By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

The Debt is Canceled!

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“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.  This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14 English Standard Version

Have you ever owed anyone an outstanding debt?  It feels like a giant burden that keeps you enslaved to the other person.  Our family once owed a large bill to the hospital that was going to take years to pay back.  Imagine our relief when we unexpectedly received a letter in the mail stating, “An anonymous benefactor has paid your outstanding bill.  Your debt has been forgiven…”  What a joy it was to receive that letter!  What freedom we felt in having our debt forgiven!

You and I owe God an unpayable debt, a debt we owe Him for our sins and trespasses and iniquities.  A debt of sin that keeps growing larger and larger, a debt that results in eternal bondage and death.  A debt that will crush us eternally and can never be paid by our efforts.

But God in His mercy sent His Son, Jesus, to die upon the cross to pay our debt of sin.  And the record of our unpayable debt has been nailed to that cross.  The blood of Jesus has paid for what we could never pay for, and our sins are canceled and our debt forgiven.  Jesus’ death has paid the price of sin and we are free, no longer slaves of sin and no longer under God’s wrath.

We are set free by Jesus’ payment for our sin, a payment that we could never make and that we can not understand.  What love and grace is this, that Jesus Christ has died for me!  Praise God that I am free in Him!  Amen!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado