The Bible Column - Three Trees Identified in the Bible (Part 2)

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” I Peter 2:24
Last week in looking at three trees in the Bible, we considered the “tree of life” which is the Bible tree of eternal life and the “tree of knowledge of good and evil”, the tree of mankind’s eternal ruin. The third tree is the “tree of Calvary’s cross” and is the tree of mankind’s redemption.
The Scripture above focuses on this third tree. As crucifixion was used in Roman rule as the means of capital punishment, a tree was cut down and a cross was formed. In the case of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, he being the innocent Saviour paid for the sins of the whole world. The clarity of the Scripture above leaves no doubt that it was the Lord Jesus Christ in his own body and that he by himself, took our place and punishment for our sins on Calvary’s cross.
No other or additional sacrifice is necessary or possible to pay for our sins. The rites and works of religious endeavor do not equal in any degree, the Lord’s sacrifice on Calvary. No possible human work or effort can merit God’s favor in salvation. He alone bare our sin debt.
The “tree of Calvary’s cross” alone is the tree of our redemption. Nothing else will do. To those who have accepted Christ’s provision as their very own, we “should live unto righteousness”. What a blessed benefit is ours as children of God!