The Gift
“The power of the Highest will overshadow you” was the answer given to explain how a virgin girl could give birth to a child (Luke 1:35). The necessity of a perfect man to deal with the problem of sin was resolved.
Born of a woman, conceived of the Holy Spirit. He is full humanity and full deity; two separate natures in a single person. Being the conceived child of Mary made Jesus a man. However, conception by the Spirit of God kept Him from inheriting the sin nature of Adam. The apostle John declared, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The Lord Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word—the eternal Son of God. Only such a man could fulfill the requirement of a perfect sacrifice to pay the death penalty for sin against God. He was the only man ever to live a perfect life. Due to the sin nature passed on from Adam, every man except Jesus sinned at his first opportunity (Romans 3:23). Therefore, all received the death penalty (Romans 6:23). Since Christ was perfect, His death as a lawbreaker was unjust. Yet, that same death satisfied God’s demand of punishment for sin (Romans 5:8). This truth was recorded by Paul, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19) The “battle” on Calvary’s cross totally solved our sin problem. Colossians 2:14 reports, “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” God accepted the substitute death of Christ on our behalf. He has offered forgiveness to all who are willing to receive it (Romans 10:9-10, 13). This is the grace gift of God—a rebirth to eternal life in Jesus Christ. How simple? 1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
