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.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
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!
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