Sin and Should

Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

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The bottom line for followers of Christ is the belief that He took on the full weight of sin for all mankind on that Cross.  The mind can comprehend those words but only the Spirit of God can reveal that reality to a heart.  The nature of a forgiven heart still clings to the idea we “should” do the right thing to please God. Therein lies the important impact of the Cross and how it changes our response to the law of Should.

On the Cross Christ took on the whole weight of our sin that excluded us from the “covenants of the promise.”   He also took on our whole weight of the law “by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations” and He “destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”  Christ “in one body” is able to reconcile both the sin and should of life “to God through the cross” for through him we have access “to the Father by one Spirit.”