JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Corinthians 5:21.

Speaking of Jesus, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

It is important to point out that in God’s righteous requirements, there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.  That is what makes the death of Jesus on the cross so incredibly humbling and amazing for us. Jesus died on our behalf so that we might be reconciled to God. He paid the price for our sins.  That is the irony of the Gospel. The sinless Son of God died so that sinners like us could be declared “Not guilty” in the eyes of righteous God. Through Jesus, the way has been cleared for us to enjoy God forever.

This miracle of love will be celebrated throughout eternity among the redeemed.  The voices of heaven declare, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to remember the price that Jesus paid for our redemption in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – A defense attorney represents someone facing a lawsuit or criminal prosecution.

In the courtroom of heaven, God is the judge, and Satan is the prosecuting attorney. He is our accuser. He makes a compelling case for our guilt, as he recites the list of sins that we have committed in our lifetime. But then another voice comes forward to defend us. Jesus makes the case for our innocence, not by denying we did those things, but by acknowledging the shedding of His blood to cover our sins. This is what it’s like for the person who confesses their need for Jesus to save them from their sin.

First John 2:1 says, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

The redemption of Jesus as a defense attorney in a courtroom is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com