a neat hymn

i love the lyrics in "and can it be." ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9I87nVp040 ) we recently bought an album of hymns, one of the songs being that one. i was listening to it while on the computer and was incredibly struck by one particular line:  "Bold I approach th’eternal throne." in our household when something really satisfying happens we punch our fists in the air and go "bam!" i told j about it and we both punched our fists. 

this line is so satisfying to me because it covers so much of why I am so very grateful for Jesus' sacrifice. without Jesus' sacrifice, we would all be left with our sin and facing eternal death. (For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23; For the wages of sin is death . . . Romans 6:23). none of us are perfect and sinless, and so what we have earned is death; eternal separation from God in hell. even though you may be an awesome and nice person, the harsh truth is that you still have and do sin. maybe you're nicer than your friend, or you haven't committed murder, and you donate to cancer research, you still are not innocent and cannot stand alone under God's just standards. 

but because God sacrificed His son to die as a perfect sacrifice (Jesus was perfect and sinless as He walked this earth), Jesus' death paid for all of mankind's sins. when he rose again on the third day after being crucified, that proved that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice as redemption for mankind's sins. (But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8). God loved us that much. even though He is the great God of the universe and we are just sinful little people, He still gave up His son so that we could be saved. 

the great news is that all we have to do to be saved from eternal hell and to spend eternity in heaven with God is to believe in Jesus, trusting that His death is ample payment for our sins. (If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9). and it is free of cost to all of us. God's grace is free! 

which brings me to why i love that particular line. because of Jesus' death and resurrection, those who believe in and have confessed to the power of Jesus' sacrifice need no longer fear death or an eternity in hell, and we will spend our earthly lifetimes and beyond living in gratitude of that fact. in God's eyes, when we believe in Christ, our sinful nature has been covered by Christ's sacrifice, and we are now right with God. imagining if our sins were visible on our clothing as big ugly spots, with Christ's sacrifice we have been covered with spotless clothing. we can boldly approach the eternal throne of God because our sins are covered and we need not fear condemnation. (Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...Romans 8:1). 

so in reflection this Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday, let's rejoice greatly and be ever so grateful for God's love and Jesus' sacrifice!

Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?