CHRIST NEVER CAME TO TAKE AWAY SINS
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS:
The death of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary has long been taught as though Jesus died for all of our sins against God. That billing is wrong from the start and that is what I need to talk to you about today.
At first glance, you will disagree with me about this statement but like many things we hear from the pulpit today the statement of Jesus came to take away the sins of yesterday, today, and forever is a miss statement on the part of the church, and is something that you will not find in scripture. What you will find is that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You will find that His word never changes, but you will also find that we as mankind will take a concept that makes us feel good about our place in this life and which gives God the responsibility to work out our salvation for us instead of seeking after Him with our whole heart to build a relationship for eternity.
By putting the concept of forgiveness back into the hands of Jesus we can easily say that the work has already been done and that all we have to do is believe, but is that what God has said?
When we begin to really look at scripture in complete context it isn't long before questions start to come up in our mind about just how much God has been willing to do for us. As I look closer I see that God's love was all that He had said it is for mankind, and yet even though He provided a perfect sacrifice for our original sin against Him, and has destroyed the power of sin to separate us from Him through our acceptance of His plan of Salvation; I don't see anywhere that the battle is finished for us.
Paul continued to speak about the greatest gift that we could ever be given of Salvation all through his letters to the new churches established under Christ Jesus. It is a gift to us and yet we must show our acceptance and life lived in that promise. There must be a change in our lives that cannot be hidden away from others. We are told on so many occasions that we are still in a war that is fought over what will influence us the most in life. We are told of a race that is not run against each other, but in support of each other in making sure that we all endure until the end of our personal race. We are told about seeking God with our whole heart, and working out our salvation with fear and trembling each day of our life. We are told that our life must become a living daily sacrifice that is Holy and acceptable to God. My friends as the days continue to go by I am fearful of how very many of us are being fooled by laying back in the promise of such words as Jesus did it all!
Our life in Christ must be about Christ living in us and taking control of who we are not just being at rest in Him. When my battle is over then I can rest in His arms knowing that I have done all that I can to assure God that I meant what I said about my belief in His Sonship and in His words of truth for my life because I tested them just as He personally asked me to. Isn't it time that we began to ask some questions about those statements that we cannot ever seem to find in God's word? I do not want for you to be fearful because God has promised to help us at every step of our journey with Him, but He also asks for us to bear fruit and to grow beyond our own abilities by seeking, knocking, and asking. God wants us to be mature in Christ enough to be of value to Him in the Kingdom. He is not looking to babysit or change diapers for eternity, but to have strong adult children that have a life that is based on the firm foundation of Jesus our Lord and Savior. I can't help but feel that we have lost much of the real purpose Jesus gave in His sacrifice; which was to open the door for us to once again have a complete relationship with Him. It certainly wasn't to take away the sins of this world, but to forgive us when we do sin and to take away the power that sin had to separate those who loved God. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
At first glance, you will disagree with me about this statement but like many things we hear from the pulpit today the statement of Jesus came to take away the sins of yesterday, today, and forever is a miss statement on the part of the church, and is something that you will not find in scripture. What you will find is that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You will find that His word never changes, but you will also find that we as mankind will take a concept that makes us feel good about our place in this life and which gives God the responsibility to work out our salvation for us instead of seeking after Him with our whole heart to build a relationship for eternity.
By putting the concept of forgiveness back into the hands of Jesus we can easily say that the work has already been done and that all we have to do is believe, but is that what God has said?
When we begin to really look at scripture in complete context it isn't long before questions start to come up in our mind about just how much God has been willing to do for us. As I look closer I see that God's love was all that He had said it is for mankind, and yet even though He provided a perfect sacrifice for our original sin against Him, and has destroyed the power of sin to separate us from Him through our acceptance of His plan of Salvation; I don't see anywhere that the battle is finished for us.
Paul continued to speak about the greatest gift that we could ever be given of Salvation all through his letters to the new churches established under Christ Jesus. It is a gift to us and yet we must show our acceptance and life lived in that promise. There must be a change in our lives that cannot be hidden away from others. We are told on so many occasions that we are still in a war that is fought over what will influence us the most in life. We are told of a race that is not run against each other, but in support of each other in making sure that we all endure until the end of our personal race. We are told about seeking God with our whole heart, and working out our salvation with fear and trembling each day of our life. We are told that our life must become a living daily sacrifice that is Holy and acceptable to God. My friends as the days continue to go by I am fearful of how very many of us are being fooled by laying back in the promise of such words as Jesus did it all!
Our life in Christ must be about Christ living in us and taking control of who we are not just being at rest in Him. When my battle is over then I can rest in His arms knowing that I have done all that I can to assure God that I meant what I said about my belief in His Sonship and in His words of truth for my life because I tested them just as He personally asked me to. Isn't it time that we began to ask some questions about those statements that we cannot ever seem to find in God's word? I do not want for you to be fearful because God has promised to help us at every step of our journey with Him, but He also asks for us to bear fruit and to grow beyond our own abilities by seeking, knocking, and asking. God wants us to be mature in Christ enough to be of value to Him in the Kingdom. He is not looking to babysit or change diapers for eternity, but to have strong adult children that have a life that is based on the firm foundation of Jesus our Lord and Savior. I can't help but feel that we have lost much of the real purpose Jesus gave in His sacrifice; which was to open the door for us to once again have a complete relationship with Him. It certainly wasn't to take away the sins of this world, but to forgive us when we do sin and to take away the power that sin had to separate those who loved God. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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