Category Archives: Atonement
Not Without Hope
Resurrection day. The first reports began to come to the disciples. They were fearful and unbelieving. The gospels tell that they were behind locked doors because of fear (John 20:19). The disciples refused to believe the report brought to them by the women. They thought they were idle tales (Luke 24:11). It did not matter that Jesus had told them numerous times that He would be betrayed, crucified, and would then rise again. Jesus was not with them now. They were without hope. What a change would take place over the next days, weeks, and months, as these trembling, fearful followers of Christ would become bold spokesman, giving testimony to the risen Savior. The transformation was startling. These disciples were propelled into a glorious mission, often forsaking comfort, provisions, status, and even life itself, for the sake of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. What was the difference? Apart from Jesus Christ, there is no real hope (Ephesians 2:12). The disciples were fearful because Jesus was no longer with them. He had been beside them, day after day. Now, He was gone. He had been the source of their joy, hope, and confidence. That hope died on the cross. It died because they did not see the plan and salvation God had for them and for the world. They did not see Jesus for Who He really was and what it was He came to accomplish. If they had, the disciples would have been waiting with joy and anticipation, not … Continue reading
Posted in Atonement, God's Forgiveness, God's Love, Hope
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I’m Better Than You
The alternate title for today’s edition was “My Sins Are Not As Bad As Your Sins.” We will rarely utter either of these statements out loud to anyone. However, if we examine are thoughts, I think they are very prominent in our way of thinking. As such, it reflects a misunderstanding of Who God is, who we are, the seriousness of our own sin, and the radical nature and magnitude of God’s mercy and grace. As we become entrenched in the political season, we are confronted with many issues that frequently divide our nation. They can also divide the church, the body of Christ. Pick your issue. These are things that we feel very strongly about, and if a candidate or someone we know does not think the same way we do, we malign or belittle them. How can they think that way? What is wrong with them? It is no different in the church. Again, pick your issue. Jesus said that the world would know that we are His by the way we love each other. And yet, on any given Sunday, in any given church, you can probably find gossip spreading in various corners of the building or right out in the open, as we express our “concern” over someone or some situation. “Did you hear what he said?” “Did you see what they wore to church?” “Did you hear what the leadership did?” “You know what I heard?” I could go on for a long time. The … Continue reading
The Resume of Jesus
“To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). I was recently asked to write a letter of recommendation for someone who was applying for a job. This person is gifted and hard-working, so it should not be that difficult of a task. But as I thought about it, my mind turned in another direction. What if I was required to have a letter of recommendation to present to God? What would I want it to say? What could I have it say that would have any impact on God? God is holy and His standard is perfection. In Scripture, the standard response to being in the presence of God was one of being overwhelmed. The prophet Isaiah, when seeing a vision of the Lord, cried “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5). Not only is God holy, but He calls His people to be holy (1 Peter 1:14-16). This is a very high standard, and it is one that we cannot accomplish on our own. We have no qualifications to stand before God. The Lord has made it clear that no one, in their own righteousness or goodness, can stand before God. All of us have sinned and fallen short … Continue reading
Posted in Atonement, Christian Living, Faith, Good Works, Righteousness
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