A communion message
via His friends
Charles Francis Nielsen & Mary Elizabeth Nielsen
From our gracious God we receive two unspeakable gifts. They are the gift of the forgiveness of sin and the gift of righteousness. That is, the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of His righteousness. We are a people chosen, beloved and graced by God.
Stuart Briscoe reminded us of the difference between justice, mercy, and grace. Justice, he said, was getting exactly what you deserve, mercy was not getting all that you deserve, and grace was getting what you do not deserve. As we gather together around the Lord’s table and consider God’s grace which is abundant, rich and free, we want to think of the fact that we had a great debt that we could not pay and a demand or requirement that we could not fulfill.
Two gifts of our gracious God: the forgiveness of our sin and the gift of His righteousness.
First of all a few words about forgiveness.
1. The source of forgiveness is the grace of God - It is something we do not deserve!
2. The need of forgiveness is universal – for all have sinned and fall Short of God’s glory.
3. The cost of our forgiveness is the cross.
4. The power of forgiveness is transforming and liberating.
Before we can appreciate the meaning and the wonder of forgiveness we need to consider deeply about SIN. Recently while praying in a group for a lady who was dying I prayed, “there is something worse than death” and mentioned what that was. What would you say is the worst thing there is? I went on to mention in my prayer what sin was and that God had taken care of that problem. John Piper says, “The 2 great enemies of our soul are sin and Satan. And that sin is the worst enemy because the only way that Satan can destroy us is by getting us to sin”. Sin is an offence against God – against His law, His will, His character. So David cried out after he had sinned, “against you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” Sin is real; it’s serious; (there is good and bad, right and wrong, all is not relative). Sin in deadly, deceitful, divisive and destructive – it destroys relationships between people and between people and God.
Paul said, ”that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” This was the main reason He came, namely to take away our sin, to die for our sin, to pay the debt we owed but could not pay, so that we could go free. God does not ignore sin – He forgives it at a great price. Forgiveness operates in the realm of SIN. Forgiveness is about the Forgiver, not the forgiven. He took the initiative not us. The reason for forgiveness lies within the Forgiver, not in the forgiven. Forgiveness is free, but it creates an obligation to forgive – Forgiven people must be forgiving people, dispensing God’s grace to others.
The forgiveness of God in Christ is full, final and free. All of our sins (past, present and future) are taken away. The one great sacrifice on the Cross is sufficient to cover all of our sins.
God’s forgiveness has the power to transform us from sinners to saints – from those in bondage to sin to become bond slaves of righteousness!
To be forgiven is a wonderful experience, but we need something more to enter into God’s holy presence. The Jews perceived that to be righteousness, which they diligently pursued – they were devoted to keeping the laws and the traditions of the elders. Jesus talked about the need of righteousness. In the Sermon on the Mount He said, “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not at all enter into the kingdom of heaven”. Meaning an inner or heart righteousness, not one of good works.
My favorite devotional writer Oswald Chambers commenting on this verse under the title “Disposition and Deeds “ says “The characteristics of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he is good in motive because he has been made good (that is, righteous) by the supernatural grace of God. The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ came to put into any man who would let Him a new heredity which would exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.”
Jesus said, “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you”.
Righteousness is a big word and a big deal! Paul talked a lot about it – he said, not a single human being will be made righteous by observance of the law, only through faith in Jesus Christ. He said Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness
Paul contrasts legal righteousness and faith righteousness. He says, “as to legal righteousness I was without blame”, but now my desire is to be found in Christ not having my own righteousness based on the law, but through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. It’s not self-righteousness or works righteousness according to Paul.
He said writing to the Corinthians; “you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption”.
We are made righteous through and in Christ, for God has made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Amen!
Righteousness required; Righteousness received.
Two gifts of God’s grace – one a subtraction – our sins: The other an addition – His righteousness – All because of Calvary. Hallelujah! –
Let’s rejoice and be thankful as we partake together.
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