Comfort when the Devil Brings Up Your Past Sins
Beloved in the Lord,
St. Paul writes to the church at Corinth: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the crucifixion is a very cruel way to die. For those witnessing a crucifixion, it was not unusual to faint. As shown here, Jesus’ crucifixion was, indeed, very cruel. Which brings up the following question: If Jesus’ crucifixion was so cruel, why then, for over 2,000 years have followers of the crucified and resurrected Jesus placed crucifixion pictures and crucifixes in prominent places in their homes and where they work?
Two important reasons for this. First, the crucifix in our homes serves as a daily reminder that Jesus’ death did not result from just the evil of other people of that day and time. It also reminds us that our sins placed Jesus on the cross (Acts 2:23, 36). This knowledge that our sins resulted in Christ’s bloody and painful death leads us then to a life of daily repentance (Acts 17:30). Secondly, the reason for having a picture or symbol of Jesus’ crucifixion in a prominent place within our homes and churches is to help us constantly experience the strength and comfort God gives to us through His Gospel.
How does Christ’s crucifixion cross do this? Through His prophet Isaiah, God says to us that when He saw the suffering and death of His Son, Jesus, for your sins, He, the Father, was satisfied. Therefore, seeing the crucifixion each day is a reminder that our failures are already forgiven. Past, present, and future! For Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father to intercede hourly and daily for you beloved (Rom. 8:34).
Just look at it this way. A child’s unruly actions can upset and anger his father. A child’s sins separate him from his father. The father and the son are not reconciled until the unruly child pays the price for his disobedience, which is then paid when the father disciplines his child. In the every same way, when we sins, we displease and anger our heavenly Father. Our sin separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:2; Jeremiah 5:25; Lamentations 5:3). Reconciliation is only possible when discipline takes place and the price is paid. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He was disciplined by the Father for our sake. That is, Jesus received the Father’s wrath for all our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6). This is the wrath and the punishment that we deserved. Yet Jesus went to the cross for you and for me. Christ died for the sins of the world.
With this, comes the greatest and most comforting news that you and I will ever hear. Through the prophet Isaiah, your heavenly Father says He saw His Son’s anguish and suffering and was satisfied (Isaiah 53:11). Therefore, with God’s anger satisfied, there is no longer any separation between us and God. We have been reconciled back to God the Father. For those who have been Baptized into Christ Jesus, for those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, have the hope, comfort, and reassurance that even though we will die (the wages of our sins) we will live. We will live and be able to see our loving, gracious, merciful, and compassionate God face to face and live. Eternally. How comforting this is beloved.
So don’t be afraid to have a picture or painting of Christ’s crucifixion in your home and in a prominent place where you see it everyday. To add to this, you could even have the words of Isaiah 53:11 close by as well. Not only this, but display it in such a place in your home that you can explain the meaning of the cross to children, grandchildren, friends, family, and neighbors. Share with them, that before Jesus died, our heavenly Father was disappointed and angry at our sins. But now our heavenly Father has seen the suffering of His Son and is satisfied. For Jesus, by His life, death, and resurrection has reconciled us back to God the Father and intercedes before us on our behalf hourly and daily.
Beloved, we have many symbols and pictures which help to reflect and tell the master narrative of God’s redeeming work in and through His Son, Jesus Christ. Each one, helping us to to remember and to be able to share the story of God’s redemptive and salvific work in Christ Jesus. Use them to share the good news of the Gospel dear friends. While we have all these symbols and pictures to help tell the story of God’s redemptive work in our lives, there is no greater symbol from our heavenly Father than that of the crucifix. For it is through the cross of Jesus, that we are reminded of our sins, we are led to daily repentance, and we are assured that by the cross of Jesus, our heavenly Father is satisfied. Satisfied because His own Son, Jesus Christ went to the cross bearing our sin, and suffered the death that we deserved. But in the suffering and death of Jesus, we also have the comfort and the assurance that our sins have been forgiven. We have been reconciled back to God the Father. The doors of heaven have been opened back up to us.
What comfort, peace, and joy this brings to our hearts. Rejoice in these gifts and promises. When Satan keeps bringing up your past sins, you say to him:
Satan hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ. Drop your ugly accusation, I am not so soon enticed. Now that to the front I’ve traveled, All your might has come unraveled, And against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me. (LSB 594, God’s Own Child I Gladly Say It).
Now may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.