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Sunday, December 2, 2018

“But Not for Himself”

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”

Daniel 9:25–26

Henry Heinz was building a successful company in the years following the American Civil War, but that rapid growth left them poorly prepared to deal with the national economic upheaval that came to be known as the Panic of 1873. After two years of struggle to keep his company afloat, Heinz finally filed for bankruptcy. Though the court case meant that the debts were no longer legally owed, Heinz felt responsible for them. When his new company began to prosper, he paid off every creditor in full, even though he was not obligated to do so.

The debt of our sin is far beyond our ability to pay. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Without God’s salvation, we are condemned to spend eternity apart from Him in Hell. No amount of good works, religious activity, or keeping the law can meet His perfect standard of holiness. We are completely hopeless and doomed without Him. But God’s love for us sent His own Son into to the world to save us. Jesus said, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27). Jesus came in a manger to pay for our sins on the cross. He didn’t die for Himself—for His sin, because He never sinned. He died for our sin, and He lives today and offers salvation as a free gift.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The only hope of salvation and a right relationship with God is found in the Saviour who came to the world.