The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in John 1:29,
"The next day John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"
John the Baptist knew exactly who Jesus Christ was. As Jesus approached him one day, John declared that it was Jesus Christ who would "take away the sin of the world." He would take that sin away by taking the punishment for that sin upon himself in the court of God's justice. And, he did it for the whole world.
Some have arrived at the conclusion that when Jesus Christ died on that miserable cross, he only paid the penalty for the sins of those who would ultimately find their way into the kingdom of God. Conversely, all who find themselves condemned in the judgment of God at the end of the age never had their sins paid for by Jesus' atoning death. The theological concept is called "Limited Atonement". It is a conclusion that is drawn from a theological deduction. The thinking goes that the precious blood of Jesus Christ could not possibly be expended upon anything that did not achieve God's purpose. Since those who reject Jesus Christ do not represent the achievement of God's purpose for mankind, then Jesus blood could not have been expended upon them. Those who reject Jesus Christ never had their sins paid for on that cross. I'm certain someone else could articulate the position more clearly than me. Hopefully you get the point.
Here is yet another point where the theological deductions of limited mankind fail to find the truth. (I'm a prime example of someone who falls into this number!) There is a reason God has revealed himself to us in the Scriptures: we need them. We can't arrive at those truths on our own that require God's help in us apprehending them.
When John pointed out that Jesus would take away the sin of the world, the straightforward understanding is that anyone who exists or has existed in the world has had their sins taken way, or removed as an obstacle to achieve eternal life. And, this is exactly what he meant. In Paul's letter to Timothy, we find that it is God's will that all come to know him, "God our Savior... wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4. In order for "all people to be saved" all people need to have their sins paid for. Peter makes the same observation, "he [the Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. Since God does not want anyone to perish, their sins need to be paid for.
While the above is likewise a deduction, the following is not: "He [Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. Here, John clearly points out that all the sins of all mankind for all time were paid for by Jesus Christ when he died on that cross. Everybody's sins.
If the Lord suffered such a miserable death for you and for me, how could we turn our back on such an astonishing act of love on our behalf? If each and every person's sins were paid for by Jesus Christ, if he suffered for each and every human being, how could I possibly not reflect that value of each and every person as Jesus did when he expressed his incomprehensible love for us all on that cross?
It is important to note that although God wants each and every person to enter his family, to inherit eternal life, he also has determined that only those who embrace him in faith will do so. "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12. We find the fate of all who fail to do so in Revelation 21:8. What we learn from the Scriptures is that Jesus Christ made a way for all to inherit eternal life by paying the penalty for their sins on the cross. However, that payment for sins only gets credited to our account in God's court if we embrace Jesus Christ in faith.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"The next day John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"
John the Baptist knew exactly who Jesus Christ was. As Jesus approached him one day, John declared that it was Jesus Christ who would "take away the sin of the world." He would take that sin away by taking the punishment for that sin upon himself in the court of God's justice. And, he did it for the whole world.
Some have arrived at the conclusion that when Jesus Christ died on that miserable cross, he only paid the penalty for the sins of those who would ultimately find their way into the kingdom of God. Conversely, all who find themselves condemned in the judgment of God at the end of the age never had their sins paid for by Jesus' atoning death. The theological concept is called "Limited Atonement". It is a conclusion that is drawn from a theological deduction. The thinking goes that the precious blood of Jesus Christ could not possibly be expended upon anything that did not achieve God's purpose. Since those who reject Jesus Christ do not represent the achievement of God's purpose for mankind, then Jesus blood could not have been expended upon them. Those who reject Jesus Christ never had their sins paid for on that cross. I'm certain someone else could articulate the position more clearly than me. Hopefully you get the point.
Here is yet another point where the theological deductions of limited mankind fail to find the truth. (I'm a prime example of someone who falls into this number!) There is a reason God has revealed himself to us in the Scriptures: we need them. We can't arrive at those truths on our own that require God's help in us apprehending them.
When John pointed out that Jesus would take away the sin of the world, the straightforward understanding is that anyone who exists or has existed in the world has had their sins taken way, or removed as an obstacle to achieve eternal life. And, this is exactly what he meant. In Paul's letter to Timothy, we find that it is God's will that all come to know him, "God our Savior... wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4. In order for "all people to be saved" all people need to have their sins paid for. Peter makes the same observation, "he [the Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. Since God does not want anyone to perish, their sins need to be paid for.
While the above is likewise a deduction, the following is not: "He [Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. Here, John clearly points out that all the sins of all mankind for all time were paid for by Jesus Christ when he died on that cross. Everybody's sins.
If the Lord suffered such a miserable death for you and for me, how could we turn our back on such an astonishing act of love on our behalf? If each and every person's sins were paid for by Jesus Christ, if he suffered for each and every human being, how could I possibly not reflect that value of each and every person as Jesus did when he expressed his incomprehensible love for us all on that cross?
It is important to note that although God wants each and every person to enter his family, to inherit eternal life, he also has determined that only those who embrace him in faith will do so. "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12. We find the fate of all who fail to do so in Revelation 21:8. What we learn from the Scriptures is that Jesus Christ made a way for all to inherit eternal life by paying the penalty for their sins on the cross. However, that payment for sins only gets credited to our account in God's court if we embrace Jesus Christ in faith.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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