Thursday, March 02, 2006

Moral Failure VS In-Accurate Doctrine

For the sake of a good discussion, let us consider for a moment the possibility that there is no more punishment / payment for our sin. Let's pretend that God's grace IS sufficient for me and for you and for everyone else, it's enough. Let us suppose that Jesus paid for all sin for all time, just as He said and it really IS finished.....

The Word says we must repent (turn from) from sin once we are aware of it. So if we are sincere in our repentance, then that's the end of it right? Well, it should be, however, we find ourselves instead swimming in feelings of failure and guilt. Every denomination has it's own way of restitution. Some preach good works & charity, some a penance, some prayer beads; but almost all people require of themselves that a "payment" for their own failure be made.

But doesn't the Word say that even our most righteous deeds are as filthy rags in His sight? How can filth be payment for anything? Because without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22) and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29); how is it that we continue to put forth the idea that we are doomed to God's judgement for being the very thing He knows we are...sinners saved by a merciful, forgiving Father.

Theories vary from denomination to denomination and from person to person. I think the most popular view (opinion, belief, teaching) by far is the one that accepts that Jesus died for the sins we have committed.... up until we accept Him (get saved, become accountable, etc.). It is felt that we must "pay" for our sins that we committ after coming to know Him. But scripture says The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. IT IS FINISHED!

There is an insatiable need indwelling us that insists we "pay for", or be held "accountable for" our short comings in order for God to fully accept us. I offer to you that this simply cannot be true and is not only our mere human nature coming through, but is, in fact, blasphemous. The sin of dis-belief. I say this because we MUST take into consideration the scriptures (in context) that state Jesus is our Savior, deliverer, conqueror, atonement, reconciliation and each and every persons propitiation for ALL sin.

No amount of charity work, rosary praying, fasting, ______(fill in your penance) can ever pay for or make right our wrongs or justify our flesh. Remember that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

We already know that Jesus paid a price that none of us could pay. We couldn't pay it then and we can't pay it now. If we each had to settle our bill at the end of the night we would come up so very short. Unacceptablly short. But it just so happens our Brother is in tight with the restaurant Owner. Jesus not only paid our tab for the night, but told the Owner that anything else we ordered was on Him. When we leave at the end of the night, we will owe nothing.

Jesus overcame the LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. ALL of it.

Jesus CONQUERED sin and death.

sin #266 hamartia - literally means missing the mark, failure, offense, wrong doing, wrong course, guilt

I propose to you that the judgement seat we shall all encounter will be more focused on our doctrinal belief system. Did we allow ourselves to be deceived? Did we follow Him or man. Were we lovers of the truth or people who chose to be willfully ignorant? I propose that these are the life and death choices we are accountable for.

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