| View Blog
|
| The Matchless Name of Jesus Christ
|
|
|
|
To those who already believe this I rejoice for you -- keep going! To those searching or who don't believe, I pray for you.
I'm not a religious person. Point blank. Not what most folks would expect someone who speaks about Jesus to say. I believe religion is legalistic and too often twisted around by human beings. Instead, I am a member of the body of Christ -- a born-again Christian if you will. I believe Jesus Christ (God in the flesh) died on a cross to atone for the sins of humanity past, present, and future. Why do I believe He did that? Because He loves us enough to accomplish something we couldn't do without Him...reconcile us to God.
Many folks do not like to think of themselves as "sinners." "I've never killed anyone or mistreated a child," some might say. However, the Bible teaches, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8 (NIV). Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (NIV) We may not be "that bad" compared to other people, but the problem we run into is our frame of reference. We hold ourselves up against our own standards and not the standards of a perfect, sinless God (forgive the generalizations). Human morality changes -- with the passage of time, with popular culture. Don't believe me...just look at what's on TV now compared to 20 years ago. You may argue that we've moved to a more tolerant, open-minded age, but that's not the point. The point is that morality has changed. Twenty years ago it wasn't considered moral to swear on TV whereas a few years back, South Park did an episode to count how many times it could say the "s" word. We may be "less up tight" now, but only because our idea of morality has changed. To God, however, morality is an absolute; it doesn't change with the times, it isn't swayed by public opinion. Sin, to God, is sin and He has to deal with that.
What do I mean by, "He has to deal with that"? Christians believe that God is without sin and that sin is contrary to His nature. In other words, God is all good and does not accept or condone sin. Additionally, we are God's creation and are responsible to Him for our actions. If, then, it's true as quoted above that all people are sinful, that sin is contrary to God's nature and is unacceptable to Him, and that we're responsible to God for our actions...God must respond to our sin. How does He respond? According to Romans 6:23 the wages of sin are death. Fortunately for us though, the story doesn't end there. In addition to all His other attributes, the Bible also tells us that God is love. So, God loves us, but he must respond to our sin, which, according to the Bible can only be atoned for by the shedding of blood. During old Testament times, God provided a system of recurring animal sacrifice to atone for sin; however, with Christ, God entered into a new covenant with His people and provided a sacrifice that would cover the sins of believers once and for all. That sacrifice was Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV)
So why is the name of Christ matchless? He endured the demands of justice, offered Himself in undefiled innocence, held Himself to the cross out of perfect and pure love for us and accepted willingly the price of every single sin from the heart of man. Through Jesus, by faith, we can become children of God (born again). "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12 (NIV)
Jesus Christ is matchless because it is through Him alone that we are reconciled to God.
This could have been much longer and I realize all sorts of different arguments can offshoot from a lot of what I've said. I admit I'm not all-knowing whatsoever and have a lot to learn. I welcome any and all discussions! Discussions about the Bible and about God are some of my favorite discussions to have. God Bless! |
|
Posted by ehubrex on 2008-01-25 23:05:35 | Rating: | Views: 93
|
| |
|
|
| Blog Comments
|
|
|
|
|
Excellent post.....My hat is off to you for such honesty.....May the Lord bless you more and more as you share your heart for him to all the world.....
|
|
Posted by Hollis
on 2008-01-25 23:51:56
|
|
|
|
|
|
