Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Stone 1 --Part 2


Virtually all the world’s religions seek reconciliation between man and God. Each offers teachings that, properly followed, lead man back into God’s good graces. Christianity is different. Christianity recognizes that the problem is not man’s behavior and that no amount of teaching can solve it. The problem with man is his rebellious nature. The world has it correct; we cannot change who we are by nature. Christianity acknowledges that man is not only powerless to overcome his sinful nature, but that man is not looking for reconciliation. It is Christianity’s assertion that any reconciliation between man and God must rely on action taken by God. Therefore, God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” God became a man to save all mankind from a predetermined condemnation. Jesus was tempted in every way a man could be tempted. He was tempted because He was a man. He lived perfectly because He was God. Through perfect obedience Christ offered His own life and blood to satisfy the judgment and justice of God. Then, returning to life, offered man the opportunity to share the eternal life of God.
As powerful as His teaching was, Jesus didn’t come to teach. As wondrous as were the miracles He did, Jesus didn’t come to heal. He came to die; be resurrected; and thereby save the condemned. He offers the world salvation in the form of rebirth. Those who accept His offer are a new creation untainted by sin and free to live by the Spirit of God. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Christians are not to live shackled to the sins of the past. Yes, we have sinned. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Yes, there are times, after salvation, that we still stumble over the same sins. There may even be addictions with their teeth still in us. At any time in our Christian experience that we think we have arrived, the Spirit is there to open a new challenge. Friends, enemies and family see our sins and are quick to point them out for us. Though the world condemns us, God does not condemn us. The world looks at us and sees our faults. God looks at us and sees His Son.
God is alive and active. He is busy remaking us in the image of His Son. He is not blind where His children are concerned. God sees our shortcomings. Unlike the world, He does not condemn us for them. He uses them as our guide to growth. His eye is ever on Christ as He transforms us into His image. Does that mean God doesn't care if we sin? Absolutely not. God cares, but He is not discouraged. He still sees the finished product. This means that if we sin; all is not lost. We have an advocate, Jesus Christ. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” That is the formula for sin for saint and sinner alike.
Condemnation and guilt held on to after our confession of sin and the application of the blood of Christ comes from the devil. He may use our own voice or the voice of our loved ones, but hell is the source. When the Spirit of God convicts of sin, He calls for repentance and reconciliation. Guilt that cripples and discourages is evil. God is in the salvation business. He sent His Son into the world for no other purpose. He is working out personal salvation in everyone who trusts Him; not willing for anyone to perish.
However, because God gave man free will, man may choose condemnation. Sin, guilt and condemnation, like the giant Goliath, will enslave men. Christ saves men from the condemnation of sin. In the Christian’s hand, the stone of salvation will slay the giant of condemnation our foe has sent to challenge us.


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