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Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Ephesians 1:7
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”
Romans 4:7-8
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the one against whom the Lord will never count sin.”
Romans 5:18-19
18 “Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous.”
Hebrews 2:17
17 “Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.”
I am quite sure if we committed a crime and were required to pay the penalty for that crime that we would not lay the burden of our sin debt on a baby. It would seem so cruel. The sacrifice of animals was sickening enough, but an innocent human life? It still causes my stomach to churn when I think of an innocent lamb being slaughtered for someone else’s sin. It does not make sense to us because we are not fully acquainted with God’s standard of holiness. How much more, then, would the death of a baby for someone else’s sin be considered tragic and heartless?
But our sin payment cannot be completely covered for all eternity by an animal or sinful man. The death required should awaken us to see how very repulsive and wicked our sins are to God. Sin destroys lives and separates us from God. He required our sins to be eradicated, and the only means is by a perfect One, of which only God can meet that criteria.
Today we can stand in the presence of God because Christ covers us completely. The loving compassion of our God, choosing to clothe us in His righteousness is beyond comprehension. To Adam and Eve, guilty of sin in the Garden of Eden, God provided animal skins, symbolic of the need for a covering. To the Israelites He specified a a system of animal sacrifices by which they would not be condemned for their sins. He could not, in His righteousness, excuse sin, but He could Himself provide for a covering for His children.
Moms have big plans for their children. I cannot fathom the anguish Mary felt when her son was killed ruthlessly. But Our Savior, our Covering, Christ Jesus, was born to bear our sins – willingly. That was not Mary’s plan, but it was God’s. As I reflect on a baby born to bear my own iniquity, it serves as an impetus to help me refrain from costly sin, which cost my Savior His life.
Lord, thank You for giving Your own life for ours. May we live a life worthy of Your sacrifice, all for Your glory.