Someone already paid your fine

Have you ever broken the law?

Maybe not the kind of law that gets you pulled over at a red light. But what about God's law? Have you ever lied? Have you ever looked at what someone else had and wished it was yours?

When we do those things, we're breaking God's law. And when we break the law out in the world, there are consequences — fines, maybe even getting arrested. But when we break God's laws, nobody shows up at your door to charge you. There's no officer, no courtroom. And yet there is a consequence.

When we sin, it puts distance between us and God. Because God is perfect, and sin can't be near him. That's the real cost.

God knew we couldn't do it on our own

Here's the thing. God knew that no matter how hard we tried, we wouldn't be able to keep all the laws. Every single one, all the time? It's not possible. We needed serious help to be close to him.

So God sent someone to pay all the fines. All the jail time. For all of us. Forever.

That person was Jesus. And his death on the cross was the payment.

There's a verse that shows us this. Colossians 1:14 says, "God's son paid the price to free us, which means our sins are forgiven."

That's it. The debt is settled. Not because of anything we did, but because of what Jesus did.

But it's not a free pass

Now, just because Jesus paid the price for our sin doesn't mean we now have a free pass to do whatever we like. We still do our best to follow God's laws. Not because we're terrified of punishment, but because we know those laws are there to keep us safe and to help us. That's what God wants for us — all the time.

A jacket, some rope, and a lesson

Picture this. I put on a jacket. The jacket is like our sin — it covers us. Then someone ties my hands with rope. I'm arrested for my sins.

Now I try to get free. I wriggle and pull, but I can't get out. Because we aren't Jesus. We aren't God. We can't free ourselves from our own sin.

So the rope comes off — because Jesus paid the fine. But here's where it gets interesting. What if I forget that the rope is gone? What if I keep my hands pressed together as if they're still tied?

Not much changes. I'm stuck. Not because I'm actually bound, but because I'm so focused on "I broke the law" that I've forgotten I'm free.

Now let's try it again. This time, I know I'm free. I thank God and Jesus for paying my fine. And I open my hands. I take off the jacket. I walk away from the sins I did in the past and leave them right there on the ground.

That feels so much better.

The difference between being free and knowing you're free

This is the bit worth sitting with. Jesus has already done the work. The rope is already off. But so many of us walk around with our hands pressed together, still acting like we're tied up. Still carrying the weight of things that have already been forgiven.

Knowing you're free — really knowing it, and thanking God for it — that's what lets you stand up and walk forward.

A prayer

Dear God, we want to thank you that you sent your son Jesus to pay all those fines and all those fees and all that jail time by paying the ultimate cost through his death. Lord, thank you that he did not stay there, and that he rose again so we could be with you forever.

God, we are so sorry when we continue to do the wrong thing. Help us follow those laws that keep us safe and well and live a good life. God, thank you for loving us no matter what. We pray these things in your name. Amen.

Based on an all-age talk for Easter 3, Year A, by Glenda Downie.