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Archive for the ‘Jesus’ Category

Strange Scripture – Sins You Don’t Forgive

Posted in Apostles, Forgiveness, Jesus, tagged on April 16, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“If you forgive anyone’s sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don’t forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven.” – Jesus (John 20:23 CEV)

Some think Jesus in this verse gives the apostles (and their the successors) the authority to decide who gets forgiveness and who doesn’t. This view has resulted in many abuses and is inconsistent with Christ’s mission to bring forgiveness to all who would receive him. So what did Jesus mean?

Jesus wasn’t putting them in charge of who gets forgiveness, he was giving them a commission.  I think he was saying his plan for taking his forgiveness to the world is through his followers participation – us offering our forgiveness as God’s divine forgiveness working through us.   I think he was further saying he has no backup plan – if we refuse then it won’t get done, the world will die in their sins, and it will be our fault.

This only makes sense – how can my neighbor (or brother, sister, boss, employee – you name it) know the forgiveness of Christ if I am unwilling to offer it through me?

Sound Bite: Christ’s forgiveness comes through us and if we don’t do it, it won’t get done.

– fritz

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Pray Again

Posted in Jesus, Prayer, tagged on April 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »

And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that [Jesus] put his hands again upon [the man’s] eyes – Mark 8:24-25a

Jesus was pragmatic – if the problem persisted after one touch, he touched again.  Now, if Jesus had to pray more than once about something, I may have to also.

– fritz

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Bible – a book about one man

Posted in Bible, Christ's Body, Church, Explanations, Faith, Forgiveness, In Christ, Jesus, Righteousness, tagged , , , on July 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, [Jesus] expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. – Luke 24:27

Two travelers on the way to a town called Emmaus, seven (7) miles from Jerusalem, picked up a stranger. Though unrecognized until the last, he took them through the Bible from a new perspective — Christ in every Book, Letter, and Psalm. “Did not our hearts burn within us!”, they said!1

The Bible really is a book about just one man — All the apostles saw it that way. Here is just one (1) example:

Paul, quoting a very familiar passage about Adam and Eve but with a new twist:

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh … I speak concerning Christ and the church.” – Ephesians 5:30-32

Neither we nor Jesus are any longer just ourselves, but eternally linked in covenant like a husband and wife! Him taking my sinfulness, me taking his righteousness,2 becoming one new man,3 the last Adam4 (male and female 5). We, together, approach God with nothing owing and all debts paid, God’s grace working is us (Christ and me) in all circumstances to bring about our good and God’s glory.6

Wow, what a book, what a savior, what a God, what a privilege!

— fritz@langgang.com
1 – Luke 24:32
2 – 2nd Corinthians 5:21
3 – One new man (not referring to Jew and Gentile but us and Christ) – Ephesians 2:14-15
4 – Last Adam – 1st Corinthians 15:45
5 – Adam, male and female – Genesis 1:27
6 – See Post from July 11, 2010 – “Where is God’s Blessing”

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