Last night we went to my mother’s church to see an Easter musical. It told the story of Jesus beginning with the woman at the well. It included the raising of Lazarus, went through the Passover meal and then went on to the crucifixion. There was some focus on Pilate and his indecision about Jesus. All of it was in song. It was good and I found myself moved several times. On the way home in the car we had time to review and talk about it. All of us agreed that it did not include anywhere that it was for our sin that Jesus was crucified. In fact we talked about how people could sit through a presentation such as this and wonder to themselves, “Okay, Jesus was crucified and went through this, but why?” I have been talking about this very thing with a friend of mine. It seems to us that leaving this fact out of the story is not only bad but even a little deceptive. Jesus bore the cross because He paid a debt that we had. A sin debt. The bible says that “the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23 (NKJV). Therefore, I am doomed to die for my sin. But God sent His Son Jesus to bear that sin for me so I would not have to die. Now I can live because Jesus paid the price. The price of death. This is the most important part of the story and I think it should be a major focus instead of something between the lines for the viewer to try to figure out for themselves. Just another note: Jesus paid the price for ALL of my sins. This was a very freeing thought to me. I used to go into every prayer time asking for forgiveness for this and forgiveness for that. One day I realized that in salvation I am totally forgiven! I didn’t struggle with this idea for long. I heard Dr. Bill Gillham of Lifetime Guarantee Ministries ask the question "How many of your sins had you committed at the time Jesus was crucified" I knew the answer was none. I wasn’t even born yet. That means that when Jesus Christ was crucified, He died for all of my sins: past, present and future. I believe that I am already forgiven. I now need only to confess my sins and walk in the forgiveness that He has already given me! As it was in the the musical I saw last night, there was only a moment spent on the resurrection. I believe the resurrection is just as important as the crucifixion. It is by the crucifixion that He paid the price for my sins. It is by the resurrection that I have His life so that I might live and walk by His life, new life. It is by the resurrection that I have His power to live my life daily in the trenches and on the mountaintops. I am only learning, but I believe somewhere deep inside my spirit there is so much more for me to learn about the cross and His life. More than I can even fathom at this point in my life. But that is why I am walking by faith. One step at a time to learn the truths and apply them to my life. Come and join me, won’t you? Romans 6:4 …that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection (NKJV) Oh "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection". -- Phil 3:10 (NKJV)
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