Have you ever wondered what is so good about being a Christian? I suppose there are many reasons that come to mind. In Christ, we have a better understanding of who God is and his awesome power to create. In Christ, we enjoy the fellowship of the saints, not just locally, but wherever we meet with God’s people throughout this world. In Christ, we have someone who we can follow as a wonderful example of how we should live life to the glory of God.
But as good and valid the above reasons are for being a Christian, the best by far is that Jesus has taken away our sins; our guilt has been removed and we have the gift of eternal life. When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). There is so much depth and meaning in this one sentence, (a reference to the Lamb – OT Passover etc) that I cannot unpack that in a short meditation.
However, I do wish to highlight that the Lamb did more than just come and have a chat. He did more than just teach or show us an example of how to live moral and upright lives. He did what no sinful man could do for themselves. No amount of money, good works, good intentions, associations, could ever do what Jesus accomplished for us as the Lamb of this world.
Essentially, the beauty of being a Christian, or if you will, the root of our happiness, our peace, our joy, our comfort, our hope, our ability to love and forgive, is when the Lamb of God took away our sins through his own sacrificial death on the cross. The sacrifice of this particular Lamb, who is of infinite worth, is able, is sufficient, to take away the sins of the world and is effective for those who repent and believe. Not just Jews, but also Gentiles, which means He came to save people from many races, tribes and ethnic backgrounds.
This same Lamb who has now ascended to the right hand of God continues to intercede for us before the Father. What a great comfort to know the very thing that separates us from our Creator God, namely our sin, has been taken away and continues to be taken away. That dear friend is the sum and the beauty of being a Christian.
Mr Horatio Spafford nailed it when he penned the words, “Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate and has shed His own blood for my soul … My sin – O the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more: praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul. [Hence] It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul…” JZ