April 8, 2004

OUR SURETY

"By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant" (Hebrews 7:22, NKJV).

Every title of our Saviour has its unique beauty. This one sparkles with confidence and assurance.

A surety is one who stands as a guarantor of the obligations of another, one who undertakes to pay the debt of a contracting party in an agreement in the event the party defaults, one who becomes responsible for, or guarantees, the performance of a contract. In the original usage, the word implied "giving a pledge." It grew out of the custom of putting something into the hollow of another's hand as a pledge or guarantee.

On the cross, Christ became the surety of the fallen race. We have imperishable evidence that He is our surety. It is found in His nail-pierced hands. As sinners, we were living under the tyranny of our debt of sin. The debt was too enormous for us ever to pay. As our surety, Jesus took our debt and paid it off by His substitutionary death on the cross. Our surety has fully satisfied all the demands of the law of God.

Christ has pledged His very life to ensure our redemption. Now, by His finished work on Calvary, He has made us free from the insufferable debt of sin. Our account before God has been miraculously converted from an outstanding debt to an outstanding credit. Our great surety has credited our account with His righteousness (see Romans 4:11, NIV). Let us praise God that our wonderful surety has made us solvent by His grace. Therefore, "lay hold upon the meritorious blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. He is your only hope, He is your righteousness, your Substitute and Surety, your all in all."--Faith and Works, p. 76.

My Prayer Today: Lord, as my surety, Jesus has canceled my debt and credited me with His righteousness. Thank You for making me spiritually solvent. Amen.