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In
DEBT or INDEBTED?
A
young ex-serviceman went into a New York bank to get a
loan for the amount of $600.
He stood in line until his turn came to present
his completed application forms
to the clerk. The
bank employee took considerable time in finishing the
transaction, leaving his desk repeatedly to talk to
his superior. Finally
the man received the cash.
When he turned to leave, flashbulbs went off as
newspaper photographers took his picture.
Bank officials crowded around to inform him
that they were returning the papers he had just
signed, and that he didn't have to repay the money.
The reason: the amount he had borrowed included the
one billionth dollar that had been loaned out since
the opening of that lending institution.
To highlight the event, the veteran's debt was
not entered on the books. Never would it be held
against him.
That
young ex-serviceman no doubt understood the difference
between being
“in
debt” to the bank and being
“indebted”
to the bank for the gift.
YOU
and I understand what it means to be “in
debt.” A debt is that which
one owes, as money, goods, or services.
For example, when a person borrows
money from a bank to buy a car, he becomes a debtor.
He is obligated to repay
(with interest) the loan that he obtained from the
bank.
One
dictionary definition of “indebted” states that it means “morally
obligated to acknowledge benefits or favors.”
As in the case of the young ex-serviceman, when
one is indebted to another, his acknowledgment of any
benefits or favors is accompanied by a deep sense of
gratitude.
Because
of who God is and what He has done for us, you and I
are “indebted”
to God.
We owe Him our love, our loyalty, and our very
lives, but when we sin, we fail to meet our
obligation. Thus,
we are “in debt” to God. Sin
is like an unpaid debt, and it is a debt that every
one of us owes (Romans 3:23).
The debt of sin is so great that none of us can
be good enough or do enough good to pay off the debt.
We just do not have enough resources to remove
the debt that we owe to God.
However,
because of His love for us, God sent His Son, Jesus
Christ, to pay the debt for OUR sin.
The Apostle Peter reminded some Christians of
the price of their redemption from sin: "Knowing
that you were not redeemed with corruptible
things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct
received by tradition from your fathers, but with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and
without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).
The blood of Jesus removes the debt of those who
will: place their trust
in
God (Hebrews 11:6), repent
of their sin (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized
(immersed) in the name of JESUS for the
forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
The blood of Jesus continues to keep one’s
record clean as he continues to live for the One who
made His redemption possible (1 John 1:7).
The Christian is “indebted”
to God for the wonderful gift of salvation through His
Son, Jesus, through which one’s debt of sin can be PAID
IN FULL!
Are
YOU “in
debt” or “indebted”
to Jesus Christ?
God bless you!
David
A. Sargent, Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
*(Bill
Champion - adapted)
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