Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. Galatians 1:4
When you listen to Christians giving their testimonies, one common theme in many of them is the dread of dying and of going to hell. Some of those who describe their pre-conversion soul trouble tell of being terrified of even a small risk of accident because they were afraid they would be cut off from God’s mercy forever. Our text today tells of of a very different danger for the sinner. Christ died, not simply to save us from hell, but to save us from this present evil world.
What is the danger of this world? What is so terrible about it that we need to be saved from it? The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus saved us, not only from hell, but for Heaven. His death for our sins was to redeem us and to refit us. The flames of hell would have meant the destruction of our souls. The influence of this world would have meant the destruction of our spirits. The Lord Jesus has saved us from all that the world can do to destroy our testimony, to darken our hope, to bring glory to God. To save us from this present evil world cost Him His life.
Our text reminds us that the death of our Saviour on the Cross was the will of the Father. This was not a sudden decision, a plan that God devised after Adam’s fall, or a sub-chapter in the administration of Heaven. No, this was the great eternal purpose of God. This was the great plan of the ages, the masterpiece of Heaven’s purpose. The will of God was for His Son to become our Saviour. So we gather today to thank Him for such a loving gift, such a wonderful purpose, so great Salvation offered to such undeserving sinners.
For all that God has saved us from, and for all that He has saved us for, we give thanks today. -Jim MacIntosh