The grace of our God.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
People rail against the idea of judgment by a merciful but just God, asking why he should allow evil in this world, and not judge and punish evildoers. And then they rail against a merciful God who suspends instant judgment and also promises that one day there will be a reckoning of evil by condemnation to Hell for those who will not accept his love! And again they rail against the exclusive claim of Christ, that he has provided the only worthy, loving solution to evil by taking the punishment of every evil on himself on the cross in an act of final, eternally satisfying justice. This claim is by its very nature exclusive because it perfectly satisfies God’s demand for judgment, and no other sacrifice is ever required or necessary. It is exclusive and yet it is open to all who will come: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God...” In Christ there is no logical need for any other way because the way of the cross is perfect!
Jesus, we thank you that you are the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father but by you: we look to you to be saved!
ESV Lectionary
People rail against the idea of judgment by a merciful but just God, asking why he should allow evil in this world, and not judge and punish evildoers. And then they rail against a merciful God who suspends instant judgment and also promises that one day there will be a reckoning of evil by condemnation to Hell for those who will not accept his love! And again they rail against the exclusive claim of Christ, that he has provided the only worthy, loving solution to evil by taking the punishment of every evil on himself on the cross in an act of final, eternally satisfying justice. This claim is by its very nature exclusive because it perfectly satisfies God’s demand for judgment, and no other sacrifice is ever required or necessary. It is exclusive and yet it is open to all who will come: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God...” In Christ there is no logical need for any other way because the way of the cross is perfect!
Jesus, we thank you that you are the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father but by you: we look to you to be saved!
ESV Lectionary
posted by BenLaws at 5:58 AM
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