ARE YOU GOING?

ARE YOU GOING?

Acts 4:11-12

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

           If you walked up to a man on the street and asked him if he were going to heaven, he would very likely tell you yes. If you pressed him for a reason why he thought so, he would list all the good things that he had done and then tell you that he has done none of the atrocious things seen on the late night news. He is faithful to his wife, grudgingly pays all his taxes, is a member of at least one service club in the community, and he goes to church once in a while. The problem in all of this is that there is no mention of Jesus – and Jesus is the Lord of the heaven to which he claims to be going.

           The New Testament is conspicuously free of any mention of denominations. We do not see Catholics, Methodists or any other denomination that claims a superiority of faith or methodology to all the others. We do see one Baptist but I don’t think that actually qualifies. Allegiance to a particular clan or group and a close following of their practices is insufficient to purchase a ticket to heaven. Jesus is the Lord of heaven.

Rom 3:23-25

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

           The word “propitiation” in verse 25 is the Greek hilasterion which literally means “an atoning victim!” Practically, the word means that Jesus and His shed blood is the only thing that will satisfy the righteous requirement of God. So we can cast aside our own self-made goodness along with our religiosity and community involvement because Jesus is the only propitiation for sins. The only One!

Yes I know!

Words & Music: Anna W. Waterman, 1920

Come, ye sinners, lost and hopeless,
Jesus’ blood can make you free;
For He saved the worst among you,
When He saved a wretch like me.

Refrain

And I know, yes, I know
Jesus’ blood can make the vilest sinner clean,
And I know, yes, I know
Jesus’ blood can make the vilest sinner clean.

Dear Lord, tearfully I thank you for being my atoning victim! AMEN