Monday, January 16, 2012

The Sin Debt

  Orthodox Christianity teaches that Christ died for our sins. That He paid the penalty on the cross. They teach that God the Father forsook His son and sacrificed Him for us that terrible day. And this is true. The scriptures say that for our sakes, He was scourged, beaten and mocked. At the place of the skull, He was humiliated; had nails driven through Him and He hung on the cross until death. He gave up His spirit to the Father and a soldier thrust a spear into His side to make sure He was dead. He suffered unimaginable physical pain and mental anguish. God, in the form of a man; was made to be sin on our behalf.

  Does Orthodox Christianity really believe that Christ paid the price? No, they do not. Orthodoxy believes that someone who does not accept Christ as their personal savior will suffer everlasting torment in the lake of fire; burning forever and forever. With that logic, Christ did not pay the price. He has not suffered eternal damnation in the lake of fire burning forever and forever.


  Additionally, they believe that mankind has to do something in order to receive the "free gift". If mankind does not do what they prescribe, according to their man-made creeds and traditions, off to hell you go for eternal damnation. Sinners will roast and burn forever and forever in the lake of fire!

  No, orthodoxy does not believe that He paid the price. Orthodoxy believes the penalty for sin is eternal damnation in hell-fire. That belief is contrary to God's word. What did God say to Adam: Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Death was the penalty, not burning forever.

  There you have the warning from God. Eat and die. The penalty was death. That penalty is passed on to all of Adam's descendants. 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

  According to orthodox Christianity, Christ could not have paid the price. Does their logic make sense to you? Let's look at the scripture.

  John 19:1-3 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

  John 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

  Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

  Jesus died an unspeakable death for us. He died to free us from Adam's sin and from our own sin.

  1 John 2:1, 2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  Let me ask you a question. Does the whole world mean just Baptists? Maybe it means Jews? Could it mean Lutherans who door knock, pass out tracts and tithe according to the law? I suspect it means just what it says! The whole world.

  2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  Galatians 1:4, 5 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Is there any will stronger than the will of God? No, not even close.

  1 Corinthians 15:3, 4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

  1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

  Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

  Can you save yourself by works? No you cannot. God's word says that you cannot even choose to follow Christ on your own! John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [drag in the Greek] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

  1 Corinthians 12:3b ...and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.  You cannot do it yourself.


  Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  But what about the lake of fire, what is it? It is exactly what the Word of God says it is. Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

  It is true my brothers and sisters, He paid the price once and for all. If you believe, you have been drawn [dragged in the Greek]. It was not because of works, it was a free gift, an approach present.

  But you say, there are many who do not believe. Well, to that I say they have not been dragged yet. Never take my word for it, look to God's word. Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

  In the dispensation of the fullness of times...be patient my brothers and sisters. God's word tells us that He [God] will be All in all! 1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

  Well there you have it. God will be All in all. His Word says so. There will come a time when there will be no more sin, death, pain or sorrow.

  John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

  Rejoice this day that He paid the price. It is finished! You have been purchased by His blood.

Grace is the gift we do not deserve! Grace be with you!

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