Daily Devotional
Do You Try to Earn God’s Forgiveness?
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
1 Peter 3:18
March 30, 2024
Ponder This
There’s a word I don’t want you to miss in this passage: once. That does not mean once upon a time: it means once for all. When Jesus said, “It is finished!” (see John 19:30), He meant the debt had been paid for sin—absolutely and completely. In Rome, when a man would be put in prison, they would write out a certificate of debt. This was his debt to society for his crime, and the document would be placed on his prison door. After he had done his time and paid the penalty, they would write across that certificate of debt.
Do you know the word they would write? Tetalesti. Do you know what that means? It is finished; it is paid in full. That man won’t have to go back to prison again. If they arrest him for that crime again, he can say, “Yes, but I have paid. It is done. You can’t bring me in twice for the same crime.” Jesus has once suffered for sin. That means you cannot pay for it yourself through your good works or by beating yourself up with shame. It has already been done. Your debt is paid, and you are free to go and live for God.
- How have you tried to earn God’s favor through good works? Why won’t this ever work?
- How does the fact that your sin has been paid in full change your daily life?
Practice This
Be an encourager. Remind a fellow Christian today that his or her sin has been paid in full.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
