Q: JUST TO REMIND YOU... Do know the “magnitude” of how much Jesus is in love with “YOU”?..Check out the video by K-Nine called “FOR YOU”, and it will show the deep deep love that Jesus has for “YOU”…
A: There is a word used in the better translations of the scripture called propitiation. To propitiate means to appease or satisfy. Unlike most depictions of the death of Jesus Christ, the movie the Passion of the Christ comes remarkably close to showing us what He suffered. In Isaiah 53 we read that Jesus was "pierced," "crushed," "smitten," "stricken," "despised" and "rejected." Isaiah 52:14 says "his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness." That should give all of us pause. How many of us realize that our sins deserve to be treated that way by God? Furthermore, how many of us realize that we don't even have a life to give that would satisfy God as payment for our sins? Saints, when we watch a music video trying to set the death of Christ to a funky beat and a catchy rhyme let us not bob our heads to the rhythm, but bow our heads in thankfulness. God did for us what we could not do for ourselves because He loves us.
"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin And if anyone sins,we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the PROPITIATION for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world (1 Jn 2:1-2)." When we sin all we can do is say thank you, Jesus. Our sins are so terrible that they deserve death. And it took the death of God Himself to pay the debt we owed Him. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was once, for all and for eternity! And "In him WE HAVE redemption through his blood, the FORGIVENESS of sins (Eph 1:7)." Because of all Jesus endured on our behalf, God no longer remembers our sins. Therefore, they do not separate us from Him any more. The next time you sin don't ask God to forgive you when He already has. Rather, thank God that because of the death of Jesus Christ you already are forgiven. ""Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (Jn 15:13)." He did that FOR YOU! Amen.
Q: Why is "prayer" so important in a Christian's life?
A: Prayer is simply intelligent, personal and private conversation with your God where you express the desires of your heart with Him. Jesus called the disciples His "friends" because as He put it, "everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you (Jn 15:15)." God is your friend just as much as He is anything else to us. How do you talk to you friends? You simply open up to them. Why do you open up to them? Because you trust them. What do you expect from them? To listen and to give heartfelt and wise counsel. When do you talk to them? In private. Do you hold anything back when you talk? No. When Jesus was about to go to the cross the Bible tells us (Mth 26) that He "went away" and prayed. We read where as He prayed He "fell on His face" and asked God, three times, to remove the burden He had to carry. This is a perfect example of what God wants us to do.
We are to go away in private and bear our souls to the Lord. He is our friend and He wants to listen to us, comfort us and instruct us. We go away in private because it is then that we are honest and open with our God not putting on the front that can often accompany praying in public or with groups. And be thankful that you can pray unceasingly, to bring your requests to Him and be confident that He is listening because He has done everything possible for you in order to make it possible. Because our sins no longer separate us from God He is available to us anywhere at any time. We can "then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb 4:16)." God wants you to express the desires of your heart to Him without the fear of being ignored, rebuked or punished. Prayer, in many cases, is the only way to learn and get clarity on the things God has given us. Rejoice in the fact that the God of this universe is available to you at all times. Be blessed.
Q: Jesus says pick up your "Cross" daily and "follow" me..What does that mean?
A: When Jesus said this in Luke 9:23, He was speaking to spiritually dead, not born again, disciples who were steeped in the Mosaic Law. Therefore, when He explained to them that daily picking up their cross was to "deny" themselves, to "lose" their lives and not to "gain the whole world" this had significant meaning to them. Much of the Mosaic Law was not about denying yourself and was about obtaining things here on earth through the blessings of the flesh if one was obedient to it. As many of the disciples would soon find out, after Jesus' death and resurrection, their desires would change because they would be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. It is not much different with us today.
We are told by the world and by much of the Church not only to try and "gain the world," but that God promises it to us if we just submit to certain teachings. This is the opposite of denying yourself and picking up your cross.The cross each individual Christian bears is unique to each believer. When you accept Christ by faith, you receive everything you need for life and godliness and every spiritual blessing. This meets the deepest desires of your heart that you believed "gaining the world" would fulfill. Now, whatever it is you once chased after is what you deny yourself from seeking as you grow in Christ. You recognize it for what it is worth, nothing. Now, your desires are to be used by God to allow Him to love the world through you. You "lose" your life and gain a new one. You no longer try and "gain the world," but allow the Lord to try and "save the world" through you. And just like Jesus you may "suffer many things" and be "rejected," but you know that is the cross you bear for delighting yourself in the Lord. Be blessed.
Q: What is the "true" meaning of forgiveness? Also how do you know you have "truly" forgiven someone who did you wrong?
A: Imagine you owed me a debt you could not pay. That being the case, would you have any fellowship with me? Would you feel comfortable enough to approach me? Would you feel I loved you? Would you feel separated from me? Would you say you are sorry every time you encountered me and promise to try harder next time to pay me back? Would you live in fear... See More of me? If that is the case, how would that burden you are bearing effect those around you? Would you be difficult to be around? Would you expect them to pay the debt they owed you so you could pay your debt to me? Could you love them unconditionally? Would they want to be around you? Think about it. Now, imagine I canceled the debt you owed me. What would be your response? It would probably be "Thank you." Now, how would being released from your debt effect our relationship and the relationships you have with others?
Saints, that is exactly what Jesus' death on the cross accomplished for us. When He died He said, "it is finished (Jn 19:30)." That means paid in full. John the Baptist said Jesus was the one who "takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29)." Because of the death of Jesus God is "not counting men's sins against them (2 Cor 5:19)." For those of us in Christ we have fellowship with God because "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (1 Cor 1:9)." We can now "approach the throne of grace with confidence (Heb 4:16)." Our sins no longer separate us from God because nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:39)." The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23), not an apology. It is not an act of faith to keep asking God to forgive us for sins He no longer remembers. There is no more sacrifice for sin (Heb 10:17-18). This means put away your confession booths, your 1 John 1:9s, answering altar calls, keeping short accounts, repetitive prayers, or whatever sacrifices you perform that are not accepted by God nor required by Him. It is time to "Be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:20)" and believe Him!
You will never grow in your relationship with God, never experience His love for you and never "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Eph 4:32)" unless you believe God has forgiven you. This is the most important issue for you as a Christian. I pray that today you recognize this truth and be reconciled to God. YBIC!
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