“Glossing over sin never heals inward shame. . . . Downplaying sin is an ill-applied salve. When there’s no honest admission of sin accompanied by authoritative, Jesus-centered forgiveness, condemnation broods. . . . Jesus, the Eternal Word, the one who stood in heavenly glory, . . stooped. He took on a body of dust like ours.”- Alan Wright
“For our sake he made him to be sin who had no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”- 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
Alan Wright concludes Chapter 5 of Seeing as Jesus Sees as he underscores that after Jesus stooped to be one of us, He stood. And oh, how He stood! Most significantly, Jesus stood up:
- to religious hypocrites.
- to legions of demon.
- against lies and disease.
- against injustice and ignorance and inhumanity.
And then, through His own determination, in accordance with the Father’s will, Jesus stooped again. As Alan notes, He shed mortal blood and relinquished His body to the grave. Above all, on the third day, Jesus stooped no more. He stood — alive, triumphant, death-defiant. Jesus stood!
Therefore, Alan explains:
“Jesus stooped for you so He could stand up for you. He went to the dirt for you so He could silence your foe from hell. He humbled Himself, even unto death on the cross, so He could strip hell of every jagged rock of condemnation against you.”
Consequently, Pastor Wright asks, how does Jesus see your sin? First, Jesus sees our sin in all its life-robbing power and idolatrous ugliness. And He sees sin to the depths of all it’s dark deception. Hence, Jesus’ heart grieves. His heart breaks and longs for our freedom.
Finally, after Jesus sees it all, He sees it not at all. Because Jesus paid the full — not partial — sacrifice for our sins, no one is left to condemn. As Alan astutely states, “Our sins haven’t been swept under the rug — they have been swept away.”
No power for self nor honor to God for self-condemnation exists. Power comes when we agree with God.
Today’s question: What prompts you to consider glossing over sin? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “See past outward flaws”
