Jeremiah 5:4 “They are ignorant. They don’t know the ways of
the Lord. They don’t understand God’s laws.”
I remember when our sons were tiny
toddlers, they would come to me and ask questions. When I gave them the answer,
they would immediately ask “why?”. They wanted to know and understand things. I
have to admit that I want to know and understand the logic and reasoning behind
what happens and “why” also, because I too find myself ignorant in the ways of
this world and the ways of God. Basic living principles for the Christian for
meaningful substance are found through the awareness of God’s instruction. Ignorance
is not bliss. Knowing the truth of God produces relevance and a world looking
for relevance. I remember a Pastor telling me that we live in a society that doesn't see, know or understand that they are “lost”, so naturally don’t seek
to be saved.
2 Corinthians 10:12 “We wouldn't dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who
tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with
each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!”
Some don’t believe in God at all and
willfully try to ignore their Creator or explain Him away. Others believe in
God, but don’t believe in a “final judgment”, so lack any conviction of wrath
within their Lord in heaven. There is a popular notion that God is so full of
unconditional love that there is no room in His character for judgment, so
wrath is not even capable. Saved from what? Ultimately, in their mind, they do
not need Jesus to die for them. But they are ignorant of the truth and
therefore confused about sin. That God is holy and just; the righteous judge of
all the earth and will never negotiate His holiness. We all must understand
that it is not a matter of us making “bad” choices, but of making “sinful”
choices. To know that sin is not just an insult that impugns the honor of God,
but is even more serious. Sin is a legal term. Sin is a crime – a transgression
of the Law of God against our Almighty, righteous living Maker himself. Sin is
both a personal and judicial offense against God. We choose to sin and are
responsible for the thoughts, words and deeds of it, and Divine justice demands
judgment. An earthly Judge who does not rule justly is a “bad” Judge, but God
is just and righteous, so must punish sin on the day of God’s wrath – Judgment
Day. God’s Word is clear: The wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23. Without shedding of blood
is no remission of sin – Hebrews 9:22. All have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of God (willfully missed God’s Mark and hit their own) –
Romans 3:23. All need salvation.
Romans 2:5 “ Because
of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath
against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be
revealed.”
Salvation
is ultimately “to be rescued from God”; rescued from the judgment of a
holy and righteous God. That’s what it means to be “saved” – to be spared “by
God”, from the wrath that is to come “from God”. It is God’s idea and God’s
plan of Salvation. God is going to pour out His wrath in the last Judgment Day
on those who are not covered by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ alone, who
provides what every fallen creature needs for salvation from the wrath of God,
forgiveness, reconciliation and ever-lasting life. Justice satisfied, paid in
full, by the atonement. This is why the universal symbol of the Christian faith
is the Cross. The atonement was necessary. Jesus died for the sins of the
world, that who-so-ever believes shall not perish, but will be saved.
Hebrews
9:11-15 “But
Christ came as High Priest of the
good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with
hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of
goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once
for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of
bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies
for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He
is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of
the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may
receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
To diminish
sin, diminishes the image and authority of our sovereign Creator Lord God and
the atoning redemptive work of Christ on the Cross, which dealt with sin. It is
practical to talk about that which without, you will spend eternity in Hell.
The problem is inside us and the solution is outside of us. We receive
salvation by the love, mercy and grace of God. Let us not be ignorant of the
truth, but rejoice in this truth. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord, sent by
our Heavenly Father to rescue you and I.
1 Corinthians 14:33 “God is
not the author of
confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
In Christ,
Brian
2 comments:
Hi Brian,
I love how you said, "To diminish sin, diminishes the image and authority of our sovereign Creator Lord God and the atoning redemptive work of Christ n the Cross,..."
Lots of today's churches don't want to talk about sin. It is like it is a swear word in the church. I was chatting with a lady about evangelizing. She is not a Christian but her son goes to our church and has given his life to Christ. He has the heart of an evangelist and is really trying to figure out how to tell strangers about Jesus. Well, his mom said to me that she thought that her son was talking too much about sin. That people don't want to hear they are sinners and that he should just focus on Jesus and His love for them. I found it interesting to hear this coming from a non Christian, yet what she said is very true. People don't want to know they are sinners. They want to believe they are good yet with what you said about sin diminishes the image and authority of our sovereign Creator... I can see this as a deeper ploy of Satan to attack Father's character.
We are sinners and our best works are nothing but rags compared to Jesus. We are nothing out Jesus. We are only empty shells with an empty hole inside that only Jesus can fill and make us whole, clean and perfect.
Such a deep post. Thank you for sharing Brian.
Blessings brother,
<><
Child of God, a world blind by unbelief cannot see the truth, and therefore tries to humanize Jesus, the Christ (John 3:3), but the reason that they do not want to hear about sin is explained by Jesus when He said: "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.", in John 3:18-20. The dealing with sin is the reason that Christ came according to John 3:16-17, which says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Without redemption by the atonement of the Savior, there is no point and we perish. Keep speaking the truth of the gospel and the Word of God. Blessings, sister!
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