As we approach Easter, it must be remembered that Christ’s crucifixion was not an accident, nor was it an unexpected event in His life. Instead, it was the very reason He came to earth.

Jesus’ death on the Cross was predicted hundreds of years before He ever came. Isaiah 53 was written 700 years before Christ’s birth. David wrote Psalm 22 about 1,000 years before Jesus was born.

John the Baptist, in the text verse above, spoke these words at the very commencement of Christ’s ministry. He knew that Jesus came to be God’s special Lamb to die in our place. No other person could die for the sins of another and have their blood cover their sins in the eyes of God. The Bible declares, in Ezekiel 18:4, and again in verse 20 of the same chapter: “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

If we, as sinners, were to go free from the punishment of our sin, God would have to do it. Thank God, it is what He did through Christ’s crucifixion. He paid our full debt. And because He paid our full debt – there is nothing left for us to pay! It is why salvation is free to anyone. We can go free because of Jesus’ death and resurrection!

All that anyone needs to do to be saved from Hell is to turn from sin in your heart and believe on Christ’s payment for you. Although salvation is by faith, if you were serious about getting forgiven for your sin and disobedience to God, it is time to start living for Him and obeying the Bible.

People are often tempted to think that God works and acts the way we do – but He does not. He is not human – in the sense of having a changing and fallible nature such as we have. Although He came in the flesh, He was and still is 100% God.

It is for this reason that He never has a need to repent, which means to change His mind. He knows all things from the beginning of time to the end of it. The Bible tells us that “his word is settled in Heaven” (Ps. 119:89), therefore it never needs updating.

The only time that it might be said that God will repent in the Bible, is when man turns from their sinful ways. While in their sin – God promises to judge the sinner and send them to Hell when they die – if they do not repent and turn from their wicked ways.

In Jeremiah 18, there are two verses that make this plain. Verse 8 says: “If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” The opposite is also true, as can be seen in verse 10: “If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.”

God’s judgment against sin is sure – whether it be against an individual or a nation. It may not come immediately – but it will come if there is no repentance.

The same is true in salvation. If a sinner does not turn away from sin in their heart – there is no salvation. Christ died to pay for the sin of every human, but if they choose not to repent and trust in Christ as their only Savior, their damnation is sure.

This is why the Bible says: “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Cor. 6:2). Turn from sin and come to Christ today while there is time.

Here are some more lessons from the Potter’s House.

1. The Potter Does Not Throw the Clay Away – The verse clearly shows that the potter Jeremiah saw was to teach an example of how the Lord works. The potter took the marred clay and kept on working with it. Sometimes, people can damage their own usefulness to God’s intentions for them through sin. God will keep on working with that person for a long time because He is patient. But if the clay becomes too hard, He will cast it away from usefulness and possibly take that one home to Heaven.

2. The Heavenly Potter Makes Vessels for His Glory – Although an earthly potter may not be seeking to put his autograph on his pottery work – God certainly is looking for vessels that will glorify Him.

We are partly responsible to help clean up our own lives with His help so that we can be used to fulfill His purpose for our lives. II Timothy 2:21 says: “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

When Jeremiah went to the potter’s house, he saw that God has the right to do with His “clay” (Israel) what He wanted. Unfortunately, Israel had become too sinful to be useful to God and could not show the world how God blesses a nation that serves Him.

May God help each of us to maintain a testimony worthy of His honor!

God wanted to make salvation available to all people. Because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), there had to be a sacrifice – but it could not have any sin of their own.

Only one Person could possibly qualify. God Himself came to our sinful and humble world. Jesus was that Sacrifice. To do so, He sent His Son to pay the cost for everyone’s sins, which He did on the Cross.

According to the above verse – and many others in the Bible – there is no one beyond being savable. The verse makes it clear that only believing on Jesus – that He paid your sin debt – and accepting that Gift for your personal salvation, is all that is needed for salvation.

As humans, we are more ready to forgive someone if they show some sincerity in their confession, along with an attitude of not committing the same offence again. God is the same way. Sin is the breaking of His law. When you are sorry for doing so, and want to please Him, He will forgive you – no matter how sinful your past has been.

The joy of believing on Jesus Christ to be your Savior is found in the first part of the verse: “He that believeth on him is not condemned.” Afterward, He is quite capable of helping you serve Him the way He wants.

What is preventing you from asking Him to save you from sin and Hell (condemnation) right now? Did you notice that the only sin that sends you to Hell because of your sin is not believing on Christ to be your Savior?