Brian Onstead

On May 31, 1790, copyright laws went into effect in the United States. The purpose was to protect the fruit of one’s labors in writing, musical composition, drama, graphics, architecture and other works. To unduly profit from the work of another is both immoral and illegal. This is perhaps why, at least in part, it seems wrong to trust in Christ. When we trust in Christ for salvation, we are profiting from the work of another. Jesus is the son of God who assumed humanity. He did what was required of man: to obey God’s law personally, perpetually and perfectly. God does not grade on a curve or measure our good deeds to see if they outweigh our bad deeds. Rather, God requires perfection not only in outward deeds, but also in our minds and hearts. Every thought, every desire and every motive must be perfectly pure.

As Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, we need to be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect in order to get into heaven. However, as God himself testifies in the Bible, no one meets this standard. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says surely there is not a righteous man on earth who never sins, and Romans 3:10-12 says that there is no one good, not even one. This is why Jesus lived a perfect life of righteousness in complete conformity to the law of God. He did this so that we sinners could get credit from his perfection and therefore make it to heaven on the basis of Jesus’ good works. All those who trust in Jesus, profit from him being perfectly good. We who believe in him get treated as if we had lived his life, and get the reward of heaven as a result.

However, Jesus got credit for our evil life of sin in thought, word and deed. This is why Jesus went to the cross. He was publicly shamed and put to death, bearing the wrath of God in his soul for all our sins. The good news is, however, that those who trust him get credit for Jesus’ work of paying for all our sins. Those who believe get credit for “time served,” as it were. We, who have placed our faith in Jesus, profit from his work of dying for sins. All the punishment required for our sins was taken by Jesus. To trust in Jesus means to profit fully from his work without adding any of our own works. It seems so wrong, but it is the only hope for any sinner to be saved. And our lord gladly makes his work and merits freely available to any sinner who comes to him for salvation.

(Brian Onstead is the pastor at Trinity Bible Church.)