I knew my sin had separated me from God. I knew I was helpless and locked out in my stumbling search. I had met others who knew God, and I knew I didn’t.

We started to read Romans 5, and for the first time I heard with understanding that God had a purpose in the death of Jesus Christ. I heard with understanding what God’s purpose was. I heard that God Himself had taken action on my behalf.

For while we were still

helpless, at the right time

Christ died for the

ungodly. For one will

hardly die for a righteous

man; though perhaps for

the good man someone

would dare even to die.

But God demonstrates His

own love toward us, in

that while we were yet

sinners, Christ died for us.

As we read, we discussed the disobedience of Adam to God, and the entrance of sin and condemnation and death to all mankind. I read that through the obedience of Jesus Christ to God in His death on the cross, sin and death were overcome, and I could be made right with God.

For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

As we were reading, floodgates of comprehension opened and I understood and believed.

I knew I was a sinner, and I needed a Savior. I understood for the first time that on the cross God was condemning my sin as His Son, Jesus Christ, took my judgment and punishment upon Himself in His death for me. I prayed that night and placed my life in God’s hands, stating my need for forgiveness and thanking Him for the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, for my sin. This gift, this one act of righteousness, meant justification of life to me. Death had come to reign through Adam, but the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus meant I would reign in life through Him.

God let the light of His truth ride into my mind and heart, handing me the keys of repentance and belief.

My sin was gone; now no longer separated from Him, I knew Jesus, the Light of the World.

Stone Cross, St Brelade’s Parish Church, Jersey, The Channel Islands: FreeFoto.com. Site has been deleted since posting.
The title of the post, “Let Light Ride In,” is the title of a poem written by Eugene Warren from: The Country of the Risen King: An Anthology of Christian Poetry, Merle Meeter, Compiler (Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI: 1978) 260.
¹Martin Luther, Commentary on Romans, translated by J. Theodore Mueller (Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids MI: 1976; Zondervan Publishing House: 1954) 88.

Copyright ©2010 Iwana Carpenter