THE FAMILY ALTAR

April 10.

"Christ was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again

for our justification."  Rom. 4:25.

    The greatest and most precious gift which our risen Lord

brings for us out of the grave is our justification before God.

On this justification alone rests our sure hope of our resurrection

from the dead and of life everlasting. Only where there is justi-

fication, that is, forgiveness of sins, is there life and salvation.

Through Jesus' resurrection we are publicly pardoned, forgiven,

justified, that is, declared free from all sin, and guilt, and punish-

ment by God Himself. 

    Burdened with our sins, with the sins of the whole world, our Savior hung on the cross. He was our Bondsman, our Substitute. In Him we all, all human beings in the whole world, were suffering and atoning for our sins, as Paul declares,

2 Cor. 5:14 : "We thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead."

    But did God, the righteous and eternal Judge, accept Christ's vicarious atonement for our sin and guilt?

    If our Bondsman, Christ, had remained in His grave, that would

have been clear and convincing evidence that God had not accepted

Christ's payment for our sin and guilt. But now God Himself

has raised Jesus, our Substitute, from the prison-house of death,

and has thereby declared before all the world and for all time

to come : "It is finished, 0 sinners, your salvation is won ! 

    I am reconciled; for your Bondsman, My dear Son, has fulfilled all

the demands of My holy Law for you. In Him I freely pardon

and forgive you all your sin and guilt. ISTothing more can keep

you from Me. Come to My reconciled heart and into My loving

arms !" Hence Paul exults, 

Rom. 5:18 : "Therefore, as by the offense of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came uponall men unto justification of life."

    All we redeemed and justified sinners have to do now is to accept this free gift of forgiveness and make it ours by faith, rejoicing and thanking God for it as long as we live.

    Father of Jesus Christ, my Lord, 

Thou know'st for my offense

My Savior, and my Head, He died,

I trust in Thee, whose powerful 

And rose again for me;

word Fully and freely justified,

Hath raised Him from the dead. 

That I might live to Thee.

Eternal life to all mankind

Thou hast in Jesus given;

And all who seek, in Him shall find

The happiness of heaven.

F.W. Herzberger (1922)