COLOSSIANS 2:13-14

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

TO PONDER

The Bible has a few different images to describe our situation with sin and God's forgiveness. One of the more common is the 'legal debt' idea that occurs in today's reading. We still use this kind of language today when we talk about a prisoner released from gaol having 'paid their debt' to society. We understand that when someone hurts us or the community in which we live, tht there should be some kind of way to 'repay' or 'make up' for the wrong we have done.

In fact, it is such an ingrained way to think about sin and wrong doing in our culture and our legal system, that many Christians can still read words like the ones in todays reading and feel that, even though Jesus died for them, they still have to pay God back for all that He has done to free them from sin.

Now don't get me wrong, reconcilliation with those we have hurt or wronged, or even with those who have hurt or wronged us is something Jesus calls his followers to do, but not in order to earn forgiveness. Putting things right between ourselves and others is about restoring relationship, not earning God's forgiveness. Hear again how completely Jesus has dealt with your sin...

"having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross."

Jesus has paid your debt to God. It has been taken away. You no longer have anything outstanding on your ledger to God. You are completely free and forgiven because your sins were nailed to the cross with Jesus. So don't keep living as an indebted slave, trying to earn your freedom. You already have it, so go and live in it; giving praise to God for all that he has done.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for paying the price for my freedom and bearing the guilt and punishment for my sin. Please help me to live in the freedom tht you have won for me and to use that freedom to share the good news of all that you have done so that others might also come to know the freedom that you give. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle