---NEW--- The First Saying from the Cross: Salvation, Agreement and Forgiveness “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34). Everything in our Christian life starts as an answer to this prayer. Here, in this verse, we see the heart of Christ. We see that Jesus does everything to have us saved. For sure, there is not one aspect of forgiveness or salvation that does not rest on Him. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). In this prayer, which has been called down through the ages, the First Saying of the Seven Sayings of the Cross, we gain a deep understanding of salvation. For a few moments, in this devotion, let us contemplate who are saved and how they are saved. First, let us make note that not everyone will be saved. Jesus said this about His blood, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). There on that night that He would be betrayed, Jesus gave us an understanding into the fact there will be people who are saved and people who will go to eternal hell in the lake of fire. Jesus point blank says that His blood “is shed for many.” Jesus is speaking of the reality of salvation. There will only be “many” that are saved. This “many” will be made up of the people gathered from every generation. The Bible is clear that only a few people are saved in every generation. Jesus said this, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). Therefore, in every generation there are only a few that are saved, and when they are all gathered together, there will be many. Even so, there will be more people on the broad way to destruction. Their sins were paid for just like those who were saved. The Bible says, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The word “propitiation” means to make the payment for reconciliation. So, we see that even though there are multitudes that will be lost, their sins were paid for by the blood of Christ. Within the understanding of the work of Christ, there is no difference between saved or lost, because all sins that will ever be committed were paid for by the blood of Jesus. Along with the idea of those who are saved, we see that there is no difference between saved and lost based on natures, which means the character and morals we have. The Bible says this about what makes us tick in our nature, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Ephesians 2:2-3). We all – saved and lost – have lived according to the way of the world by the spirit of the antichrist that is in the rebellious. We all – saved and lost – have lived fulfilling the lust and sinful desires of our flesh and minds, and our nature, our make up and character, were children under God’s wrath. So, we see there is no difference in the fact that Jesus paid for all sins even the sins of the lost. We also see there is no difference in the make up of humanity in their natures; we are all sinful in our natures. What than is the difference? While the water may seem muddy to you right now, it is hoped that the next thought will clear it all up for you. The difference in salvation is summed up in the last part of this short prayer of Jesus, “for they know not what they do.” This prayer is a prayer for those who will AGREE that we do not know what we are doing. The difference is that a saved person will plead, “LORD God, I do not know how to live right, because I am sinful. I cannot find the power to live right in myself, because I am weak. LORD, I give myself to you. Jesus, please save me and show me how to live.” Do you see it? A person who is saved and walking with Christ yields their will and what they want and what they know over to Christ. The live according to the word of God! But the sinner does that which is right in their own eyes (Judges 17:8 and Judges 21:25). The Bible gives us a great understanding of the mind of a saved person, when it says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The word translated as “confess” is not what a lot of people think it means. It does not mean to openly say your sins. It means to say the same thing. It means that you committed the sin, and in some way and some how you found it within yourself to think it was ok to commit the sin. However, confession means that you say the same thing about your sin that God says. It means that you agree that you do not know how to live right. It means that you agree with the Holy Word of God that you do not have the strength to live righteously. Once you do that, Jesus is faithful apply His blood of forgiveness and cleanse you from those sins. Are you willing to agree with God that there is nothing good in you (Romans 3:10-11)? Are you willing to agree that you are weak and ungodly and can’t find it within yourself to live right (Romans 5:6)? If you are, you are one of us who are saved by blood and grace. I pray that if you do not have this forgiveness that you seek Jesus according to His word and find the truth of His love to us sinful humans. I pray God’s love and forgiveness becomes your reality. Chris Fisher, Pastor The Church of the New Beginning 03-09-14
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 03:25:28 +0000
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