What joy and blessedness overflows the heart of a poor sinner when, by faith, he gives ear to the sweet sound of grace—to the voice of Jesus, which says to him, "Thy sins are forgiven... go in peace.”
We know that sins are often represented as debts: our creditor is the God of Justice, who has a right to demand of us even to the last farthing. By nature we are all insolvent debtors. Far from being able, even in the smallest degree, to diminish aught of this mighty debt, man can only increase it each day and each moment of the day.
What would have become of us if God had not had compassion on us? "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love where-with He loved us," gave His Son, who has paid all our debt of sin by offering up Him-self a ransom for us. It is in Him that "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." We have to do with a compassionate Master, who has freely forgiven us all our debt. (See Matt. 18:2727Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. (Matthew 18:27).)
The death of Jesus has been, so to speak, the payment of this debt. "The chastisement of our peace was upon Him." He voluntarily took it upon Himself. For us He tasted the bitterness of death and submitted Himself to the prison-house of the tomb.
"Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.”
When a debtor comes out of prison, it is a proof that he has satisfied his creditor. Thus Jesus, who took for us the debtor's place, has fully satisfied the justice of God, who has raised Him up and glorified Him.