The Defeat

ROMANS 4:25 > "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." [KJV]

           offence-a breach of the law             justification-being regarded and treated
                                                                                          as if innocent

     Not alot is going on at 4:00 a.m.. You're still trying to wake up, get that first cup of coffee in you and get your eyes focused! It's still a little fuzzy at that time of morning. Except this morning!!! Did you know that God is already up at that time of morning?? That He hasn't even been to sleep? That's real hard for me to fathom when my eyes are still kind of crossed and I'm fighting to NOT go back to bed! It is so hard to imagine that God doesn't require any kind of sleep at all. Not even a five minute nap!
     Anyhow, God was sure enough waiting on me this morning! My Bible study has taken me back to Romans, Chapter Four. I had no idea that the chapter was completely loaded! I've read it time-and-time again, but still didn't hear what God had to say. It was in Romans 4:25 from the NIV that really caught my eye. It reads, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." I know what that verse says, but this morning I learned exactly what it means!! (This is where my very soul is shouting 'Hallelujah'!!)
     God delivered over to 'death' His very own Son. He allowed 'death' to wrap itself around His Son. He allowed 'death' to take the very breath from His Son's lungs and the beat from His heart. All of hope was gone. (Or itleast, it appeared to be!) God knew that the price was too high for us to pay. It would require His Son who knew no sin to pay such a debt. Inside the dark, sealed tomb 'death' snickered counting itself victorious. Hell celebrated at the idea of man's sin never being atoned for. Man would forever be held in the grips of guilt knowing that the price could never be paid for our atonement. Death seemed to have won; man would forever be defeated. However, the "third" day came!! Death had heard Jesus speak of the "third" day and yet didn't believe it would actually come! After all, Jesus' body was still in the tomb. There had been no movement for 'death' to think otherwise. And then it happened.... Oh wow!! Can you just imagine the look on 'death's' face when it could no longer hold Him?? It couldn't even get a good grip on our Savior!! Hallelujah!!! Jesus walked out of the grave just like He said He would!! When He came out of the grave, our justification was complete. God was satisfied. The price had been paid. He made a way for us to be able to live in His grace, to feel complete freedom and to know forgiveness.

Romans 4:25 > "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." King James Version

No more chains...hope has begun anew!!!

In awe of Him,
Vonda