Category: What Is the Gospel?

The Four Gospel Revelations of John the Baptist: Son of Man

 

 

 

 

 

The first three articles in this series showed how John the Baptist announced that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, the risen Son of God, who is Lord of all, and the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, the Lord of the Harvest. This article focuses on Jesus’ fourth ministry or role as the glorious Son of Man prophesied in the book of Daniel. The first three roles have already been fulfilled, but his last one still waits for its completion. This will be our Lord’s most glorious moment in God’s great salvation plan. It will happen at the Second Coming.

Here are John’s words.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8  Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9  Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10  Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. 11  “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12  He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” Matthew 3:7-12 (NLT)

Even though John did not specifically call Jesus the Son of Man, the above passage fully describes his role is the Judge of all the earth. Although Jesus’ death as God’s Lamb was crucial to our salvation, acknowledging his lordship is the criteria Paul gives for obtaining the benefits of that death and resurrection. (Romans 10:9-10) When we confess that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge and voluntarily choose to come under his rule, which is the fundamental act of repentance. For the last two thousand years or so, we have been in the Great Commission phase of God’s plan, which the Bible calls the “last days.” As this epoch draws to a close, we anticipate the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophesy that he gave the night of his betrayal and the miscarriage of justice called his trial.

When Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin, whose determined purpose was to condemn him, they asked him if he were indeed the Messiah King of Israel, which would justify their accusing him of blasphemy against God and treachery against Rome, thereby bringing on the death penalty. Jesus gave them everything they wanted and more. Instead of merely affirming that he was the Messiah, he identified himself as the glorious divine Son of Man prophesied by Daniel.

But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64  Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:63-64 (NLT)

Jesus’ words referenced Daniel’s prophesy about a glorious heavenly being who will sit in judgment over all the earth. (Daniel 7:13-14) At this future point in history, which is surely coming, there will no longer be any doubt at all for anyone as to Jesus’ true identity. No longer will naysayers claim that he was merely a prophet or a fine teacher. No more will anyone be able to say that he was a mythical person. None will declare that his resurrection was a fable concocted by his misguided followers. At that time, everyone will see him in his terrifying glory.

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”Revelation 1:7-8 (ESV)

Before his return, God has given us the opportunity to clearly hear the gospel call to bow the knee to Jesus, the Lord of Lords. What we do in response to this call is on us and will determine our eternal destiny. One day it will be too late. On that glorious day when Jesus returns as promised, every knee will be forced to bow and every tongue confess who he is. There will be no option.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

Although the Bible says that today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2) and Jesus continues to show mercy to those who ask for forgiveness, do not think for a moment that he is too weak or kindly to enforce God’s justice and wrath at the proper time. Though he is patient, God the Father does not wink at sin or coddle rebellion against his Son’s rule. There is coming a day of judgment.

Those who do not tap into the river of God’s mercy by declaring allegiance to the risen Messiah King, the Lamb who was slain, will rue their mistake at the Second Coming when God’s judgment comes down like a hammer.

The Book of Revelation teaches us that we who believe will rejoice in God’s judgment of the wicked.

After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. 2  His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of his servants.” 3  And again their voices rang out: “Praise the LORD! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!” 4  Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, “Amen! Praise the LORD!” 5  And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.” Revelation 19:1-5 (NLT)

Until Christ returns we preach a gospel of hope for those who are willing to repent and declare allegiance to the risen Lord Jesus, but that gospel contains the warning of impending judgment.

God’s mercy can only be properly understood against the backdrop of looming wrath.

Just as artists use darkness to contrast with light, the gospel uses the beauty of God’s mercy to contrast with the horrors of divine judgment. If God is simply a heavenly smiley face who never judges anyone, our gospel message is farcical. Why on earth would Jesus have to die, then? He would be a misguided tragic figure at best. But in fact our Lord absorbed the wrath of God on the cross on our behalf so that we will be able to escape God’s wrath at the Last Judgment. (1 Thessalonians 5:9) The gospel holds out to us the promise that all who call upon the Lord will be shown the same mercy. This is gospel that Peter preached. (Acts 2:40) It is the gospel Paul preached. (Acts 17:30-31) It is the gospel John the Baptist preached. It is what Jesus preached. We can do no less.

Share this post...

The Four Gospel Revelations of John the Baptist: The Baptizer in the Holy Spirit

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus Is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit.

The first two articles in this series showed how John the Baptist announced that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and the risen Son of God, who is Lord of all. This article focuses of Jesus’ third ministry or role as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Everyone who is a Christ follower knows about Jesus’ role as the Savior who died for our sins. Fewer, perhaps, fully embrace his lordship; although, acknowledging his rule is the gateway to salvation, according to Romans 10:9-10. Still fewer understand the importance of the baptism in the Spirit and recognize and receive this key ministry of our Lord.

John the Baptist said the following about it.

“I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:33 (NASB)

Jesus’ identity as the baptizer in the Holy Spirit, identifies him as the Lord of the Harvest. The baptism in the Spirit is a gift he gives to his people to equip and empower them to be his witnesses.

Jesus admonished his followers to wait in Jerusalem until this gift was poured out on the first New Covenant Pentecost, saying:

...“Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”...8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8 (NLT)

The baptism in the Spirit is so important that the first believers were commanded to refrain from announcing the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection and lordship until they first received it. In Acts Chapter 2 we have the account of when this happened, with the result that 3000 people surrendered their lives to Christ after hearing Peter’s Spirit inspired and empowered gospel message!

The power and presence of the Holy Spirit that was released in the disciples when they were baptized in the Spirit launched the church into fulfilling the Great Commission. God intended for this to be the model for all believers going forward.

(If you wish to learn more about this amazing gift, you may wish to purchase my book, Promise of the Father, which is available on Amazon, and read my other articles on the subject.)

As is the case with the lordship of Christ, this aspect of Jesus’ ministry also flies in the face of modern-day consumerism. Unless we surrender to Christ’s lordship, embrace the call to obey the Great Commission, and receive the empowering of the Spirit, believing in the Lamb of God can become a self-centered pursuit of blessings.

Rather than allowing us to comfortably settle for being churchgoers, the Lord of the Harvest, the Baptizer in the Spirit calls us to radical discipleship, evangelism, and obedience to the Great Commission – “Go and make disciples.”

It takes great courage to testify to the Lordship of Jesus and to trumpet his call to repentance from a self-directed life. That is why we need to be empowered by the Spirit. When we share the gospel, we should include the challenge to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit as part of the complete package. We do not want anyone to settle for less than God intended. That is how the early Church did things.

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (NASB)

They were committed to knowing Christ as Baptizer in the Spirit and fulfilling the Great Commission. We can do no less.

Prayer

Jesus, I received you as my Savior and declared allegiance to you as my Lord. Now I see that you want me to know you as Baptizer in the Spirit, too, and receive this marvelous empowering to be your witness. Jesus, I ask you to baptize me in the Spirit right now. I receive it by faith. Holy Spirit, overflow in my life to be a bold witness. Let your gifts flow through me without restraint. Help me to be led and empowered by you throughout the day, every day. Amen.

Share this post...

The Four Gospel Revelations of John the Baptist: The Son of God

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ (Anointed One), the long awaited Messianic King of Israel, the Lord of Lords.

Not only did John the Baptist announce that Jesus is God’s Lamb, he also told the world that he is God’s Son, which is another way of saying he is the Messianic King, the Christ, the Lord of Lords.

“This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:30-34 (NASB)

This declaration corresponds to what is perhaps the most important revelation each individual person must receive from God in order to be saved.

Unless we understand by the Spirit that Jesus is Lord, we cannot be born again. (John 6:40)

In the previous article, I showed how John the Baptist introduced Jesus to Israel and the world as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. Jesus was able to forgive sins because he is the God-man, the eternal Word of God who became a human. This enabled him to be a perfect offering, without the blemish of sin, fulfilling the Old Covenant sacrificial requirements. Not only was it a shocking announcement that Jesus would be a human sacrifice to provide forgiveness of sins, but that also this blessing would be extended to the whole world! Jesus was not simply a Jewish savior, he was and is the savior of the world! (1 John 4:14) Likewise, when the God-man rose from the grave, he did so as the Lord of all creation, not just the Jews!

The Pharisees quickly recognized that Jesus had to be equal to God in order to forgive sins.

“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:7 (NASB)

Jesus was put to death for claiming to be God, and thereby Lord, not simply because he forgave. The early disciples were martyred for declaring that Jesus is Lord, not simply that he is Savior.

The world system does not object too much to a “personal savior” who removes sin and guilt, but it will fight to the death any claims that Jesus has absolute sovereignty over our lives and all creation.

The Antichrist and those influenced by that spirit of rebellion refuse to bow the knee to Jesus, the King. Our Lord was put to death because the Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities condemned him for claiming to be the Messiah King of Israel and God’s Son.

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” John 19:7 (NASB)

Our witness as followers of Christ must always include acknowledging his claims to Lordship, if we are going to be authentic and true to the gospel. Consider the following verses.

He [Jesus] *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:15-17 (NASB)

Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” John 1:49 (NASB)

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 1 John 5:1 (NASB)

Here is where the true gospel radically departs from consumerism. The proclamation that Jesus forgives our sins appeals to our consumer instincts. We get something for nothing. Who can beat that? If our idea of what it means to be a Christ follower stops here, we are deceived.

The announcement that Jesus is Lord flips consumerism on its head.

Jesus died as God’s Lamb, doing for us what we could never do for ourselves – pay for our sins, but he rose as the Lord of Lords, who deserves and demands our worship and obedience.

and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:4 (NLT)

The primary revelation each person must receive in order to be a born-again follower of Christ pertains to our Lord’s identity, who he is now. First and foremost, he is the risen Lord, the King of Kings, and the Son of God.

Seeing (believing) who Jesus is by revelation and faith and acknowledging his identity and greatness is what saves us.

...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)

Jesus asked his disciples to tell him how they understood his identity in order to discern if the Holy Spirit had yet opened their spiritual eyes. Our Lord did not make it easy for people. He did not say, “Repeat after me: you are the Son of God.” He depended on the Spirit to do the inner work in people’s hearts, just as we must. To try to help people “get saved” by some other method, such as asking them to repeat a prayer as their entry point into the new birth, can give people a false sense of security, if the prayer was not preceded by revelation, repentance, and faith. Praying for Jesus to reveal himself to us as we surrender ourselves to him is perhaps a better way to go about it. God is looking for honesty and reality, not easy believism. The Holy Spirit is perfectly able and willing to communicate to people what they need to know about Jesus. If we believe this, we will understand that we must never skip over the crucial step of a person’s receiving revelation about Christ from the Spirit. We will encourage our hearers to seek God until they find him.

The essence of the Christian faith is our acknowledgement of and surrender to Jesus the Lord. Anything less is suspect of being false.

The necessary prelude of this acknowledgement is repentance and turning away from our deeply ingrained determination to live independently from God, which was birthed in the garden when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit.

Repentance combined with the declaration that Jesus is Lord is the antidote to the poison of self-centered living.

Prayer

Jesus, I understand now that you require me to abandon my quest to live free from your rule. I repent from my sinful determination to live apart from you and your will. Please forgive me and set me free to live as your joyful servant. I acknowledge and confess that you are the risen Lord of Lords. Holy Spirit, help me to tell others about Jesus. Amen.

Share this post...

The Four Gospel Revelations of John the Baptist: The Lamb of God

 

 

 

 

 

God gave John the Baptist the privilege and responsibility of introducing Jesus the Messiah to Israel and the world. Although he did not do many mighty works and not many of his words are recorded in Scripture, Jesus declared that John was the greatest of the prophets.

John announced four important aspects of Jesus’ person and ministry, which we would never have grasped on our own and are integral to the gospel.

Jesus is the Lamb of God.

The next day he [John the Baptist] *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NASB)

John shocked his followers by telling them that Jesus was God’s Lamb. How many of them grasped that this meant that Jesus would be a human sacrifice? Not since Abraham’s day had such a thing been heard. Would God the Father actually sacrifice his Son? Looking back from our present time, the answer, of course, is yes, but try to put yourself in that time before the crucifixion and resurrection. How would they conceive that God would carry through on the act he foreshadowed when he asked Abraham to slay his son Isaac, the son of promise, his only son by Sarah? Abba allowed his Son to die an excruciating death to expiate the sins of his enemies. Amazing grace! Only by the shedding Jesus’ blood on the cross could God the Father forgive our sins.

The perfect Lamb made the perfect sacrifice that inaugurated the perfect covenant.

Even though John prophesied these words, I doubt that he fully understood them. Jesus, however, fully grasped their import and what being God’s Lamb would cost him. At the Last Supper, he made this announcement to his bewildered disciples. Taking the cup of wine, he told them:

“...This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:20 (ESV)

Probably most people who call themselves Christians know Jesus primarily as the Lamb of God, the One who died for their sins. Another way of describing this role is to call him Savior.

Those of us who become followers of Christ must first know Jesus as Savior before we can go forward on our discipleship journey.

Until we are forgiven, declared “not guilty,” and reconciled to Abba Father, we can go nowhere. We are stuck in the realm of darkness, sin, and Satan. But putting our faith and allegiance in God’s Lamb opens the door wide for us to become one of God’s born again children, part of his eternal family.

If there is a “down side” to this, many of those who acknowledge Jesus as Savior may go little further in their understanding of who Jesus is.

Jesus is Savior, but he is so much more, and the Spirit of God wants us to know him in each way John prophesied.

In our consumer culture, it is only natural that Jesus would be presented for what he can do for us, but the full gospel is not consumer oriented, however.

Whenever the true gospel is presented, the benefit of experiencing forgiveness through the sacrifice of the Lamb is always in the context of radical surrender to his Lordship.

Presenting forgiveness without the call to surrender our total being to God is a distortion that can influence people away from following the Lord in joyful obedience as a way of life. Jesus said that his disciples must enter through a narrow gate and walk a narrow path in order to follow him. Preaching only forgiveness without Lordship, is much too wide a gate and path and can hinder a person’s development as a disciple. The Lordship of Christ will be the subject of the next article.

With that being said, it is absolutely proper and necessary to proclaim the forgiveness of sins. Jesus told us to do so.

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Luke 24:45-47 (NASB)

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins as the perfect Lamb of God. I receive from you, my Savior, what I could never earn – forgiveness. Thank you, Father God, that you have declared me to be “not guilty” in your sight because of what your Son did on the cross. Thank you for raising him from the dead to be my Lord, too. Thank you for making me part of your forever family. Come, Holy Spirit, fill me to overflowing. Reveal more and more about what the Bible says about Jesus to me. Help me to live for Jesus from now on. Amen.

Share this post...

How the Gospel Liberates Us from Fear of the Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

People generally resist change because we fear the unknown. Why else would an abused spouse choose to stay with someone who routinely hurts her instead of venturing out on her own away from danger? We fear what we cannot know for sure because it makes us feel vulnerable and out of control. Do we take the new better paying job or stay with the one we have, which seems secure? Do I risk marrying the one I love, or stay in relationship limbo out of fear the marriage will fail? Should we have another child, even if we are not sure we can “afford” it?

Fear of the unknown is another reason people feel so confused and frightened when unpredictable bad things happen for no apparent reason. It is why we are so prone to assign blame for tragedies, when there was none.

We want to be able to predict the future and control it, but God does not allow for that. In fact, he wants us to become comfortable in being uncomfortable. He wants us to trust him in our uncertainty and fear.

Albert Smith wrote I Know Who Holds the Future.

I know who holds the future , And I know he holds my hand;
With God things don’t just happen ev’rything by Him is planned.
So as I face tomorrow with its problems large and small,
I’ll trust the God of miracles, Give to Him my all!

These words are based on one of the most foundational of all Bible doctrines, the sovereignty of God. I wrote an article devoted entirely to this truth, entitled The Unexpected Key to Happiness. You might want to read it now. It’s not too long. It contains this statement.

Faith in God’s loving sovereignty is the key to happiness.

This is based somewhat on the following verse and all the other verses that support it.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Jesus believed this, which is proved by the way he lived and the words he spoke. If Jesus believed that his Father is absolutely sovereign and nothing happens outside his will, we should believe it, too. Another way to put this is that, even though God is not the author of evil, he bends and shapes evil to conform to his purposes and makes everything, even bad things, work for our good and his glory. Otherwise, he would not be sovereign at all.

We need not fear the unknown because God will make it work for us, no matter what. Another reason we need not fear the unknown is because God is always with us. (John 14:16)

When the Lord challenged Moses to confront the most powerful ruler in the world, to assuage his fear and uncertainty, God promised him, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12) When David fled for his life from King Saul, and his future seemed very uncertain, he wrote these beautiful words that confirmed his trust in the ever present sovereign God.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NASB)

As Thomas and the other disciples contemplated their uncertain future, Jesus comforted them with these words.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2  There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4  And you know the way to where I am going.” 5  “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6  Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:1-6 (NLT)

Even though we do not know the way, the Way knows us. He promises us that he will be with us, keep us, and guide us. The future is in his hands, and so are we.

No matter what unknown confronts us, the answer to our fear is always the same. God is with us and controls our destinies. Whether we live fearlessly or timidly largely depends on whether or not we believe this. Which is it going to be for you and me?

Share this post...

How the Gospel Liberates Us from Fear of Death

 

 

 

 

 

The last enemy God will destroy will be death.

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26  The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 (ESV)

Death may also be the last fear we will face head on in this journey called life. Death lurks in the background of every moment, waiting for its time. The picture of the Grim Reaper knocking at our door tells the story. Adam and Eve opened the gate to this enemy, allowing it to invade all our lives. The wages of sin is death, and God will not be mocked. We all will reap our wages because we all are sinners. Is death something of which we should be afraid, or should we regard it as a natural part of life, as unavoidable as taxes and as inconsequential as the sun coming up in the morning?

Death is unnatural. God never intended for us to experience it. Sin did this to us. God calls death an enemy.

Mercifully, God did not walk away from us when we turned our backs on him. He determined from the outset to defeat Satan and death on our behalf.

He promised us that one of Eve’s children would crush the head of the serpent, but at great cost to himself. The serpent would bite his heel.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15 (ESV)

Overcoming this enemy came at a great price, the death of God’s only Son. Jesus defeated death by dying and rising again.

Death could not be avoided. Jesus faced, experienced, and conquered it through the resurrection.

Paul Simon wrote a song in the 1960s that expressed how most people deal with death. Here is the chorus of Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall.

So I'll continue to continue to pretend
My life will never end,
And Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall.

Many people live as if they never expect to die, pushing out of their minds their inevitable demise, as if not thinking about it will make it go away. King Solomon warned us:

None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will certainly not rescue the wicked. Ecclesiastes 8:8 (NLT)

Since we cannot avoid death, we should prepare for it however we may.

That is why people make the effort to write wills and take other steps to make ready for the inevitable. It is even more important that we prepare ourselves spiritually. Amos the prophet spoke this ancient warning to Israel, which applies to us today: “Prepare to meet your God in judgment.” (Amos 4:12) Death is God’s judgment against sin, but there will follow another judgment on the other side of death. Jesus warned us that we should fear that and prepare for it. (Luke 12:15)

If we do not face the fear of death and conquer it, we will be held in bondage to it. Thankfully, Jesus has done all the heavy lifting for us.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15  and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15 (ESV)

When Jesus died on our behalf, the Bible says that we were included in that death.

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15  and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NASB)

For all of this to make sense, we must realize that there are two deaths, a physical one and a spiritual one.

All must die physically because God’s beautiful creation is under judgment for Adam’s sin. In addition, those who do not put their faith and allegiance in Christ will experience what the Bible calls the “second death,” which is an eternal spiritual death apart from God’s presence, who is the source and sustainer of life.

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15 (ESV)

Jesus promised that all who put their faith and allegiance in him will never experience the second death.

He said that God has removed us from the domain of darkness and death and transferred us into his kingdom of light and life. (Colossians 1:13)

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT)

Later Jesus explained himself in more detail to one of his followers named Martha following his friend Lazarus’ death.

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 11:25-26 (NLT)

Here Jesus promised that life continues after death, spiritually and eventually physically in the resurrection.

Our Lord made the glorious promise that believers will never experience the second death, the eternal one. We will never die, not really. We simply transition from earth to heaven when the body expires.

Those who put their faith in Christ are united with him spiritually (1 Corinthians 6:17). Therefore, wherever Jesus is, so are we. Colossians tells us that Christ is seated on God’s throne in heaven, which is where we are likewise seated. (Colossians 3:1-3. See also Ephesians 2:6.) This means, just as Christ told us in John 5:24, we have already passed from death to life. We are already in God’s presence in heaven in the Spirit.

When we believers die, we do not really die or go anywhere. We just “wake up” in heaven, where we have been all along.

Our bodies may die and decompose, but the spiritual part of us never dies. One day the body will be raised in a glorious new form that will no longer be subject to death either.

For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40 (NLT)

In John 11:26, Jesus asked Martha if she believed his words. Now we must ask ourselves the same question. The gospel provides the antidote to the fear of death, but will we believe and receive it? Those who do are delivered from their slavery to the fear of death. Hallelujah!

Share this post...

How the Gospel Liberates Us from Fear of Pain

 

 

 

 

 

In this series, I address some of the common fears we all experience and show how the gospel sets us free from being slaves to them. No one enjoys pain, especially I. In fact, I am allergic to it. I have often heard people say that they are not afraid of dying, just of what leads up to it, which often includes pain. Some have a higher tolerance to pain than others, but no one in their right mind would choose to experience pain. Knowing this, torture is often used to break people’s wills. In the military, those who go through SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) training are taught how to endure various forms of torture, but they are also told that everyone eventually breaks. The early church experienced awful forms of torture at the hands of Roman authorities. Many of them endured those horrors rather than deny their allegiance to the Lord Jesus. None of us knows what pain may be ahead us as individuals, or even as a society, whether it be emotional, physical, or social. When pain comes our way, how will we cope? The Bible gives us hope.

The first thing we need to know is that our Lord willingly endured the excruciating pain of flogging and crucifixion for us. The Romans used this form of torture to remind their subjects of what could happen to those who rebelled against their rule. Public crucifixions were commonplace and served to intimidate the populace. That form of death could normally last for days as the victim slowly and painfully dehydrated and asphyxiated. Jesus warned his followers that serving him would require them to “take up their cross.” Everyone knew what this meant, which “weeded out” those who were not serious.

Our Lord encouraged his disciples not to be afraid of those who could harm and kill the body.

I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5  But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7  Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:4-7 (ESV)

Jesus did not avoid the pain issue. Instead, he asks us to face it squarely with trust that God will be with us through every extremity.

Jesus found strength through the Holy Spirit to endure his ordeal. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked his Father to spare him, if possible, but, knowing the unalterability of his coming sacrificial death, he steeled himself against what lay ahead.

The Bible tells us that God’s grace is sufficient for everything that comes our way, including pain.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

If we approach pain with the confidence that God’s grace will see us through, it will help us to have the strength in our wills to endure. It requires faith to persevere without capitulating to fear.

Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. Hebrews 6:12 (NLT)

Endurance, patience, and perseverance are proved through testing. We cannot have these things without going through difficulties. Consider what James the Lord’s brother wrote to the church in Jerusalem.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 (NLT)

The first Christians were prepared to endure because they expected to suffer for the sake of their faith.

We must remember that life back then did not include the great variety of pain numbing drugs we have today. Most people would at some time face physical suffering, perhaps great pain. Whatever pain and fears that confront us, we are given an opportunity to trust in God’s grace to keep us.

King David gave us a most glorious truth to hold close.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

God will be with us, and in us, in every situation up to and including physical death. Because of that, we are  more than conquerors, according to Paul. (Romans 8:37)

Lastly, the Bible tells us that when Christ was flogged by the Roman soldiers that he carried our pain. In other words, not only did he experience pain for our sake, he took it so that it has no power over us.

But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. Isaiah 53:4 (NET1)

The same Hebrew word that says our Lord carried our sicknesses and pains are used to describe how he bore our sins. If our sins were forgiven by his death as our scapegoat, then so are our diseases healed and our pain assuaged. We can focus our eyes upon the one who was so unmercifully beaten and find the strength to endure. Perhaps the pain inflicted on us will lose its sting, since he already carried it on our behalf.

We may find that God’s grace will do far more for us than we now imagine. The key is to stay focused on the Lord and the help that will be given to us when we need it.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9  But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10  After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11  To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:8-11 (NASB)
Share this post...

How the Gospel Liberates Us from Fear of Rejection and Abandonment

 

 

 

 

 

In the last post, I showed how the gospel sets us free from fears associated with invalidation or lack of proper affirmation. Our true identity is derived from the one who made us. Unless we are connected properly to the Creator, we cannot possibly know for sure who we are, our value, or our purpose. The lack of proper validation produces insecurity, often leading to the expectation of being rejected and maybe even abandoned because we believe we are not “worth” loving. When life corroborates these fears with the actual experience, it implants lies and fears deep in our hearts. The gospel can set us free.

Adam and Eve experienced partial rejection after they sinned when they were expelled from the garden of Eden. In actuality, they rejected God, bringing his judgment upon their lives. Even though our first parents were excluded from the garden and blocked from partaking of the tree of life, God did not abandon them. In the very process of addressing their sin and proclaiming his judgment upon it, he also graciously promised Eve (and us) that one of her descendants would crush Satan.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15 (NIV)

This is the very first messianic promise and an important foundation stone in the gospel message. In a real sense, this is the first gospel presentation, which is a beautiful proof that God never even thought about abandoning his creatures, even after they so rudely rejected and rebelled against him.

Sadly, we have shown over and over again how susceptible we are to lies. Satan finds fertile ground in our hearts for sowing deception, of which he is a master. Jesus called him the father of lies. Men and women over the ages have continued to believe the original lie that God does not really love us. When we begin to attribute bad motives to God, we are in trouble. Adding to this original lie, Satan convinces people that God has rejected and abandoned us, too.

It is a natural and spiritual truth that we can only give away what we possess. Sadly, rejected people only have rejection to impart to others. We cannot “fix” ourselves. Only the Creator – Sustainer – Redeemer has that ability. Only God is able to break the chains of fear that are associated with these lies, and he began the process with his Son.

The dramatic proof that God has not and will never abandon us is the cross.

Jesus experienced the affirmation of his Father at his water baptism, at the transfiguration, and at many other times. He was secure in his identity, his value in God’s sight, and his mission. This allowed him to endure and triumph over the vicious and violent forms of rejection and abandonment he experienced during his ministry years, which crescendoed during his passion and crucifixion.

The prophet Isaiah informs us that Jesus was well acquainted with rejection. (Isaiah 53:3) He knew the pain of being called a bastard son of unmarried woman. (John 8:41) He knew what it was like to be spurned by those who held religious and political authority and power. (John 7:48) He knew how it felt to have masses of followers turn away from following him. (John 6:66) He experienced the pain of betrayal by one in his inner circle and being denied by one of his closest three. (Luke 22:48, Matthew 26:34) He was abandoned by almost all his followers when the passion began (Matthew 26:31), but his relationship with his Father enabled him to weather all that. God wants to establish us in his love, too, so we will not be moved by rejection and abandonment by people.

During his passion and crucifixion, the pain of rejection and abandonment reached its peak. He was spat upon, mocked, beaten, publicly humiliated, reviled, and finally crucified unmercifully. He maintained his composure and confidence through it all. At the last, in some mysterious way, it seems he experienced abandonment by his Father. Theologians speculate that when Jesus “became” sin on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21), the Father was forced to turn away momentarily from his beloved Son. The curse or judgment of God against sin fell upon the innocent Lamb of God. (Galatians 3:13) What agony Jesus must have felt when he uttered, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) This was a quote from Psalm 22:1, a prophecy by King David, which Jesus fulfilled.  In summary, Jesus experienced every aspect of invalidation, rejection, and abandonment at the hands of men and, at least for a moment, by his heavenly Father when he laid down his life on our behalf as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

As a result of what Jesus endured for our sake, we can experience freedom from the lies and fears associated with invalidation, rejection, and abandonment.

Here are some of the Bible promises we have if we put our confidence and allegiance in Christ.

However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. John 6:37 (NLT) 

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:16-18 (NASB)

The gospel of grace informs us that our acceptance with God hinges upon our Lord Jesus’ perfect life and sacrifice, not on our own performance.

This pulls the rug out from under the accusation that we are not good enough for God to love us. Our relationship with our heavenly Father, the Creator-Sustainer-Redeemer, is based upon our being “in Christ.” When Father looks at us, he sees his Son. (Galatians 2:20) When we worship him, we do so “in the Spirit.” The Spirit of Christ who resides within each believer cries out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15) Although, we are not divine, we have the Spirit of God indwelling us, giving us the same relationship with Abba that Christ has. (1 Corinthians 6:17) This is the secret of the Christian life and the means of our liberation from fear.

God has done the “heavy lifting” through his Son, but we must do our part, too, which is to meditate upon the scriptures and believe them. The Holy Spirit within will help us.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32 (NASB)

I leave you with this fabulous passage to think about. Hopefully you will be inspired to believe the truth about God’s love for you. You might even wish to pray the prayer below.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:16-18 (ESV)

Prayer

Father God, I have wrestled with lies and fears all my life. I now come to you because I put my faith in the love you have for me, which was demonstrated when Jesus died for me on the cross. I choose to believe the truth that you will never reject or leave me. I now realize that I am your beloved child. My sins are forgiven and my destiny is secure in Christ. Help me from this day forth to live and serve others out of the security of your love for me and the truth about what you say about me. Help me to be a faithful messenger of your love and truth to others. Amen

Share this post...

How the Gospel Liberates Us from Fear of Invalidation

 

 

 

 

 

Before they disobeyed God and fell from grace, Adam and Eve knew nothing about fear. Afterward, sin began its deadly work of twisting their souls. Where before there had been innocent bliss, afterward there were guilt, shame, and fear. Whereas before they had openly walked and conversed with God, afterward they hid from him. Before they had simply accepted their identity and security in God; since then all of that came into question. Our first parents were removed from their original home, a judgment was pronounced over them, and a horrendous reaping process began. God’s warning that they would die if they ate the forbidden fruit began to take effect. The first thing that died was their glorious spiritual connection to the Creator, which supplied them with everything they needed for joyful living. After judgment began, Adam and Eve and all their descendants have had to try to figure out who they were and are apart from God. Humans began a journey of attempting to “discover themselves,” instead of understanding and embracing their identity and purpose as received from the Creator. When we look inside to find the answer, sadly, we end up being confused and lost.

We can only know who we are in relationship to our Creator.

The three fears addressed in this article are intertwined and faced by everyone on planet earth. Invalidation is the result of not being properly affirmed in our personhood. Invalidated parents usually have no idea how to affirm their children, causing a potentially endless repetition of dysfunction. Invalidated individuals tend to be insecure. Often they are desperately looking for others to affirm them, making them vulnerable to those who would use their fears against them. Rejection is what we experience when others do not like or accept some or all of who we are, say, or do. It may involve some sort of exclusion or shunning. Abandonment is the final stage of invalidation and rejection. Abandoned people are forced to be on their own, all alone in life. This article will focus on invalidation. The next one will address rejection and abandonment.

It is easy to see how invalidation is connected to our broken relationship with God.

Unless God himself affirms us, we will never know who we are. Sin broke our connection with the Creator, leaving us “unplugged” from our proper source of validation.

Every other source for affirmation is inferior and unable to satisfy. The French philosopher Blaise Paschal wrote:

What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself. (Ichthus)

Jesus came into this world without ever having had to experience the results of Adam’s sin. He was not under its curse or judgment, he did not have an innate sin nature, and he was not cut off from his Father. As a result, he had no gaping hole in his soul crying out for validation. Nevertheless, his Father wonderfully validated him at the beginning of his public ministry for all to hear and see, which is what all good fathers do.

...a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” Matthew 17:5 (NLT)

Here Father God shows us what it looks like to properly validate a person. He made known to his Son and to all of us who would later put our faith in Christ what it means to be a child of God. Below is an explanation.

  1. Dearly loved son. The essence of validation is to be loved for no other reason than we are a child of the Father. (1 John 3:1) Children are meant to experience unconditional love. We are invalidated when that love is withheld or conditioned upon our earning or keeping it in some fashion or another. Because of sin, apart from Christ, none of us is ever “good enough” to deserve God’s love. We know in the depths of our souls that we deserve to be excluded, but the gospel undoes the lethal effects of sin and opens the door for us to receive supreme validation from our Father. Every person needs to hear God speak these words into his or her heart, just as Jesus heard them. When you read these words in the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to minister them to you personally.
  2. Brings me great joy. This part of validation affirms that we are appreciated not only for simply being a son or daughter, but also because we bring joy and pleasure to the Father’s heart. It is one thing to be loved in spite of our faults and sins, but quite another to actively create joy in the beholder. Another way to put this is that God not only loves us: he likes us! It is extremely invalidating to find out we are loved because we are in the family but not liked at all. God likes us not because we deserve it, but because of Jesus. His Spirit resides in every believer, joined to our own spirits. How can God not like us? Every child of God needs to hear that he or she is well-pleasing from Father God in order to experience validation.
  3. Listen to him. This final part of validation tells us that we are significant. We are not some sort of trophy of grace to be set on a shelf and observed, but has no real function. We have an important part to play in God’s plan and something important to say. We are highly regarded by God and should be by those who know the truth. Many of those people who experience the first two aspects of validation, do not receive this part. God wants every child of his to know how important he or she is to the work of the kingdom and to engage in that work.

Invalidated people struggle with feeling loved, appreciated, and significant. It is hard for them to fulfill their callings from God because of the hole in their souls. In order to experience remediation, one of the most important things we can do is approach God the Father and ask him to minister his loving words of validation to us personally. A good place to start is by meditating upon the verse quoted above, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to us at a heart level their meaning.

Here is another great verse to consider.

No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known]. John 1:18 (AMP)

Jesus alone truly knows the Father, and he came to make him known to us.

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Matthew 11:27 (NLT)

Jesus died on the cross and rose again to enable us to enter into a relationship with his Father. He wants us to know the Father’s love, and he will reveal the Father to all who ask him. (Matthew 7:7) Knowing the Father is eternal life and completely validating (John 17:3). Once we know him, it is our privilege to come boldly and confidently into his presence on a regular basis to spend time with him, talk to him, and listen to what he has to say. (Ephesians 3:12) We also have the life-transforming privilege of reading and meditating on his Word. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit is the one who teaches us and reveals to us the meaning of God’s words, applying them to our hearts so that we can know, believe, and receive all the benefits. (John 14:26)

In order to overcome the fear of invalidation, we must first come to God, the only real source of validation, through believing the gospel.

If we confess our sin of rebellion and insubordination, trusting Christ to forgive us, and declare allegiance to the resurrected and reigning Lord of lords, we will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10) Then we can allow the Spirit of God to do his validating work in our lives, setting us free from the residue of lies that invaded and entrenched themselves in our hearts and minds when we were lost and separated from God’s truth.

Knowing that we are sons and daughters of the Creator God will set us free to overcome the related fears of rejection and abandonment that plague the souls of so many. I will cover those fears in the next article. In the meantime, consider the following.

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6  And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT)

 

Prayer

Father God, I now realize that you are the only one who can fill the hole in my soul. Thank you for sending your only son to make the only way for me to be reconciled to you. I confess my sin of going my own way. I thank you for forgiving me and setting me free. I confess that Jesus is risen from the dead, and I surrender to his lordship. Holy Spirit, thank you for coming into my life. I ask you to fill me up and teach me everything I need to know about God and his Word. I give myself to you. Use me as you see fit to help others and spread the Good News. Amen.

Share this post...

How the Gospel Liberates Us from Fear of Shame and Judgment

 

 

 

 

When Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately realized for the very first time that they were naked. Many have theorized that perhaps they had been covered previously with God’s glory, which hid their nakedness, but that is conjecture. It is more likely that sin changed them on the inside, introducing a brand new experience into their souls – guilt, shame, and fear. Sin opened their eyes to their new condition, which made them afraid of God and provoked them to hide. (Genesis 3:7-10)

All people, whose consciences still work and who have not been thoroughly deceived, are aware of their guilt and shame before God, to one degree or another, which produces in us a fear of judgment. We know we are guilty before God and dread facing him.

People try to get around guilt and shame by denying their validity. Many insist that laws and social mores are man-made constructs which can be dispensed with and need not control our lives. Why should sex be limited to one person who is our lawful spouse? Who said that drunkenness and drug abuse is wrong? We should be free to do as we please. Who said that homosexuality and transgenderism is prohibited? If we can eliminate the commandment, we can eliminate the guilt and shame, right? Wrong.

However, there is such a thing as false guilt and false shame. When children are abused by adults, many times they are told that it was their fault that it happened. They are shamed into silence. They are told that bad things will happen if they reveal the abuse. Fear motivates them to keep it all to themselves with devastating results. Many adults carry a sense of guilt and shame into adulthood as a result of having been abused as a child, something over which they had no control. Lies are planted in the hearts of abuse victims, which hold them captive until God’s truth sets them free.

But there is also a real guilt and shame that no amount of deception and manipulation can erase. This is because God is real and is our judge who will hold us all accountable to him and his laws. It is because sin is real, whether we believe it or not.

Truth will always prevail over deception in the end. When we at last stand before Christ’s judgment seat, every lie will be swept away, and we will stand stark and exposed before the One who sees and knows all. (Hebrews 4:13) If we have not found the only way of escape, we will receive the death sentence that our sin has earned. (Romans 6:23)

The gospel reveals that God provided a way out for us. It is free to those who believe and receive it, but came at great cost to God. When Jesus submitted himself to die on the cross, the Bible says that all our guilt and shame came upon him. Don’t try to tell Jesus that those two things are mere social constructs.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

Because Jesus absorbed God’s wrath against sin, we can experience freedom from God’s judgment against sin. This means that we can experience the following benefits.

  • Forgiveness – God will release us from the debt our sin incurred against God’s justice.
  • Justification – God will acquit us, declaring us to be not guilty in the courtroom of heaven, just as if we had never sinned. Instead Jesus’ perfect right standing with God will be given to us as a free gift. This is much greater than mere forgiveness, as you can see.
  • Redemption – Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are released from all that previously held us captive, which includes shame.
  • Reconciliation – Not only are we forgiven and acquitted; God welcomes us into his circle of intimate friends.
  • Sonship – Not only are we God’s friends, he makes us sons and daughters, who have full rights, privileges, and authority in Christ.

Far from being under the thumb of guilt and shame, those who believe the gospel and pledge their allegiance to Christ are elevated to the highest honor and blessings.

When that day finally arrives when all shall stand before Christ’s judgment seat, we have been assured by the Judge himself that we will not be condemned.

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT)

Paul restated this glorious truth in his letter to the church in Rome.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NLT)

In another letter he said it a slightly different way.

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10  Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (NLT)

The apostle John wrote about this freedom from the fear of judgment, too.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18  Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 1 John 4:16-18 (NLT)

The more revelation we receive of God’s love for us, the greater our deliverance from guilt, shame, and fear, and the more our appreciation grows for the One who died to make all of this possible.

We will be motivated to serve him from the heart with a desire to bring him joy and glory. Who would not choose to serve such a God?

Share this post...
Share this post...