Half the Story

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

Father, I thank you that because of the blood of Jesus Christ we don’t have to pay the wages of our sin.  I pray for you to bring people in the path of  Deeper Still  who need to hear this truth.  I pray for those who are walking around with shrouds of shame to be released into new life and grace in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The phone rang.  On the other end was a sweet person I had just briefly met the day before.  Her child was sick with a serious diagnosis.  As we spoke, she stated her grief in that she believed her child’s sickness was a result of a past sin.  Shame covered her as a shroud, wrapped up tight with no room to breathe in grace.

 

She went on to explain that the wages of her sin was death, so her child’s illness must be the result of her sin. 

My heart sank.  How could this person be brought up in church and believe this lie.  What about the second part of that verse?  Of course, that is just like the enemy to use only half a scripture to torment those who belong to the King.

 

What the verse actually says is:

“For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

That is a one big BUT you don’t want to leave out!

 

How many Christians are living out their Christian walk with only half the story? Can you do much with half of anything that requires the whole?  Can you use half a computer?  Or half a phone?  Half a lamp?

When it comes to the Word of God, we need the whole. 

Similarly to the person mentioned above, it is common for post-abortive men and women to fear retribution for their sins.  They fear God will strike them or their children in punishment.  That is simply NOT OUR GOD.   Our God is a God of mercy.  And mercy triumphs over judgment.  Every. Single. Time.

Some may point to the Old Testament to argue otherwise.  The Old Testament wasn’t under the blood of Jesus.   We entered into a New Covenant when Jesus took our death penalty for our sins.

Jesus paid the price for our sins so we could have eternal life.  When one is in Christ, one is covered by the blood of the Lamb.  He has already paid for ALL sins and we are forgiven.  Jesus Christ paid the price we should have paid. 

   

He is our Redeemer and Savior.  He is our Life, Peace and Healer. 

If you are only holding half an ice cream cone, you are missing the best part. 

We walk around half alive with a shroud covering our new life in Christ because we are missing half the message. 

The story needs to be told.  The whole story needs to be heard.  He wrote it for our ears to ring with His Truth so loudly that the shouts of the world and the enemy would dim in comparison. 

If you have any fear of retribution for past sins, my prayer for you today is to hear the whole story.  May truth unwrap the shroud that has kept you bound.  May God’s all sufficient grace breathe new life into you and make you whole. 

Don’t miss out on the best part.