The Price Paid

I John 2:2 states "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world."

As I read that tonight, it really sunk in to me that Jesus has already paid the price, as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, not just the sins of Christians - but of everyone, for everything that has already been done and is yet to be done, confessed and unconfessed. The price was paid in full that day on Calvery.

I think for the most part, we tend to categorize sins. We say one thing is worse than another. A white lie is much less harmful than murder. Disobedience is better than stealing. Drugs are worse than alcohol. But the fact is, disobedience is what started the world on the path to destruction. And a white lie alone, if it was the only sin ever done, would have separated us from God, and Christ still would have had to pay the ultimate price to bridge that gap.

The way I see it, Jesus paid the price and is just waiting for us to cash in on it (So to speak). It is like He wrote this check, made payable in full for each one of us. But like any check, its value can not be felt until it is cashed. He wrote the check that day on Calvary and the only "CASH BY" date is the day we die. Since no one is given a stamp on the bottom of the foot that tells their expiration date, we need to accept the price that was paid for us and start living our life to the fullest. We need to share the price that was paid, and the forgiveness that is available with the whole world - even those that we secretly hope won't accept the price paid.