was going to send her away quietly, but God sent angel in a dream saying
"Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Mt.1:20-21)
Does sin control your life as it takes you down under time after time? Jesus came to save you from your sin. One of the reasons why people face this bashing by sin is because the Church has taught that when Christ was on the cross He said:
Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (Jn.19:30)
The Greek word translated "finished" is "teleo" and is translated in other scriptures as finish 8, fulfil 7, accomplish 4, pay 2, perform 1, and expire 1. Its concept is completion but is translated according to its context. For instance, when Peter was questioned about paying temple tax the people asked:
After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" (Mt.17:24)
If we view Christ as having completed His task, then "finished" would be an appropriate translation; however if we view him as paying the penalty for sin, then "paid" would be an appropriate translation. Christ's task was not finished on the cross for we read:
For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. (1Co.1516-19)
Christ's work on earth was not finished until He rose from the dead. For Christ died to be our savior, but He rose again to be our Lord. For it is through His resurrection that we are born again:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1Pe.1:3)
If Jesus had died on the cross but did not raise from the death, then he could not live in us. In this way, we would have been only saved in our sin; for it is Christ who lives in us granting us the power to overcome sin.
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. (1Jn.5:18)
If Christ is not raised then sin is our master, and even thought the penalty would be paid, its power would not be broken. It would be a futile life, but thanks be to God we are saved from our sin by Christ indwelling us:
No-one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (1Jn.3:9)
It is Christ being raised in our life that we are saved, not just to eternal life but also from the power of sin:
…this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1Pe.1:21)
Christ's death paid the penalty for our sins granting us forgiveness; but His resurrection broke the power of sin, offering us purification from our sins. For we read:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1Jn.1:9)
When Jesus met the woman caught in adultery, he did not stop with the forgiveness of her sin:
Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no-one condemned you?" "No-one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." (Jn.8:10-11)
Christ asked the woman to leave her life of sin because He came to save sinners from their sin. You might not have known the difference between from or in, but ignorance is not an excuse:
Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame. (1Co.15:34)
Therefore let us not be mistaken. Jesus died, paying the penalty for our sin as Savior; but He rose from the dead, breaking the power of sin to be our Lord. Let us celebrate Jesus, the one who came to earth as a baby to save us from our sin.