The week before Easter, my six year old grandson was riding in the car with me. On every street corner, there was a church with the “cross of Calvary” newly erected on their front lawn.
Knowing what Easter is about, my grandson asked me if all the crosses were for Jesus. I told him, “Yes.”
After we rode for a few moments, passing more churches with crosses, he said, “Mamaw, how many times does Jesus have to die on the cross for it to be real?” An innocent, yet stunningly profound question that each of us should ask ourselves.
If I could be perfect on my own, there would have been no need for a savior. Scripture says that Jesus died once for all sins. (I Peter 3:18) After accepting the blood of Christ; the decision to lead a Godly life is a choice I make moment by moment. (Romans 6:1-2)
When I make a decision to follow Christ, I’m a new person; the old ways have been set aside. (II Corinthians 5:17) However, when I commit my heart to Jesus, God does not MAKE me behave nor does He make me do good works.
He does offer me the awareness of sin and the strength to resist temptation. (I Corinthians 10:13) God knows my flesh is weak, so He sent His Holy Spirit to convict me of sin. (John 16:7-10)
Reading the Bible also makes me aware of sin; explaining in detail how to recognize AND avoid it. (I Corinthians 6:9-11). The judgement of people is not what God looks at, God holds me up to the measure of the Word of God. When we have given our life to Jesus, God sees the purity of His son, not our inadequacies, short comings and sin.
I don’t have to wonder what being a Christian means; the Word of God provides instruction, direction and help for when I do ‘slip.’ The book of I John teaches how to live a life that represents Christ.
The scripture says if I ignore the sacrifice for my sins by continuing in sin, after accepting the blood shed at Calvary; I have no part in Christ. To continue in sin while acknowledging the grace given us at Calvary is heresy.
How many times does Jesus have to die for my sins? Once. How many times do my rebellion and self-will nail him to the cross again? Every time that I choose to go my way instead of living the Christ life, I crucify Jesus again.
Hebrews 6:4-6 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus. Thank you for planning a way back from the road of sin. Help me to show your love so all who know me would know how to accept Christ. I love you. Amen.
Scripture references:
I Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
John 16:7-10 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer
I Corinthians 6:9-11 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.