God’s desires for mankind can be summed up in one word: fellowship.
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”
Notice that the above statement from the apostle Paul packs a punch. Paul describes himself, in so many words, as the most qualified person on the planet to stake a claim to righteousness by birthright, education, works of the Law, and sufferings. However, he considers it all rubbish compared to what he has gained from Jesus! Why was he making these claims? He recognized what we all must conclude: without Jesus, mankind is doomed to Hell.
The number one thing Jesus had to do was eliminate the gargantuan problem buzzing in mankind’s face — the one thing that used to be the gold standard of righteous living had now become the very thing that kept mankind from having a relationship with God — the Law (Torah). The Law was meant to be a mirror into which mankind would be able to see how unclean they were no matter how good they tried to be.
The Law makes nobody holy. Just because I come to a three-second stop at an intersection, that doesn’t make me holy, just a law-abiding citizen. There is no transformation, just a constant remembrance of my ability to keep the Law. No personal growth, just a potential of self-righteousness based on my feelings of accomplishment that have nothing to do with a personal relationship, let alone a revelation, of God.
Self-righteous people are those who think they don’t need God as much as others. They display their good deeds to show Him how good they are and how they don’t really need His help. And, since they don’t need His help, they believe He is now free to go help someone who needs it — as if He wasn’t able to solve every single one of mankind’s needs at the same time! Regardless of how any unbeliever thinks and feels about him or her self, the covenant Law and God’s judgment of each sinner remains in effect.*
Image by AngiYowell from Pixabay
The Law had to be dealt with once and for all. Jesus had to eliminate the barrier between God and man if there was ever going to be a Way to perfect mankind so this would be possible. The first thing Jesus would have to do to eliminate the Law was to fulfill the Law and the prophets (prophecy about the Messiah). The second thing He had to do was to lay down His life as a ransom for all mankind — to make atonement for all our sins.
That sounds well and good, but how could one man do that? It’s not like just anybody is able to completely change two cultures at the same time, right? Well …
“14 For he [Jesus] himself is our peace, who has made the two groups [Jew and Gentile] one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of cultural hostility, 15 by abolishing the law [Torah], with its commands and regulations, in his flesh. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”
By laying down His life for all mankind, Jesus eliminated the dividing wall — that is, the Mosaic Covenant — making a way where there was no way for all mankind to be one, big happy family. You might wonder why many Jews and Gentiles still don’t get along to this day. Well, not everyone was happy about this spiritual seismic shift! The devil wasn’t just going to give up and let his captives go free! So, that means Jesus had to address another problem, as well — the kingdom of Hell.
Death is Defeated
Satan has been stripped of his power because Jesus dealt with the curse of sin and death once and for all on the cross. With this incredible victory over death by dying, He eternally owns every legal right to complete authority in the world and Heaven, forever establishing Him as the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This same victory gave Him ALL the power and authority that mankind lost to Satan as a result of the original sin/Meal Covenant. Furthermore, He has given us the authority to contend with the enemy of our souls!
“18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
Jesus also defeated the accuser of the brethren (Satan) and made a display of his power and authority as He did an incredibly awesome thing — perhaps the most humble thing He ever did — die on the Cross.
“13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Fellowship is incredibly difficult when the other person is dead. How could there be the possibility of a relationship with Jesus unless He is alive? The key to God’s forgiveness is Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.
His precious blood, spilled on our behalf, permanently eliminated the need for any additional blood sacrifices all while bringing us into a blood covenant with Almighty God. This isn’t just any covenant partnership, but an incredibly awesome and glorious one!
“29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Jesus’ lifestyle of self-sacrifice is our example. He calls us to follow Him and carry our cross daily. How can we do that if we are struggling to die to self? Many of us are simply trying to find/remain in a place of freedom and aspire to a vigorous lifestyle. What does “dying to self” really mean? What does it look like?
The idea of “dying to self” means we sacrifice what we would rather do (sin) and do what God asks of us instead. We lay down our agenda and take up His. In doing so, we choose Him over our fleshly desires — the same desires that caused us to be dead in our sins and an enemy of God.
“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”
We typically have discovered, after we have sinned and the act is completed, we are left holding the doggie bag of regret. At the moment of decision, the inner voice of sin-hungry flesh screamed louder than the inner cry of our spirit’s desire to be faithful to God … and the guilty conscience remains as an inner voice of judgment and condemnation seeking to berate us because we fell short — again.
Guilty consciences are a byproduct of someone who fears approaching God with their sins. They think God is a punisher and seeks to gain retribution when all He wants to do is offer grace and forgiveness and reestablish the relationship. People wracked with a guilty conscience are typically laden with shame.
“Guilt says we did something wrong.
Shame says we are something wrong.”
Jesus has done everything that the Messiah needed to accomplish, and that means we don’t need to fear God in a craven way, but revere Him as God and approach Him as our loving, Heavenly Father. We need not be afraid of judgment and God’s wrath any longer. He’s not looking for you to slip up so He can punish you — that’s not His heart toward His children. His desire is that we would forsake all others and choose Him to have and to hold from this day forward no matter what happens. He loves us all, but not everyone loves Him back. Christians simply have chosen to enter into the Blood Covenant in Jesus because we said, “I do,” at the altar — instead of sacrificing a lamb.
Prayer
Holy Father God, You reign forever! As followers of Your Son Jesus, we share in Your goodness and grace as Your adopted children. I adore You, Lord, and want to draw closer to You the more I learn about my place in Your heart and Kingdom. Thank You so very much for embracing me as Your own. I am at a loss for words as I contemplate Your gracious and merciful love for me! Thank You for blessing me with the opportunity for a brand new life in Jesus! Thank You, Jesus, for taking my place on the cross! I confess today that You are my God and I will forever be devoted to You and Your Kingdom. Embrace me, my Father, because I still go through some difficult times. Help me to know who I am and guide me into all truth by Your Holy Spirit. Bless Your holy name! In Jesus’ name, amen!
* Christians do not face the same judgment as sinners as if we were unsaved, but we are held accountable for the words we use.
Banner photo by Paul Zoetemeijer @ Unsplash