Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29
When Christ became our sacrifice, he bore away our sins. The word 'to bear' is a full and emphatic word signifying not only to bear, but to bear away. This is a real purging of sin. How great a mercy is this! 'Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered' (Psa. 32:1), Who can express the happiness of such a state as this? Pardoned reader, let me beg you, look over the cancelled bonds, and see what a vast sum has been remitted to you. Remember your natural state, and yet pardoned. Fully, finally, and freely pardoned! What can you do less than fall down at the feet of free grace that moved so freely towards so vile a sinner? Not long ago your iniquities were upon you. Now they are as far as the east is from the west (Psa 103:11-12). O the unspeakable effectiveness of Christ's sacrifice; it extends to all sins (1 John 1:7); past, present, without exception, and all sins to come! God 'did not spare his own Son'. Sparing mercy was denied to Christ. Not a moment of time was lessened for the suffering and wrath that was appointed for him. Justice will not bend in the least. What a sad case for your soul, O reader, if you have no interest in this sacrifice! Consider how you can support the infinite wrath that Christ bore in the place of Gods elect. Woe and alas for evermore to that man who meets a just God without a mediator! I beseech you, but the mercies of God, in the light of all the love you have for your own soul, do not neglect this opportunity. Get an interest in this sacrifice quickly. What will your state be when vast eternity opens to swallow you up? Happy is that man who can say in a dying hour: 'This is my comfort--"Forgiven!"' Remember, no sin can stand before the effectiveness of his blood (1 John 1:7).
From works of John Flavel, 1:161-164 as quoted in Voices From the Past, Edited by Richard Rushing, Banner of Truth Trust, 2009, Page 21
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