Yes, Jesus Died as the Sacrifice for Our Sins  

I don’t usually use this column to respond to the writings of others and thereby allow them to dictate the subject matter. However, it is interesting that it was just such a refutation I penned in a letter to the editor twenty years ago that led to my receiving the invitation to become a regular contributor. There are occasions when I believe I would not be faithful to this opportunity God has given me if I failed to point out error or to clarify what His Word says about certain issues that are raised. Such is the case today.

Someone recently suggested that the Bible attributes various meanings to the death of Jesus. And so it does. However, this writer went on to declare that one of those understandings is no longer valid or relevant to our modern world. It’s the concept that Jesus died as the sacrifice for our sins. I hope that most people will immediately recognize that to make such a statement reveals a view of scripture which is rooted in the idea that the Bible is primarily the fallible words of men rather than the authoritative, reliable Word of God. It allows its adherents to ignore parts of the Bible that either they don’t like or doesn’t fit their own understanding of how things ought to be. It opens the door for us to interpret scripture so as to fit us rather than our having to change in order to adhere to biblical truth. I hope most of us possess a higher view of God’s Word than that.

This writer indicated that the concept of Jesus dying for our sins made sense in a culture that practiced temple sacrifices but doesn’t make sense for us today. We do have to consider the context of culture when interpreting scripture. However, we should only conclude that a concept or principle is cultural rather than universal when other scripture lends evidence toward that understanding. It shouldn’t be simply because times have changed and we think we know better now. While some things may change, there are principles and truths in God’s Word which are eternal, regardless of how society changes or how modern minds may view them.

 The Bible is clear in declaring the main purpose of Jesus’ death. And it is not just rooted in the book of Hebrews or in the writings of some church leader centuries later. It is depicted all through the pages of the Bible if one is willing to see it and accept it as God’s revelation. It is first foreshadowed when God shed the blood of an animal in order to provide a covering for Adam and Eve after they sinned. It is seen in the sacrificing of the Passover lamb to protect the Israelites from God’s judgment on the Egyptians. Isaiah foretold of the coming Messiah that “He shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11). John the Baptist declared that Jesus was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus Himself clearly stated His purpose in coming into this world – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Numerous other biblical references could be cited that plainly state the truth that Jesus died to save us from our sins. A person has to deny the validity and reliability of the Bible in order to deny this basic tenet of Christianity.  

If Jesus did not die for our sins, we have no forgiveness, no salvation, and no hope of eternal life. Let’s be thankful for the wonderful truth that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).    

 

Let’s Be Consistent in Principled Living  

Recently I watched the very first episode of the classic TV sitcom Leave It to Beaver. Young Theodore Cleaver, assuming that he was in trouble, was hiding a note from his schoolteacher to his parents. At one point he asked his big brother, Wally, if they should open the note to see what was in it. Wally advised against it, strongly declaring that to do so would be dishonest. However, even as the two boys were engaged in this conversation, Wally was running some water in the bathtub, wetting down some towels, and otherwise deceptively making it appear that the boys had taken their baths when they hadn’t. While proclaiming one act to be dishonest, he seemed to be unconcerned that he was blatantly disregarding that same standard in another area of his life and conduct.

We all probably are familiar with the idea of double standards. It’s when a set of principles are applied differently to one group of people than to another one. It’s a practice we likely have been victims of, as well as one we need to be careful of committing ourselves. However, that isn’t exactly what was taking place in the situation with these two boys. Wally wasn’t saying that it was wrong for one person to be dishonest while it was acceptable for someone else. No, he was declaring the validity of that moral principle and applying it to one area of his life while at the same time ignoring it when it came to another situation he faced. And it wasn’t just a matter of not “practicing what he preached.” He practiced it in certain circumstances but not in others, seemingly even being blind to the fact that he was doing so.

While it can be humorous to see such contradiction in the behaviors of youngsters as they learn about right and wrong, it’s not so funny when we witness it in adults who should know better, especially when we recognize it in ourselves. Yet that’s one of the problems. Like Wally, we often fail to see that fault in our own conduct.

Maybe we steadfastly refuse to compromise on what the Bible says about one subject, but we’re willing to do so regarding another matter. Both are truth. Both are clearly taught in scripture. However due to pressures from society, fears of repercussions, or even out of compassion for people – maybe especially when it involves family and friends – we find some way to explain away one of those truths.

Or maybe we follow the principle of kindness and courtesy in some situations in our life while blowing them off in others. Face-to-face with individuals we can be the sweetest and most loving people anyone could ask for. However, watch out for our change in attitude when we get on social media. Some people are kind and courteous to strangers or other casual acquaintances but fail to treat their families with similar respect. Others may use the need to stand up for truth as an excuse for being unkind to certain people. Certainly Jesus showed us that there can be occasions to be confrontational, to expose sin, and to be willing to risk being considered offensive by some people. Nevertheless, He also taught us to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, to do good to those who hate us, and to pray for those who spitefully use us.

We all should keep a close watch on our own attitudes and behaviors. And we need the Holy Spirit to be searching our hearts to reveal any such faults to us. Let’s make sure we aren’t holding true to one standard in one part of our lives while ignoring that same principle in another area.

 

Keep Pursuing the Unreachable Star  

On a recent trip to the beach, I sat on our condo’s balcony one evening contemplating the night sky. It’s something I rarely do at home between not venturing out much after dark, the view being obscured by trees on our property, and dealing with pesky mosquitoes. As I focused on the stars, I thought about the vast distance to those twinkling dots of light. As I understand it, I could travel all my life toward one of those stars and never get anywhere close to it. It reminds me of the words of one of my favorite songs that refers to a person’s quest “to reach the unreachable star.” It serves as a reminder to us that there are things in life worth pursuing whether or not you ever actually obtain them.

The same can be said about our spiritual journey. It shouldn’t be viewed as a destination we’ve already reached. Hopefully we have taken some important steps in the right direction. We’ve begun the trip by blasting off heavenward through repenting of our sins, putting our trust in Christ’s sacrifice for forgiveness and cleansing, and living by faith in obedience to His will for us. We’re seeking to fulfill His mission for us as we traverse through the course of our lives. We’re encouraging others to join us on this journey. We’re looking forward with assurance to being with the Lord in heaven one day.

However, the journey is always continuing. We’re ever in pursuit of the unreachable star as we make our way through life. We’re not going to obtain absolute Christlikeness while here on this earth, but we can make greater strides toward it than many people believe. Too many don’t even seek to move in that direction. They settle for some misguided version of Christianity that allows people to continue in sin and not pursue holiness of heart and life. But the Bible teaches that we are called to be holy as God is holy. We can have our hearts cleansed and purified by faith. We can love God with all our hearts and love others as ourselves. Nevertheless, the Bible also suggests that we have not arrived and never will fully arrive at our spiritual destination in this life. We are to be a people who are constantly in pursuit of becoming more what God calls us to be. No matter how many miles we’ve traveled, there are still many miles yet to go. Many of us can testify to the fact that the closer we get to the Lord, the more we realize how far we still have to go to be transformed into His full likeness.

Therefore, we follow the encouragement of scripture to keep reaching for that star. “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).  “Pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (II Timothy 2:22). “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (I Timothy 6:11-12).

One day when this life is over, we will be glorified and made like Christ. In the meantime, such holy character and conduct can seem to be an unreachable star. However, we need to be pursuing it. We can get closer to that star than we might think. God can do more in our hearts and lives than we might imagine. So let’s surrender to Him fully, follow His will, and let Him take us higher than we thought possible. And let’s never stop traveling upward.

 

Jesus Can Save You to the Uttermost  

We were making tacos for dinner one day when I opened the package of shells to place them in the oven to be warmed up. Normally I have to carefully situate those hardened tortillas in two slightly overlapping rows in order to get them to fit in this particular pan. However, on this occasion I quickly noticed that those taco shells slid into place with room to spare. There was no doubt about it – they were smaller than they used to be. The price wasn’t less. There was no announcement on the package label that those shells had shrunk in size. Like so many products and services in our society today, we are now paying more and getting less.

Aren’t you thankful that the Lord doesn’t treat us that way? What if we suddenly discovered that the benefits of the salvation Jesus purchased for us had been reduced? What if this salvation quit covering certain sins? What if it only got us peace and hope, but no longer offered us joy and love? What if it only got us a few hundred years in heaven rather than an eternity there? Thankfully God doesn’t shortchange us or alter our blessings due to inflation or any other factors. Jesus paid the price for our receiving a full and complete salvation. And that price He paid through His sacrificial death on the cross is still sufficient to cover those needs. We still receive everything the Bible promises to those who put their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Let’s be careful that we don’t shortchange ourselves when it comes to receiving the benefits of salvation. God’s Word declares that Jesus “is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25). It also declares, “Now may the God of peace sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Thessalonians 5:23). God offers us more than a salvation that lets us narrowly avoid the fires of hell and lets us barely squeeze into heaven’s gates. He provides more than a way for us to continue partaking in the pleasures of sin while having an assurance that He’s going to overlook whatever we do since we said a prayer one time or got dunked in a baptismal pool. The salvation Jesus died to provide for us is a means for us to find both forgiveness and cleansing, to forsake sin and become a holy person, and to be an overcomer in this life who marches into heaven victoriously, not having to sneak in through a back door.

Don’t misunderstand. This has nothing to do with our goodness or our works. It has everything to do with the value of the blood Jesus shed for us and its power to save us completely. God is able to do more in our lives than some of us think or more than we’re willing to let Him do. After the Bible declares how God can sanctify us, or make us holy, completely, it adds, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:24). Do we believe that? God is faithful and able to do what He says He can do in people’s lives. And He can even do it in your life and mine. You can be delivered from sin. You can be holy in heart and conduct. You can be more like Jesus. You can be more than a conqueror through Christ.

God won’t ever shortchange us when it comes to salvation. Let’s not shortchange ourselves. Let Him save you to the uttermost.

 

Serve the King Who Reigns Eternally  

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the coronation of King Charles III, there has been much attention directed toward royalty, monarchs, and kingdoms over the past week. These subjects drew my attention to something Daniel saw in one of his prophetic visions. He saw a throne on which one sat who is described as the Ancient of Days. It was a picture of the eternal God. While Elizabeth has been honored as the longest reigning monarch in British history, she doesn’t come close to the longevity record held by God. He has always reigned on His throne and always will throughout eternity. Elizabeth’s seventy years is just a drop in the bucket compared to His reign. Daniel also saw one “like the Son of Man” being brought before the Ancient of Days. This title was one of Jesus’ favorite designations for Himself. It says, “to Him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14).

Let’s keep several important truths in mind. First of all, the Lord is King whether or not we choose to acknowledge that fact. There are those who recognize His lordship over their lives and submit to His will for them. However, some people simply choose to ignore Him. Others have knowingly rejected Him as the ruler over their lives. Still others actively seek to oppose Him. Nevertheless, a day is coming when all will realize the truth. Every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess Him to be Lord. It’s much better to do that now rather than to wait until we stand before Him facing His judgment for our rebellion.

Secondly, as King, the Lord is still on the throne and is carrying out His sovereign purposes in the world. At times it seems like everything around us is spiraling out of control. Granted, there may be a great deal of chaos in this world as people choose their sinful ways over God’s wise guidance for their lives. However, no matter how bad things may degenerate, the Lord is still ruling and overruling to accomplish His will. He is still in control. He is fulfilling His promises and bringing all things toward the destination He has planned out. And if you’re following Him in faith, love, and obedience, He’s still taking care of you and is working all things out for your good.  

Additionally, we can be assured that while other kingdoms, rulers, and nations come and go, the Lord’s kingdom will endure. Eventually all other governments and kingdoms will fall, but not the one Christ has established. His kingdom is active in the hearts of His people right now as they let Him rule over their lives. And one day we will live and reign with Him forever in a new heaven and a new earth. So let’s not put too much trust in temporal earthly kingdoms. Let’s seek first the kingdom of God.

Finally, if the Lord is King, then we should serve Him. He deserves our love, loyalty, and undivided service. He’s not just a figurehead to be acknowledged. He’s our Lord to whom we should pledge ourselves to follow each day. We should be paying close attention to His words, promises, commands, and directions. We should be communicating with Him regularly so as to know His will for us. We should be busy fulfilling our mission and doing the work He has given us to do.

As one longtime monarch is laid to rest, let’s devote ourselves afresh to the eternal King who will never die. Submit to Him, trust Him, and serve Him.

 

Don’t Despise What Is Good  

When I first saw the image online advertising an upcoming movie, I thought it was a joke or a poor attempt at satire. However, I later discovered differently after seeing an article about the production and even watching the first trailer to be released. It was real. Normally, I wouldn’t have given a second glance at something promoting another awful, gory, slasher film, but it’s the violent villains portrayed in this movie who got my attention. It’s not the infamous Michael Myers or Freddie or Jason or any other such killers from past horror flicks. No, the evil duo terrorizing people in this film are Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. I’m not kidding. Apparently, the copyright protecting the use of those beloved children’s book characters recently expired, so someone has taken advantage of it to create this twisted story about their becoming wild, brutal killers.

From what I recall of their original stories, I can’t think of two fictional characters who better epitomize innocence, goodness, and kindness than Pooh and Piglet. Yet we live in a world where some people are intent on destroying anything virtuous or transforming what is good into something evil. Maybe you’ve noticed it in other movies or TV productions. Superheroes who have long been models of good character have been portrayed in recent times with darker, even immoral, sides. In the meantime, their counterpart villains are often given backstories which seem to try to depict them less as evildoers to be despised and more as victims of society who deserve our sympathy. Whether intentional or not, and I believe it often is on purpose, the lines between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral continue to be blurred.

 However, this isn’t just occurring on movie and TV screens. We see it in real life too. Those people whom we’ve tended to look up to and respect are being vilified. Sometimes it’s historical individuals who have held a place of honor in our heritage. Other times it’s groups of people who by their careers or principles have typically been held in high esteem. Make no mistake, those individuals have their faults and those groups have their black sheep among them. But there are those who seem to make it their life’s work to dig up any dirt on such people in order to discredit them. Or when there’s any incident in the news concerning someone in that particular group, they are quick to portray it in a way as to shed a bad light on that person and those connected to them – whether it’s the police, the military, a political organization, or a religious group.   

In one of the descriptions the Bible gives of the last days, it describes people who will be “despisers of good” (II Timothy 3:3). While such individuals have always existed, I believe that description fits an increasing number of people in our world today, and even a growing attitude in our society as a whole. The Poohs and Piglets in the world are looked down on. Their goodness and innocence are despised. As individuals and society draw farther away from God and godly principles of living, they try to tear down anything that shines a revealing light on their own wayward conduct and immoral character. So they highlight the flaws of good people while discounting their positive attributes and contributions. Or they try to find a way to transform an innocent, sweet Pooh bear into some kind of monster that makes themselves not look so bad after all.

So watch out for those who are seeking to despise and destroy what’s good. Let’s cling to what’s good and abhor what’s evil. And be assured, Winnie the Pooh isn’t evil.

 

Don’t Try “Quiet Quitting” with God  

Maybe you’ve heard about the practice some people are calling “quiet quitting.” Its definition can vary depending on who’s describing it. Some people consider it to be the idea of keeping one’s work in proper perspective, not letting it consume your life, and maintaining balance with other important areas in life. Others describe it as simply doing the job you’re being paid to do while refusing to go above and beyond what’s required. Still others consider it to be doing the bare minimum or just enough to get by at work without losing one’s job. I’ll leave it to others to evaluate all the ins and outs of such a concept on this Labor Day weekend, but I will point out just a couple of factors to keep in mind. While work is important, we do need to guard against giving it such high priority that it hinders other vital parts of our lives, including family, our health, and our relationship with God. However, we also need to be sure that we practice a work ethic that isn’t just self-centered or an excuse for laziness. Our labor should be in line with what God says: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Regardless of what you might think about this trendy work concept, the main concern I’m addressing here is that some people seem to try to apply a similar principle to the Christian faith. They don’t allow a relationship with the Lord to become the all-consuming passion of their lives. They want to have God as part of their lives, but without it interfering with their other interests, activities, and their general lifestyle. Some people seek to have just enough of what God requires in order to squeeze into heaven’s gates one day. If that fits your idea of what it means to be a Christian, to be saved, or to follow Jesus, then you had better readjust your thinking. The Bible doesn’t leave any room for “quiet quitting” when it comes to serving the Lord.

God’s Word teaches that the Lord, and only the Lord, is our Master. It’s not acceptable to worship and serve Him while bowing down to other gods at the same time. We can’t serve two masters. He comes first, even over our own desires and plans. We are to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Jesus indicated that we must love Him even more than our own families. We must be willing to forsake everything in order to follow Him. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

Additionally, Jesus declared that the greatest commandment is about loving God. However, it isn’t about loving Him a little or loving Him in the same measure we love ourselves and other things in our lives. No, we’re to love Him supremely and with our whole being. Jesus commanded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27). Notice the repeated emphasis of that word “all”. God wants all our heart, not just part of it. And He expects us to serve Him with all our strength, not with just enough to get by.

So, don’t fool yourself into thinking you can “quiet quit” God. He knows our heart. He sees what we’re doing or not doing. He deserves our complete love, loyalty, and service. Give Him your all. Give Him your best. Put Him first in your life.