Confidence In ChristExemplo

Confidence in Christ
by Rev. Mark Bartsch

Do you feel sometimes as if you are being punished for your sins? People say, “God must be punishing me for something I have done wrong. I am paying for my sins.” 

As we live our lives in the world, we may suffer persecution for our faith. People might scoff at us and ridicule us for believing in Jesus. People may turn away from us or ignore us because they know we are Christians. Upholding the truth of God’s Word in our world today has become a daunting task. Ask the Christian shop owner how much ridicule he has faced lately from those who do not believe in God.

You are not being punished for sins. God punished His Son, Jesus, for all the sins of the world. “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53: 5)

We can now be Confident in Christ. Paul writes, "He [God] will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.” God will send His terrible judgment on those who persecuted us believers. Our persecutors will not be saved. We believers will rejoice in glory.

We look forward with believing hearts to Judgment Day, to the day “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.” Earthly suffering and persecution will disappear. We will be in Heaven with Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Our Confidence in Christ will be rewarded.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, we rejoice with believing hearts. At Judgment Day, You assure us of a place in glory with You. Thank You for the forgiveness of our sins and the promise of eternal life. “Forever with the Lord! Amen! So let it be. Life from the dead is in that word, My immortality.” [Christian Worship hymnal, #213, v. 1] Amen.