March 4, 2020
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:7)
What took place on the cross couldn't be clearer, as the verse says, it was hid from Satan. But since discovering what actually happened there, (that God stopped imputing the worlds sins unto them) he's been furious!
Satan, is cunning and always lurking in the shadows with a counterfeit. This counterfeit has been passed off and accepted in even some grace circles. Trolls have made their way in unaware and poisoned the well. They spend time and energy diminishing from the cross-work and sowing discord.
Our apostle tells us in Ephesians chapter 5 to Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
As a believer, there should come a time in your life when you choose to become God-wise or Man-wise.
God-wise says you were forgiven on the cross. Man-wise says you do not get forgiven until you BELIEVE you were forgiven. God-wise gives the power to his Son. Man-wise gives the power to self.
We have the mind of Christ, (1 Corinthians 2:16) and should continue to grow up in him as we strive to become God-wise. (In full agreement with God)
Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Let's unpack this verse.
"And you, being dead in your sins..." When? When were you dead in your sins? Up until the time you became a believer? No. Verse 14. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way," When? When you became a believer? No. Watch closely. "nailing it to his cross;"
The law was against us - sin is to transgress the law - and it was nailed where?
You see, the timeline is the "cross" and not when someone believes. Yes, Paul, was writing to believers, but the evidence is clear - their sins were taken out of the way *on the cross* and BEFORE they believed anything.
Eternal life is only for those in Christ, but not having sins imputed is for the "world". (2 Corinthians 5:19)
As a result of the religious system's flawed theology, this truth has been hidden from much of the world - far too long. Poor preaching has left them unstable and agonizing over their sins, making them oblivious to the fact that their sins were put on Christ, around twenty centuries ago. Preaching forgiveness of sins as if it is something still NEEDED is very destructive and only keeps sins at the forefront of their mind.
As ambassadors equipped with the ministry of reconciliation, we are mandated to tell the world the truth concerning their already-forgiven condition. Doing so will NOT cause them to sin more, (they've done a fine job without knowing it) but it could play a role in their finding eternal life IN-CHRIST!
Hearing the truth of what Christ accomplished on their behalf,
and that their sins are not what separates them from God, could be the key in allowing them to finally rest their faith in his finished work.
Rehearsing the finished cross-work and resurrection is the remedy.
Paul wrote, For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2) ...how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
We should be rehearsing what he has already DONE with the world's sins, and not what the limited atonement crowd says he might DO with them.
Your sins were forgiven by the-blood, not your-response. The world's sins were put on Christ, never to be remembered again. The problem stems from RELIGION, and as we've come to learn in the past few years, even with some "grace believers". (Pharisees in disguise)
The truth is, believers and unbelievers are both recipients of non imputed sins. On the cross, peace was made between God, and humanity by the sacrifice of Christ. Some gloss over the very clear verses.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
So I ask, is it "having made peace through the blood of his cross," or "through" YOUR belief?
To be saved, one must trust that "the blood of the cross" was solely responsible for their forgiveness. Your belief cannot add anything to what Christ, accomplished there.
Question: how many people will be in heaven who trusted that their belief was responsible for their forgiveness? I submit that the answer is ZERO.
Think about it. "having made peace through the blood of his cross," Just how could peace have been made if the world's sins weren't paid for? How could peace have been made if the world's sins were not dealt with and taken out of the way? Just how could a Holy God, reconcile himself to a world that still had the stain and stench of sin in their account?
The bible is clear - the peace that was made included the unbelieving world and not just believers only. Meaning the world's sins had to be completely obliterated ON THE CROSS!
As a result of the cross, the world's sins are not being imputed, but salvation is reserved for those who will rest their faith in Christ, alone to save them. (nothing added, nothing taken away)
No one is saved by only having their sins forgiven, but of necessity must have the life of Christ, within them. "Christ in you, the hope of glory". (Colossians 1:27) Your eternal hope, rest in having his life "in you".
We're saved just as Ephesians 1:13 says. By first HEARING, followed by BELIEVING the gospel. And it is Christ, in whom we place our trust. The gospel is news of something Christ, DID for us, not something he can DO for us. (if we believe)
Preacher, you should ask yourself, how many people are getting saved by hearing that it is their belief that gets their sins forgiven?
There are some real problems with this Limited Atonement business.
*2 Corinthians 5:19 says God is not imputing sins to the world.
*The Limited Atonement Gracer says the worlds sins are imputed until they get saved.
*2 Corinthians 5:21 says the worlds sins were put on Christ.
*The Limited Atonement Gracer says the worlds sins remain on them until they get saved.
According to this theology, God, has to wait until the moment someone gets saved before he can put away their sins. So in order for this transaction to occur today, God, would have to take their sins and put them on Christ. The problem with that is, the bible says their sins have ALREADY been put on Christ. So, God, has no Christ, to put their sins on. The cross is a past event. (it's too late) This flawed thinking has the sin payment that Christ, made - and the sins that the world commits, just floating around somewhere until the moment they believe.
Welcome to Nutsville, population many and growing!
Their skewed theology suggest that the payment does not get applied, and the sins I commit do not get put on Christ, until I believe. (As if God can put them on Christ again) But God, says the payment was already made, and the sins I commit were put on Christ, before I was even born.
God, either put my sins on Christ, at Calvary, or he missed his chance.
He made the payment for me before I was born. He became sin for me before I was born. He stopped imputing sins to me before I was born. That is the message that has been committed unto me, and that is the message I am going to tell! Not the message going around that has God, waiting for the moment someone becomes a believer so he can THEN remove their sins from them.
God counted sins to Christ, and he's not interested in a RE-count. He's not waiting to forgive, he's waiting to save! Your sins were forgiven on the cross, and is why Paul wrote, "now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2) NOT the day to get your sins forgiven,
Paul tells us that we can't GET forgiveness, because we already HAVE forgiveness. Today, if someone still needs their sins forgiven, then Jesus, was a failure and his cross-work didn't WORK. (it was insufficient... inadequate... wanting)
It's time you separated fact from fiction, and ask yourself, does forgiveness depend on HIS blood or MY belief? Limited Atoners say it's a mixture of the two.
Just when did the gospel change to how to BE forgiven? That only poisons the gospel and results in many trusting in their belief for their forgiveness.
We need communicators who can adequately articulate the gospel. Don't call yourself an ambassador if you cannot fulfill that calling. An ambassador equipped with the ministry of reconciliation will not convey a message that leads people to believe that their BELIEF is what gets their sins forgiven.
The gospel is not about your sins CAN be forgiven. It's about your sins ARE forgiven. The gospel is not about Christ, CAN rise from the grave. It's about Christ, HAS risen from the grave. (Past tense)
Do some soul and scripture searching and carefully examine this subject for yourself.
I leave you with this from our apostle Paul. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:29-30)
This may make me the skunk in the park, but I'm committed to telling this truth. (I'm all in) This message isn't popular but I've never been a people pleaser anyway - so I'm perfect for the job.
GraceRightlyAppliedChangesEverthing
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