“Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! Yet all of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6
The apostle Paul tells us that God loved us while we were yet sinners. That is true. Also true is that he did what was necessary to save us from the death of sin before we even knew of our need. Christianity is eminently a faith of profound grace. It is unique in that respect…grace as opposed to good works. The repeated promises in the Qu’ran of the forgiveness of a compassionate and merciful Allah are all made to the meritorious, whose good deeds have been weighed in Allah’s scales, whereas the gospel is good news of mercy to the undeserving. The symbol of the faith of Jesus is the cross, not the scales.
“Great God in Heaven, when I read the words of Isaiah I am reminded of the heavy cost of my salvation. I am again struck by the incredible lengths to which you are willing to go in order to save me. I am thankful for your grace and for your mercy. I am thankful for your gift of eternal life through Jesus. I am thankful for a new life that can be lived in your presence. I am rich. In Jesus’ name…Amen.”
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