“In him is no sin.” 1 John 3:5

      The Lord Jesus Christ was manifested to take away our sins and in Christ there is no sin. Though he was made to be sin for us, our Lord had no sin of his own. Yet in order to redeem us from our sins and to justify us before God, the Son of God was made sin for us. And having taken our sins upon himself, suffering for us the just penalty of our sins, our glorious Mediator in heaven once again has no sin. But this text is speaking of those who are in Christ. The Spirit of God is telling us here that in Christ we have no sin. In ourselves we are sinners, and nothing but sin. The old nature of sin is with us and will be with us so long as we are in this world. Yet, the all-seeing eye of God’s holy law sees no sin in the believer, because in Christ the believer has no sin (Num. 23:21).

      Because Christ was made sin for us, because he bore our sins in his own body on the tree and bore them away, the Lord God almighty declares that all who trust him have no sin. (Psalm 103:12, Micah 7:18-19; Jeremiah 50:20; 1 John 3:5; Romans 4:8).

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. — Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. — And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. — Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

      Because “He hath made him sin for us,” all who believe on the Son of God are made “the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:17-21).

      Because the Lord Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Righteous Servant, has fully obeyed his Father’s will in putting away our sins by the sacrifice of himself, because he was made sin for us, because he bore our sins in his own body on the tree, because he paid all the debt for our sins and put them away completely and forever, he now assures sinners everywhere of this glorious truth by the gospel. — “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37-40).

      Come to Christ, no matter who you are, no matter how vile your transgressions are, and he promises that he will receive you, just as you are, and that he will never cast you out, that he will give you eternal life, that you shall never perish. Come, then, to Christ without any preparations making you fit to come. Come to Christ without attempting to change yourself and make yourself qualified to come to him. Come to Christ without delay. Sinners, come and welcome! The Savior calls, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Don Fortner

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