"Paid in Full!" (John 19:30)

When you buy anything at a store, the clerk accepts your money and gives you a receipt confirming that the bill was paid in full. If there's ever a dispute about whether the payment was made, all you have to do is produce your receipt. When the Lord Jesus cried, "It is finished!" (John 19:30), He spoke the Greek word which means, "Paid in full." The payment for sin that God demanded has been paid, and the empty tomb is proof the payment was received and the debt satisfied! How wonderful is that? How special is that? The resurrection of Jesus is our "receipt" from God the Father that He accepted His Son's payment for sin on the cross! I don't know about you, but this news is too good to keep to myself! Apostle Paul said it best with these words, "When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (Colossians 2:13-14). Paul says, "He made you alive together with Him" (v. 13). How awesome is that? Becoming a Christ follower is not a matter of choosing to "turn over a new leaf!" It isn't based on a self-improvement method or resolutions to do better! No amount of persuasion can talk a spiritually dead person into spiritual life because they do not have spiritual ears to hear (1 Cor. 2:14; John 8:43). No amount of efforts on the part of the spiritually dead person can ever bring about his/her own resurrection! God must impart new life by His power! Paul continues, "Having canceled out the certificate of debt." Every person owes God an unpayable debt for breaking His law, and are under sentence of death (Rom. 6:23). Through Jesus' death on the cross, God has completely removed our indebtedness! Through Christ our debt is paid in full! Paul says, "He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." How wonderful is God's forgiveness! The Christ followers' sins were put to Jesus' account, "nailed to His cross" as He bore the penalty in our place, satisfying God's wrath that was against us! PAID IN FULL!! Your move. Be encouraged!