I was watching a live internet broadcast the Christmas production The Story this week. While it is a production performed during the Christmas season, it is not particularly a "Christmas production". It is a musical production performed by multiple big-name Christian artists telling the story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. I joined the broadcast during the second half which depicted the New Testament. While the entire portion of the production that I saw was AMAZING, one particular segment struck me and inspired this blog post.
The story is recounted in all of the Gospels. An unnamed man condemned to die. Guilty of an unknown crime against an innocent, unnamed victim. A criminal. A transgressor. Scourge of the earth. Robber? Thief? Rapist? Murder? We are not told for sure. Matthew 27:38 and Mark 15:27 refer to him as a "robber". Luke 23:39 describes him only as a "criminal." John 19:18 does not describe the nature of his crime, only referring to him as "a man." What we do know, by his own admission, that he is guilty. He did it. He confessed. He was tried, sentenced and convicted.
Whatever he did must have been pretty serious; he was sentenced to death. No opportunity for parole. No chance at early release for good behavior...DEATH. And not just any death. Death by crucifixion. THE most painful and, you might say, inhumane way to be executed. Slow, agonizing, painful death.
Guilt, condemnation and death. That was to be his epitaph. "Here lies a guilty man. Condemned and executed for crimes against his fellow man."
But hanging beside him was another man. This man was guilty of nothing. He had done nothing wrong. He did not steal. He did not kill. He did not rape. He did not murder. He committed no crime. But there he hung between two convicted criminals. The same sentence. The same punishment. Death. And with eyes of compassion and love, Jesus looked on the unnamed convicted, guilty man and declared, "...today you will be with me in Paradise."
While watching that production of The Story, I was reminded (and this is the key of this post): that unnamed thief could be you and me. We were born into the sins of Adam and Eve. Death was our future. Guilty. No hope. No future. Destined to die. BUT Jesus took upon Himself the punishment and death that were rightfully ours. He paid the penalty to redeem us from our sins.
Thank God for Jesus and his willingness to obey...even to death. Born of a virgin in a stable. Wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Thank God for this season when we celebrate the birth of our Deliverer, our Emmanuel which means "God with us", our Comforter, our Savior.
Remember the whole reason for the season. Had He not been born, He could not have died and that unnamed man on the cross...and you and I...could not have been saved.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Haunted by the Past
Philippians 3:12-14 "I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
I was reminded of a message I preached some time ago about people who are haunted by their past. Past mistakes...past failures...past hurts...past disappointments...past "insert noun here". In that message I referred to the account in Genesis 19 where God had vowed to destroy the city of Sodom because of its evil ways. In His mercy, God had promised that a godly man named Lot and his family would escape the judgement. They were simply instructed to leave the city and, very specifically, not look back. The evil and destruction that was to come upon the city were to be put behind Lot and his family. It was to be left in their past.
However, Lot's wife was unable to resist the temptation to look back and, as the Bible depicts, she was turned into a pillar of salt. She, too, was destroyed. You could say that her demise was caused by her looking back into her past.
What conclusions can we draw from this? A very simple truth. There is nothing in your past that can help you. Focusing on past hurts and disappointments and failures can only lead one to destruction. The way I like to put it...focusing on one's past brings it back into the present and affects the future.
Perhaps you have been hurt by a close friend or family member...disappointed by a circumstance or situation...disillusioned by past failures and mistakes...Paul's words of encouragement are for you. Ask God to separate you from your past. Resist the temptation to look back. Focus on God who is your future. Keep your eyes on Him and allow Him to rescue you from the destruction of your past.
I was reminded of a message I preached some time ago about people who are haunted by their past. Past mistakes...past failures...past hurts...past disappointments...past "insert noun here". In that message I referred to the account in Genesis 19 where God had vowed to destroy the city of Sodom because of its evil ways. In His mercy, God had promised that a godly man named Lot and his family would escape the judgement. They were simply instructed to leave the city and, very specifically, not look back. The evil and destruction that was to come upon the city were to be put behind Lot and his family. It was to be left in their past.
However, Lot's wife was unable to resist the temptation to look back and, as the Bible depicts, she was turned into a pillar of salt. She, too, was destroyed. You could say that her demise was caused by her looking back into her past.
What conclusions can we draw from this? A very simple truth. There is nothing in your past that can help you. Focusing on past hurts and disappointments and failures can only lead one to destruction. The way I like to put it...focusing on one's past brings it back into the present and affects the future.
Perhaps you have been hurt by a close friend or family member...disappointed by a circumstance or situation...disillusioned by past failures and mistakes...Paul's words of encouragement are for you. Ask God to separate you from your past. Resist the temptation to look back. Focus on God who is your future. Keep your eyes on Him and allow Him to rescue you from the destruction of your past.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Day of Atonement
I've been gone a while. Vacation and family business have kept me away from the keyboard for a while. But I'm back, inspired by something I read while driving down the highway. Recently, while traveling a highway I use frequently, I passed a church's billboard just as I have hundreds of times before. Past billboards announced youth camps, guest speakers, special services and other usual, non-nondescript events that sparked no particular interest in me. However, this particular advertisement, for some reason, stuck out to me. All it said was, "Day of Atonement" followed by a date that I can only assume is a date this congregation was going to observe this Jewish holy day.
Not being particular familiar with Jewish tradition, I went to the internet for some research. What I found, according to Wikipedia, is that "the Day of Atonement, also know as,Yom Kippur, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im ("Days of Awe")."
Further reading reveals that, according to Wikipedia, "Leviticus 16:29 mandates establishment of this holy day on the 10th day of the 7th month as the day of atonement for sins. It calls it the Sabbath of Sabbaths and a day upon which one must afflict one's soul.
It's time the true church of Christ come out of the bondage of religion be set free by the knowledge that Christ paid the FULL price for our salvation. We are FREE if we accept His gift by faith for that is how we are saved, Ephesians 2:8 KJV "For by grace are you saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
Not being particular familiar with Jewish tradition, I went to the internet for some research. What I found, according to Wikipedia, is that "the Day of Atonement, also know as,Yom Kippur, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im ("Days of Awe")."
Further reading reveals that, according to Wikipedia, "Leviticus 16:29 mandates establishment of this holy day on the 10th day of the 7th month as the day of atonement for sins. It calls it the Sabbath of Sabbaths and a day upon which one must afflict one's soul.
Leviticus 23:27 decrees that Yom Kippur is a strict day of rest.
Five additional prohibitions are traditionally observed, as detailed in the Jewish oral tradition.
- No eating and drinking
- No wearing of leather shoes
- No bathing or washing
- No anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions
- No marital relations"
WOW! "...one must afflict one's soul..."? Really? The enemy of our souls doesn't do a good enough job afflicting us? We have to assist him? Really? After researching the day a bit, I must express pity for this congregation of believers if they, as New Testament believers, feel that for some reason feel they need to "afflict their soul" to earn God's approval. Didn't Jesus Himself teach that, "Your are not defiled by what you eat, you are defiled by what you say and do."? Mark 7:15 I encourage you to read all of Mark 7. Isn't this exactly the type of behavior that Jesus was teaching against? In this chapter, Jesus was teaching that it is not outward expressions that determine a man's relationship or right standing with God, but rather his inner commitment and acceptance of what Christ did for us. In fact, He referred to the ones who focused on the outward acts of "obedience" as hypocrites! Mark 7:6
As New Testament believers we must realize that we are saved not by our own works, but by the work of Christ on the cross. There is no sacrifice we can give, no work we can concoct that can give us salvation. That GIFT was purchased for us on the cross by Christ. Self-affliction is not a God-mandated practice. It earns an individual nothing but physical pain and false security. God does not look at acts of self-affliction and say, "Oh, there's a person who truly loves me!"
Romans 4:16 NLT "So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe."
Romans 5:16 NLT "...For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with Bod, even though we are guilt of many sins."
Romans 6:23 NLT "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Thank you God for salvation, your free gift. Thank you Jesus for paying the price that I could not pay. Thank you for life and freedom in Christ that lasts for eternity and not just until I mess up. Thank you that your blood covers ALL of my sins!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Worthy
I shared this during worship in church this morning and though it would be appropriate to share the thought here, too.
Matthew 9:18 records the account of Jesus when he was ministering to the people. A "ruler" came to Jesus and requested that Jesus come lay His hand on the ruler's deceased daughter so that she could live again. The ruler came wanting a touch from Jesus.
In the same account, there was a woman. Scripture tells us that she had had a blood disorder for 12 years and had spent all of her money on doctors who could not help her. Her thought was that, "If I only touch His garment, I will be made well." Matthew 9:20. She wanted to touch Jesus.
To fully understand the story, we need to understand some of the background. This woman, by right, should not have been out in public. She was considered "unclean" by Jewish law. Anyone she came in contact with would also be declared unclean. She was "unworthy" to be among people. She should have locked herself away, separating herself from all human contact. But she didn't. Rather,her faith told her that if she could just get to Jesus and just touch the fringe of His garment (Matthew 9:20) she would be made well.
What meaning is in this for us? There are times when we need a touch from Jesus. We need Him to reach out and deliver a miracle with His touch. There are, however, also times when it is not Him touching us that we need, but rather, us touching Him. We need to reach out to Him, touch Him, and receive our miracle.
We may, at times, feel "unworthy". After all, we know what we did last month, last week, last night. We know how wretched we are. We know how unworthy we are. We should remain locked away, separated from Him. We feel like we need to make ourselves "clean" before we can come to Him.
NOT TRUE!! This story is a perfect example. This woman, in order to touch the fringe (hem in some translations) she had to crawl...on hands and knees...through the crowd that had gathered around Jesus. She crawled, not only through the physical obstacles, but also the social stigmas that were attached to her condition. But she pressed through and touched Jesus.
As soon as she did so, the Scripture tells us that Jesus felt "that power had gone out from Him" (same story except in Mark's account in Mark 5:30) and he asked, "Who touched me?" (Mark 5:30) Upon finding the little old woman who touched Him, He graciously declared her healed. Matthew 9:22 and Mark 5:34.
Worship offers us the perfect opportunity to reach out and touch Jesus. Are we "worthy"? Not on our own merit. But we can crawl through our own preconceived notions, our own despair, our own depression, our own sickness, even our own sin, reach out and touch Him in worship. When we do...when we reach out and touch Him, that could be the moment when He looks at us and says, "Who touched me? Was it you? Your faith has made you well. Be free. Be healed. Be forgiven. Be........"
Wow! Do you need something from God? Are you in need of a miracle...physical, spiritual, financial, mental? Do you find yourself separated from God? Are there things standing between you and Him? Friends? Family? Acquaintances? Traditions? Rules? Regulations? Self'doubt? A feeling of "unworthiness"? Anything?
I encourage you to press through. Press through the situations and circumstances, reach out and touch Him. Find a way to worship Him. Sing a song. Speak some words. Any words from you heart will work. It's your faith that does the work. Quality of speech is not important. You need not be an eloquent orator to touch Him. Just reach out in your own way. Reach out in worship. Touch Him and let Him touch you!
Matthew 9:18 records the account of Jesus when he was ministering to the people. A "ruler" came to Jesus and requested that Jesus come lay His hand on the ruler's deceased daughter so that she could live again. The ruler came wanting a touch from Jesus.
In the same account, there was a woman. Scripture tells us that she had had a blood disorder for 12 years and had spent all of her money on doctors who could not help her. Her thought was that, "If I only touch His garment, I will be made well." Matthew 9:20. She wanted to touch Jesus.
To fully understand the story, we need to understand some of the background. This woman, by right, should not have been out in public. She was considered "unclean" by Jewish law. Anyone she came in contact with would also be declared unclean. She was "unworthy" to be among people. She should have locked herself away, separating herself from all human contact. But she didn't. Rather,her faith told her that if she could just get to Jesus and just touch the fringe of His garment (Matthew 9:20) she would be made well.
What meaning is in this for us? There are times when we need a touch from Jesus. We need Him to reach out and deliver a miracle with His touch. There are, however, also times when it is not Him touching us that we need, but rather, us touching Him. We need to reach out to Him, touch Him, and receive our miracle.
We may, at times, feel "unworthy". After all, we know what we did last month, last week, last night. We know how wretched we are. We know how unworthy we are. We should remain locked away, separated from Him. We feel like we need to make ourselves "clean" before we can come to Him.
NOT TRUE!! This story is a perfect example. This woman, in order to touch the fringe (hem in some translations) she had to crawl...on hands and knees...through the crowd that had gathered around Jesus. She crawled, not only through the physical obstacles, but also the social stigmas that were attached to her condition. But she pressed through and touched Jesus.
As soon as she did so, the Scripture tells us that Jesus felt "that power had gone out from Him" (same story except in Mark's account in Mark 5:30) and he asked, "Who touched me?" (Mark 5:30) Upon finding the little old woman who touched Him, He graciously declared her healed. Matthew 9:22 and Mark 5:34.
Worship offers us the perfect opportunity to reach out and touch Jesus. Are we "worthy"? Not on our own merit. But we can crawl through our own preconceived notions, our own despair, our own depression, our own sickness, even our own sin, reach out and touch Him in worship. When we do...when we reach out and touch Him, that could be the moment when He looks at us and says, "Who touched me? Was it you? Your faith has made you well. Be free. Be healed. Be forgiven. Be........"
Wow! Do you need something from God? Are you in need of a miracle...physical, spiritual, financial, mental? Do you find yourself separated from God? Are there things standing between you and Him? Friends? Family? Acquaintances? Traditions? Rules? Regulations? Self'doubt? A feeling of "unworthiness"? Anything?
I encourage you to press through. Press through the situations and circumstances, reach out and touch Him. Find a way to worship Him. Sing a song. Speak some words. Any words from you heart will work. It's your faith that does the work. Quality of speech is not important. You need not be an eloquent orator to touch Him. Just reach out in your own way. Reach out in worship. Touch Him and let Him touch you!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Trust in God?
Hebrews 10:22 (NLT) "...let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."
This was K-LOVE's "Bible verse of the day" one day last week. It caused me to pause and ask myself, "What does it mean to 'trust Him'?" We are all guilty at times of speaking in "churchese". We use terms like "trust God" in our conversations, sermons and alter calls. But what does that really mean, "trust God"? I'll spend my time in this week's blog post on one part of the meaning of "trusting God".
I'll start by asking a question: When were your sins forgiven? When I ask that question, some might remember back in time to the day you asked Christ into your life. You might remember the church service, the time, the day, the speaker, the color of the carpet, every detail and circumstance of that day, but I ask again, when were your sins forgiven? When you gave your life to Him? When you, as we like to say in church circles, when you "put your trust in Him"? There's that "churchese" again. You "put your trust in Him".
I believe scripture teaches something quite different. One might say it is a matter of semantics, but I think the distinction is important. Hebrews 10:11 states, "Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take a way sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time (my emphasis). Then He sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand." And Romans 8:34 goes on to say that "...Christ died for us...and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading (interceding) for us." The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:1 that Christ is our "advocate (lawyer, attorney...my emphasis) who pleads our case before the Father."
When were your sins forgiven and what does it mean to "trust God"? I believe that all of men's sins were forgiven when Christ shed His blood on the cross and that to "trust God" means to place all of one's faith in the power of that eternal sacrifice to cover every sin. That is what it is to be born again: to place your faith in the blood of Christ and the work that He accomplished on the cross. The payment for sin has been paid. Forgiveness has been rendered. All you have to do is accept the forgiveness.
On that day you are remembering as the day of your salvation, did you bring a blood sacrifice? I hope not. That might present a problem. But Scripture is very clear that in order for sin to be forgiven, blood must be shed (Hebrews 9:22). Under the old covenant, the Priest entered into the Temple one time per year to offer blood to cover sins of the past year and that sacrifice was good for 1 year. The blood sacrifice for your sins occurred on the cross; Christ shed his blood, delivered it into the Holy of Holies and placed it on the altar in Heaven as a sin sacrifice. How much more powerful is the blood of Christ than that of a lamb? Christ's blood completely covered and forgave our sins and now He intercedes with God on our behalf to enforce the sacrifice He made. The work is already done and placing your trust in God is believing that His sacrifice covers YOUR sin. Not trusting in yourself or your own goodness, but in Him and the work that He did.
Is it a matter of semantics? I don't think so. It's what the Gospel is all about. People desire to come to Christ; they long to be saved. But they can't understand how God could possibly forgive them. They know what they did last month...last week...last night. They know the depth of their sin. They know the ugliest secrets about themselves no one else knows. They ask for forgiveness, but they don't "feel" forgiven because they don't "feel" any different. How much more responsive and effective would altar calls in our churches be if everyone understood that their sins are not forgiven when we say, "God forgive me of my sins." They already are forgiven and we are free to live when we TRUST CHRIST and the work that He did to save us! Those who "put their trust in Him" are truly saved.
This was K-LOVE's "Bible verse of the day" one day last week. It caused me to pause and ask myself, "What does it mean to 'trust Him'?" We are all guilty at times of speaking in "churchese". We use terms like "trust God" in our conversations, sermons and alter calls. But what does that really mean, "trust God"? I'll spend my time in this week's blog post on one part of the meaning of "trusting God".
I'll start by asking a question: When were your sins forgiven? When I ask that question, some might remember back in time to the day you asked Christ into your life. You might remember the church service, the time, the day, the speaker, the color of the carpet, every detail and circumstance of that day, but I ask again, when were your sins forgiven? When you gave your life to Him? When you, as we like to say in church circles, when you "put your trust in Him"? There's that "churchese" again. You "put your trust in Him".
I believe scripture teaches something quite different. One might say it is a matter of semantics, but I think the distinction is important. Hebrews 10:11 states, "Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take a way sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time (my emphasis). Then He sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand." And Romans 8:34 goes on to say that "...Christ died for us...and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading (interceding) for us." The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:1 that Christ is our "advocate (lawyer, attorney...my emphasis) who pleads our case before the Father."
When were your sins forgiven and what does it mean to "trust God"? I believe that all of men's sins were forgiven when Christ shed His blood on the cross and that to "trust God" means to place all of one's faith in the power of that eternal sacrifice to cover every sin. That is what it is to be born again: to place your faith in the blood of Christ and the work that He accomplished on the cross. The payment for sin has been paid. Forgiveness has been rendered. All you have to do is accept the forgiveness.
On that day you are remembering as the day of your salvation, did you bring a blood sacrifice? I hope not. That might present a problem. But Scripture is very clear that in order for sin to be forgiven, blood must be shed (Hebrews 9:22). Under the old covenant, the Priest entered into the Temple one time per year to offer blood to cover sins of the past year and that sacrifice was good for 1 year. The blood sacrifice for your sins occurred on the cross; Christ shed his blood, delivered it into the Holy of Holies and placed it on the altar in Heaven as a sin sacrifice. How much more powerful is the blood of Christ than that of a lamb? Christ's blood completely covered and forgave our sins and now He intercedes with God on our behalf to enforce the sacrifice He made. The work is already done and placing your trust in God is believing that His sacrifice covers YOUR sin. Not trusting in yourself or your own goodness, but in Him and the work that He did.
Is it a matter of semantics? I don't think so. It's what the Gospel is all about. People desire to come to Christ; they long to be saved. But they can't understand how God could possibly forgive them. They know what they did last month...last week...last night. They know the depth of their sin. They know the ugliest secrets about themselves no one else knows. They ask for forgiveness, but they don't "feel" forgiven because they don't "feel" any different. How much more responsive and effective would altar calls in our churches be if everyone understood that their sins are not forgiven when we say, "God forgive me of my sins." They already are forgiven and we are free to live when we TRUST CHRIST and the work that He did to save us! Those who "put their trust in Him" are truly saved.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Not Guilty!
John 5:14 (New King James Version)
She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
We've all seen the television courtroom scene on TV, whether they be real-life trials or times fictional dramas. After days of arguments, objections, testimony, evidence presentation and deliberation the jury files back into the courtroom.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asks the jury foreman.
"We have, Your Honor," is the response. "We the jury find the defendant..."
No matter what the outcome, the response in the courtroom is the same. Some are pleased if not elated and others are disappointed if not dismayed. But the verdict is in; it is final. If found innocent, the defendant can never be tried again for that crime. Even if it is discovered later that mistakes were made by the prosecution during the trial and that the individual is actually guilty, he can not be retried for the same charge. It's referred to as "double jeopardy." Also the name of a great movie, I might add...
The passage quoted in John 5 is in response to a trial. Somewhat of a "kangaroo court" if you will, but a trial nonetheless. This woman was caught in the act of adultery. We don't know what the circumstances or with whom, but she was caught in the act. She was guilty. No doubt. According to the law she deserved...she earned the right to be stoned to death for her crime.
She was brought to Jesus a guilty mess. Embarrassed. Shamed. After some length of time Jesus agreed that she was guilty and pronounced sentence on her. "Stone her," he commanded. "Let the one among you who has not sinned throw the first rock in her death sentence!" (John 8:7) Fortunately for her, there was no one in the crowd who was able to step forward to throw the first stone.
Then a miracle happened for the woman. Jesus, knowing her guilt...knowing all of the circumstances pronounced her not guilty and he let her go. He absolved her of her guilt and declared her free to go.
That is a picture of you and I. We stand before God. Guilty. Caught red handed in the act of sin. But before we committed that act of sin, Christ died for us and paid the penalty for our sin. We don't have a word to say in our defense. There is nothing to say. We are all guilty. But John 3:17 says, "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." It is not His goal to punish us. It is his intent to save us. That's why he died. He gave his life to pay the penalty for our sin so we would not have to.
All WE have to do is trust in that sacrifice. Believe by faith that His death satisfies the penalty for our salvation, believe that it and it ALONE is enough to satisfy God's anger against sin, and it is finished.
Romans 10:9
For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dean, you will be saved.
He and He alone is able to forgive us. His blood satisfied the payment. If His blood is strong enough to save, it is strong enough to keep us saved. No work we can perform can do either.
Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me. Thank you for saving me. Thank you that your Word says that nothing will be able to separate me from your love (Romans 8:38, 39) and that nothing (not even me!) will be able to snatch me from You (John 10:28) and that You are able to guard that which I have entrusted to You until the day of Your return (2 Timothy 1:12). Amen!
She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
We've all seen the television courtroom scene on TV, whether they be real-life trials or times fictional dramas. After days of arguments, objections, testimony, evidence presentation and deliberation the jury files back into the courtroom.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asks the jury foreman.
"We have, Your Honor," is the response. "We the jury find the defendant..."
No matter what the outcome, the response in the courtroom is the same. Some are pleased if not elated and others are disappointed if not dismayed. But the verdict is in; it is final. If found innocent, the defendant can never be tried again for that crime. Even if it is discovered later that mistakes were made by the prosecution during the trial and that the individual is actually guilty, he can not be retried for the same charge. It's referred to as "double jeopardy." Also the name of a great movie, I might add...
The passage quoted in John 5 is in response to a trial. Somewhat of a "kangaroo court" if you will, but a trial nonetheless. This woman was caught in the act of adultery. We don't know what the circumstances or with whom, but she was caught in the act. She was guilty. No doubt. According to the law she deserved...she earned the right to be stoned to death for her crime.
She was brought to Jesus a guilty mess. Embarrassed. Shamed. After some length of time Jesus agreed that she was guilty and pronounced sentence on her. "Stone her," he commanded. "Let the one among you who has not sinned throw the first rock in her death sentence!" (John 8:7) Fortunately for her, there was no one in the crowd who was able to step forward to throw the first stone.
Then a miracle happened for the woman. Jesus, knowing her guilt...knowing all of the circumstances pronounced her not guilty and he let her go. He absolved her of her guilt and declared her free to go.
That is a picture of you and I. We stand before God. Guilty. Caught red handed in the act of sin. But before we committed that act of sin, Christ died for us and paid the penalty for our sin. We don't have a word to say in our defense. There is nothing to say. We are all guilty. But John 3:17 says, "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." It is not His goal to punish us. It is his intent to save us. That's why he died. He gave his life to pay the penalty for our sin so we would not have to.
All WE have to do is trust in that sacrifice. Believe by faith that His death satisfies the penalty for our salvation, believe that it and it ALONE is enough to satisfy God's anger against sin, and it is finished.
Romans 10:9
For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dean, you will be saved.
He and He alone is able to forgive us. His blood satisfied the payment. If His blood is strong enough to save, it is strong enough to keep us saved. No work we can perform can do either.
Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me. Thank you for saving me. Thank you that your Word says that nothing will be able to separate me from your love (Romans 8:38, 39) and that nothing (not even me!) will be able to snatch me from You (John 10:28) and that You are able to guard that which I have entrusted to You until the day of Your return (2 Timothy 1:12). Amen!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Just In Time
Romans 5:6 (New Living Translation)
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Have you ever had a sense or feeling of helplessness? I remember several months ago I was cruising down a street in my 2004 Kia Spectra on my way home from work, minding my own business, listening to sports radio. It was a road I'd traveled many, many times...my favorite and most-used route. As I came within less than a block from the last intersection before the speed limit increased from 45 to 55 mph, I noticed an SUV approach the intersection from the left. Paying close attention to the other vehicle, I watched to make sure it was going to stop...it did not.
By the time the driver of the SUV made the decision to run the intersection, it was too late for me. I was less than 50 feet from the intersection traveling between 45 and 50 mph. I was completely helpless to prevent the inevitable; I was GOING to hit the SUV. There was no time for corrective steering or stopping. I had no choice but to lock up the brakes and brace for impact.
My compact car colliding with the SUV stood no chance. My right front headlight area impacted the SUV's right rear fender. My air bad deployed. By the time I came to a stop, my previously east-bound car was now facing west. Bits of plastic, glass, and metal littered the road. My car was totaled.
There was a time in human history when the same type of scenario was playing out. Mankind was on a collision course with death. We all were on a road to life and happiness with God when at the last minute Adam and Eve fell; they sinned and brought death to us all.
Here's the difference. At just the right time, Christ intervened, saving us from eternal death. God gave His son, Jesus, who willingly gave His life to spare us the consequences of sins we had not yet committed. At just the right time He died that we might have life. He paid the price we could not pay. He gave us the ability to avert disaster and live forever with Him.
Is this not a good reason to praise Him? To worship Him? Thank you Jesus for dying for me. Thank you for giving me life. Thank you for taking on the penalty for my sin. Thank you for satisfying what God required as payment for sin. Thank you.
I encourage you to read the rest of Romans 5 to gain a greater understanding of just exactly what He did for us. Wow!
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Have you ever had a sense or feeling of helplessness? I remember several months ago I was cruising down a street in my 2004 Kia Spectra on my way home from work, minding my own business, listening to sports radio. It was a road I'd traveled many, many times...my favorite and most-used route. As I came within less than a block from the last intersection before the speed limit increased from 45 to 55 mph, I noticed an SUV approach the intersection from the left. Paying close attention to the other vehicle, I watched to make sure it was going to stop...it did not.
By the time the driver of the SUV made the decision to run the intersection, it was too late for me. I was less than 50 feet from the intersection traveling between 45 and 50 mph. I was completely helpless to prevent the inevitable; I was GOING to hit the SUV. There was no time for corrective steering or stopping. I had no choice but to lock up the brakes and brace for impact.
My compact car colliding with the SUV stood no chance. My right front headlight area impacted the SUV's right rear fender. My air bad deployed. By the time I came to a stop, my previously east-bound car was now facing west. Bits of plastic, glass, and metal littered the road. My car was totaled.
There was a time in human history when the same type of scenario was playing out. Mankind was on a collision course with death. We all were on a road to life and happiness with God when at the last minute Adam and Eve fell; they sinned and brought death to us all.
Here's the difference. At just the right time, Christ intervened, saving us from eternal death. God gave His son, Jesus, who willingly gave His life to spare us the consequences of sins we had not yet committed. At just the right time He died that we might have life. He paid the price we could not pay. He gave us the ability to avert disaster and live forever with Him.
Is this not a good reason to praise Him? To worship Him? Thank you Jesus for dying for me. Thank you for giving me life. Thank you for taking on the penalty for my sin. Thank you for satisfying what God required as payment for sin. Thank you.
I encourage you to read the rest of Romans 5 to gain a greater understanding of just exactly what He did for us. Wow!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Worship, pt 2
The Object of Worship
Genesis 1:1-3 (New Living Translation)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
Imagine the power to take nothing and create everything. The human brain cannot truly comprehend that concept. We cannot see "nothing." We cannot physically hold "nothing" in our hands. We can see an empty space where there is "nothing." We can see that we are not holding "something". But we cannot see the nothing. Nothing has no mass. It does not have weight. It does not have substance. But God used the material of nothing to build, to create. Kind of makes your head hurt, huh?
God was there when there was nothing. He saw the "nothing". He peered into the "nothingness" and spoke. The rest, as they say, is history. His spoken word created everything from nothing. He took nothing and created everything we can see and even things we cannot see.
Scientists claim that the cosmos is constantly expanding, reaching to distances too great for the human mind to comprehend. I have no doubt in this claim. As we read in the third verse of the previous passage of Scripture, He said, "Let there be light." And light was. I don't see where He ever said, "Light, stop." Could this be the "big bang" scientists like to point at as the beginning of everything? Why not?
This is the object of our worship, He who spoke and everything was. He who said, and it became. He who decided and it came to be. A God so big, so powerful that he sees...no...he IS time. Distance means nothing. Time means nothing. He exists outside time and space...NO time and space exist in HIM! Wow. What a concept!
So big, yet so caring. So powerful, yet so concerned about His creation that he came, in the fleshly form of Jesus to save His creation. So expansive the he holds everything in His hands, yet so personal that each of us can have a personal relationship with Him. It was His plan from the beginning (Revelation 13:8 New Living Translation)...to save mankind...to deliver us from the evil that would befall us.
It is this Creator, this God who, after resting on the seventh day, formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed His own breath into man. He hand crafted man in His own image then imparted His spirit into man and he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7 New Living Translation). He did not breath in to animals, plants, the water, the skies, the sun, the moon. Just man. He gave man life by imparting His spirit into man.
HE alone must be the object of our worship. We let other things take His place: family, jobs, money, hobbies, people, ideas, philosophies, false god's, fear, doubt, self. We let them take preeminence. We let them take His place as the object of our worship. We place our trust in them when He alone is the one who can sustain us in times of trouble. He alone is the one who can protect us, comfort us, keep us.
Psalm 18:2 (New Living Translation)
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation and my stronghold.
In addition to this reference, the Psalmist David referred to the Lord God as his shield or fortress 26 times. David, although not perfect, knew his God and depended on Him. We, too, can know him as not just Savior, but as the protector of our salvation. Salvation is running to him for protection; depending on Him; trusting Him.
Worship means to acknowledge Him for who He is; Creator, Protector, Savior, Keeper, Divine, Holy, Highly Exalted, Superior, Healer.
When we know Him and acknowledge Him for who He is we can join the living beings in Heaven who, as related in Revelation 4:8 (New Living Translation) "...day after day and night after night keep on saying, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty--the One who always was, who is and who is still to come."
Genesis 1:1-3 (New Living Translation)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
Imagine the power to take nothing and create everything. The human brain cannot truly comprehend that concept. We cannot see "nothing." We cannot physically hold "nothing" in our hands. We can see an empty space where there is "nothing." We can see that we are not holding "something". But we cannot see the nothing. Nothing has no mass. It does not have weight. It does not have substance. But God used the material of nothing to build, to create. Kind of makes your head hurt, huh?
God was there when there was nothing. He saw the "nothing". He peered into the "nothingness" and spoke. The rest, as they say, is history. His spoken word created everything from nothing. He took nothing and created everything we can see and even things we cannot see.
Scientists claim that the cosmos is constantly expanding, reaching to distances too great for the human mind to comprehend. I have no doubt in this claim. As we read in the third verse of the previous passage of Scripture, He said, "Let there be light." And light was. I don't see where He ever said, "Light, stop." Could this be the "big bang" scientists like to point at as the beginning of everything? Why not?
This is the object of our worship, He who spoke and everything was. He who said, and it became. He who decided and it came to be. A God so big, so powerful that he sees...no...he IS time. Distance means nothing. Time means nothing. He exists outside time and space...NO time and space exist in HIM! Wow. What a concept!
So big, yet so caring. So powerful, yet so concerned about His creation that he came, in the fleshly form of Jesus to save His creation. So expansive the he holds everything in His hands, yet so personal that each of us can have a personal relationship with Him. It was His plan from the beginning (Revelation 13:8 New Living Translation)...to save mankind...to deliver us from the evil that would befall us.
It is this Creator, this God who, after resting on the seventh day, formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed His own breath into man. He hand crafted man in His own image then imparted His spirit into man and he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7 New Living Translation). He did not breath in to animals, plants, the water, the skies, the sun, the moon. Just man. He gave man life by imparting His spirit into man.
HE alone must be the object of our worship. We let other things take His place: family, jobs, money, hobbies, people, ideas, philosophies, false god's, fear, doubt, self. We let them take preeminence. We let them take His place as the object of our worship. We place our trust in them when He alone is the one who can sustain us in times of trouble. He alone is the one who can protect us, comfort us, keep us.
Psalm 18:2 (New Living Translation)
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation and my stronghold.
In addition to this reference, the Psalmist David referred to the Lord God as his shield or fortress 26 times. David, although not perfect, knew his God and depended on Him. We, too, can know him as not just Savior, but as the protector of our salvation. Salvation is running to him for protection; depending on Him; trusting Him.
Worship means to acknowledge Him for who He is; Creator, Protector, Savior, Keeper, Divine, Holy, Highly Exalted, Superior, Healer.
When we know Him and acknowledge Him for who He is we can join the living beings in Heaven who, as related in Revelation 4:8 (New Living Translation) "...day after day and night after night keep on saying, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty--the One who always was, who is and who is still to come."
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Worship, pt 1
The Privilege of Worship
Picture this...It's 9:55 on Sunday morning. The church service is about to start. You have made the rounds greeting your friends; shaking hands, passing out hugs, smiling, talking, catching up on the previous week's events, TV shows, the movie you saw last night, and so on. You make your way to the seat you have chosen. Perhaps it's the seat you sit in every Sunday. Or maybe "your" seat is occupied by someone else. How dare they? The nerve; taking MY seat. At straight up 10:00 someone takes the microphone and issues the standard corporate welcome, perhaps says an opening prayer, and we're off.
In the "standard" course of events in the modern-day church, what occurs next? We enter into a period of time widely known as "Praise and Worship." What is this time? For some it is "what we do" to take up the time between that opening prayer and when the Pastor or other speaker takes the pulpit to deliver a message from the Word. Ordinary. Mundane. Ritual. Tradition.
Others see this time as great entertainment. A time when very talented people sing some awesome songs written by awesome people. A concert where the only difference between this and any other concert we might attend is that in this one the words to the songs are flashed a screen so we can follow along. Thoughts cross our minds, "That's nice." "NOW I know what they are saying." "What a beautiful song." "WOW! I've heard that song a hundred times on Christian radio and I never knew that's what that line was! You mean I've been singing it wrong all this time?!"
Others see this time for what it should be. A time to come before God and pour our hearts out. A time to recognize Him for what He has done...what He is doing...what He will do...for who He is. Worship is not a ritual; it's not a tradition. It's not a rite; it's a right. It is a privilege.
The sin of Adam and Eve caused a wall of separation between God and man. The Book of Genesis tell us that when Adam and Eve listened to the serpent and disobeyed God's instructions to them, He banished them from the garden and place an angel to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:23,24). Why? Was this some great punishment for their wrong-doing? Was He angry because they had not listened? We find the answer to these questions in a previous verse.
Genesis 3:22Then the LORD God said, "The people have become as we are, knowing everything, both good and evil. What if they eat the fruit of the tree of life? Then they will live forever!"
Their banishment from the garden was not a punishment. Scripture does not tell us that God was even angry. He banished them from the garden so that they would not live forever in their fallen state! His concern was that they have the opportunity to be forgiven and freed from the curse they had brought on themselves. He was protecting them!
It took some thousands of years for their (and our) freedom to come. Again, it all comes back to the cross and the work done there. Seems to be a common theme of this blog, doesn't it? The work accomplished on the cross.
Matthew 27:50, 51Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom...
The curtain, or veil, in the Temple represented the separation between God and man. It separated the Inner Court from the Most Holy place where the Ark of the Covenant, which represents the very presence of God Himself, was kept. According to some scholars, the veil was crafted from the finest material and was some 30 feet high and 3 feet thick and weighed hundreds of pounds. Scripture teaches that at the exact moment of Christ's death, that veil was ripped in two from top to bottom demonstrating that no man could have accomplished this feat. The rending of the veil represented the reality that because of Christ's death, ANY man could enter freely into God's presence at any time, not just a certain man at specific times of the year. ANYONE could now enter into the presence of God without fear of retribution unlike the Priest who entered cautiously and with trepidation, hoping that no fault could be found in him so that he would be struck dead in the presence of the Holy God.
Ephesians 3:11, 12 This was His plan from all eternity, and it has now been carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come fearlessly (with freedom and without fear) into God's presence, assured of His glad welcome. (emphasis added)
What a privilege we have been granted through Christ...the ability to enter God's presence at any time. All because of Christ and what He did for us on the cross. No work of ours could have ever made us worthy to come to God. We were separated from Him. A wall prevented us from coming to him. We were lost and alone without hope. But He came to bring hope and help in time of our greatest need.
What an awesome privilege!
Next week's blog entry will focus on The OBJECT of Worship.
Picture this...It's 9:55 on Sunday morning. The church service is about to start. You have made the rounds greeting your friends; shaking hands, passing out hugs, smiling, talking, catching up on the previous week's events, TV shows, the movie you saw last night, and so on. You make your way to the seat you have chosen. Perhaps it's the seat you sit in every Sunday. Or maybe "your" seat is occupied by someone else. How dare they? The nerve; taking MY seat. At straight up 10:00 someone takes the microphone and issues the standard corporate welcome, perhaps says an opening prayer, and we're off.
In the "standard" course of events in the modern-day church, what occurs next? We enter into a period of time widely known as "Praise and Worship." What is this time? For some it is "what we do" to take up the time between that opening prayer and when the Pastor or other speaker takes the pulpit to deliver a message from the Word. Ordinary. Mundane. Ritual. Tradition.
Others see this time as great entertainment. A time when very talented people sing some awesome songs written by awesome people. A concert where the only difference between this and any other concert we might attend is that in this one the words to the songs are flashed a screen so we can follow along. Thoughts cross our minds, "That's nice." "NOW I know what they are saying." "What a beautiful song." "WOW! I've heard that song a hundred times on Christian radio and I never knew that's what that line was! You mean I've been singing it wrong all this time?!"
Others see this time for what it should be. A time to come before God and pour our hearts out. A time to recognize Him for what He has done...what He is doing...what He will do...for who He is. Worship is not a ritual; it's not a tradition. It's not a rite; it's a right. It is a privilege.
The sin of Adam and Eve caused a wall of separation between God and man. The Book of Genesis tell us that when Adam and Eve listened to the serpent and disobeyed God's instructions to them, He banished them from the garden and place an angel to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:23,24). Why? Was this some great punishment for their wrong-doing? Was He angry because they had not listened? We find the answer to these questions in a previous verse.
Genesis 3:22Then the LORD God said, "The people have become as we are, knowing everything, both good and evil. What if they eat the fruit of the tree of life? Then they will live forever!"
Their banishment from the garden was not a punishment. Scripture does not tell us that God was even angry. He banished them from the garden so that they would not live forever in their fallen state! His concern was that they have the opportunity to be forgiven and freed from the curse they had brought on themselves. He was protecting them!
It took some thousands of years for their (and our) freedom to come. Again, it all comes back to the cross and the work done there. Seems to be a common theme of this blog, doesn't it? The work accomplished on the cross.
Matthew 27:50, 51Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom...
The curtain, or veil, in the Temple represented the separation between God and man. It separated the Inner Court from the Most Holy place where the Ark of the Covenant, which represents the very presence of God Himself, was kept. According to some scholars, the veil was crafted from the finest material and was some 30 feet high and 3 feet thick and weighed hundreds of pounds. Scripture teaches that at the exact moment of Christ's death, that veil was ripped in two from top to bottom demonstrating that no man could have accomplished this feat. The rending of the veil represented the reality that because of Christ's death, ANY man could enter freely into God's presence at any time, not just a certain man at specific times of the year. ANYONE could now enter into the presence of God without fear of retribution unlike the Priest who entered cautiously and with trepidation, hoping that no fault could be found in him so that he would be struck dead in the presence of the Holy God.
Ephesians 3:11, 12 This was His plan from all eternity, and it has now been carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come fearlessly (with freedom and without fear) into God's presence, assured of His glad welcome. (emphasis added)
What a privilege we have been granted through Christ...the ability to enter God's presence at any time. All because of Christ and what He did for us on the cross. No work of ours could have ever made us worthy to come to God. We were separated from Him. A wall prevented us from coming to him. We were lost and alone without hope. But He came to bring hope and help in time of our greatest need.
What an awesome privilege!
Next week's blog entry will focus on The OBJECT of Worship.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Truth, Freedom
John 8:31-32, 36
Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be indeed be free."
Two important words here..."truth" and "free". In order to fully understand this passage of Scripture, we mus first attempt to understand both terms.
TRUTH
We'll start with "truth". What is "truth"? What a question. Mankind has been asking that question for centuries if not millennia. Some have tried to make it relative, situational. Others have gotten no further than to ask the question, "What is it?" Greater people, philosophers and theologians, smarter people than I have asked the question so I'm not sure I will be able to answer the question in the few paragraphs of this blog entry. As a matter of fact, I will say positively that I will not be able to satisfactorily answer the question in the minds of everyone. I can say assuredly, however, that if we truly seek Him for truth, we will find it.
Looking at Scripture, in his response to Thomas's question in John 14, Jesus responded, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." In 1 Chronicles 26:9, instruction was given that, "...if you seek Him, He will be found (by you)." Yet another example in Isaiah 55 comes with the instructions to, "seek the Lord while He may be found." Pulling the Scripture together, this tells me that if we seek Him (Truth) we will find Him (Truth). We find Him, not because we are such excellent "seekers" but rather because He wants to be found. It's kind of like playing hide and seek with a 2 year old child. We don't find the darkest corner of the room, hide ourselves in the most discreet, super-secret location,do we? No. We sit right in front of the child, cover our eyes or his with our hands and ask, "Where's baby? Where are you?" We then drop our hands and excitedly proclaim, "Peek-a-boo! Here I am! you found me!" The child finds us, not because of they are excellent hide and seeker's, but because we place ourselves in a position to be found. He is the same way. He does not conceal Himself from us in such a way to keep us from finding Him. He is not avoiding us. He wants us to find Him. He places Himself in a position to be found. That's why he says that if we seek Him, we will find him! How awesome is that?!
It may sound somewhat confusing, but I do not believe "truth" is something that can be quantified with words. I do not believe "truth" is relative. I believe in only ONE "truth". But I also do not believe it is a concept that can be given a definition with which everyone will agree. Someone will always disagree with the definition or context. I do believe, however, that it can be sensed, felt, known; not in a person's mind, brain or with some type of physical understanding. It is known in the heart, in the spirit. When a person finds "truth" it is confirmed in a man's spirit. It is known in the heart. It's just "right". Whatever the physical definition of "truth," Jesus said in His own words in John 8 that He is the "Truth" and that finding, knowing and living the "Truth" would make us free.
FREE
What does it mean to be "free"?
Again, different people will have differing opinions of the definition of "free(dom)". Although there are many definitions of the term "free," for the purpose of this discussion, we'll discuss freedom as it pertains to the practice of slavery. At one time in our nation's history, as in the histories of many other societies, people were allowed to own other people. Despite our Declaration of Independence which states that "all men are created equal," for some reason, men thought it was acceptable to purchase and treat other human beings as chattel, treating them as no more than, and in some cases, even lower that cattle and other livestock. Then, on January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln, using his war powers, issued the Emancipation Proclamation. In effect, this executive order proclaimed freedom for over 3 million slaves. Human beings who had to ask permission of another human being to do anything and who were required to do anything they were told no longer had to do so. No man could legally own another man. It would be many, many years until the full extent of their freedom was realized and many died having never experienced true freedom. But this was the beginning...President Lincoln's proclamation of freedom.
One of my favorite dissertations on freedom is found in the writings of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians chapter 5 verse 1. It reads, "So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Christ's proclamation of our freedom came on the cross when he spoke those famous 3 words, "It is finished." His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins; past, present and future. His blood reached back in time and redeemed the Old Testament prophets and believers who had looked forward in faith for a Savior as well as reaching forward in time to cover the sins of people who were as yet unborn.
Hebrews 9:12 says, "Once for all time He took blood to that Most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves. He took His own blood, and with it He secured our salvation forever." WOW! Jesus Christ is the fulcrum of time. Everything hinges on Him. The saints of old...Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Daniel, David, Solomon, and the others depended on the blood of Jesus being taken to that Most Holy Place to secure their salvation just like all of those who, like you and I, came after His death. We are not "free" from sin because of anything we do or can do. We are "free" because of the shedding of His blood and that alone. Paul's letter to the Romans declares that Abraham did not earn righteousness, rather it was "imputed" or "declared" to him because of his faith in the Savior, Jesus who had not yet come.
This is the reaching that Paul had been imparting to the Galatians; that salvation (freedom) comes only through faith in Christ and not through any human effort or works of the Law. However, after they had received Paul's revelation and he had then left them to go spread the Good News to other churches, false teachers had come in to teach that in addition to the blood of Jesus, they must also keep certain elements of the Law of Moses, particularly the rite of circumcision. Paul's response to this teaching is very clear. Galatians 5:2-4 says, "Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ cannot help you. I'll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey all of the regulations in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace." One cannot find salvation, or freedom, from sin by adhering to the Law! Paul even went so far as to say in verse 1 of this same chapter that people who are chasing the Law are in slavery! Can freedom exist in slavery? Slavery is bondage. Slavery represents punishment, oppression and death! While addressing this topic in Galatians 3:1, 3 Paul wrote, "Oh foolish Galatians! What magician has cast an evil spell on you? For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ's death as clearly as though I has shown you a signboard with a picture of Christ dying on the cross...Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" Sound pretty plain to me what Paul is saying. True freedom cannot be earned or bought!
Only once we know Christ can we know "truth." And then only when we accept what Christ did for us as the only payment needed for sin and apply it to our lives as He intended can we know what it is to be "free." Not free from one thing (sin) only to be died again into bondage to another (the Law or works), or, on the other hand, also no free to sin and do whatever the flesh desires. Paul admonished that line of thinking, too, when he asked the rhetorical question in his letter to the Romans 1:1, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" and then by answering it with a resounding "GOD FORBID" in the very next verse. Instead, we are free to live lives full of HIS righteousness. Freebe forgiven. Free to serve Him without fear of retribution. Free to do good works because it is an extension of who we are and not as a result of trying to earn salvation and His favor. Free to live in His presence. Free to follow Him. Free to live in His blessings. Free to be His and free to grow in Him.
Question: Do you now Him? Really know him? Are you free? Truly free" Are you struggling to do the right things? Are you trying hard to please Him by keeping a set of rules and regulations by finding yourself failing more than succeeding? Are your efforts making you feel like a failure because you can't seem to live up to the standards the the Laws set? This may sound controversial, but let me urge you to try something different. STOP TRYING. Take human effort out of hte equation. Christ fulfilled the sacrifice the Law required as payment for sin. Place all of your trust, all of your confidence in Him. Depend on His efforts alone. Relax. Let his blood cover your sins. let His forgiveness cover you. Take "you" out of the equation and make it all about Him. Trust me. Once you find yourself fully depending on Him and not yourself for righteousness, only then can you know the Truth and only then can you be free indeed.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Rescue
Have you ever seen the television show on the Animal Planet called "I Shouldn't Be Alive"? If not here's the basic premise of the show. A person or group of people starts out on an adventure...sometimes a new one and sometimes one they've done before. A typical adventure might include a kayak trip on a river or on the ocean, a hike up a mountain, a family sailing trip, a day trip into the desert, etc. The adventures typically start out simple enough, but inevitably something goes wrong and a seemingly-innocent day of fun turns into a fight for survival.
An episode I saw recently was one in which a couple's first date consisted of a day hike in a desert-like location in Texas. The couple started out their day of fun embarking on a couple-hour hike that would end back at their car. However, after a short amount of time they got turned around. They lost their bearings. At some point their surrounding became unfamiliar. They no longer recognized their path. The fight...the struggle for survival was on.
Soon the young couple was in a fight for their very lives. The 100+ degree heat soon began to take its toll on the couple. Dehydration began to sap their energy. Heat and dryness began to crack their lips. Their skin soon began to turn red as it cooked in the sun's rays. After a couple of days they began to hallucinate...see things that were not there...hear things that were not there. In their desperation to escape their predicament, they began wandering...looking for a way out...trying to find their way back to safety.
Part of their struggle was due to the fact that they were ill prepared. They carried no water. Instead of sturdy hiking shoes they were wearing running shoes. Why not? They weren't going mountain climbing. They were only out for a walk in the desert. They had no ability to build fire as the sun began to sink into the horizon and the temperatures began to drop to the mid 30's. Why would they? They weren't planning on being out after dark. Their adventure was only to take a couple of hours. They had plenty of time.
As with many of the hour-long episodes, the couple's relating the details and the staged reenactments of their struggle came down to the last 10 minutes. They were done. They had resigned themselves to the fact that there was no way out. They laid down to die in the desert. They made peace with each other and themselves. They gave up and prepared for the worst.
But then there's a noise...a sound in the distance. The sound of a helicopter. The sound of help coming to find them. The sound of rescue.
Sounds like a good show, although my wife would disagree, but what is my point?
Here's the point...
Think of this adventure as a parable, a story designed to illustrate a spiritual truth.
People start out innocently enough, but somewhere they hit a rough patch. They make a wrong turn down a path they did not intend to go down. They end up in a place they did not intend to end up. They lose their bearings. They lose their way. Then the struggle is on. The fight for survival is on. I once heard it put like this...It's kind of like Denny's. No one plans on going there; they just end up there.
They fall into a cycle of self-deliverance that, even though physical habits might be broken, the inner, spiritual pain continues. They are ill prepared for the struggle. They have the wrong equipment. They fight and struggle for survival. They wander around looking for help, a way out. They try to reason themselves into happiness. They try to work harder, believing that if they say and do the right things everything will get better. Work more hours. Do more good things. Others try more "spiritual" things...just pray harder, read their Bible more, go to church more, obey the commandments, everything will get better. But nothing works. There is no relief. There is no help. There is no freedom. The heat of battle begins to take its toll. They become spiritually parched, dried up. They cannot find their way back to a life of peace.
The day must come when we give up.
Stop trying.
Stop fighting.
Stop struggling.
Listen.
Listen.
Hear that sound?
Hear that faint noise in the distance? What is it? Am I imagining it? What is that noise?
Don't ignore that sound. It's the sound of rescue. It's the sound of deliverance. If you listen closely you'll hear it. The sound gets closer and closer. Soon, up over the horizon pops the source of rescue. In the case of the couple in the desert of Texas, it came in the form of a helicopter. For us it comes in the shape of the cross. What Jesus did on the cross is the answer. It is the deliverance. It is our rescue. Hebrews 9:12 (NLT) tells us that, "Once for all time (Jesus) took blood into that Most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves. He took his own blood, and with it he secured our salvation (or rescue...my emphasis) forever."
The final scene in the Animal Planet show is usually that of the characters climbing aboard the rescue plane, helicopter, boat, etc. and being taken to safety. The cross is our rescue vehicle. Without going into too much detail in this blog entry (look for more of that in future posts!), our complete rescue was provided for on that "vehicle". Jesus bore our sins and freed us from its penalties. We no longer have to wander in the wilderness looking for a way to safety. Before time began, God knew we needed to be rescued. He knew you and I would be in dire straits, in need of rescue and provided it in the form of a cross. All we have to do to find peace and safety is climb aboard. Allow Him to rescue us.
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