WHAT LORD JESUS CAME TO DO

"And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin." (1 John 3:5) Why did Jesus come? Answer that question and you have answered much about who He is and what He wants to do in our life. There is no one reason why Jesus came; He came to accomplish many things. But here John defined the mission of Jesus Christ at its most basic root: "to take away our sins." The angel Gabriel promised Joseph regarding the ministry of Jesus: "you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin" (Luke 1:21). If this is what Jesus came to do, how does He do it? How does Jesus take away our sins?
	Jesus takes away our sin in the sense of taking the PENALTY of our sin. This is immediately accomplished when one comes by faith to Jesus. The guilt and punishment our sin deserved was judged in Jesus instead of in us. Jesus takes away our sin in the sense of taking the POWER of sin away. This is an ongoing work in the life of those who walk after Jesus. As we walk closer to Him, we find sin having less and less power over us. Jesus takes away our sin in the sense of taking the PRESENCE of sin away. This is a work that will be completed when we pass into eternity and are glorified with Jesus. Notice whose job it is to take away our sins: "HE was manifested to take away our sins." This is the work of Jesus in our lives; it is a work we must respond to, but it is His work in us.
We cannot take away the PENALTY of our own sin. It is impossible to cleanse our self in this way. We must instead receive the work of Jesus in taking away our sin. We cannot take away the POWER of sin in our lives. This is His work in us, and we respond to that work. Someone who comes to Jesus does not have to clean themselves up first, but they must be willing to have Him take away their sin. We cannot take away the PRESENCE of sin in our lives. This is His work in us, ultimately accomplished when we will be glorified with Him. If you have been struggling in the battle against sin, perhaps it is because you have been battling too much in yourself and not enough in Jesus. He came to take away your sins. Will you let Him? By David Guzik http://www.enduringword.com/ PRAISE GOD BLESSED BE THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD