The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
January 27, 2008
In
This Issue:
Remission
of Sins
by
Steve Klein
It
Is What It Is
by
Doy Moyer
Remission of Sins
Do you know that you are saved? If so, how do you know? Some say that they know they are saved because they have a feeling in the heart. Of course, those who say such things place far too much confidence in the reliability of the human heart. The Bible says that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). True knowledge of salvation comes from having our sins remitted by God. The Lord has determined "To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins" (Luke 1:77).
God's word says that "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23). "If we say that we have not sinned we make Him a liar and His word is not in us" (1 John 1:10). Because all have sinned, and sin separates us from our God (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23), everyone who wants to be saved with God eternally must be cleansed from sin.
Remission is the process by which God gets rid of our sins. Thayer's Greek Lexicon states that the word translated remission means the following:
1. release from bondage or imprisonment
2. forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty
Note that it is God who does the releasing, the forgiving and the pardoning that constitutes remission. The ways and means by which He does this are ways and means of His choosing, not ours. It is not up to the sinner to decide what is necessary for him to be forgiven. God has determined.
GOD'S BASIS FOR GRANTING REMISSION:
God remits sins on the basis of the blood that was shed and sacrificed by His Son. In Matthew 26:28, as Jesus instituted His supper and explained the meaning of the cup, He said, "this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The merits of the blood of Jesus atone for our sins and enable God to justly remit our sins (cf. Romans 3:25). "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness [or remission sk] of sins" (Ephesians 1:7).
The atoning merits of Jesus' blood are sufficient for God to remit the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 informs us that Jesus "is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world." Yet the whole world has not received remission of sins. The "whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). We must conclude therefore that the blood of Jesus is not the only thing God considers when He grants remission of sins. He must have conditions for sinners to meet in order for their sins to be remitted through Jesus' blood.
GOD'S CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING REMISSION:
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Sinners must hear the gospel message -- especially concerning the death, burial and resurrection of God's Son. After the apostle Paul told the people of Antioch about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus he said, "Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins" (Acts 13:38, ASV). Jesus told His disciples that "remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47b). The first step man must take to receive remission is to hear that remission is available through God's Son.
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Sinners must believe in God's Son. The apostle Peter said that "whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43b).
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· Sinners must repent and be baptized in the name of God's Son. The apostle Peter also said, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. . ." (Acts 2:38).
If your sins are remitted, you can know that you are saved. You can have your sins remitted by God through Jesus' blood by hearing, believing, repenting and being baptized. Are your sins remitted?
-- Steve Klein
A friend of mine, wise and astute beyond his years (so he tells me), has shared his newly discovered motto with me: "it is what it is." Ok, so I've thought that a few times before, but it is one of those simple statements that forces us back to reality at times when we may feel overcome by our circumstances and disappointments of life. When things aren't exactly as you would desire them, you can become focused on reality by telling yourself, "it is what it is."
Circumstances are what they are. There are some things we can change, and some things we can't (we're getting more profound as we go). Our problem is that we often expend more worry and energy on the things we can't change; and this, in turn, can become a stumbling block to our spiritual growth and joy. "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" (Matt. 6:27) Paul's own circumstances were often less than ideal, and beyond his control, yet his attitude remained stable: "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:11-13). If I may venture a loose paraphrase: It is what it is, I have learned to deal with "it" through God's help.
"Moses My servant is dead." So spoke the Lord to Joshua (Josh. 1:2). Joshua knew this already; they had been mourning for days. But sometimes we need a reminder of the simple truth about reality. Essentially, God was telling Joshua, "Moses is gone, and you can't change that now or have him back. Now it's time to get up and go take the land of promise." In other words, "It is what it is, and you have to work with 'it' the way it is."
The only other option is not to accept reality. People do sometimes go through phases of "denial." They do not feel mentally able to accept what "is." It hurts too much perhaps. But if we will ever "arise and cross the Jordan" in our lives, we must learn to accept the facts and circumstances of life. It takes courage. It takes resolve. But it must be done.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7). God gives us the tools to be able to deal with all of our circumstances, including the painful ones. He wants us to cast our cares on Him, pray about them, and then let Him grant us peace in our hearts.
The solution to problems is not denial. We should learn to admit reality, then work with it as it is. When there are matters we can change for the better, let's work to change them. When the circumstances don't meet our concept of ideal, and we can't change them, let's learn to accept them and resolve to move forward with the strength God supplies. In all matters, we must "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matt. 6:33). Because, as another one of my favorite "profound" questions reminds us, a hundred years from now, what will "it" matter? We worry about things that will pass away into oblivion, and sometimes ignore those matters that have eternal consequences. A hundred years from now, it won't matter that my car has a few scratches, or my water heater went out. What will matter is whether or not I've devoted myself to God and His will.
It is what it is. Thanks, Chris, for that reminder.
--Doy Moyer