“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:21-23 ESV
The entire Christian faith is based upon one God-incarnated man. The perfect Person of Jesus Christ was crucified and forsaken by our Heavenly Father, in order to provide a way of fellowship with God Almighty. A story that can be easily understood; yet, still keep one in curiosity as to why. Though we know why God did it, we can still think deeper as to why God would want to forsake His Son upon the Cross for sinners such as us.
We did nothing to deserve salvation. We did everything that led Christ to His crucifixion.
We did nothing to deserve salvation. We did everything that led Christ to His crucifixion. To think that Christ died for even the murdering rapist who would repent and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is a reality that cannot be fathomed by mankind. Who in their right mind would sacrifice their child to go through an excruciating death? Who would allow their child to feel every torturous pain from ruthless Roman soldiers? To allow Jesus Christ to go through torture that not even Roman soldiers would do to their own kind is a sign of love that transcends man’s intellect.
All other man-made “gods” and religions are works based.
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NIV). When you meditate and begin to understand what truly happened upon that Cross, it shouldn’t take much to accept what God has done. No other story speaks of God coming to die for wretched sinners in order to pave the way to a living relationship with Him. All other man-made “gods” and religions are works based. It’s all about what you do. They command you to do all the good you can and maybe you’ll get to Heaven or come back in this life as something or someone better.
The only thing we can do is freely give God the heart He made in us, back to Him.
Another important truth worth noting is that no other religion commands you to deny yourself and quit putting trust in working out your own salvation. The majority of other religions command you to put trust in yourself and work out your own faith. Christianity, however, is the complete opposite. Christianity commands us to not rest in what we can accomplish, but to put our faith and trust in what has already been done. Once this belief has been genuinely made, it is then the Holy Spirit within us born-again believers who continues to sanctify and restore us to what God longs for us to be. It is all done by God. The only thing we can do is freely give God the heart He made in us, back to Him. In doing so, we open up the floodgates to spiritual knowledge and blessings. So long as we “continue in the faith, stable and steadfast” (Colossians 1:23 ESV) (which is not works based, but simply a sign that we have genuinely believed in Christ and are willing to go all the way with and for Him), we are sealed for the day of redemption by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).
It is in the paradox of admitting that we can do nothing without Him, that in Him we become empowered to do all things.
It shouldn’t take much to accept the beautiful story of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. We simply must be willing to admit we are sinners and are in need of a Savior. We must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Christ (Matthew 16:24 ESV). It is in the paradox of admitting that we can do nothing without Him, that in Him we become empowered to do all things. Our visions are enlarged, our wisdom grows deeper and our love spreads wider.
We believe not merely to receive, but to give God the rightful acknowledgement and worship He deserves.
We must be willing to keep the faith, in order to receive all that our faith in Jesus Christ is willing to give. We believe not merely to receive, but to give God the rightful acknowledgement and worship He deserves. We do this through laying down all we know and picking up what was once hidden.
Those found in Christ will continue to grow and work for that which is eternal. Those who choose to live their way will ultimately live an eternity in solitude. There will be no one to comfort them, but themselves. For their dependency was in themselves alone while in this life. God allows them to go to Hell and continue being dependent on themselves, as they distance themselves further and further from the presence of God.
Hell is a distancing from God and all that God is.
For that is Hell: The distancing from God and all that God is (love, peace, joy, etc.). Those feelings will be hidden from those in Hell and they will never again feel those attributes of God directed towards them as they drift into the unending abyss of the Lake of Fire.
The choice is up to us. The consequences of that free-will choice have been predestined by God. May all choose to humbly accept the gracious gift of the Lord Jesus Christ. May all begin their eternal walk with Him which will one day ascend their souls into Paradise.
Prayer
Thank You, Father, for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross for my sins. Lord, I have nothing to give. You are all, and only in You am I able to do all things. Forgive me of my sins, cleanse me from all unrighteousness, purify my mind and place Thy Holy Spirit within me. May my soul be sealed until the day of redemption, by the Blood of Christ. I believe, Lord. Be gracious to me now, as I continue to seek Truth. Reveal it to me as I continue my walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lance VanTine