PAID IN FULL!
What if you received a certified letter from the president of your bank saying…“I’ve got some great news. I’ve just had a visit with someone who loves you very much. He knew all about your debt and credit problems and would like to pay off your house, your car, and your credit cards…in full! Please come by at your earliest convenience and sign the agreement to complete the transaction.”
How long would it take you to get there?!
A crushing debt
I’ve never gotten that kind of letter, but years ago I personally got even better news. Better because the terms went far beyond this life. I was told that someone had paid my spiritual debt in full. All the consequences for all the sins of all my life—past, present, and future—had been paid for! For the first time ever, that night I fully understood what had been done for me. I acknowledged that they were my debts and gratefully agreed to the “terms”—receiving the forgiveness of the debt of my sins!
The same “someone” who did that for me also loves you and has already made the ultimate sacrifice to prove it. Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, chose to become one of us to make it all possible. He was born as a human and lived on earth without ever committing a sin…so he owed no sin debt of his own. Yet he chose to die on a cross for my sins and yours. The Bible says Jesus “himself bore our sins in his body on the tree….the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 2:24, 3:18). After paying our sin debt completely, he was buried, rose from the dead three days later, and was seen by hundreds of people, proving he’s alive (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
An amazing offer
Like a certified letter from God in heaven, the Bible has brought us the amazing offer that has been accepted millions of times through the 2000 years since Christ’s death and resurrection. Though Jesus Christ knows all about you and me, and all about our sins and the debt of sin we owe, he eagerly took our place in order for God to take your debt and mine and give us credit for all Christ did. Like the Bible says, “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The great news!
Back when I first understood that offer of full payment for my sins—60 years ago!—right then I told Jesus “I will trust you, that you paid for all of my sins—past, present and future. I will receive you as my Savior!” I couldn’t “get there” fast enough to accept his gracious offer.
Jesus did exactly what he said he would do. He forgave all my sins and gave me eternal life. The Bible said he would: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). That’s right…“has”—right now—“eternal life,” beginning at that moment. And just like he did with me, God will give you a brand new start in life: “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Your spiritual debt is then behind you, forgiven forever. Your new life in Christ has begun…that’s great news!
I believe that God meant this message for you. He wants to use it to ask you to trust in the fact that Jesus paid for your sins, just like he did mine, and to receive Christ and his offer of forgiveness right now. I hope you’ll respond from your heart by telling him “Jesus, I do admit my sins against you. I believe you suffered and died for all of them. I receive you as my Savior right now.”
Christ has paid your debt in full. His offer is on the table. Will you accept it?