Wednesday, October 8, 2008

forgiveness requires a sacrifice

Luke 7:18-35, Matthew 11:1-19, Luke 7:36-8:3, Mark 3:20-30, Matthew 12:22-45, Luke 11:14-26

After the sinful woman washed Jesus's feet, He told her "Your sins are forgiven."

Luke 7:49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

It finally dawned on me that the reason Christ's statement was so provocative was because when a person has sinned against God, forgiveness requires a sacrifice.  How could this Jesus guy skip the whole sacrifice ordeal?  Christ's statement necessitates at least two realities: 
  1. Jesus Christ was fully God, which gave Him the authority to forgive sins
  2. Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross was sufficient for forgiveness (past, present, and future)
Love dare - seek to understand your spouse at the deepest level possible.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the all-sufficient sacrifice of Christ.  Thank you for the forgiveness of sins.  Thank you for taking hold of me.  I pray that I will be focused on you and you alone, that I will deny my self, take up my cross, and follow Christ.  Please help me seek to understand my wife.  I pray that you and you alone will be my heart's desire.  I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which men are saved.  Amen.

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