Friday, April 14, 2006
A PEACE RELIGION
It's been awhile since I've posted anything on this site. My personal friend, Pastor and Author, J Grant Swank, has posted the following message that I'm passing on to you... and trusting that it will be a blessing to you on this Good Friday...
Here's a PEACE RELIGION
Scapegoat
Friday, April 14, 2006 -- J. Grant Swank, Jr.
". . .to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. . ." Ephesians 3:11Jesus did not come to earth to be a martyr. He did not come to sympathize for our pain.Jesus came as Sinless Sacrifice. Only Jesus, the One who knew now sin, could satisfy the justice of eternity.
Therefore, Jesus died on the cross to procure our salvation. That was the "eternal purpose" which deity "purposed in Christ Jesus."Second person of the trinity created this world.
Second person of the trinity incarnated Himself in this world. Second person of the trinity died on the cross for this world. Second person of the trinity ascended from this world. Second person of the trinity will return to this world to rule. Second person of the trinity will present all things to the Father at the dissolving of this world.Before this world was molded, second person of the trinity set Himself aside as its Sinless Sacrifice in case the project went wrong. It did go wrong. Therefore, second person of the trinity became our "propitiation"--our substitute.
Consequently, once again, Jesus came not here to be martyr nor sympathize with our pain but to die in our place. If He had not, we would all be doomed to damnation. That is the magnitude of Calvary, the most significant historic event of this planet. Jesus was born to die as our scapegoat.
Therefore, when Jesus was in His public ministry, He did not call His disciples to perform miracles or stage evangelistic campaigns. Jesus called His disciples to deny their own rights in order to pick up their day-by-day crosses in following Him.Because Jesus' chief purpose for this sphere's span was the cross, He made it clear that the disciple's chief purpose is the cross. It all makes balanced sense.
Further, as the disciple carries faithfully his cross, Jesus is there at that cross. There can be no more meaningful place for Jesus to reside than at the cross of each grace child for it was the Calvary cross that drew Jesus to earth.Everything centers on the cross--the cross of Jesus and the cross of each believer. Cross is central to every dimension of the faith. However, it is the cross that we most neglect.
The birth of Jesus receives exceptional attention for there is little pain there. The resurrection receives its due for it is jubilant. But the cross basically is sidelined for it is a call to suffering and only the truly astute souls understand the blessing of that suffering.
Here's a PEACE RELIGION
Scapegoat
Friday, April 14, 2006 -- J. Grant Swank, Jr.
". . .to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. . ." Ephesians 3:11Jesus did not come to earth to be a martyr. He did not come to sympathize for our pain.Jesus came as Sinless Sacrifice. Only Jesus, the One who knew now sin, could satisfy the justice of eternity.
Therefore, Jesus died on the cross to procure our salvation. That was the "eternal purpose" which deity "purposed in Christ Jesus."Second person of the trinity created this world.
Second person of the trinity incarnated Himself in this world. Second person of the trinity died on the cross for this world. Second person of the trinity ascended from this world. Second person of the trinity will return to this world to rule. Second person of the trinity will present all things to the Father at the dissolving of this world.Before this world was molded, second person of the trinity set Himself aside as its Sinless Sacrifice in case the project went wrong. It did go wrong. Therefore, second person of the trinity became our "propitiation"--our substitute.
Consequently, once again, Jesus came not here to be martyr nor sympathize with our pain but to die in our place. If He had not, we would all be doomed to damnation. That is the magnitude of Calvary, the most significant historic event of this planet. Jesus was born to die as our scapegoat.
Therefore, when Jesus was in His public ministry, He did not call His disciples to perform miracles or stage evangelistic campaigns. Jesus called His disciples to deny their own rights in order to pick up their day-by-day crosses in following Him.Because Jesus' chief purpose for this sphere's span was the cross, He made it clear that the disciple's chief purpose is the cross. It all makes balanced sense.
Further, as the disciple carries faithfully his cross, Jesus is there at that cross. There can be no more meaningful place for Jesus to reside than at the cross of each grace child for it was the Calvary cross that drew Jesus to earth.Everything centers on the cross--the cross of Jesus and the cross of each believer. Cross is central to every dimension of the faith. However, it is the cross that we most neglect.
The birth of Jesus receives exceptional attention for there is little pain there. The resurrection receives its due for it is jubilant. But the cross basically is sidelined for it is a call to suffering and only the truly astute souls understand the blessing of that suffering.
