"CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT." We were guilty and under condemnation. Jesus took our part, became our substitute. He suffered and died in our stead. Our sins were laid on Him, punished in Him, and removed by Him. God had put the curse on us, but Jesus gave Himself to bear that curse in our stead; every penalty of the law was inflicted on Him; every one of the claims of justice was paid by Him; and now God is just, the justifier of everyone that believeth in Jesus. The debt- book is crossed, the handwriting that was against us is erased, and every foe is overcome. Do we think of the law we have broken, of the justice we have provoked, of the hell we have deserved? Let me also think, Jesus gave Himself for me. He satisfied the demands of justice, fulfilled the law, and brought glory to God, in my nature, name, and stead; and God is infinitely more honoured by the life and death of my substitute, than He could have been by my obedience had I never sinned, or by punishing me for all my sin. This is our rejoicing, that God can be just, in justifying us who believe in Jesus. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.

For Meditation:
Jesus is the chiefest good;
He hath saved us by His blood:
Let us value nought but Him;
Nothing else deserves esteem.
Jesus, when stern Justice said,
"Man his life has forfeited;
Vengeance follows my decree,"
Cried, "Inflict it all on me."