Every year we celebrate the birth of Jesus, his death and the his resurrection, but do we really know the significance of it all? Before Jesus, the Jew’s sacrificed lambs each year for reconciliation to God for all the Mosaic laws thy had broken. John the Baptist was dunking people in the Jordan River and he when he saw Jesus coming toward him, he proclaimed, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Why is there still so much sin? Did Jesus fail? Absolutely not! The refreshing good news comes from how we translate “sin.” Is sin something we do? Or is it what we believe about what we do? The word sin has been translated from the Greek word hamartia and means wrong belief about who you think God is and how you think God sees you.. When John the Baptist said, “Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” He was not saying people wouldn’t still mess up. What he was saying is “Look at what is going to happen to God at the hands of man and when it is all said and done. God still loves even those who demanded He be beat, tortured and put to death, This reality will remove all doubt, fear and anxiety that we could ever lose our connection to the one who created us. This is the good news!

This might not be what you have heard before, but to clarify, the word Gospel was translated from the Greek word “basher” and means too-good-to-be-true-news. If it doesn’t seem to good to be true or your hearing things like “yes, your are saved by grace, but you need to do this or believe this. Clearly if you have to do something to get into God’s favor and kindness then its not too-good-to-be-true-news.  

God wants you to live in freedom from struggle and strife and to enjoy the life He has given you. “For whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” (John 8:36) “You are children of God through our faith in Jesus” (Galatians 3:6) and “God will never leave or give up on you!” (Hebrews 13:5)

Everyone is in right standing with God loves you and isn’t disappointed in you even if you had an abortion, got a divorce, had premarital sex, cheated or are cheating on your spouse, in a physical relationship with someone of the same sex, abusing drugs or alcohol, or struggling with porn. Because; “God is LOVE.” (1 John 4:8) Meaning; “God is patient and kind. God is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. God does not demand his own way. God is not irritable, and God keeps no record of being wronged. God does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

There is no punishment for anyone! God is well pleased with you and wants you to live life free from guilt, shame, or condemnation. Hallelujah! You may be reading this and thinking, “how can this be true, God is sovereign, sin has a price, we still have to act right and live better.” God is sovereign and bad behavior does have worldly consequences. But you are and always will be God’s beloved child.

Blessings Kurt and Katy Adkins