Sin And The Cross

Many people think of God only as a God of love, always on hand to help when things go wrong and bound in the end to forgive everybody's sins and receive them into heaven forever. This idea is fatally misleading. The Bible certainly tells us that ‘God is love' (1 John 1:8), but also that he is ‘majestic in holiness' (Exodus 15:11) and that ‘the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men' (Romans 1:18).

Some thoughts on Sin and what the Cross of Christ tells us.

The cross of Christ tells us that sin is a Curse,

When used as an ornament around the neck, a cross says little about the ugliness of sin. But when we look at sin through the cross of Christ, we see sin as God does: ugly, deforming, condemning, separating man from his Creator. Sin is so terrible that it made God send His only begotten Son to the cross to pay for its cost. Las Vegas does not present a true picture of sin. In the nightclubs and on TV, sin is glamorous, gaudy, fun, enticing, exhilarating. But sin causes death and separation from God (Rom. 6:23, Isa. 59:1-2). Jesus became a curse for us, hanging on the cross (Gal. 3:13), and I should see this when I see the cross.

The cross of Christ tells us that Reconciliation was made,

So long as man was in sin, he could not be right with God, but, was in fact an enemy. With our best intentions and greatest works, we could not bring about this healing of enmity to reconciliation. Since atonement was made by Jesus sacrifice on the cross, it was possible for God to invite man back into a saved relationship. Paul said that this was the great work of the apostles, "appointed by God to be ambassadors, entreating on behalf of God, be ye reconciled unto God" (2 Cor. 5:18-20). Note that atonement precedes reconciliation and that God had to initiate them both due to our sinful condition. I should see this when I see the cross.

The cross of Christ tells us that Substitution was made,

"The soul that sins shall die" (Ezek. 18:4). I sinned, therefore I ought to die. But thanks be to God that His grace permitted it to be different. As the story of Abraham and Isaac and the substitute ram for sacrifice foreshadowed it, the cross declares it plainly. Jesus Christ was sent by God to be a substitute for me. He took my punishment and death. "By his stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:5). I should see this when I see the cross.

The cross of Christ shows us the painful payment of Justice served,

Propitiation is a two-part act that involves appeasing the wrath of an offended person and being reconciled to him. It is not an everyday word, but it is vitally important that we understand it. ‘Propitiation' means appeasing an offended person (God) by paying the penalty (Jesus sacrifice) he demands for the offence (our sin). Here is a simple example.

A young lady appears in court for a traffic ticket. The judge must ask her – “Guilty or Not Guilty?” She responds, “Guilty your honor.”

After court the judge walks over to the cashier’s window, pulls out his billfold and pays the young lady’s fine with no questions asked. He then turns to the young lady and says, “Your debt is paid free and clear my estranged and beloved daughter.”

The lesson is, the judge (God) by His law and justice had to pronounce his daughters (Gods children) guilt plea, and it was painful. But he paid the debt (on the cross) of her infraction for breaking the legal code without question. The judge has removed (cleansed) her debt (sin) from the ensuing charge (judgment) of guilt.

‘In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins' (1 John 4:10).

The cross of Christ tells us that fellowship with God is possible,

Now that atonement has been made and reconciliation is possible, I can be forgiven. While atonement was made for the sins of the world, not all men will be saved. Not all will obey the call of the gospel through the apostles, to be reconciled to God by the cross. To some, the word of the cross is "foolishness;" to others, it is a "stumbling block" (1 Cor. 1). But if we reject the cross and the word of the cross, we reject reconciliation. If we reject reconciliation, we reject the peace with God that forgiveness brings. If we accept the cross, we may enter into a relationship with God reminiscent of that between Adam and Eve and God in the garden before sin intruded. Fellowship in a mutual sharing in heavenly matters is found only in Christ. I should see this when I see the cross.

The cross of Christ tells us that I must become dead to the world and alive to God,

"If then ye have been risen with Christ. . . " (Col. 3: 1) presupposes that we have died with Christ. "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). But how does one become dead to sin? "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death: that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Rom. 6:2-6). Yes, we must crucify the old man of sin. We must walk in newness of life after having been buried in Christ (Rom. 6:4). How is all this done? The bible says it is done when we are baptized “into Christ” (not prayed into) for remission of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16, Col. 2:11-12, Gal 3:27). I should see this when I see the cross.

There is a cross for us to bear,

It is not a silver or gold ornament with no real meaning but that of vanity and false humiliation. The cross that Jesus bore was that of "obedience unto death, yea, the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8). All the ornamental jewelry and superstitious architecture in the world will not bring us any closer to the service of God unless we in fact understand the cost of bearing one’s own cross.

Sacrificial Service,

Christ stated on more than one occasion, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:38-39, 16:24-25; Mark 8:34-35, Luke 9:23-24, 14:27).

Are you wearing your cross, or are you bearing it?

DON'T JUDGE ME!!!

Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” Yep, many versions of the Bible use the word “stupid.” KJV uses “brutish” from which the word stupid comes from.

To paraphrase – If you love learning, you love discipline that goes with it.

Let’s admit we Christians have habits of saying certain things out loud or in our heads. I believe these words and phrases act like roadblocks to our growth, transformation and maturity in Christ. After all, the goal of a Christian is to be transformed into the likeness of Christ through His Holy Word. To be different people than we are now - tomorrow. We want sin to be a lesser part of our lives than it was yesterday. We want to love God more tomorrow than we do today right? So, during our journey and transformation there are roadblocks we set up that we need to take down. One of these roadblocks is – We have to stop using bible words in the wrong way. One particular phrase we often hear used is “Don’t judge me.”

The poster could read in today’s culture even among Christians – “If you want to be happy, get rid of all the negativity in your life” Matthew 7:1 right? Who wants negativity in their life? I will tell you who - People who want to grow… Did you get that? But even Christians forget or don’t understand this verse. Jesus is teaching not to over judge by our standards, and not to judge their fellow Jews by tradition and the law as the Pharisee’s did out of hypocrisy. They judged with wrong judgments.

What Jesus says in John 7:24, “Don’t judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.” In other words, there is a time to judge and a time not to judge. There is a way to judge and a way not to judge. But this post isn’t about the theological understanding of judging, it’s about the judging by someone of me or you. Its personal.

As the Proverb says, whoever ignores instruction despises himself. - If our goal is maturity, growth, intelligence and spirituality, then we must listen to correction and criticism. Do we have an attitude of seeking correction and criticism? Why would we do that? Because we love knowledge and pursuing God! The question is, by who do we seek knowledge and spiritual criticism? Someone who has lived life and is wise among the brethren who has the stripes of life to be able to constructively help counsel us in the way of the Lord.`

The people of Jesus day judged Him for all kinds of things didn’t they? Jesus response was not – “Don’t judge Me.” His response was “Judge with righteous judgement” John 7:24

If a brother or sister in Christ rightly judges us, we put up a roadblock to keep out all the negativity in our lives, and we will keep it out. But, we will keep ourselves from growing, we will limit ourselves from being transformed in His image. The question is, “Is this judgement I am receiving right?” Not do I like them or not or its mom and dad, I have heard a lifetime of advice from them. Do I like the tone of voice they took rightly judging me? I’m just going to discount their righteous advice, I’m my own person now. Those aren’t the questions we ought to ask. The questions we need to ask are, “Is their judgement right, is it biblical, is it sound, healthy and wise? If so then listen to them and grow driving through this Don’t Judge Me roadblock ridding it from our vocabulary.

James 1:19-20, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

Amen.

Is the Holy Spirit With You In Prayer?

Around A.D. 57, Apostle Paul speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the church audience in Rome gives the Christian a brief yet very powerful ray of light on the free assistance given when they pray.

Romans 8:26-27, “In like manner the Spirit also helps our infirmity. For we know not how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Do we really have the help of the Holy Spirit in our prayers, and is God actually hearing us? This short presentation will help the Christian understand how the Spirit helps and represents them in their prayers.

HERE are more Holy Spirit Faq’s for further study.

Jesus Says, Can You Hear Me Now?

Do you remember those cell phone ad's that would say,

"Can you hear me now, can you hear me now?"

When Jesus talked to His disciples He talked about His death a lot making them greatly distressed (Matt 17:22-23). And as this podcast by Mark Roberts relates, He found Himself saying to them, "Can you hear Me now?" The question is, do we hear Him now, are we missing the cross?

updated 4/12/16

Are We The Only Humans?

Those who believe life evolved on the earth usually see it as virtual ‘fact’ that life has evolved on countless other planets. Discovering life on other planets would in turn be seen as confirming their evolutionary belief. But even many Christians think, ‘God must have created life elsewhere, otherwise this enormous universe would be an awful waste of space.’ This seems to be the major underlying reason why people think that there must be other life 'out there'. However, our thinking should be based on what God said He did (the Bible), and not what we think He would, should or might have done. If you struggle with this question you are not alone. I venture to say 99 out of 100 people if asked this question will say yes. There are other humans/aliens ‘out there.’ May I suggest to the believer and non-believer alike, the earth and we humans are actually very unique, and the only humans that exist. Let’s read Psalm 8:3-9 written by King David through Gods inspiration.

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

7 All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field,

8 The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Man’s uniqueness in the Universe is implied in Psalm 8. When David reflected upon the splendor of the heavens, he wondered: ‘What is man that Jehovah has so benevolently blessed him with all this marvelous creation?’ He appears to suggest that man stands alone in the Universe in this regard. The great scholar George Rawlinson once noted that the thought that he who made the heavens should have such regard for humanity “is well nigh overwhelming.” Thus, rather than suggesting that man is but an insignificant speck in the Universe, this passage reveals that the Lord has bestowed a signal honor upon him who is created in his very image (Gen. 1:26).

Next, God appointed man to have dominion over the creation. Humanity, because of sin, has failed to perfectly achieve that task. Ultimately, however, the epitome of manhood, the Lord Jesus, will demonstrate his supremacy over the entire creation. This appears to be why the writer of Hebrews gives the 8th Psalm a messianic application (cf. Heb. 2:6-8). We do not believe, as some allege, that the author took the original reference out of context and gave it a meaning alien to its intended design. Rather, the Holy Spirit, who inspired both writers, saw a partial application to man, and then an ultimate fulfillment in the Son of man.

CHRISTIAN COURIER

By Faith

In Jesus' Name

1 Tim 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.

John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it

There is a general principle in Christian prayer that it is usually directed to the Father in the name of Jesus. Jesus himself taught the apostles that after his departure they would ask in his name, and their requests would be granted (John 14:13-14, 15:16, 16:23-24, 26). Jesus himself prayed to the Father and taught the disciples to do so (Matt. 6:9-13), and generally the apostles did so (Eph. 3:14-15 for example).

However, Jesus did speak of the disciples asking him (John 14:13-14) and Paul spoke of giving thanks to Christ (1 Tim. 1:12). We know that Stephen, in his last breath, spoke to the Lord Jesus (Acts 7:59-60) and that John in his excitement for Christ’s return did likewise in a prayerful expression (“come Lord Jesus,” Rev. 22:20). The apostles’ prayer in Acts 1:24-25 seems to have been directed to Jesus, whom they regularly called Lord, and who had the authority to choose an apostle. The apostles’ prayer in Acts 4:24-30 is directed to God, “Sovereign Lord.” So while it is generally appropriate to address prayers to the Father, especially public prayers, not all Christian prayers are so directed. Since Jesus is at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33), and there is no jealousy or competition but only perfect cooperation in the Godhead (John 17:10), there is no reason to doubt that the Lord Jesus and the Father are quite capable of understanding any and all of the requests and prayers of Christians.

The New Testament doesn’t provide scripted prayer examples of what it means to ask “in Jesus’ name.” The prayer in Acts 4:24-30 does mention Jesus’ name in the final recorded phrase, but this is in the context of a request for miracles rather than a formal closing expression for the prayer. The prayer of Paul in Eph. 3:14-21 also mentions the name of Jesus toward the end, in the context of praise, and not seemingly as a formula of closure for the prayer. In fact, if we consider other things that are to be done “in Jesus’ name” it seems clear that the phrase conveys the idea of doing things “by Jesus’ authority” rather than a verbal formula.

Disciples of Jesus were to do mighty deeds in the name of Jesus (Mark 16:17-18, Acts 4:30). We have examples of verbally invoking the name of Jesus to perform miracles (Acts 3:6, 16:18). We also have examples of miracles performed without a word (Acts 5:15-16, 19:11-12) and miracles in which the words spoken did not include the name of Jesus (Acts 14:8-9). Since the mighty deeds were to be done in the name of Jesus, those done silently or without verbal mention of his name must have been “in his name” even though there was no verbal formula. This is because “in his name” is a matter of being “in him,” a matter of having authority from him, rather than the technicality of a verbal formula (see 1 Pet. 4:14-16). It is always appropriate that the name of Jesus be mentioned when acting by his authority, but a Christian can act by his authority without necessarily mentioning his name. On the other hand, one who is not a Christian can mention Jesus’ name and still not be acting “in his name” (Acts 19:13-16, for example).

The New Testament instructs us to do many things in Jesus’ name, including welcoming a child (Matt. 18:5), assembling together (Matt. 18:20, 1 Cor. 5:4), being baptized (Acts 2:38, 10:48), giving thanks (Eph. 5:20), and indeed “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17 NIV) These instructions cannot be about stating a particular formula when doing each of these things, although again it is always good to affirm the name of Jesus, but are about doing things because we ourselves as Christians bear the name of Christ and act in his name.

For the sake of recognition and understanding, it is always appropriate that a public prayer should mention the name of Jesus, invoking his authority for all to hear. Not because God needs to hear it, but because those hearing the prayer may need to hear it. Likewise, it is always appropriate that a public prayer be concluded with an “amen” so that those who hear understand that the prayer is concluded. This is not a rule or law, but an appropriate device for concluding public prayer. Since the Lord “knows those who are his” (2 Tim. 2:19) and we have a living way of access to the throne of God by the blood of Jesus (Heb. 10:19-22) telling God that we come in Jesus’ name is not needed, but sometimes telling men that we have approached God in Jesus’ name is important.

Since the Lord “knows those who are his” and we have one who speaks to the Father in our behalf (1 John 2:1) and the Holy Spirit himself presents needs we can’t even verbalize to the Father (Rom. 8:26), we should, as Hebrews 10:19-22 urges, approach the throne with confidence and full assurance. It is not a verbal formula, but God’s grace in Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit that makes this possible.

Jesus told his disciples that those who do what he commands are his friends (John 15:13-15). We are also called his brothers (Heb. 2:11) and children (Heb. 2:13). Friends, brothers, and children can speak to their friend, brother, or parent in all circumstances, without needing a formula or formality. Conversing with a friend can be very free and move quickly from topic to topic, since friends know one another. Conversations can be interrupted and resumed easily. Surely the Lord is not going to be confused or offended where even a human friend could handle such conversations. When there are guests, additional formality may be called for in a family, and so also with public prayer when others hear, but in personal intimacy direct speech is usually appropriate. This is the sort of approach Stephen made to Christ as he was being stoned, brief and urgent. It is also the sort of prayer Nehemiah raised silently to God when before the king (Neh. 2:4-5). Prayer, as personal conversation with the Father or with Jesus, does not have to be aloud or formal (1 Sam. 1:13, 1 Cor. 14:28). Since this is the case, moments of conversation with God are possible, and really commanded (pray without ceasing, 1 Thess. 5:17; pray in the Spirit on all occasions, Eph. 6:18). The prayer life Paul commanded only makes sense if we can talk to God anytime, anywhere, without formality, and without supposing that an interruption (precluding a closing formality) would invalidate our prayer. A Christian saying “thank you, Lord” or “Lord, save me” will be heard by God. God hears his people when they speak (Mal. 3:16) and knows the very thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12-13, Matt. 9:4). Christians can and should speak to God with a thought, when driving down the road or lying down in bed, and our intent should be to do “all things” in the name of Jesus, which calls for a way of life under his authority, and not just a formal phrase imposed upon public prayers.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.