Comments on: “He Is Not Here; He Has Risen!” http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:49:09 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: stan http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-32002 stan Fri, 01 Apr 2005 20:37:01 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-32002 cont'd Now, what about being concerned about our sins after we trust in Jesus? To answer this properly requires that we examine what exactly happened on the cross when Jesus died. Colossians 2:13-15 is the most important passage in the Bible in this respect. It says that there was a huge list of sins that stood against us...every sin in thought or deed...every sin in which we didn't do what we should have done...Because God had said centuries earlier that "the soul that sins should have to die..." this list demanded our death. Why should God let such sinful and disobedient people into His heaven? If all of us have sinned and come short of His glory, what possible hope is there for us? The answer to this is that our lists, and mine was extremely long, were nailed to the top of Jesus' cross marked "paid in full" and completely erased. This happened nearly 2,000 years ago and is still valid today for all who believe. The Roman custom was to put a sign on the top of the crosses recording what the criminal was being crucified for. Jesus sign said "The King of the Jews", which as we know was actually true. Therefore, God could heap on Jesus' cross ALL our lists of ALL our sins at one point in history. Jesus death paid the penalty for our sins. His resurrection proved that He was God, not just a man, and therefore could forgive and give eternal life. I once saw a photo of two Cambodian monks, who were standing together. One was bowing to the other and the caption said that he was asking the other to forgive him of his sins. Of course, this is impossible. I can not forgive you of your sins nor you mine. Our sins are first of all against our Creator and His forgiveness is what we must seek. Now if we've been completely forgiven, what's to keep us from just going on and sinning? The list of our sins is now blank because it has been paid for. Why not just continue to sin? God has thought of everything and has a remedy for that also. Romans chapters 6 through 8 tell us that God has identified us with Jesus in His death and resurrection. Sin had power over Jesus when He took our sins on Himself. The wages of sin are death and Jesus took our death on Himself. But sin has no more power over Him and neither does it over us. God broke sin's power over our lives. But He has added one more extremely powerful element to aid us in the daily struggle against sin. He has given us His Holy Spirit to live in us and empower us to live a life, which is pleasing to God. We now have a strong pull in us to do right and want to please God. We now have a strong pull toward loving others and forgiving them as Christ forgave us...in advance. The Holy Spirit begins to produce the fruit of love and joy and peace and godliness in us. When we fail, we know we are already forgiven and can rush back to our Heavenly Father to acknowledge our failure without fear. He may discipline us, sometimes severely, just like earthly fathers and mothers but we are still loved...we are still His children. Romal, I hope this helps you some. I trust that you will put your trust in Jesus and come to know the forgiveness, love and joy and peace and eternal life that He died to bring you. God loves you more than you could ever know and He will never disappoint or fail you. cont’d
Now, what about being concerned about our sins after we trust in Jesus? To answer this properly requires that we examine what exactly happened on the cross when Jesus died. Colossians 2:13-15 is the most important passage in the Bible in this respect. It says that there was a huge list of sins that stood against us…every sin in thought or deed…every sin in which we didn’t do what we should have done…Because God had said centuries earlier that “the soul that sins should have to die…” this list demanded our death. Why should God let such sinful and disobedient people into His heaven? If all of us have sinned and come short of His glory, what possible hope is there for us?
The answer to this is that our lists, and mine was extremely long, were nailed to the top of Jesus’ cross marked “paid in full” and completely erased. This happened nearly 2,000 years ago and is still valid today for all who believe. The Roman custom was to put a sign on the top of the crosses recording what the criminal was being crucified for. Jesus sign said “The King of the Jews”, which as we know was actually true. Therefore, God could heap on Jesus’ cross ALL our lists of ALL our sins at one point in history. Jesus death paid the penalty for our sins. His resurrection proved that He was God, not just a man, and therefore could forgive and give eternal life. I once saw a photo of two Cambodian monks, who were standing together. One was bowing to the other and the caption said that he was asking the other to forgive him of his sins. Of course, this is impossible. I can not forgive you of your sins nor you mine. Our sins are first of all against our Creator and His forgiveness is what we must seek.
Now if we’ve been completely forgiven, what’s to keep us from just going on and sinning? The list of our sins is now blank because it has been paid for. Why not just continue to sin? God has thought of everything and has a remedy for that also. Romans chapters 6 through 8 tell us that God has identified us with Jesus in His death and resurrection. Sin had power over Jesus when He took our sins on Himself. The wages of sin are death and Jesus took our death on Himself. But sin has no more power over Him and neither does it over us. God broke sin’s power over our lives. But He has added one more extremely powerful element to aid us in the daily struggle against sin. He has given us His Holy Spirit to live in us and empower us to live a life, which is pleasing to God. We now have a strong pull in us to do right and want to please God. We now have a strong pull toward loving others and forgiving them as Christ forgave us…in advance. The Holy Spirit begins to produce the fruit of love and joy and peace and godliness in us. When we fail, we know we are already forgiven and can rush back to our Heavenly Father to acknowledge our failure without fear. He may discipline us, sometimes severely, just like earthly fathers and mothers but we are still loved…we are still His children.
Romal, I hope this helps you some. I trust that you will put your trust in Jesus and come to know the forgiveness, love and joy and peace and eternal life that He died to bring you. God loves you more than you could ever know and He will never disappoint or fail you.

]]> By: stan http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-31999 stan Fri, 01 Apr 2005 20:11:53 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-31999 cont'd... God's quandry, so to speak, was that He loved the world so much but was also the Holy Judge of the universe. How could He be just and loving at the same time? He was just in that our sins were taken on by Jesus and paid for by His death. He was loving because He could therefore offer complete forgiveness and eternal life to all who would admit their need and receive His gift. Jesus gave Himself for us and God gave Him for us because of their overpowering love for us. God's justice and holiness and love and grace and mercy all met at one time in history on the cross of Jesus. Those in the Old Testament looked forward to Jesus and His sacrifice. We look back. Together, we form one huge family of God's sons and daughters. Now, what about those who existed outside the Jewish people and had never heard of the Jews...people that lived in Africa or Asia or Europe or what is now North and South America? Were they shut out and lost? This is what I was taught and I now believe it to be wrong and for the following 3 reasons. First, after Adam and Eve sinned they realized their nakedness and guilt. God provided animal skins to cover them. Innocent animals had to die to cover their sin. And you will notice this concept all the way through the book of Genesis up until the time when God gave the instructions of the sacrificial system to Moses. But the concept had been set in Genesis chapter 3. The Bible traces world history through the Jewish people, whom God had set apart to give witness to His great love and holiness. But what about everyone else? Second, the Bible tells the story of a man named Job. He was not Jewish...he was from a place far to the east of Israel. But he sacrificed innocent animals for the sins of his family. And I think that this concept was spread across the globe...this need to seek forgiveness and the desire to sacrifice an innocent animal (and sometimes even a child) so that God's forgiveness could be achieved and His wrath stayed. In nearly every culture, we see remnants of this concept. For example, the Indians of the Great Plains would kill a buffalo and thank the Great Spirit for it because it provided for almost all the families' needs. They would also thank the buffalo and ask it to forgive them for having had to take its life. However distorted some might think this to be, it is perfectly in line with what God originally taught Adam and Eve. And similar examples can be found everywhere. Third, in Romans chapter 3 we are told that God is pleased with those non-Jews, who live up to their conscience. And in Psalm 51 we are told that the sacrifice that God is really pleased with is a broken and contrite heart. So, there is much room in Scripture for the idea that other folks around the world lived up to the light that they had, offered sacrifices to the Deity by whatever name, had hearts that were broken and contrite because of their sins and lived up to their consciences as they could. Which people were they? Only God knows but when we get to Heaven we may be very surprised to see who is there and who's NOT there. cont'd cont’d…
God’s quandry, so to speak, was that He loved the world so much but was also the Holy Judge of the universe. How could He be just and loving at the same time? He was just in that our sins were taken on by Jesus and paid for by His death. He was loving because He could therefore offer complete forgiveness and eternal life to all who would admit their need and receive His gift. Jesus gave Himself for us and God gave Him for us because of their overpowering love for us. God’s justice and holiness and love and grace and mercy all met at one time in history on the cross of Jesus. Those in the Old Testament looked forward to Jesus and His sacrifice. We look back. Together, we form one huge family of God’s sons and daughters.
Now, what about those who existed outside the Jewish people and had never heard of the Jews…people that lived in Africa or Asia or Europe or what is now North and South America? Were they shut out and lost? This is what I was taught and I now believe it to be wrong and for the following 3 reasons.
First, after Adam and Eve sinned they realized their nakedness and guilt. God provided animal skins to cover them. Innocent animals had to die to cover their sin. And you will notice this concept all the way through the book of Genesis up until the time when God gave the instructions of the sacrificial system to Moses.
But the concept had been set in Genesis chapter 3. The Bible traces world history through the Jewish people, whom God had set apart to give witness to His great love and holiness. But what about everyone else?
Second, the Bible tells the story of a man named Job. He was not Jewish…he was from a place far to the east of Israel. But he sacrificed innocent animals for the sins of his family. And I think that this concept was spread across the globe…this need to seek forgiveness and the desire to sacrifice an innocent animal (and sometimes even a child) so that God’s forgiveness could be achieved and His wrath stayed. In nearly every culture, we see remnants of this concept. For example, the Indians of the Great Plains would kill a buffalo and thank the Great Spirit for it because it provided for almost all the families’ needs. They would also thank the buffalo and ask it to forgive them for having had to take its life. However distorted some might think this to be, it is perfectly in line with what God originally taught Adam and Eve. And similar examples can be found everywhere.
Third, in Romans chapter 3 we are told that God is pleased with those non-Jews, who live up to their conscience. And in Psalm 51 we are told that the sacrifice that God is really pleased with is a broken and contrite heart. So, there is much room in Scripture for the idea that other folks around the world lived up to the light that they had, offered sacrifices to the Deity by whatever name, had hearts that were broken and contrite because of their sins and lived up to their consciences as they could. Which people were they? Only God knows but when we get to Heaven we may be very surprised to see who is there and who’s NOT there. cont’d

]]> By: stan http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-31998 stan Fri, 01 Apr 2005 19:47:05 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-31998 Romal. You asked two very pertinent questions and La Shawn gave you the answer to the first in a nutshell. Before Christ came, people were "saved" from their sins through Him also. The Jewish people were instructed to offer a variety of animal sacrifices for their sins. They would lay their hands on the innocent victim before it was killed to show that they were transferring their sins onto it. It was God's way of teaching them that only an innocent victim could take the penalty for their sins. Their lives were spared because of God's love but the innocent animal's life was taken. According to the book of Hebrews, their sins were temporarily covered until the next time. Once a year the High Priest would go into the holy place to offer a sacrifice for all the sins of the people that might have been inadvertently not sacrificed for. He wore bells at the bottom of his robe. As long as the people standing outside the tabernacle could hear the bells, they knew that the priest's sacrifice for them was acceptable to God. This system existed for 1400 years and applied to the Jews and whichever non-Jews had attached themselves to them. Examples of these include Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, all of whom were ancestors of Christ Himself. The system also included the sacrifice of pure, white one-year old lambs by each family once a year to memorialize the day that God passed over their sins and led them out of the slavery in Egypt. For all these reasons, John the Baptist introduced Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world..." Because Jesus was God, He was sinless. Because He was a sinless man, also, He could die in our place. The book of Hebrews says that Jesus' offering of Himself ended all sacrifices and eliminated our continual consciousness of sins. He died one time for all of us because of God's great love for us. The Bible says that God is not willing for any of us to perish but that He wants all of us to have eternal life. But that forgiveness and eternal life is a free gift. It cannot be worked for. It is necessary for us to acknowledge our sin and helplessness to do anything about it so that God can extend His love and grace and forgiveness to us through His Son. Our response can only be open hands and an open heart. cont'd Romal.
You asked two very pertinent questions and La Shawn gave you the answer to the first in a nutshell. Before Christ came, people were “saved” from their sins through Him also. The Jewish people were instructed to offer a variety of animal sacrifices for their sins. They would lay their hands on the innocent victim before it was killed to show that they were transferring their sins onto it. It was God’s way of teaching them that only an innocent victim could take the penalty for their sins. Their lives were spared because of God’s love but the innocent animal’s life was taken. According to the book of Hebrews, their sins were temporarily covered until the next time. Once a year the High Priest would go into the holy place to offer a sacrifice for all the sins of the people that might have been inadvertently not sacrificed for. He wore bells at the bottom of his robe. As long as the people standing outside the tabernacle could hear the bells, they knew that the priest’s sacrifice for them was acceptable to God. This system existed for 1400 years and applied to the Jews and whichever non-Jews had attached themselves to them. Examples of these include Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, all of whom were ancestors of Christ Himself. The system also included the sacrifice of pure, white one-year old lambs by each family once a year to memorialize the day that God passed over their sins and led them out of the slavery in Egypt. For all these reasons, John the Baptist introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world…” Because Jesus was God, He was sinless. Because He was a sinless man, also, He could die in our place. The book of Hebrews says that Jesus’ offering of Himself ended all sacrifices and eliminated our continual consciousness of sins. He died one time for all of us because of God’s great love for us. The Bible says that God is not willing for any of us to perish but that He wants all of us to have eternal life. But that forgiveness and eternal life is a free gift. It cannot be worked for. It is necessary for us to acknowledge our sin and helplessness to do anything about it so that God can extend His love and grace and forgiveness to us through His Son. Our response can only be open hands and an open heart. cont’d

]]> By: stan http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-31475 stan Thu, 31 Mar 2005 17:59:11 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-31475 Rafael, Absolutely right...I've read that "Easter" comes from "Ishtar", the ancient goddess of fertility, as you have said. Rafael,

Absolutely right…I’ve read that “Easter” comes from “Ishtar”, the ancient goddess of fertility, as you have said.

]]> By: Rafael Daniel http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-31427 Rafael Daniel Thu, 31 Mar 2005 10:54:09 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-31427 I'm late, but mj, you are absolutely right. Even in Acts where the wort 'easter' appears, it is inaccurate. The word should have been translated passover. Easter (along with the bunnies and eggs) is actually a pagan ritual that has NOTHING to do with the Christ. Because of centuries of try to 'cleanse' Chreistianity of any Jewish influence, CXhristians have fallen into the trap of celebrating this ancient celebration of fertility rather than celebrating the Passover Lamb that was slain and who lives forever more. Forgive us. I'd give nore details but it would require more space than I think our hostess would be willing to give. I’m late, but mj, you are absolutely right. Even in Acts where the wort ‘easter’ appears, it is inaccurate. The word should have been translated passover. Easter (along with the bunnies and eggs) is actually a pagan ritual that has NOTHING to do with the Christ. Because of centuries of try to ‘cleanse’ Chreistianity of any Jewish influence, CXhristians have fallen into the trap of celebrating this ancient celebration of fertility rather than celebrating the Passover Lamb that was slain and who lives forever more. Forgive us. I’d give nore details but it would require more space than I think our hostess would be willing to give.

]]> By: La Shawn http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-31093 La Shawn Tue, 29 Mar 2005 19:30:44 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-31093 Romal, I will discuss this further when I get to a computer. I'm on a PDA. Very hard to write. People of the OT were saved just like those after Christ: by his grace through faith. The people may not have known his name, but it was Christ they were trusting in. Romal, I will discuss this further when I get to a computer. I’m on a PDA. Very hard to write. People of the OT were saved just like those after Christ: by his grace through faith. The people may not have known his name, but it was Christ they were trusting in.

]]> By: Romal http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-31091 Romal Tue, 29 Mar 2005 19:11:36 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-31091 I don't know if u answer these types of questions, but I'm glad I checked your site, because I ponder similar questions every year. Especially lately. These are not attacks. They are honest questions. 1) Does all of this mean that nobody ever went to heaven before Jesus? If any sin, in the absence of Jesus' sacrifice, would incur God's wrath, then who went to heaven before Jesus died and rose? 2) How important is it to avoid sin after you've already accepted Jesus? I don’t know if u answer these types of questions, but I’m glad I checked your site, because I ponder similar questions every year. Especially lately. These are not attacks. They are honest questions.

1) Does all of this mean that nobody ever went to heaven before Jesus? If any sin, in the absence of Jesus’ sacrifice, would incur God’s wrath, then who went to heaven before Jesus died and rose?

2) How important is it to avoid sin after you’ve already accepted Jesus?

]]> By: stan http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-31000 stan Mon, 28 Mar 2005 22:22:15 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-31000 mj, I think you're right. mj,

I think you’re right.

]]> By: mj http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-30976 mj Mon, 28 Mar 2005 20:34:30 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-30976 Easter should be during Passover--the last supper was a seder, Jesus was crucified during Passover, and he rose at the end. Easter should be during Passover–the last supper was a seder, Jesus was crucified during Passover, and he rose at the end.

]]> By: D.C. Chang http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-30699 D.C. Chang Mon, 28 Mar 2005 05:09:29 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-30699 Christ is indeed victorious over death and sin. Happy Easter! Christ is indeed victorious over death and sin. Happy Easter!

]]> By: mollo http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-30694 mollo Mon, 28 Mar 2005 02:07:08 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-30694 Easter Blessings to all my friends here! Easter Blessings to all my friends here!

]]> By: Rod Stanton http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-30693 Rod Stanton Mon, 28 Mar 2005 01:40:48 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-30693 Once again a great post. Once again a great post.

]]> By: George http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-30692 George Mon, 28 Mar 2005 01:32:50 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-30692 What a blessing to hear the gospel proclaimed! For a biblical definition of the gospel read 1st Corinthians, chapter 15. from which La Shawn has quoted. "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!" I thank God for you sister. What a blessing to hear the gospel proclaimed! For a biblical definition of the gospel read 1st Corinthians, chapter 15. from which La Shawn has quoted. “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!” I thank God for you sister.

]]> By: Evon Bachaus http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-30689 Evon Bachaus Mon, 28 Mar 2005 01:15:14 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-30689 Suzie, On this wonderful day when we celebrate Christ's resurrection, I'm sorry that you're so unhappy. Perhaps you could share with us some of the things in your life that bring you joy. Evon Suzie,

On this wonderful day when we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, I’m sorry that you’re so unhappy. Perhaps you could share with us some of the things in your life that bring you joy.

Evon

]]> By: Rafael Daniel http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/comment-page-1/#comment-30683 Rafael Daniel Sun, 27 Mar 2005 23:27:08 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/03/27/he/#comment-30683 Jesus lives! His death and resurrection is the watershed event in human history. Since He left us a legacy of LIFE, may we die to our selfish desires, so that He may live in and through us. Jesus lives! His death and resurrection is the watershed event in human history. Since He left us a legacy of LIFE, may we die to our selfish desires, so that He may live in and through us.

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