The words FREE GIFT attract the attention of most of us. Marketers especially like to use these words in upper case to draw people's attention to what they are pitching. But is a gift really FREE?
A gift is free for the person who receives it but not for the person who gives it.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Substitutionary Death: Jesus for Jesus
In the post "What is Death?", we saw the difference between physical death and spiritual death. If we are to avoid spiritual death, someone must die on our behalf - to pay the price for our sins; so that we are released from the bondage to sin. That 'someone' was Jesus - he died in our place!
Jesus' dying on the Cross in our place is termed "substitutionary death." One man dying for another man's folly. And all this out of grace and mercy - just so that we could walk away free! "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
Jesus for Jesus - Man for man
When Jesus was brought before Pilate, the multitude demanded that Jesus Christ be crucified and a prisoner - also having the name 'Jesus' (and called 'Barabbas' - meaning 'son of the father') - be released. As per the custom in those days, one prisoner would be released at the Passover feast. So Pilate ordered that Jesus the "notorious prisoner" be released.
The Jesus who was a sinner was let off while the innocent Jesus (Christ) was sacrificed at Passover. In a sense, we too are in Barabbas' position - we have offended God. But God, in His mercy and grace, anointed His Son Jesus to die not only in place of Jesus the prisoner, but also in place of you and me. Jesus for Jesus - Man for man!
Let us, then, offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God by praising Him and thanking Him for the way of salvation He has worked out for us in Christ Jesus:
"Praise the LORD,
For His mercy endures forever." (2 Chr. 20:21; Ps. 106:1; Ps. 136)
Jesus' dying on the Cross in our place is termed "substitutionary death." One man dying for another man's folly. And all this out of grace and mercy - just so that we could walk away free! "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
Jesus for Jesus - Man for man
When Jesus was brought before Pilate, the multitude demanded that Jesus Christ be crucified and a prisoner - also having the name 'Jesus' (and called 'Barabbas' - meaning 'son of the father') - be released. As per the custom in those days, one prisoner would be released at the Passover feast. So Pilate ordered that Jesus the "notorious prisoner" be released.
The Jesus who was a sinner was let off while the innocent Jesus (Christ) was sacrificed at Passover. In a sense, we too are in Barabbas' position - we have offended God. But God, in His mercy and grace, anointed His Son Jesus to die not only in place of Jesus the prisoner, but also in place of you and me. Jesus for Jesus - Man for man!
Let us, then, offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God by praising Him and thanking Him for the way of salvation He has worked out for us in Christ Jesus:
"Praise the LORD,
For His mercy endures forever." (2 Chr. 20:21; Ps. 106:1; Ps. 136)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
What is Death?
What is the meaning of 'death'? In one of our Sunday services, the guest speaker Bro. Rajkumar Ramchandran explained the meaning of death:
Death is separation.
Death is separation.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Covenant vs. Contract vs. Agreement – Part 2
In Part 1 of this two-post series, we saw the meaning of an agreement, a contract and a covenant. Now let us look at a few similarities and differences between them.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Covenant vs. Contract vs. Agreement - Part 1
How is a covenant different from an agreement and a contract? Do they have anything in common? Let us look at what each of these 3 terms means:
- Agreement: When two or more parties agree upon something, it is called an agreement. It can be oral or written.
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