“Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.”
Acts 13:38–39, ESV
A show my family and I used to love to watch was called “Nailed It.” It was a DIY baking show that brought average to below-average home bakers to put together their interpretation of a beautiful specialty cake, cookie, or other dessert. As you can imagine, the results were often disastrous and laughable. The challenge was insurmountable for them. Christianity is not a Do-It-Yourself faith but is completed by Christ and Christ alone. We don’t have to meet God part way because the task has been completed for us. We cannot make ourselves holy, and we cannot make satisfaction for our sins through our attempts to follow the Law of Moses. None were able to keep the Law, and no one other than Jesus ever could. Jesus Christ is the one promised throughout Scripture that came from the seed of David, “A man after God’s own heart.” The fulfillment of the Law didn’t come through any sacrifice aside from the sacrifice our Lord made on the cross, which was fulfilled in the Words, “It is finished.” No matter how hard we try, we will fail on our own, and thankfully, we are not required to do more than believe in the promises of Christ and trust in His words, knowing that in them lies the truth and the hope that we are called to proclaim. Our salvation is not found in our works but in God incarnate Jesus Christ. This is the promise we proclaim and the hope which we profess. It is this Gospel that saves all who come to know Him and the peace which fills our lives. We cannot perfect it, nor can we make it any better because, in Christ, it is done once and for all.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.