Calvary - Nothing less
The text below comes from the daily devotional "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers (Day: 19 November for those who have the book). The sentences in bold stood out as I read.
John 16:8 "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,..."
Conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit blots our every relationship on earth and makes us aware of only one -- "Against thee, thee only have I sinned" (Psalm 51:4). When a person is convicted of sin this way, he knows with every bit of his conscience that Gould would not dare to forgive him.
If God did forgive him, then this person would have a stronger sense of justice than God. God does forgive, but it cost the breaking of His heart with grief in the death of Christ to enable Him to do so. The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin, and it is the death of Jesus Christ alone that enables the divine nature to forgive and to remain true to itself in doing so. It is shallow nonsense to say that God forgives us because He is love. Once we have been convicted of sin, we will never say this again.
The love of God means Calvary -- nothing less... .
The love of God is spelled out on the Cross and nowhere else... .
It is there His conscience is satisfied. ...
P.S. If you should have only one devotional, I would definitely recommend the book above. It is by far the best devotional I have seen or read.
