"...for our sins..."

Galatians 1:4a, "who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age..."

What is that "present evil age"? When the apostle Paul wrote this letter the present age he lived in was evil. And presently we live in the evil age as well. Things have not changed much in two thousand years. Is the "evil age" something out there? Is it them who are evil and not us who are good?

What did Jesus say to his disciples in Luke 11:13? "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Jesus calls his disciples and the people who were present "evil".

There is no evil, unless there are people to do evil. And that's us, you and I. All of us contribute to "the present evil age", with our evil hearts, our sin...we love ourselves more than God, we think of ourselves more than others, we worship others more than our Creator and Redeemer, we sin against God, and others daily and often, in word, deed, thought, intention and in not doing what we know to be right...and more!

Do you think God is patient with us, you and I? You better believe it! His patience with us is immense and unbelievable. The evil we need to be saved from is our own. And we know it...unless we have hardened our hearts so much to reality, that we have become numb.

So whose sins did Jesus gave himself for? No other but my sins, and your sins. This "evil age" is in rebellion against God. And Jesus' death on our behalf rescues us from this revolt against our glorious and wonderful maker and provider.

I find this rebellion and evil in my own heart, but Jesus came to save me and rescue me from my evil self! I see this evil in me more and more, but I'm not scared anymore, because this is precisely why Jesus died and rose again, to redeem, forgive and change this rebel 'me' into his child.

As Steve Brown says, "Cheer up, you are worse than you think you are. And cheer up, God's grace is much bigger than we realize."

"Lord save me, I am yours!"