Coming together

A wise man once said 'I love it when a plan comes together' Now, I admit it wasn't quite planned, but this Sunday morning two things came together in a beautiful way. Our passage for Sunday was Colossians 1:15-23 and two of those verses are the text given in the catechism question for the day.  As it so happens, the catechism is about THE GREATEST coming together.

Q24. Why was it necessary, for Christ, the Redeemer to die?

A.  Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God.  By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgiveness of sin, righteousness and everlasting life.

Some points to note:

• Back together

Death separates.    When a person dies, they are separated from this world, and all the relationships they had in this world.   This physical, relational separation is a picture of what happened spiritually when sin entered the world.  Mankind was separated spiritually from God.  This seperation by death, is the punishment for sin. The good news is Jesus death and resurrection brings God and mankind back together.

• In our place

Christ died

in our place.  

The catechism states this twice - once saying 'in our place' and again saying 'his substitutionary atoning death.' The picture of a substitute helps us see this is personal.  When a player is substituted onto the pitch - the numbers and names of those swapping places are held up.  Jesus personally swapped places with us.  He stood where I was standing.  He took the death that I deserve.  He bore God's wrath for my sin.  This is personal.

• It's over before it's begun

All illustrations let you down - the picture of a substitute in a game is no different.  Usually a sub comes on at some point during the game.  Jesus took our place, before we got to kick a ball.   And he stayed on the whole game. This means we don't bear any of the punishment.  Jesus bears it all. And because he has, it is all over.  Look at all the catechism says Jesus has achieved for us. We are delivered from the 

power 

of sin.   It no longer has a grip on you. We are delivered from the

penalty

of sin.   The penalty has been taken.  We cannot be punished for it. Our relationship with God is restored.  We have been 

brought back to God.

We cannot enter hell.  He has 

redeemed us.

We are

forgiven.  

We are 

righteous.  

We have

eternal life

. There's 7 reasons to say thank-you to Jesus.