It's "To Die For"

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Some folks say that they hear that Jesus loves them, but wonder how much He really does. Then Jesus takes their place by being crucified on a Cross and dies to pay the penalty for their sins, so that they may live. This is the length of the atoning sacrifice that Jesus (the Christ sent by Creator God) acted to demonstrate how much He loves us. When there was no way to pay for the sins that we willfully committed, and continue to in our sin nature of the flesh, God provided a way that He could redeem the lost and repentant, while remaining a holy and preserving justice in real mercy, out of pure grace, because of the pure love that He has for us. We, His children, are to die for. 1 Peter 2:23b-25 Him (Jesus) who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is natural to desire to earn our way and earn our keep. But, we must understand that what we truly earn (the wager) from our willful disobedience, unbelief, and sin (missed God’s mark for our life) is spiritual death and separation from a just and holy God. We do not desire forgiveness, we cannot earn salvation, and we cannot purchase our redemption from hell bound to heaven bound. We are guilty and need the mercy of God – mercy being to not get what we rightfully deserve (Hell). We need the loving grace of God – grace being to get what we do not deserve (Heaven). But how can God acquit and pardon us from violations of His own commandments, statutes, standards and laws, being a just and holy God? We serve death, but He says that we are “to die for” and sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us. This is “the gift of God”. Halleluiah!

Ephesians 2:1-9 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

This is the gospel (the good news) of Jesus Christ … the gift of God. This is how much god loves each and every one of us, who sees that we are lost sinners without the Lord, who truly repent for the sins and unbelief that we’ve committed against our loving Creator God, and accept God’s free gift of the atoning sacrifice of His Son in our place, being born again, born anew, born from above, though His unmerited loving mercy and grace, transforming into His adopted Child of God, Citizenship in Heaven, Brothers & Sisters in and with Christ, with a new heart gratefully praising our loving Lord & Savior. We are not only “to die for”; Jesus died for us. Shall we live for Him? Strive to live a life pleasing in the eyes God, who is worth of our love and adoration.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

In Christ, Brian