What Did Jesus Do For You When He Died? 1 Peter 2:24

What is so special about Jesus dying on the Cross? The Bible gets to the point in 1 Peter 2:24.

"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds, you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24.

HE HIMSELF
This is a double emphasis. Christ had always intended to die for our sins. It was not an accident or a tragedy of history but his plan from the foundation of time.

BORE OUR SINS
Many people ask, "What is sin?" They want a list to check off and say, "I didn't do this or that, so I am OK." But sin is much more than a list of dos and don'ts. The Bible says, "He who knows what is right to do and fails to do it has sinned." (James 4:17). And elsewhere, "All wrongdoing is sin." (1John 5:17).

The word sin in the old language is used for missing the mark or failing to meet the standard. God is the standard and none of us can meet the standard of God's holiness; so He, being a God of love, sent his son to bear our judgment.

To bear something is to endure it; in this case, he bore the consequences of our sin. Christ carried our sins from us and took the punishment on our behalf.

IN HIS BODY
Jesus was not some kind of metaphysical spirit being or a ghost, he had a body that bled when whipped and pierced. He experienced pain and suffered.

Christ had no sin of his own to pay for so he was qualified to take on another's sin. Only as God could he could take the sins of all humanity.

ON THE CROSS
It was a terrible death and fulfilled the prophecy about the Messiah's death in so many ways. (Read Psalm 22 which describes crucifixion.)

SO THAT
Christ's death was not an accident or a mistake of history. He came with a purpose and an intention to give his life as a sacrifice for our sins.

WE MIGHT DIE TO SIN AND LIVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.
When we accept the death and resurrection of Christ on our behalf we enter into a relationship where our identities are exchanged. When God judges the believer He will not see a sinner, instead, God will see the righteousness of Christ.

Part of the believer's identity with Christ is that since Christ died on the cross to destroy sin the believer is included in that act; in Jesus, the believer has the opportunity and power to overcome sin.

BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED.
It is a poetic way of explaining it. These words capture the totality of Christ suffering and death.

• His death heals our broken lives.
• His death healed the rift between God and man.
• His death healed our divided spirit and our broken hearts.
• His death healed the broken relationships we have with each other.
• His death makes it possible for us to find peace.

To learn more about trusting Jesus as your Savor see the tab above for the gospel.

To learn about my books of poems visit my website, A.E. Dozat.com.

(c) Adron 8/27/17

What Did Jesus' Death Do For Mankind? Galatians 1:4

Everyone agrees that Jesus is important and that his death is important, but not many agree on what his death on the cross did. What does the Bible say?

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever."  Galatians 1:4.

JESUS GAVE HIMSELF

Giving is a choice. Jesus' death was not forced; he could have done many things to avoid the horrible death on the cross. He was aware it was coming, so he could have left town. He knew Judas was his betrayer, but he didn't challenge or censer Judas. He could have done a miracle or said one of those wonderful things that silenced his critics. He said heaven had ready more than six legions of angels to rescue him. But he didn't do any of those things. He stayed quiet and endured humiliation and death.

FOR OUR SINS

What is sin?   The Bible says, "All wrongdoing is sin..." 1 John 5:17, and "He who knows the good he ought to do and fails to do for him it is a sin."James 4:17.  Every act of rebellion against God is a sin.

Sin must be judged, or else God would be guilty of compromise, and evil wins mankind. But since he is the God of Love, he sent a substitute to take our place in judgment.

God accounts Christ's death as on behalf of our sins. The resurrection is God's demonstration of approval or ratification that God accepted Jesus' death on our behalf.*

RESCUE

To rescue someone is to deliver them out of a threatening situation. There was purpose in his death. It was not an accident but an intentional act to save mankind.  We need rescuing since we are in danger because of our sins and the judgment of God, who is holy and would never compromise.

Your sin had to be paid for, and either you pay for them, or a substitute does. But the substitute must not have any sin of his own, or he would not be qualified to pay for them since he must have his own sin paid for. Christ lived a perfect and sinless life. Even the professional district judge Pontius Pilot found no wrong in him. His enemies had to fabricate lies to justify his execution. He was able to bear the sins of others because he had no sin of his own to pay for.

The payment must be equal to the judgment, so the person paying for the sin would have to be God since God is the judge. Jesus proved himself to be God in many ways, so he alone is worthy.

How does Jesus' death rescue us from our sins? It is because God accepted his death on our behalf.

THE PRESENT EVIL AGE

In Christ, we are brought into God's kingdom and have become separated from this age and freed from the judgment that will come. The age we live in is going to end. Those who do not have Christ do not have any assurance of surviving God's judgment.

WHAT WE MUST DO

Jesus did the work for us. He paid for our sin as only he could do. The Father accepted his death on our behalf and leaves nothing for us to do to make salvation. Christ declared it so when from the cross, he said, "It is finished." John 19:30. All that is left for us is to accept what he did for us the same way we receive a gift since salvation is a gift. As the Gospel of John says. "But to as many, as received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God." John 1:12.

If you want to know more about receiving the gift of salvation, see the tab above for the Gospel.

*Thoughtful readers will recognize this is the most simplistic explanation of the resurrection, and much much more could be said.

(c) Adron 10/13/16

Does Jesus Want To Fill My Life With Boring Rules? Galatians 5:1

So is Jesus all about following rules and commandments to have a life of guilt and no fun?  But that is not what the Bible says.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

FREEDOM
Jesus did not come to put us under a set of rules that say do not do this and you must do that in order to go to heaven.  He said, "I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10). The idea of an abundant life contradicts a life full of rules and regulations.

Once he was asked, "What is the greatest commandment?"  He replied, "To love the Lord your God with all your mind body and soul, and then he added as second love your neighbor as yourself," (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus valued love above rules.

He did give some commands to his disciples.  He said, "A new command I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you so you must love one another."  Later he explained his love for others when he said: "Greater love has no one that this that someone lays down his life for his friend."  (John 15:13), and then he did just that on the cross.

CHRIST HAS
Christ was sinless, so he was the only one who could take our place in judgment.  The ultimate rule is the rule of judgment, that sin must be judged and condemned.  Christ was sinless so he was the only one who could take our place in judgment.  When he died he fulfilled the rule of judgment on our behalf as our sins were placed on him.

SET US FREE
Until we trust Jesus as Savior we are prisoners to sin and face sin's judgment.  Jesus' resurrection demonstrates he has power over the ultimate consequences of sin- death and hell.  His resurrection shows that God is satisfied with what he did.  Jesus not only sets us free from the judgment of sin but also the power of sin.

Rules do not save a person or get them right with God or guarantee heaven.  Only Jesus can do those things.  When we come to Jesus we come to him- not rules.

When Christ sets us free we can obey those commands out of love, to express devotion and as acts of worship.  Jesus did give commands but his commands to love are not a burden they are liberating.

If you want to know more about coming to Jesus and being set free from your sin see the tab above for the Gospel.

Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope these thoughts are helpful for you.

You can find more like this in the most helpful post list on the left sidebar.

(c) Adron 8/12/15

How Can I have Righteousness Before God? Philippians 3:9

What does the Bible say about being right before God?

We try so hard to have righteousness but we are not confident that when God sees us He will not be satisfied.  Paul the Apostle wrote about this thing.

"...I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." Philippians 3:9

AND BE FOUND IN HIM
There is a teaching in the New Testament that those who have come to God through faith in the person and work of the Savior are in him- in Christ. Judgment for our sin has been laid on Jesus as our substitute, and His righteousness is on us.   When God's justice sees those who have trusted Jesus as their Savior and believed the promise of God's gift of salvation they are seen as if they are one with Jesus.  So they are found in Him who did no wrong and is not liable to judgment.

RIGHTEOUSNESS
Righteousness means that as far as the law of God's absolute perfect standard is concerned there is no guilt or transgression of the law.  There is Righteousness instead.  This is a person who is without blame or guilt.

NOT FROM THE LAW
The keeping of rules and laws never made anyone righteous before God it only shows them how far from the mark of God's standard they fell.

FAITH IN CHRIST
Jesus died for your sins.  God accepted Christ's payment as evidenced by the resurrection.  God offers acceptance and righteousness as a gift, but we must take it.

People of faith use different ways to express this; some may say that they trust the Lord, or accept the Savior, or invite Jesus in.  These different terms express the same thing- that a moment of faith comes when you acknowledge your sins and your need and that you agree with God in his assessment of your sins as worthy of judgment.  Once you acknowledge your lost situation and need you can agree with God that what Jesus did was right and completely satisfies God's judgment against you.

This is personal and some may express it one way or another, many talk to God with a prayer and tell him that they agree to His promise and accept the sacrifice of Jesus on their behalf.

We must trust in Jesus because he did what we cannot do.

If you would like to read more about the plan of salvation see the tab above for the Gospel.

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Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope these thoughts are helpful to you.

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 (c) Adron Dozat 3/5/15

What Did Jesus Do On The Cross? 1 Peter 3:18

The Apostle Peter understood what Jesus did for us on the cross when he died and what it means for each of us.

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God, He was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit."  Peter 3:18.

SUFFERED
The suffering that Jesus endured was an overwhelming daunting crushing endurance. He felt the full wrath of God's anger for sin.

ONCE
Christ suffering cannot be redone or recreated, it was complete we do not need to finish or add to it. If it was not once for all and ever it would be none and never; if even one sin was not paid for then all would be compromised. God is just and fair he had to put every sin on Jesus- there is nothing left for us to pay for.

RIGHTEOUS
Jesus had no sins of his own to pay for. He was able to be the prefect substitute for our sins. If he had a single sin he would not have been able to pay for ours.

DEATH
There was no dispute among the witnesses that Jesus died; the roman professional executioners knew their job. Sin has to be paid for in death. Jesus died for us

ALIVE
Having met the demands of God's justice death could not hold him; he had overcome sin therefore he overcame death. Since he took our sins and paid for them he is able to give life to those who are willing to receive it.

TO BRING YOU TO GOD
The purpose of Christ's life and death was to make the way for you to come to God. He did the work all we need to do is receive it. To learn more about the Gospel and how to receive salvation see the tab above titled Gospel.

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Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope these thoughts are helpful for you.

You can find more like this in the most helpful post list on the left sidebar.

You can contact me through comments or the email link. If you live near Columbia MD I would be glad to meet you and discuss how you can know for sure that you may have eternal life.

Adron

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Are You Ungodly And Is There Hope?

If a person is ungodly is there any hope for them to escape God's judgment? The Bible offers hope.

For while we were still helpless at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6.

HELPLESS
Our sin makes us helpless.  This is helplessness before the eternal all righteous judge. We are all helpless because God is holy and he must have a holy standard; such a standard would be too high for any one. So if you lived a thousand years and only did one sin you would be helpless. (Adam had only one command, he broke it and was cast out of the garden and the effects of sin began the decay of death in him.)

DIED
Our sin deserves judgment and punishment but Our Father in Heaven is loving and instead of condemning us for eternity he took our place. God became a man we know as Jesus who was righteous and lived a life without sin. Having no sin to answer for he could offer his perfect life up for us.

UNGODLY
The simplest way to think of this word is to think of it meaning the opposite of what God is. We were opposed to God in nature and our actions even our inactions.

HOPE
If a person is ungodly there is hope since this verse says specifically that The Lord died for him. If God loves him enough to die for him then he loves him enough to accept him. The gospel is available to him and he may yet be a saint.

Click the tab above to learn more about the Gospel.

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Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope these thoughts are helpful for you.

You can find more like this in the most helpful post list on the left sidebar.

You can contact me through comments or the email link. If you live near Columbia MD I would be glad to meet you and discuss how you can know for sure that you may have eternal life.

Adron

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What Does The Bible Say About Reincarnation?

There are many theories about the doctrine of reincarnation. The basic idea is that death is not final and we get a second chance by coming back to life. Does the Bible teach some kind of second chance?

"Just as people are destined to die once and after that to face judgment." Hebrews 9:7, NIV.

At first glance it looks like God's Word is negative about our afterlife, but the Scripturese also teaches God is love and he made a way.

JUDGMENT
There is some kind of judgment but judgment can be satisfied. Though God's Word teaches judgment is necessary because of sin, it  also tells of a substitute has taken our judgment and punishment.

JESUS TOOK THE JUDGMENT
Jesus took upon himself the judgment that is due to those who sin, (See Romans 3:25-31 and Isaiah 53:5). The sins that we were guilty of are paid for in the death of Jesus; and the resurrection of Jesus proves that judgment is no longer binding on him or those who are his.

OUR PART
The question that we need to answer before we enter eternity is the question of Jesus, because as the Bible says, "Whoever has the Son has life and whoever has not the son of God does not have life.*The Lord has done everything for us; he has made the way fair for all. He sent his only son and that son took our sins on himself and endured the mega-storm of God's wrath and judgment in our place- he did it all and all that is left is for us to participate by believing in his sacrifice for us.

THE ONLY JUDGMENT LEFT
The only judgment is the judgment you make about Christ. To receive Jesus is to receive life to reject Jesus is to reject his offer of free salvation and face judgment alone, (John 3:36).

To learn more about receiving eternal forgiveness click the tab titled The Gospel.

*1John 5:12

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Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope these thoughts are helpful for you.

You can find more like this in the most helpful post list on the left sidebar.

You can contact me through comments or the email link. If you live near Columbia MD I would be glad to meet you and discuss how you can know for sure that you may have eternal life.

Adron

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What Did Jesus Say Condemns A Soul?

Condemned, judged, and punishment are words that say one is not going to heaven. What does it take to get condemned? Do we break a bunch of rules or live a really nasty life? Jesus said one thing condemns us.

"For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son." John 3:17-18. NIV.

GOD'S PURPOSE
God sent the son to save the world. He could do no more. His son paid for the sins of humanity by taking all their sin on himself on the cross and enduring the wrath of hell. There is nothing bigger, better or more the Lord can do to save sinners.  He offers to take our sin and give us his righteousness.

Notice the two words, "Through him." The Lord made salvation for mankind through the work of Jesus on the cross. We are saved through Christ. "Through" means entry into something that causes you to exit on the other side. So we enter salvation trough Jesus. He said, "I am the door..."*

GOD ASKS US TO BELIEVE
This is belief that acts. You may say a chair will hold your weight but you do not put that belief into action until you sit in the char. We must believe in Jesus' work on our behalf by trusting in him to save us and not our own efforts.

THE CONDEMNED
If we reject his sacrifice for us we keep our sins and sin's condemnation, but...

If we believe in the Savor, and God's promise to accept the sacrifice of his son on our behalf, and trust in him for salvation we will not be condemned, because Jesus took the condemnation for us.

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More can be said about this verse, but space here is limited. Print the verse above and read it a few times asking God to show you more of its meaning. In fact it is good to read all of John chapter 3.

If you are interested in learning more about the plan of salvation click on the tab titled The Gospel.
*John 10:7

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Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope these thoughts are helpful for you.

You can find more like this in the most helpful post list on the left sidebar.

You can contact me through comments or the email link. If you live near Columbia MD I would be glad to meet you and discuss how you can know for sure that you may have eternal life.

Adron

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What Happened When Jesus Died on The Cross?

To some people the death of Jesus on the cross is the most important event in human history. Just what happened that makes the death of Jesus so significant?

The Bible records some events that occurred when Jesus died,

• There was darkness over the land. Mark 15:33. Luke 23:45.
• There was an earthquake. Matthew 27:51
• The tombs were opened and many righteous people returned to life. Matthew 27:52.
• The curtain of the temple was ripped in two. Mark 15:38. Matthew 27:51.

The Scriptures also records a commentary about his death by one of the witnesses, The Apostle John, when he says, "This is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10.

FIRST
The death of Jesus was Our Father's greatest expression of his love for mankind. He did not wait for us to love him or earn his love, his love acted first. He acted for us while we were estranged, rebels, living in defiance to his authority.

SECOND
Jesus was sent. He did not come as an afterthought. His entry into mankind's history was on purpose. Before God breathed breath into Adam God knew he would send Jesus for Adam's rebellion.

THIRD
Mankind had an insurmountable problem that was a need mankind could not satisfy or meet- mankind's sin had to be paid for, mankind needed atonement. Atonement is the payment that removes the barrier between God and man. The barrier is sin.

God out of his love for us sent his son to meet the need. Jesus became the atoning sacrifice for mankind. Jesus paid for the sins of mankind and made eternal salvation available to any who receive it. Those who receive the atoning sacrifice of Christ are brought back to a relationship of love, service and fellowship with God their Creator and Savor.

CHRISTIANS
The reason so many people are passionate about Christ's death on the cross is that they are aware that they cannot save themselves from their sins and they know that God does for them what they couldn't do. Through the death of Jesus they are brought back to an eternal relationship with God.

To learn more about how you can have this relationship with God click the tab above titled The Gospel.

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Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope these thoughts are helpful for you.

You can find more like this in the most helpful post list on the left sidebar.

You can contact me through comments or the email link. If you live near Columbia MD I would be glad to meet you and discuss how you can know for sure that you may have eternal life.

Adron

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What Is So Special About The Blood Of Jesus?

People talk about the blood of Jesus; but what is it about, and what is so special about it?

"But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:13, NIV.

WE NEED THE BLOOD.
We are far from God because of our sins. This verse tells us that the blood of Christ brings us to God- not our good deeds, giving, sacrifice, or even our religion. Nothing gets the credit for bringing us close to God except the blood of Jesus.

When Christ hung on the cross he bled. The Bible teaches the life is in the blood. Leviticus 17:11; and the Bible teaches that the blood makes payment for sin, because it says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22.

NOT ANYONE'S BLOOD
It was not just anyone's blood but the blood of Christ. Christ had to be sinless and no one ever found sin in Jesus even though his enemies looked hard for grounds to discredit him and Pontius Pilot, a professional judge and Roman governor declared him innocent. Since he had no sin of his own to pay for his death could be applied to our debt of sin before God.

For Jesus to be Christ he had to be God incarnate, and he demonstrated his deity in power over nature, sickness, death, demons, forgiving sins, wisdom, and more ways too numerous to list.

Christ had to come for the purpose of saving and Jesus said he "...came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many."  Matthew 28:20.

SALVATION
Our sins had to be paid for before we could have salvation and only the blood of Jesus could pay for our sins. The greater question is not what is so special about the blood of Jesus but what will be our response to his death on our behalf? Do we reject his loving sacrifice or accept his offer of salvation and eternal life?

To learn more about how to get saved go to the tab above titled The Gospel.

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Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope these thoughts are helpful for you.

You can find more like this in the most helpful post list on the left sidebar.

You can contact me through comments or the email link. If you live near Columbia MD I would be glad to meet you and discuss how you can know for sure that you may have eternal life.

Adron

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What Does The Bible Say Pays For Sin?

What does the Bible says will pay for my sins? Is it something I can give, something I must do, or something I must feel? How do I know when I have given enough to pay for my sin?

Many people do many things in the hope to pay for their sins.

     * Some say prayers.
     * Some observe days of fasting.
     * Some attend community worship.
     * Some follow many rules.
     * Some give money.
     * Some hurt themselves.

But none have assurance that their sins are taken away or that they are right with God.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY TO ANSWER THIS?

"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us by the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." Titus 3:5. NIV. 

HE SAVED US
The very first words of this Scripture verse is encouraging, "He saved us..." God is the "He," and he is the one that give us salvation not our own works. Notice that the phrase is repeated, like The Lord wants no doubt in our minds, but he offers the testimony of two statements.

The Bible speaks of salvation as a past tense. As far as God is concerned it is done, that is why Jesus on the cross at the end of paying for our sins said. "It is finished." John 19:30.

HIS MERCY
Our Father does not save us because of the good things we do but because of "His Mercy." It is a gift that we are saved. He does for us what we cannot do ourselves, he sends his son to die on the cross to pay for our sins. All of the sacrifices of a lifetime could not pay for a single sin but Jesus was perfect and had no sin of his own to pay for so he was qualified to die for our sins as a substitute, and since he is God he can pay for the sins of all mankind.

REBIRTH AND RENEWAL
The reference to rebirth and renewal goes back to when Christ told the seeker in John, "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3. Being born again is not something we can do but is accomplished by God through the Holy Spirit.

OUR PART
Our part is not to earn salvation but to receive it. Paul the apostle told the jailer "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved..." Acts 16:31. If you are ready to turn from sin and give up the old life of sinning and struggling with guilt and efforts of penance then come to Jesus; tell him you believe on him alone as the way of salvation, tell him you trust him to be your Savor. You will be born again the old life will begin to leave you and a new birth will begin.

To learn more about the plan of Salvation click on the Gospel tab above.

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Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope these thoughts are helpful for you.

You can find more like this in the most helpful post list on the left sidebar.



Adron

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