Applying The Bible to Our Culture and World

These are the opinions of Jeff Phillips, pastor of an inner city Southern Baptist church in the heart of the bible belt. These views do not represent Woodfield Park Baptist Church, Ashley my wife, our 3 dogs or 3 cats.







Friday, April 2, 2010

The Cross

Hebrews 2:3, "how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him."

Today is "Good Friday." It is the day we celebrate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is the day we revere the sacrifice of His blood for the atonement of our sins. So how can the death of Jesus on the cross be called "Good." Friends, it was not good. It was incredible, miraculous, heaven sent. It was indeed good, and pleasing to the Father who freely gave His Son as the sacrifice for our sins. Today we celebrate the second most important day in history. The only day more important is Sunday, what we call Easter, when Jesus was raised from the dead as the proof He was God, and the first fruits of the future resurrection which will include all who have believed in and followed Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Jesus clearly claims He is the only way to heaven and eternity with God the Father. In John 14:6 Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." He is the "narrow gate." He is the "door." Any other belief system that does not claim Jesus as Lord and Savior, the "way" to God and heaven, is a false religion. Though the way be narrow, it is open to anyone who chooses to enter. Though their be just one door, all are free to walk through it. Christ does not discriminate. He simply says you must come through Me. Allah will not get you there. Buddah will not get you there. The book of Mormon does not reveal the truth, neither does the Koran. Jesus says He's the only way. He tells us the truth of God and only He can give us eternal life in heaven. Though the world and other religions claim otherwise, Jesus Himself is dogmatic. As Acts 4:12 says, "Nor is there salvation in any other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

As Hebrews 2:3 says, their is no escape from eternal judgement and hell if we reject Jesus. To many that sounds harsh. Other religions teach we can eventually be good enough to please God. The bible says, "Their is none good, no not one." Other religions teach we can please God through our own righteousness, the bible says "our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" before God. Jesus, God, came to earth so that we could be good enough. Jesus, God, died so that we could be righteous in Him. If we truly believe in Jesus, the Father no longer sees our sin; no longer sees our unrighteousness; no longer sees us. He sees Jesus, as we are in Him. We are covered and cleansed by His blood. He died so that we may live.

So I'll ask you today, do you really know Jesus? Do you believe in your heart that He died for your sins, was buried, and on the 3rd day God raised Him from the dead? Does your life reflect Him? Are you obedient to His word and commands? Does He come first in your life? If you cannot answer these questions in the affirmative, understand, you are not saved. And as the bible says, their is no escape for you. We all will stand before Jesus one day. "Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess" that He is Lord. We will have no argument before Him, as He knows the truth of our hearts. In that day of judgment, only one question will matter. What have you done with Jesus? Have you believed and followed Him, or have you rejected Him. All are welcome, but the choice is yours.

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