Today is April 16 ? one day after the day known throughout our country as ‘tax day.?
By today, most tax-paying citizens of the United States know if they can look forward to receiving a reimbursement check in the mail or they have to make additional payment to the IRS for monies still owed from the past year.
While I don’t have the words of comfort you might need regarding your specific tax situation on this day after ‘tax day,? it is my great honor and privilege to share with you a certain and specific word of comfort and hope from God.
This word offers to all a peace that makes each day a ‘new day in the Lord.?
For all of you who believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior from sin, I hope you will find comfort in the fact that there is no need of any payment due from you for your sins.
God requires no special thoughts, words, or deeds to secure your forgiveness or salvation. On the cross of Jesus there could have been placed a second sign with these words inscribed on it: ‘payment for sins paid in full.?
‘Paid in Full? ? what does this mean?
First, these words are nothing else than the purest form of what is known in the vernacular of the church as the ‘gospel? or ‘good news.?
The words of John 3:16 are referred to as the ‘gospel in a nutshell? ? that through the great love of God eternal life is offered to all who believe in His Son, Jesus.
Second, we know from Scripture why God came to earth in the person of Jesus.
In 1 Peter 3:18 we are taught, ‘Christ died for sins once for all ? to bring you to God.? God came to sinners through Jesus Christ and offered forgiveness and salvation ? fully and freely. Through Jesus and the cross the payment required for all sins is ‘paid in full.?
There is also a certain measure of freedom given to each one of us through the forgiveness of our sins.
In Galatians 5:1 we are taught, ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free ? do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.?
Through Jesus Christ we are ‘set free? ? never again to be shackled by the demands of the ‘law? as the means to gaining God’s favor and love ? forgiveness