Republished rom April 3, 2010:
Yesterday was good Friday. Good for us and good for Jesus. Many don't understand how the crucifixion was good in any aspect.
Jesus the Christ came down from Heaven to earth on an express mission. His mission was to die, to shed his blood, to pay once and for all the penalty of our sins. Thus he did at the cross. He took on him the sins of the whole world-- past, present and future. He took our place that we might not have to pay that penalty. He fulfilled his mission, so in that respect it was good for him. Had he not gone to the cross he'd have failed in his express mission.
And for us the crucifixion was good because he paid the ransom for our freedom--freedom from the bondage and penalty of our sin. He took our stripes and by His stripes we are healed.
But this process of redemption only began at the cross. After his death on the cross, he was taken from the cross, placed in a sealed tomb guarded by Roman soldiers. It was certain death for them should they allow his body to be taken. So they guarded it with that in mind.
Lo--on the third day the stone was rolled away and his body was not there. The grave clothes were there, but no body. He had risen from the dead, thus proving that he was indeed God incarnate.
His death and resurrection was observed and recorded by many...500 at one time, and many many others at various times after the resurrection.....right up until he ascended on high.
He is not dead for he is risen. He is risen indeed.
Why did he come to earth? This verse from the New Testament of the Bible sums it up:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son (Jesus), that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
How shall we believe in him whom we have not seen? Faith, dear readers. It is by faith--faith in the finished work of Jesus the Christ-- that ye are saved, through grace, and that not of yourselves. It (your salvation) is the gift of God, and not of works, lest any man should boast.
We can not earn our salvation. Entrance to heaven is not achieved by your good deeds outweighing the bad ones.
Entrance to heaven--salvation--is a free gift, to be received by those who will believe on his name. As it is written in the Holy Script: whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord (Jesus Christ) shall be saved.
That is the glory of Easter. That God so love us, he came down, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
Jesus the Christ came down from Heaven to earth on an express mission. His mission was to die, to shed his blood, to pay once and for all the penalty of our sins. Thus he did at the cross. He took on him the sins of the whole world-- past, present and future. He took our place that we might not have to pay that penalty. He fulfilled his mission, so in that respect it was good for him. Had he not gone to the cross he'd have failed in his express mission.
And for us the crucifixion was good because he paid the ransom for our freedom--freedom from the bondage and penalty of our sin. He took our stripes and by His stripes we are healed.
But this process of redemption only began at the cross. After his death on the cross, he was taken from the cross, placed in a sealed tomb guarded by Roman soldiers. It was certain death for them should they allow his body to be taken. So they guarded it with that in mind.
Lo--on the third day the stone was rolled away and his body was not there. The grave clothes were there, but no body. He had risen from the dead, thus proving that he was indeed God incarnate.
His death and resurrection was observed and recorded by many...500 at one time, and many many others at various times after the resurrection.....right up until he ascended on high.
He is not dead for he is risen. He is risen indeed.
Why did he come to earth? This verse from the New Testament of the Bible sums it up:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son (Jesus), that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
How shall we believe in him whom we have not seen? Faith, dear readers. It is by faith--faith in the finished work of Jesus the Christ-- that ye are saved, through grace, and that not of yourselves. It (your salvation) is the gift of God, and not of works, lest any man should boast.
We can not earn our salvation. Entrance to heaven is not achieved by your good deeds outweighing the bad ones.
Entrance to heaven--salvation--is a free gift, to be received by those who will believe on his name. As it is written in the Holy Script: whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord (Jesus Christ) shall be saved.
That is the glory of Easter. That God so love us, he came down, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.