“For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God…”

— 1 Peter 3:18

Before my conversion, I hadn’t realized what spiritual danger I was in. But how well I remember that day when I first discovered the truth about myself, when the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see myself as I really was. I was arraigned before the bar of God’s judgment. Justice accused me, and the scales tipped precipitously against me.

The Judge looked me sternly in the face and said, “I pronounce that you shall die. Do you have anything to say for yourself before the sentence of eternal death is pronounced upon you?” For the first time in all my self-righteous life, I was speechless. The Judge brought down His gavel, and the sentence was pronounced.

Eternal death descended upon me, and I stood on the scaffold of God’s judgment. I felt hopeless as I felt the black cap of eternal death placed upon my head and about to be pulled down over my eyes. Suddenly, I heard a cry, a voice that said, “Stay. Let not that man descend into the pit.”

I looked and there came at a great run one whose face was flecked with blood, whose hands were pierced, who said, “Surely he deserves to die but the spear pierced My side instead. Surely he deserves to descend into the pit, but there in the blackness of midday at Calvary, I descended into the pit for him. All that he deserves I have properly taken. Now let him go free.” I praise God for His gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus my Lord.

Lord Jesus, thank You that You are our advocate before the Father, pleading our cause. Thank You for rescuing us from eternal peril at the cost of Your own shed blood…

IN HIS STRENGTH,
WE STAND FORGIVEN.