I am saved...
I
Thessalonians 5:9
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus
3:4,5 But
when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but because of His mercy He saved us
through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit...
Hebrews
7:25
Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him,
because He always lives to intercede for them.
Joni and Friends Daily Devotional
January 23, 2010
Propitiation
...for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood... Romans 3:23-25
“The word we are focusing on today is ‘propitiation.’ It's a word rarely found in newer
translations of the Bible.
Unfortunately, it's out of fashion, even in Christian circles. Propitiation carries the idea of appeasement
or satisfaction - in this case Christ's violent death satisfied the offended
holiness and wrath of God against those for whom Christ died. Blood spilled to quench the wrath of an angry
God? It almost makes the cross sound
like a pagan sacrificial rite. Little
wonder many Christians are uncomfortable with the idea of sinners in the hands
of an angry God.
“But wait! In pagan religions, it is the worshiper not
the god who is responsible to appease the wrath of the offended deity. But in reality, man is incapable of
satisfying God's justice apart from Christ, except by spending eternity in
hell. In Christianity, it is God, not
the worshiper, who took the responsibility of satisfying His own wrath.
“Herein lies the amazing love of God -
the Father's wrath was appeased through the willing sacrifice offered by His
own Son. ‘It was the Lord's will to
crush Him and cause Him to suffer...
After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be
satisfied; by His knowledge My Righteous Servant will justify many, and He will
bear their iniquities’ (Isaiah 53:10-11).
“This is what makes the good news so
great. ‘For God did not appoint us to
suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1
Thessalonians 5:9). God has no more
anger left for us, only mercy, pardon, forgiveness, compassion and grace upon
grace.”
There are so many promises in these
verses – we’re “not appointed to wrath” – we are “washed and reborn” – we’re “saved
completely” – and Jesus is always interceding for us! What peace these truths offer us! No more striving to be perfect to “earn” God’s
pleasure – no more worries about not being “good enough” – no need to struggle
to save ourselves. Jesus is in heaven praying
for me – for you – right now! He knows
what temptations we face – and He’s praying that we would have the
victory! What a RELIEF! Having witnessed the futile efforts of adherents
of other religions to appease their “god,” I’ve come to see that Christianity
is a revolutionary faith! And it can be
one of the most difficult ones to grasp.
There’s something in us that wants to do something for ourselves – to prove
that we’re really not as bad as God says we are – to show Him – and others –
that we’re “good people capable of good things.” When we can finally accept that there’s
nothing we can do – nothing we have to offer – then we can rest. Is there
something you need to let go of today? Something
you’re doing to prove your worthiness?
Let it go – and accept that it is GOD who has made you perfect because
of the atoning sacrifice of His Son!
Silent Voices International
355 K Street, Suite H
Chula Vista,
CA 91911
619-422-0757
svoices@pacbell.net
www.silentvoices.org
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