November 10th 2019
Jesus Is The Only Plan For Salvation!
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
We are often told that everyone wants to feel that they are valued, and they want to belong to groups of people who share a common belief system. Most often such groups form to protest something they do not agree with. Such groups organize pickets and they often carry signs displaying their objections to some other group of people who they disagree with! In the USA people are excited about using their time to disrupt the plans of some other group who they disagree with. However, attendance at churches is decreasing every day. It makes me wonder why people are willing to spend their time trying to stop the actions of another group they disagree with while most of them do not seek to find the truth. Many denominations have formed in the Christian church, which offer individuals the ability for them to attend a church of their choice, which may have people who attend who share many of the same beliefs as those who are seeking the truth. However, as Paul has written for us, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” Paul learned this idea from Jesus Christ; thus, this idea of denominations is NOT what Jesus taught! It appears to me that maybe Satan is keeping us apart by causing mankind to form all these churches that disagree on many issues, they even disagree on how you can obtain salvation!
Paul wrote about this idea he got from Jesus about unity that should exist in His church. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13). Paul and God agree on the idea that all followers of Jesus Christ should be seeking unity with all other members of the body of Christ. The main purpose of the “body of Christ” should be “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith.” If the goal is “unity in the faith,” then why are there hundreds of churches that do not agree on exactly why Jesus came to this earth to offer salvation through His perfect sacrifice? We all believe that “Jesus is the Answer!” We just do not agree on “What are the questions?”
Now it seems time to try to get this commentary on a positive note about the situations we find ourselves in with multiple choices for a church to attend. Having an option is good for seeking a church of your choice. It allows you to be open to learning new ideas about what we should emphasize in our belief system. If there was only one church, then it would be dictatorial in nature and would offer no variations for your belief. If we are truly Christian then we believe “Jesus is the Answer” for the question, “How can my soul be saved?” We all have immortal souls which were breathed into us by God at conception! When we die to this life our immortal soul will either go to heaven or hell. The only way for it to go to heaven is if you accepted salvation as a free gift of grace from Jesus. Jesus told us so. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18). Jesus is the only plan for salvation! There is only one God, and only one salvation plan!
The writer of Hebrews gives us a picture of this perfect sacrifice Jesus made for you (us), which replaced forever the need to sacrifice animals to allow forgiveness of our sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. (Hebrews 10:12-18). The new covenant that Jesus Christ offered requires no more animal sacrifices. Followers of Jesus Christ never need to make sacrifices to atone for their sins, as Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice that takes away the sins of this world, as a free gift of grace to all those who claim His offer of salvation.
It is very important for you to choose a church of your choice, and then regularly attend it. Remember, no church is perfect, because it is attended by sinners. When Jesus walked this earth He associated with sinners, and He was criticized for it by the officials of the church at that time. Every Christian church is attended by Jesus at every worship service and event held there. Jesus promised to do that! “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20). Next time you go the church of your choice, expect Jesus to be there too!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
We are often told that everyone wants to feel that they are valued, and they want to belong to groups of people who share a common belief system. Most often such groups form to protest something they do not agree with. Such groups organize pickets and they often carry signs displaying their objections to some other group of people who they disagree with! In the USA people are excited about using their time to disrupt the plans of some other group who they disagree with. However, attendance at churches is decreasing every day. It makes me wonder why people are willing to spend their time trying to stop the actions of another group they disagree with while most of them do not seek to find the truth. Many denominations have formed in the Christian church, which offer individuals the ability for them to attend a church of their choice, which may have people who attend who share many of the same beliefs as those who are seeking the truth. However, as Paul has written for us, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” Paul learned this idea from Jesus Christ; thus, this idea of denominations is NOT what Jesus taught! It appears to me that maybe Satan is keeping us apart by causing mankind to form all these churches that disagree on many issues, they even disagree on how you can obtain salvation!
Paul wrote about this idea he got from Jesus about unity that should exist in His church. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13). Paul and God agree on the idea that all followers of Jesus Christ should be seeking unity with all other members of the body of Christ. The main purpose of the “body of Christ” should be “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith.” If the goal is “unity in the faith,” then why are there hundreds of churches that do not agree on exactly why Jesus came to this earth to offer salvation through His perfect sacrifice? We all believe that “Jesus is the Answer!” We just do not agree on “What are the questions?”
Now it seems time to try to get this commentary on a positive note about the situations we find ourselves in with multiple choices for a church to attend. Having an option is good for seeking a church of your choice. It allows you to be open to learning new ideas about what we should emphasize in our belief system. If there was only one church, then it would be dictatorial in nature and would offer no variations for your belief. If we are truly Christian then we believe “Jesus is the Answer” for the question, “How can my soul be saved?” We all have immortal souls which were breathed into us by God at conception! When we die to this life our immortal soul will either go to heaven or hell. The only way for it to go to heaven is if you accepted salvation as a free gift of grace from Jesus. Jesus told us so. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18). Jesus is the only plan for salvation! There is only one God, and only one salvation plan!
The writer of Hebrews gives us a picture of this perfect sacrifice Jesus made for you (us), which replaced forever the need to sacrifice animals to allow forgiveness of our sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. (Hebrews 10:12-18). The new covenant that Jesus Christ offered requires no more animal sacrifices. Followers of Jesus Christ never need to make sacrifices to atone for their sins, as Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice that takes away the sins of this world, as a free gift of grace to all those who claim His offer of salvation.
It is very important for you to choose a church of your choice, and then regularly attend it. Remember, no church is perfect, because it is attended by sinners. When Jesus walked this earth He associated with sinners, and He was criticized for it by the officials of the church at that time. Every Christian church is attended by Jesus at every worship service and event held there. Jesus promised to do that! “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20). Next time you go the church of your choice, expect Jesus to be there too!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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