March 14th 2021
You Will Be Saved Only Because “Your Faith Has Healed You!"
Mark 13:32 (NIV)
No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
This verse has always been difficult to understand. If Jesus is God, how could He be ignorant of the time of His second coming? Indeed, He was, and is, God, but He also was, and is, a man. This is a part of the mystery of the divine/human nature of Christ. In the gospel record, we see frequent evidence(s) of His humanity (He grew weary, for example, and suffered pain), but also many evidence(s) of deity (His virgin birth, His resurrection and ascension, as well as His perfect words and deeds). The question here becomes, what did Jesus/God have to give up when He became a member on mankind? Apparently, we cannot totally understand this while we still reside in this cursed world.
However, when we leave this earth after having been born again, He will meet us, and then, we will see Him as He is. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2). While we still walk this earth, we must try to establish fellowship with Jesus. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:6-7).
Notice what John wrote about this fellowship, it is not only to be focused on Jesus, but it is to be shared with other members of mankind. John wrote that we need to try to walk in the light and if, “we have fellowship with one another” we will receive His gift of purification. Are you having fellowship with other believers? In my opinion, if you are not attending a church of your choice REGULARLY, you cannot have enough true fellowship with other believers. You are not doing your part of participating in this required fellowship. You cannot contribute if you are not there!
Not only do we receive forgiveness from the Father, but He also looks at us as though we had fully obeyed Him as His Son had done. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26). Much more then, now being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (Romans 5:9).
While Jesus was still hanging on the cross to pay this price required for our (your) sins, one of the criminals also being crucified accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, and Jesus told him he would be saved, because of his faith in Jesus. Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43). We do not know much about this man, but he did admit to being a sinner, and that his death penalty was justified by man’s laws. However, Jesus forgave him and accepted his plea for salvation. We can feel good about this, because while are still sinners, Jesus died for our (your) sins.
When Jesus still walked this earth, He healed many people who had diseases or even those who were born blind or lame or deaf. To seemed Jesus could heal any disease and restore those who were limited by some defect. Jesus even raised those who had died, and He bought them back from the dead to live again. When Jesus performed such miracles, He often said, “your faith has healed you." From such a comment we can perceive that Jesus would not have healed the person unless they believed He could do it.
In one such incident Jesus healed a man who was blind. Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. (Luke 18:40-43). Why was this man healed immediately – no mud was put on his eyes - and he was not told to go to a priest, as Jesus sometimes requested of those He healed? I do not have an answer for you on this, but it just seemed interesting to notice how Jesus varied His methods of bringing healing to those who asked Him to heal them.
During this Lenten season it is especially important that we should think about how Jesus lived among the people of His days on this earth, and how He conducted Himself as a member of mankind. Yes. He is both man and God, but it seems He really did conform to being a member of mankind while He walked in this cursed world and supplied a pattern of how we who follow Him should try to walk. Jesus chose to suffer and die for the sins of mankind! Thank God/Him for this wonderful plan of salvation offered for those who are still sinners. Going to heaven is gift for ONLY those who are willing to confess their sins and claim their salvation, because they (you) will be saved only because “your faith has healed you."
The great news for all of us is that God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Yes, I know this is Easter stuff, but it certainly seems relevant now, during this Lenten season. We do not need to be perfect, because what Jesus did for us, makes us look perfect to God our Father. Now that is a wonderful account of salvation that we do not deserve. We only get it if we believe He is who He said He is! Amen!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Mark 13:32 (NIV)
No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
This verse has always been difficult to understand. If Jesus is God, how could He be ignorant of the time of His second coming? Indeed, He was, and is, God, but He also was, and is, a man. This is a part of the mystery of the divine/human nature of Christ. In the gospel record, we see frequent evidence(s) of His humanity (He grew weary, for example, and suffered pain), but also many evidence(s) of deity (His virgin birth, His resurrection and ascension, as well as His perfect words and deeds). The question here becomes, what did Jesus/God have to give up when He became a member on mankind? Apparently, we cannot totally understand this while we still reside in this cursed world.
However, when we leave this earth after having been born again, He will meet us, and then, we will see Him as He is. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2). While we still walk this earth, we must try to establish fellowship with Jesus. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:6-7).
Notice what John wrote about this fellowship, it is not only to be focused on Jesus, but it is to be shared with other members of mankind. John wrote that we need to try to walk in the light and if, “we have fellowship with one another” we will receive His gift of purification. Are you having fellowship with other believers? In my opinion, if you are not attending a church of your choice REGULARLY, you cannot have enough true fellowship with other believers. You are not doing your part of participating in this required fellowship. You cannot contribute if you are not there!
Not only do we receive forgiveness from the Father, but He also looks at us as though we had fully obeyed Him as His Son had done. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26). Much more then, now being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (Romans 5:9).
While Jesus was still hanging on the cross to pay this price required for our (your) sins, one of the criminals also being crucified accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, and Jesus told him he would be saved, because of his faith in Jesus. Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43). We do not know much about this man, but he did admit to being a sinner, and that his death penalty was justified by man’s laws. However, Jesus forgave him and accepted his plea for salvation. We can feel good about this, because while are still sinners, Jesus died for our (your) sins.
When Jesus still walked this earth, He healed many people who had diseases or even those who were born blind or lame or deaf. To seemed Jesus could heal any disease and restore those who were limited by some defect. Jesus even raised those who had died, and He bought them back from the dead to live again. When Jesus performed such miracles, He often said, “your faith has healed you." From such a comment we can perceive that Jesus would not have healed the person unless they believed He could do it.
In one such incident Jesus healed a man who was blind. Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. (Luke 18:40-43). Why was this man healed immediately – no mud was put on his eyes - and he was not told to go to a priest, as Jesus sometimes requested of those He healed? I do not have an answer for you on this, but it just seemed interesting to notice how Jesus varied His methods of bringing healing to those who asked Him to heal them.
During this Lenten season it is especially important that we should think about how Jesus lived among the people of His days on this earth, and how He conducted Himself as a member of mankind. Yes. He is both man and God, but it seems He really did conform to being a member of mankind while He walked in this cursed world and supplied a pattern of how we who follow Him should try to walk. Jesus chose to suffer and die for the sins of mankind! Thank God/Him for this wonderful plan of salvation offered for those who are still sinners. Going to heaven is gift for ONLY those who are willing to confess their sins and claim their salvation, because they (you) will be saved only because “your faith has healed you."
The great news for all of us is that God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Yes, I know this is Easter stuff, but it certainly seems relevant now, during this Lenten season. We do not need to be perfect, because what Jesus did for us, makes us look perfect to God our Father. Now that is a wonderful account of salvation that we do not deserve. We only get it if we believe He is who He said He is! Amen!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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