The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 1:18,
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
The "message of the cross", the gospel message, is something that is thought foolish by those who do not respond to it. That is the point of it. God looks for those who will respond to it through embracing its message. Those who don't remain in their sin and will face eternal death following this life.
We all exist in this age with its primary purpose of the sifting out of mankind. God is building his kingdom and looks for all who desire him enough to change the trajectory of their lives, and so become a part of it. The people the Lord welcomes into his kingdom are those who, upon hearing the message of redemption, that God the Father has provided his Son to pay for our sins and credits that payment to our account with him, embrace the message while recognizing how powerful it is.
In Romans 1:16 we read, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." The power of the message is embedded in Paul's words in Romans 10:17, "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." The message of the gospel is what prompts and inspires faith within the hearts of all those the message appeals to.
Many have a mistaken notion of how to enter God's kingdom. They view the approach as something akin to a ledger of credits and debits in how they live their lives. If there are more "credits" (from being good and doing good things) than "debits" (being bad and doing bad things) then they can enter God's kingdom. That is not the gospel message and there is no power there because that notion cannot transform us and it gets us nowhere. Paul tells us, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:9-10.
As Paul reminded his Corinthian readers, "Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you." 1 Corinthians 15:1-2.
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
The "message of the cross", the gospel message, is something that is thought foolish by those who do not respond to it. That is the point of it. God looks for those who will respond to it through embracing its message. Those who don't remain in their sin and will face eternal death following this life.
We all exist in this age with its primary purpose of the sifting out of mankind. God is building his kingdom and looks for all who desire him enough to change the trajectory of their lives, and so become a part of it. The people the Lord welcomes into his kingdom are those who, upon hearing the message of redemption, that God the Father has provided his Son to pay for our sins and credits that payment to our account with him, embrace the message while recognizing how powerful it is.
In Romans 1:16 we read, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." The power of the message is embedded in Paul's words in Romans 10:17, "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." The message of the gospel is what prompts and inspires faith within the hearts of all those the message appeals to.
Many have a mistaken notion of how to enter God's kingdom. They view the approach as something akin to a ledger of credits and debits in how they live their lives. If there are more "credits" (from being good and doing good things) than "debits" (being bad and doing bad things) then they can enter God's kingdom. That is not the gospel message and there is no power there because that notion cannot transform us and it gets us nowhere. Paul tells us, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:9-10.
As Paul reminded his Corinthian readers, "Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you." 1 Corinthians 15:1-2.
This is the most powerful message, a message that transfers us from God's looming judgment into his kingdom-- into eternal life!
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 reply and let me know.
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 reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment