"In Whom...."

"....in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."  (Colossians 1:14)

One of the most stupid accusations in history is the accusation that the Jews killed Jesus.  They did not.  Your sin and my sin did that.

There are many of the later translations which point out that the phrase, "through His blood," is not in the "most reliable translations."  No matter.  If it was "added later," I believe Holy Spirit was in the "adding," because as the Book of Hebrews puts it, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

I have written before that when my Dad was in seminary in the 1930s, many were calling the theology of forgiveness in the Blood of Jesus "a slaughterhouse religion."  The attempt was like the attempt today of the humanist, viz., take some human aversion and replace truth/reality with humanist feelings, and nothing but feelings is the reality of humanism.  It comes back to "what makes sense."  But I can say that if it "makes sense" to a sinful race, it is probably not God.

You and I have, "redemption (forgiveness, justification) in [Jesus'] Blood." No amount of praying, singing, evangelism, church programs (which includes your church, not just that liberal bastion down the street), or any spiritual effort on our part brings the forgiveness of sin.  The foregoing come after the forgiveness of sin.  Never mistake our perceived "spirituality" as our forgiveness.

"Jesus paid it all.  All to Him I owe."  Any, even subtle, attempt at thinking that you and I are "closer to salvation" than that blasphemous sinner we may know is nothing but deception of the highest order.  You and I are, "accepted in the Beloved," only in the Blood of, "the Beloved," Jesus.  The hymn writer was absolutely spot on when he penned, "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You for the Blood of Jesus.  Amen.
************

* Article on "Easing German-Israeli Tensions" at: jhs58.blogspot.com
* Tomorrow, April 6, I will be at the Army War College in Carlisle, PA, for the "Arrows of Glory Summit," a gathering of various Indian Tribes.
* Israel, April 17-24

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

The "Guard" Over "[]Our Hearts"

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7, NIV)

I not only do not understand, "the peace of God," I don't understand much of anything of the Universe and the "ways of the Lord," which, by the way, "are past finding out."

I looked out the window this morning and saw neighbors' houses, the hillside full of leafless trees, beyond to the clouds and infrequent appearance of blue sky.  I then realized that "beyond the blue," there is the endless blackness of space.  Then I contemplated for awhile the flow of history, the many events which seem to have no "rhyme nor reason," not seeming to fit into any "logical pattern."  Also, I thought of a man in our congregation who passed away recently, one for whom our church prayed and prayed.  Then I came back to our text, "....transcends ('passes')all understanding...."

The longer I live, the less I understand, can explain, can fathom.  I shared that not long ago I spoke in a church gathering in another city and afterward spoke with a man who had lost his oldest child.  I told him that only, "the Words of God," brought me out of a catatonic state, and keep me living.  He did not react, I mean at all.  It was as though I had just attempted to explain to him a principle of differential calculus.

I come back to my definition of faith: Acceptance of whatever Jesus says.  Jesus tells me that His, "peace...transcends all understanding."  Jesus tells me that His, "ways are past finding out," or, "beyond tracing out," or, "unfathomable."  It is erroneous to say, "I wish I had more faith."  It is like saying, "I wish I had more obedience."  I have Jesus, of Whom the Bible says, "is our peace."  The "whys" and "wherefores" He never seems to answer.  An attempt to "have faith" in the realm of some sort of, "understanding," will find only a faith of our making.  Besides, if I could understand faith, or peace, or grace, or mercy, they probably would not be God's. 

I read this morning how our Lord Jesus defeated Satan by, "the Words of God," and so also for you and me.  And, those Words tell us that, "....the peace of God," is never in, "understanding."  His Words tell us that we only have, "....the peace of God...in Christ Jesus."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You do what I cannot, and mostly what I do not understand.  I say with the hymn writer, "It is enough that Jesus died and that He died for me."  Amen.  

*****************
* Will be Friday at the War College in Carlisle, PA, for a gathering of various Indian tribes.
* Israel:  April 17-24

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

--
Posted By Antipas Prayer Force: to Antipas Prayer Force Devotionals at 4/04/2018 02:03:00 PM