The 7 Sayings on the Cross (2)

"Today thou shalt be with me in paradise"

Naturally I have paired this with that direct request of the thief on the cross to the Lord Jesus:

Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom"

This is indeed a lovely scene in the midst of all the pain and suffering there at Golgotha. It is lovely to see amidst all the mocking, scorn and the flagrant wickedness of man at the cross, that we also see a glimpse of repentance and faith from a single individual.

Here we see dialogue between a thief and the Saviour. It is interesting to note that the thief was someone who took from others that which wasn't his to take, but the Lord Jesus was one who freely gave to others that which only he could give!

The repentant thief is rewarded with the sure promise of eternal life in response to his faith. It is lovely to see the dramatic context of this conversion - that at the last opportunity that life afforded him, this man's eternal destiny was changed forever!

And so the cross changes our destiny too. It is easy to forget that we too met the Saviour at the cross and as a result of that meeting we also are bound for heaven and have eternal life in Him. Our conversions may well have been less dramatic in terms of their situations and circumstances, but the end result was the same - a sinner was saved by grace! Saved from judgement and wrath, and won for heaven!

We praise the Saviour for showing a care and interest in us, that ever he should come and give himself so that we might be saved.

Yours in Christ, Mark

Impossible!

I've been enjoying 2 scriptures from Hebrews that tell us about 2 things which are IMPOSSIBLE.

"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Heb 10:4)

How wonderful it is for believers to appreciate once again that our sin has been fully dealt with once and for all by the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross of Calvary! Hebrews tells us all about this better sacrifice, and it should warm our hearts as we refresh our souls and consider it once again.

The writer to the Hebrews tells us that the Lord Jesus gave himself as "one sacrifice for sins forever" and again that he "put away sins by the sacrifice of himself". Amazing words, especially when we consider that our verse here tells us that no amount of sacrifices of bulls, goats or any beasts would take away sin or deal with its penalty or power. This was an impossibility! Nothing we could ever offer to God would deal with sin and make us right with God once and for all, nothing would fully satisfy the claims of a righteous and holy God against sin. The blood of sacrificed beasts would only cover sins for a season, this was never a permanent solution.

We thank God that there was a better and perfect sacrifice in the person of his beloved Son and Hebrews tells us that he "offered himself without spot to God". This was the difference, here was a perfect spotless sacrifice! The Lord Jesus was the Lamb of God, which was sent to take away the sins of the world (as John the Baptist correctly identified). The scriptures tell us that his precious blood cleanses us from all sin, so we can have every confidence that this once and for all sacrifice has fully dealt with our sins, as he has paid the price with his precious blood and we are saved, forgiven and redeemed!

"but without faith it is impossible to please him (God)" (Heb 11:6)

We realise as believers in Christ that we were (and still are) sinners, and as such we could never offer anything to God, and we have seen this already as Hebrews makes this very clear. Hebrews also illustrates the importance of faith, and this is the response God looks for in men and women today. To respond to that perfect sacrifice by repenting of that sin that took his Son to Calvary to bear it away and to turn to him putting faith and trust in Him!

We thank God for the day we realised we were sinners and that Christ had died for our sin and put faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and his finished work at Calvary.

Day by day let us remind ourselves of these things and offer thanks and praise to God!

Yours in Christ, Mark.