Studying the Bible tonight, I was once again struck by how much God loves us by providing the Messiah as propitiation for our sin.

("But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished -- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." -Rom. 3:21-26)

And it was not just anyone He chose to take the sacrifice for our sin, it was HIS SON! I can't begin to imagine sacrificing a child for payment of SOMEONE ELSE'S debt.

And yet, He didn't stop there! He raised the Messiah from the dead, defeating death completely, so that not only does sin not enslave us any longer, but death holds nothing for us!

("I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?" -Hosea 13:14)

God is so amazing!