Professional Documents
Culture Documents
perfect sacrifice in our place. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming
unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world.
He was heading towards Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Of which was
completed in Egypt by faith. It was the placing of blood of a lamb on the door
posts by Hebrews which kept the spirit of death from entering in. Hebrews 11:28
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that
destroyed the firstborn should touch them. Exodus 12:21-24 Then Moses called for
all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb
according to your families, and kill the passover.
And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason,
and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason;
and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the
LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon
the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will
not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall
observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
There met a young man whom he loved. Mark 10:17-31 And when he was gone forth
into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good
Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one,
that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill,
Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and
mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from
my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou
lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he
was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And
Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that
have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at
his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is
it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier
for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into
the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among
themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it
is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Then Peter
began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus
answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my
sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time,
houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with
persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall
be last; and the last first. Now Jesus said only God was good. He would not give
honor to the flesh. He also showed forth that the difficultly of entering in the
kingdom of God. Peter echos this in 1 Peter 4:17-18 For the time is come that
judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall
the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely
be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? we are judged now so as
to not be later. But all must appear before the throne of God. 2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad. The sheep will be on the right hand and will eternal life. And the
goats on the left and eternal punishment. Matthew 25:33-46 relates this story.
Right hand represents power. Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said:
nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the
right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mark 14:62 also mimics
this statement. And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on
the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. God is a spirit says
John 4:24. Spirits have no hands. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and
unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, Holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
He is the Holy One of Israel. Psalm 78:41, Isaiah 10:17/20, and Jeremiah 50:29
among many others. Psalm 119:68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy
statutes. This is his nature. There are no defects in him. And nothing can be
added to him as he is the sum of perfection. God is the highest degree or source
of goodness and he extend this goodness to others freely. Psalm 73:1 Truly God is
good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. The almighty has no pleasure
in sin or the death of the wicked. This is precisely why he sent Jesus to take our
place at Calvary on the cross. He justice sentenced our sinning to death. But
mercy rejoice against it by the replacement of Christ for all the sins of the
world. When we had no strength or way available to escape the penalty of sin, he
stepped up providing one for us. Psalm 135:3 Praise the Lord; for the Lord is
good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. In Genesis we read of seven
times where God said that all that God made was good. Genesis
1:4,10,12,14,18,21,25,31. Nobody can see the greatness of his handwork and say it
was not good. Even though sin has entered in the world, it still is a beautiful
place though tainted by it. Psalm 33:5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the
earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
All the good things of God are available to all. Psalm 145:9,15-16 The Lord is
good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. The eyes of all wait
upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand,
and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Matthew 5:45 states the sun rises
equally on the just and unjust. He is gracious even to the wicked and undeserving
says Luke 6:35. Acts 14:15-17 God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and
all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in
their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did
good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with
food and gladness.
Though unbelievers take the goodness of God for granted and exploit this for
their own means, it is still extended to them. Sometimes even Christians take
advantage of his continued goodness. We all have missed the mark and failed. But
in our failures we will not give up. As his grace is sufficient. Christians are
saved by their faith and his grace and not perfect, rather they are a work in
progress. Nobody goes from baby to adult in a matter of days or months. Those who
know God as their personal saviour by their faith in action and baptism in Jesus
name, will give thanks in all things as this is the will of God. Paul learned to
take pleasure in afflictions and necessities, for when he was weak God was strong
in him. The will of God is good. (Romans 12:2) We know all things work for our
good when we are in it. (Romans 8:28) It is always darkest before the dawn. And
when the tide turns it is almost nearly always when victory seems the most at
peril. The battle at Dunkirk is a good example of this. Prayer warriors prayed the
victory through for England when all seemed lost. Hitler and Germany needed only
to mop up and yet their hand stayed. God put a spirit of slumber on them and
rescued they needy people who called upon him in faith. The captives were set from
from the proud in heart by the grace of God. As this is a historical fact.
Research the matter for yourself. Psalm 31:19 speaks of the great goodness of God
for those that fear him. He withholds nothing good back from the upright. (Psalm
84:11) Now not all agree that God is good even as Satan overcame Eve by
questioning the goodness of God. Now men have challenged his goodness since then.
Why does God permit all forms of suffering? God tells us his ways are higher than
ours and his thoughts than ours in Isaiah 55:8-9. It is not expected for us to
understand all things but take it by faith or trust, that he will ultimately do
what is best for all. God is not the author of sin Habakkuk 1:13, James 1:13, and
1 John 1:5. As God created man with afree will to choose between good and evil. He
did not make robots but living beings capable of making their own decisions. Often
we all are our own worst enemy. Before creation he knew man would sin yet he
allowed this to show forth his greatness. He allows us the freedom that Satan and
others say he withholds from us. The Devil would lead us to bondage and death
while Christ to life and liberty. But with God nothing is forced upon a person.
It's only when the point of no return does he intervene in history. In Genesis
when evil was totally out of control, and in Revelations when man is at the bring
of self-destruction does he jump in. God sometimes afflicts us for our spiritual
benefit. (Psalm 119:71) Even as a father correct a errant son. And if we were not
his this, would not be so. God is interested in the eternal outcome. While we
often only look to the temporary situation at hand, simply because we are limited
in our scope of vision. It happens to everyone including myself. God sees the
overall picture while we get just a glimpse of it. No article, no matter how well
written or spirit filled will convince a person who has already hardened their
heart towards God. Let us all give thanks unto him as he is a refuge from the
storms of life. He is the shade for the weary. He will give rest and peace to his
people. I would invite you to accept him on his terms by applying Acts 2:38 to
your life. You can taste and see the goodness of God. There is no charge. As
freely he gave all things to them who truly believe in his name and obeyed his
word of life. All are concluded in unbelief until they act upon their faith, and
trust in his goodness which leads to eternal life and victory. He has great things
prepared already for those willing and obedient. God will not force anyone to
accept him. But all choices have consequences involved. God bless you richly in
his all power filled and saving name of Jesus.