Romans 5:19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. --NKJV In the name of the one Who made us righteous, amen.
When we talk about Christ saving us from our sins and gaining our salvation for us, we tend to focus mainly on the fact that He suffered and died on the cross and thus endured the punishment we deserved. However, there is another important task that Christ accomplished as part of His work that often does not receive equal time. That is his act of fulfilling the law on our behalf.
In our passage for today, St. Paul tells us that Jesus came as the second Adam to do what the first Adam and all his descendents thereafter failed to do. While he walked this earth our Lord was subjected to the same attacks from the devil and the world that we are faced with every day. In fact, the devil put forth a special effort with Jesus. The difference is that he did not succumb to these temptations. He was absolutely perfect in every way. He was really the spotless Lamb of God. He had no sins of his own that needed to be paid for. Thus, His perfect righteousness fulfilled God's demand that His law be kept perfectly; something we cannot do. And what is more, His righteousness has become our righteousness. In Baptism, we were cleansed of the guilt of our sins. Now when God looks at those who have faith in Christ, he sees in them not the filthiness of their sins, but the sinlessness of His dear Son.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you that you fulfilled your Father's demand and obeyed His law on my behalf. I thank and praise You that You have lived the perfect life that I cannot live here on this earth, so that someday I can live with You in Your glorious kingdom. Amen.
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