What the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son . . . to be a sin offering. (Rom. 8:3)
Expanded Passage: Romans 8:1-4
In Albania where we live, animals are commonly sacrificed. Sacrifices are performed at the end of Ramadan (called Ramazan in Albania) and on many other occasions to ward off evil. People here believe a blood sacrifice has power over evil spirits and cleanses people from sin.
Free of charge, God offers us the opportunity to be cleansed of sin and evil. For those of us who believe in Christ, God has done so much more than sacrifice an animal to pay for our sins! Yes, our sin did require a sacrifice—in fact, the punishment of death—to remedy the situation. Yes, God saw the need. But, instead of demanding that we—the ones whose sin had created the problem—pay our debt, he stepped in and offered his own Son’s life to pay for our need for spiritual freedom, atonement, and forgiveness.
As a modern-day, American-born citizen, I cringe inside when I see animal sacrifice in our neighborhood and blood smeared on the faces of those celebrating the holiday of Ramadan. Yet, perhaps those sacrificing understand even better than we do that a blood sacrifice was required to remove the stain of our sin. Our sin was unpardonable without Jesus’ death (and resurrection). Oh, how the world needs to hear how God intervened and did what we could not and did not do for our own salvation!
Share about Jesus’ sacrifice for us with another.
Caryl Aukerman is a wife and mother of three and has served with Global Partners for over seventeen years as a missionary in the country of Albania.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
