The Edifier
West Allen Church of Christ
Jesus, The Perfect Example
The greatest problem that mankind faces is sin. Sin enslaves, contaminates, and scars those that become engulfed in it. Since "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23) it is a problem that plagues all men and women.
Certainly a loving God would provide an answer to such a plaguing problem. He has! The answer is Jesus Christ. In this article we shall give several reasons why Jesus is the perfect answer to the problem of sin.
Jesus, The Perfect Sacrifice.
God has always demanded a blood sacrifice to atone for man's sin. Under the law of Moses, one day each year was set aside as the day of atonement. On this day the high priest bathed himself and put on white linen garments. He took three animals (two kids and one ram) to make atonement for himself and the people. He killed the ram and offered it to God as a sacrifice for himself and his family. One of the goats was presented alive before the Lord and the high priest laid hands on it, confessing over it the sins of the people. It was then sent away into the wilderness as a scapegoat, carrying the sins of the people. The other goat was slain and the high priest sprinkled its blood on the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place (which he entered only on the Day of Atonement) and on the alter. In this way the sins of the people were covered, but not forgiven. "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4).
Since the offering of animals only covered the sins of the people, it was necessary that a perfect offering be made. This perfect sacrifice was offered when Jesus died on the cross. "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building: neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:11-12).
God's great love made this all possible. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet preadventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).
Jesus, The Perfect Example
When Jesus ascended back to the Father, He left for man upon the earth a perfect example for him to follow (I Peter 2:21). He "was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). He was the only one to live a perfect life.
Jesus repeated again and again that while on earth he was subject to the Father's will: "For I come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me" (John 6:38), "Though He were a son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him" (Hebrews 5:8-9). We must follow Jesus' example in following the will of God. We must submit our will to His if we want to be saved by Jesus' sacrifice.
Jesus, A New Life
When we accept the love of God and the sacrifice of His son by submitting our will to His, we have a new life in Christ. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians5:17).
In Christ, we have been born anew to a life of love and service to God and man. In Christ, we have freedom from the guilt and anxiety of sin. In Christ, we have a real life. William Barclay says, "Until we accept Jesus and take Him as our Saviour and enthrone Him as our King we cannot be said to live at all. The man who lives a Christless life exists, but he does not know what life is. Jesus is the one person who can make life worth living and in whose company death is only the prelude to still fuller life."
Jesus, The Perfect Hope.
Our hope in Christ is that not only will we be freed from the guilt of sin, but that our life will extend beyond the grave. The joy we will receive there is even greater than the joy we know in this life. "Hope is an essential element of our salvation and must never be omitted from our contemplation of what the Christian life means. Faith looks backward and upward; hope looks onward. Faith accepts; but hope expects. Faith is concerned with Him who promises; but hope is occupied with the good things promised. Faith appropriates; but hope anticipates" (W.H. Griffith Thomas). Paul states, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).
Conclusion
It is through the sacrifice of Jesus and our obedience to His will that we have a new life in Christ, a life that contains the hope of eternal life.
The Value of The Home
How many nights has it been since you were home with just your own family?
Home is a place where we first find acceptance as infants. Home is where we are trained. There we learn principles that last until we pass from this life.
Home is a place of love. It is where we belong. There, each one cares for the other; if there is sickness, everyone works to help; if there is disappointment, the home is where he receives sympathy.
Home is a place where things are shared; the family eats together, works and prays together, plays and laughs together.
If your home is not what it should be, you can change that. Don't take your home for granted. It takes a lot of living to make a home. It takes the leadership of father and mother by example. It takes respect for the rights of each member for the good of all.