CommonChristianity: Hebrews 7:27

5:18 PM | Posted by Bob Walters | | Edit Post

Spirituality Column #387
April 15, 2014
Current in Carmel-Westfield-Noblesville-Fishers-Zionsville

The People’s Republic of … Noah

By Bob Walters

It’s Holy Week and for me it is a time of somber reflection about Jesus.

There is relief, of course, in knowing that God in heaven did not abandon humanity in all our sins. There is surprise – looking around, and in the mirror – that we were created in God’s image. There is thankfulness that God thinks we are worth the trouble. There is joy – freely available to all – in God’s promise of eternal goodness, life, and love in His heavenly Kingdom.

And … there is ghastliness in what Jesus endured at the hands of man in order to defeat the curse of death, restore humanity’s fellowship with God, forgive our sins, and ensure our adoption as sons and daughters into the Kingdom of Heaven.

In all that, there is hope – ultimate hope – embodied in the resurrection of Christ.

Easter celebrates it, but modern culture widely misunderstands and grievously, severely underappreciates it. Easter is not a sign of our righteousness; it is a sign of God’s faithfulness. We are the child (Luke 14:5) that has used its freedom to fall down a well, and Jesus is the shepherd that saves us because we cannot save ourselves.

But “saving ourselves” – i.e., trusting in our own righteousness rather than God’s, expanding on God’s perfection to include ourselves, and re-writing God’s stories to insert humanity in His glory – is the Easter-diminishing narrative of modern man.

Witness the hit movie “Noah,” described proudly by its director as “the most unbiblical biblical movie ever made.” Because the Bible has so few details on people, one screenwriter explained, human details had to be added to get a “story.”

Well, no. The Bible is not centrally about man, the Bible is first, last and always about God.

When the centrality of humanity is elevated as in “Noah,” the story, divinity and truth of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are lessened. More humanity, less truth, farther from God: that’s man-worshipping, secular, People’s Republic society in a nutshell.

Even commentator Bill O’Reilly, whose factual book “Killing Jesus” is a bestseller, struggles to get theology right on his top-rated cable TV show. He recently said he goes to church to “get his sins forgiven.” Aieeee! That’s why Jesus died on the cross “once for all” (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 7:27), not why anyone goes to church. Then O’Reilly soberly, narrowly, carefully, specifically described Jesus as a philosopher. My hunch is that O’Reilly, a Catholic, accepts Jesus as the Christ and Messiah, but couldn’t bring himself to say it, not even on Fox News.

It underscores societal preference for a people’s republic over God’s Kingdom.

And that’s no Bible story.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) cites 1 John 2:22-23: denying Christ has a high cost.

309 - Forgive Me for Asking, But ...

5:29 PM | Posted by Bob Walters | | Edit Post

Spirituality Column #309
October 16, 2012
Current in Carmel – Westfield – Noblesville – Fishers – Zionsville

Forgive Me for Asking, But …
By Bob Walters

When asked “What’s Jesus done for you?” many Christians quickly answer, “He died on the cross to forgive my sins.”

True enough.

But if we honestly believe that answer – that Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins – why do so many of us still pray daily for God’s forgiveness? Forgiveness has already happened, and that idea is as plainly and clearly presented as any in the Bible. Over and over (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 7:27, 10:2, Jude 1:3, etc.) the New Testament instructs us that Jesus died “once for all” – for all mankind, for the forgiveness of all sin, and for the restoration of all creation.

My email pen pal Bob recently opined that asking Jesus for forgiveness again and again is akin to asking Jesus to go to the cross again and again. Jesus has been there, done that, and is sitting in Heaven with the scars to prove it. We’re forgiven, already; not by our request but by God’s grace and Jesus on the cross.

In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly offers forgiveness (Matthew 9:2), claims the authority to forgive (Matthew 9:6), and commands us to forgive (Matthew 18:35). But humanity asking “for forgiveness” is not something Jesus ever mentions. Nor is it something mankind ever thought of asking for. The Jews of Jesus’ time believed their divine deliverer would provide spectacular, triumphant, and righteous military power, not humble, servant-hearted, and righteous forgiveness of sinners.

Jesus tells us to pray, repent, be baptized, and to follow him (Mark 1). For our salvation we are to love God, trust Jesus, rely on the Holy Spirit, and both love and forgive our neighbor. But from the cross, our forgiveness through Christ is eternal and ongoing – a “done deal.” Continuing to ask Jesus “for forgiveness” seems ungracious, tantamount to doubting His word, His promise, His authority, His power, His love.

But still … we sin, feel guilty, and reflexively pray for forgiveness. Isn’t it far better to recognize and repent of sin, and then – with faith and perseverance – strengthen our relationship with the one risen Lord? We do that by building, growing, learning, nurturing and trusting in Jesus Christ: that He is who He says He is, has done what He says He has done, and will do what He has promised to do.

My teacher George recently remarked that many Christians are addicted to praying for forgiveness. I’d never heard it put quite like that. Certainly, prayer is good, but our prayers should reflect our total trust in the grace of Christ Jesus.

For what is grace if not forgiveness?

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) doesn’t pray for God’s forgiveness; he thanks God that His forgiveness is eternal. Peace and mercy to all.

387 - The People's Republic of ... Noah

309 - Forgive Me for Asking, But ...

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