Galatians 2:19
“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.”
The law left us all guilty. Thus, we were dead. That was the just penalty. Death has a couple of meanings. The obvious one is when life leaves us. Another one is separation. We see this with Adam and Eve. They were told, “if they ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge, they would die.” When they ate it, they didn’t pass away, but were removed from the garden. They were separated from God.
When people seek the Lord, they want to be right with Him and go to heaven. The law can’t be kept to the letter, so all are guilty on some level. Some more than others. Therefore we are all separated from the Lord.
We can try to do better, but that doesn’t erase our guilt. Our natural thought is “God is loving and merciful, He will forgive us”. While He is loving, that’s not how the legal system works. A judge might be kind, but criminals can’t be let off. The law requires a penalty. The payment for sin is separation from God.
What are we to do? We couldn’t do it ourselves and be connected to the Lord. He sent His Son to die for our sins. We had nothing to do with it. Our job is to accept Him as Lord and Savior. Even though the law pronounced us dead, Jesus paid the penalty for all our sins, past, present and future.
We will sin again. His sacrifice covers future transgressions. We have died to the law, but made alive in Christ forever. We’ve been cleansed white as snow. When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn in two. The veil represented the separation between God and people. Jesus’ death tore it in two. We now have access to God. This is great news.
When Lazarus was raised from the dead, it was pivotal. Many came to faith. The word spread like wildfire. Death has been defeated. Here was a man, Jesus, who has power over the grave. While that act didn’t save us. It gives us hope that once the sin issue is addressed, Here is one who has the power to raise us all.
Lord, thank You that You sent Your Son to die in our place. The penalty was paid. Access to You is now possible.