The Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world . . . (Revelation 13:8)
Do you remember the story of the Good Samaritan, which Jesus recounted in Luke 10:30-37? A traveler was beaten by robbers, who left him for dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest and a Levite came to the place where the man lay dying, and both passed by on the other side of the road. But the Samaritan, who was despised by the Jews because of his ancestry, had compassion on the beaten man; the Samaritan stopped and bandaged his wounds and took him to an inn. After caring for the man, he paid the innkeeper and asked him to look after the man while he was gone. The Good Samaritan promised that he would pay the innkeeper for any additional expense. In effect, he said, “Charge it to my account.”
Just like the Good Samaritan, Jesus Christ has said of each and every one of our past, present, and future sins, “Set that to My account.” Christian, the Lamb of God, who was slain before the foundation of the world, had every one of your sins imputed to Him. We could spend a lifetime in meditation and still not even begin to plumb the depths of this blessed assurance! Jesus, as our substitute, had a debt we owed but could never pay laid upon Himself . . . and He did it freely for the unimaginable joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2)—the joy of seeing you, His bride, no longer dirty and befouled by sin, but spotless and pure, “arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:8).
Satan wants us to forget this truth and live with gnawing guilt that will prevent us from doing all God has called us to do. The vile accuser of the brethren works to convince us that we are so polluted by sin that we are disqualified from doing the kingdom work God has given us to do.
Sadly, far too many in the church have forgotten their day of deliverance. They have forgotten Jesus’ victory cry from the cross: “It is finished!” Your debt has been paid in full! Your sin has been forgiven—all your sin. Eternal life has been secured. You must always remember that the devil is a liar, and he will do everything in his power to destroy your witness for Christ.
The next time you find yourself dealing with a bout of gnawing guilt, remember the story of the Good Samaritan, who was willing to pay any debt incurred by the beaten man he had brought to the inn. This is a lovely picture of your Lord and Savior, who is infinitely greater than the Good Samaritan. Jesus Christ has not only nailed every one of your sins to the cross (Colossians 2:14), but He washed them spotlessly clean with His atoning blood (Ephesians 1:7). Hear Him say, “Charge that sin to my account,” and let that truth strengthen you to go and sin no more.
The Good Samaritan spent his money to help a dying man; but Jesus spent His precious blood to raise you from death to life!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 