Tag: Death

God Sent Jesus to Demonstrate His Care

It is known that God cares for man. He made us in His image and gave us dominion over all the earth. He made us in that we were just below the angels in the grand scheme of things. We know this as it is written in His Word that is truth. Yet, the LORD found it important to do more for us. He sent Jesus to demonstrate to us that He cares for us.

“9But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” – Hebrews 2:9 (ESV)

I am glad to be reminded of the care God has for man. He sent Jesus, His only son, to die for me that I might not have to experience death for the sins I have committed. God did that for me. Jesus, where He came to live in this world with me, His brother, He came specifically to die for me. God demonstrated the ultimate caring for me in that Jesus came to die so that I would not have to.

I know what you might be thinking, but I am going to die, everyone dies. And yes, you are correct in that we all die physically in this world. The LORD sent Jesus that we might not die spiritually. My body will no longer be needed at some point and when that time comes, the LORD will take me to be with my brother, Jesus, in heaven where I will experience glory like I can only imagine. The LORD did that for me and for you, if we would only accept it and live it out.

“16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17 (ESV)

God demonstrates His love and care for you and me through is sending of Jesus for our sake. Jesus died so we would not have to.

What is your belief in the care of the LORD for you? Do you look at Him and wonder how He demonstrates His care for you? What if you looked at His sending Jesus to die for you as the ultimate demonstration of care for you?

Sin – Why Keep Talking About It

Well, because it is always a part of our lives. It is rooted in our DNA. I am a sinner, and I cannot escape that, in this world. I am no different than each of you. We are all sinners and need to understand that as we go through this world. We cannot escape it in this world, we can pursue God who provided the way out of sin, and He is waiting on us.

Back to this sin and why we cannot escape it in this world. James MacDonald has identified 5 reasons; We are determined, diseased, deceived, desperate, and destined sinners. I know what you are thinking as I thought the same, those are pretty strong reasons and if this is so, how do I escape.

“23For the wages of sin is death,” — Romans 6:23a (ESV)

Each of the above are terminal reasons. And even read the above verse. We are to be put to death for our sin. So there really is no escaping our sin, in this world. “Everything happening in the universe and in your heart that is sordid and sideways is because of sin” – James MacDonald. We are headed for certain death thanks to our sin.

“2020The soul who sins shall die.” – Ezekiel 18:20a (ESV)

So, if we are destined to die thanks to sin, why discuss it. Shouldn’t we just discuss things that are more positive, like getting what we want from this world. Even the bible says to let tomorrow worry about itself. Well, let’s discuss that. If death has been determined and we cannot escape it, we should think about positive things. How about we think about the way to escape. Remember above how I phrased the no escape, “in this world”. There is an escape and we should discuss that.

“23but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD.” – Romans 6:23b (ESV)

Look at that, the back half of Romans 6:23 gives us the answer. Eternal life is free from God with our belief in and trust in our savior who took our sin upon Himself and died, so that we do not have to. Yes, we will die, or pass, from this world, but we will live eternally in the New Heaven and New Earth without sin. So there is an escape, through Jesus Christ.

Here is what I have thought about this morning. I am, and all of us are, a sinner. I cannot escape it in this world. I am determined, diseased, deceived, desperate, and destined a sinner. It is in my DNA thanks to my ancestors, Adam and Eve. As a sinner, I am doomed to continue to experience sin in this world, as long as I am here. The consequence of my sin is death, but I can escape that consequence through the life giving sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He took my sin, yes mine, and paid for it with His death.

That is what I should think and discuss, the idea that my sin is there, and in this world I cannot shake it. I have to remember sin by talking about it and then shift to the escape from it. Jesus died for me and in the New Heaven and New Earth I will finally escape sin thanks to Him.

What are your discussions of sin? Are you working to try and avoid it for something more positive? What if you did keep talking about it to be reminded of your sin and then added in that the only escape is in the New Heaven and New Earth thanks to our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ?