The Provision

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

Two very powerful words when put together are “but God.” Those words can revolutionize any situation. “My marriage is falling apart. But God…” “My husband abandoned us and my children are out of control. But God…” “I have no job, no income and no future. But God…” God can restore any situation. He is bigger and more powerful than any life challenge.

“I’m a sinner condemned to eternal separation from God. But God…” Those same words sum up the Good News for each of us. Even while we were still sinners, God proved His love for us by sending Jesus Christ to die in our place.

How amazing that God would love us so deeply. We have certainly done nothing to deserve it. But the amazement deepens when we consider the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary.

On the cross, God credited the sin of the whole world on to His sinless son Jesus Christ. Then He credits the sinless righteousness of Christ to all who come to Christ for forgiveness and eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:21). Unless we accept God’s provision, then we are left to pay the eternal consequences of rejecting the gift of eternal life God offers.

Two brothers were playing in the woods one summer day when almost without warning, a bee flew down and stung the older brother on the eyelid. He put his hands to his face and fell to the ground in pain.

As the younger brother looked on in horror, the bee began buzzing around his head. Terrified, he began screaming, “The bee’s going to get me!” The older brother, regaining his composure, said, “What are you talking about? That bee can’t hurt you. He’s already stung me.”

The Bible tells us that this is precisely what happened on Calvary. God loves you so much that He stepped out of heaven in the person of Jesus Christ and took the “stinger of death” in your place on Calvary. Jesus hung on the cross, not for His own sin, but for my sin and yours. Because Jesus Christ is without sin, His substitutionary death paid the penalty for all of us.

How do we know that Jesus’ death on the cross really took care of the sin problem? Because of what happened on that Sunday morning. When Mary Magdalene came to Jesus’ tomb that morning, she couldn’t find Him. She saw someone and, thinking it was a gardener, asked Him where the Lord’s body had been taken. When the gardener turned and removed His cloak, Mary gasped in amazement. It was Jesus.

In fact, according to 1 Corinthians 15:6, over five hundred people personally saw the risen Christ before He ascended into heaven.

I am a Christian today because the tomb is empty. If not for the resurrection, our faith would be empty and useless. As the Apostle Paul said, if Jesus were not raised, we should be the most pitied people on earth. But the fact is, Jesus is raised. Now what do we do?

If good works could save anyone, there would have been no point in Jesus’ death. But Jesus knew we couldn’t pay sin’s price.

← Back to Home

The Urban Alternative | P.O. Box 4000 | Dallas, TX 75208 | 800-800-3222 | TonyEvans.org

Mobile experience by