MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE Matt 9:12-13 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, they that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance KJV The mind behind salvation was that mankind in its entirety could not help itself. By reason of nature, man was prone to corruptibility and any other negative things that could flow from it. The master plan therefore, was that mankind needed something bigger than itself or its abilities to deliver it from its own nature, hence the need for a saviour. Jesus’ business as saviour was for the justification of the ungodly [Romans 4:5]. He did not come for those that are well, or the righteous. His mission was sinners. Of course, for a man to accept this salvation, he needed the understanding and its accompanying humility that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23]. Some Jews did not understand this. They believed that if they could religiously keep the law code and observe all its precepts by the letter, then that would earn them justification in the eyes of God. So he asked them to learn. They needed to know that mercy was his part and sacrifice was their part. He was the real deal in this plan. He was not interested in their part. The point here is that God wished to extend his love, grace and mercy to all men, for with such, would he draw them. He was not interested in how much and what they were willing to do, be it fasting, prayer or giving. To them it was sacrifice but to God it was not sufficient. His definition of sacrifice was Christ whom the bible calls the perfect sacrifice. In Romans 10:1-3, Paul clearly explains that the Jews, by reason of refusing to accept the Lord’s part in their salvation and going about to play out their own lines, were in fact not saved. Ideally, any Christian who rejects mercy and opts for his own sacrifice cannot be defined as one who is saved. After all, in going about to establish his own righteousness, he is asserting that what Christ did in becoming sin that we may be made the righteousness of God was not enough [2 Corinthians 5:21] Paul and Barnabas preached this very message of justification by faith to the Jews in Acts 13:39, 43. The Bible tells us that certain Jews greatly contradicted them and accused them of blasphemy. In the 46th verse, something interesting happens. The bible says; then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. The statement was loud and clear; whosoever rejected the work of Christ in justifying them before God had in essence judged themselves unworthy of eternal life. Child of God, Christ is the author and finisher of your salvation walk. Allow him. It is his business.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 09:26:40 +0000
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