Bible Reading: Acts 10
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Peter was preaching to those gathered in Cornelius’ house. He was sent by the Holy Ghost to preach Jesus to these Gentiles. Peter was learning that the gospel applies to ever tongue, tribe and nation. All people need Jesus, not just Jews. As he preached, he pointed out two things that are of vital importance. First, all men are sinners. This fact is trying to be diminished in our day. People do not want to think about sin, righteousness and judgment. They want to believe the lie of psychology that says people are basically good and getting better all the time. Peter dealt with the sin issue at Cornelius’ house.
Second, Peter preached how a person can get rid of their sin. There is only one way – to believe in Jesus. When a person tries to get rid of their sin by themselves, they always use either ritual or repayment. Think of what people do. They say prayers, they go to confession, they light candles, they go on a pilgrimage, they fast, they punish themselves, etc… They also use repayment. They try to make recompense for what they have done by righting the wrong. If that is impossible, they try to right another wrong to pay for what they have done. Why do people do this? They know that redemption is necessary for the remission of sin. The problem is that human beings lack the currency to pay for sin. Sin is costly. No one has enough to pay for sin.
Psalms 49:7-8 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
The only commodity that has enough intrinsic value to redeem a human soul is the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
This blood is absolutely the only thing in the universe that can take away sin.
Hebrews 9:26b …now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
This is what we must believe about Jesus Christ. This is why we must believe in Jesus Christ. In him is redemption and remission of sins. What a wonderful reality!
In Christ,
Rody
