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The Most Important
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Rebellion... |
In fact, you and I have not only failed to acknowledge Him as our Maker and Father, we have actively rebelled against Him. Through many immoral and amoral acts, thoughts and attitudes, we continue to grieve the One Who cares for us most. There is a word for this rebellion. The word has been misused so often, its
meaning has been perverted, sometimes even to mean something good. But rebellion
against our Creator is anything but good. It is what has traditionally been called
"sin," and it has caused a split between us and the One Who designed
us and loves us. |
God's "dilemma" |
Because He loves us, He cannot stand to allow this split to remain. Unlike human love, his love is perfect. But unlike human justice, His justice is also perfect. And a perfectly just God cannot allow sin to go unpunished without ceasing to be perfectly just. Perfection is His nature and He simply cannot go against His nature without ceasing to be God. So he cannot allow us do whatever we want and just say, "Oh I can let this one slide." The guilty being allowed to carry on doing evil is not justice. But because of His perfect love, He cannot stand to be apart from us either. Now He has a dilemma. (That is, for you and I it would be a dilemma. But God knows exactly what He's going to do). Perfect justice demands a penalty but perfect love demands reconciliation. So He decided to pay the price Himself. He came to Earth in the form of a Man. He came fully man - able to feel pain, hunger and all we feel, even experience death - and yet fully God, for only God would not have His own debt to pay. And He willingly went to the cross, allowing Himself to be executed to pay the price for our sin. The Man is Jesus Christ. He gave His life for our sakes and rose from the dead
to prove His Godhood and show how we too can be raised to eternal life. Now, all
who will accept His sacrifice can actually enjoy a relationship with Him here
and now, as well as enjoy eternal life with Him in Heaven. As one time-honored
document puts it, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." |
This is not a
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Traditional biblical Christianity has always been presented as a series of facts, not merely as a philosophy of life. The fact that there is one God, Creator of the universe, Who has always existed in three Persons; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The fact that mankind was separated from God by sin; the historical fact of
Jesus' birth, life on Earth, death, and resurrection and the fact that this was
God's plan to close that separation; the fact that faith in Jesus Christ alone
is what is needed to heal the separation for each individual. |
Being good is not enough |
No amount of good deeds will suffice, it is the faith that saves you from eternal separation with your Maker. Good deeds are a result of your faith in Christ, not the condition for entrance to Heaven. Then there is the fact that Jesus promised another Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to live in the hearts of all who seek a relationship with Him. All these are facts, but they have no relevance to us unless we embrace them through faith by beginning a relationship with the One who paid your ransom for you...
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