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Category Archives: Salvation

Famous Last Words – Jesus on the Cross

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Famous Last WordsDarkness shrouded the city at noon. Even the sun mourned the imminent death of the Son. Although physically crucified by the hands of Roman soldiers, Jesus went to the cross willingly, in obedience to the Father. The Jewish leaders, their mock trial, and Governor Pilate were all just tools in God’s hands.

No one could take Jesus’ life without God’s approval. Jesus had the authority to not only lay down His life, but to take it up again (John 10:18). No one took Jesus’ life. He gave His life as act of obedience to His Father. Jesus’ last words on the cross accentuate this truth.

Jesus death, Jesus dying on Cross, Jesus' crucifixion

Jesus on the cross

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46, NIV

Submitting to God

Jesus completely submitted His life and death into the Father’s hands. Jesus’ obedience provided the way of salvation for you and me. Jesus’ death provided forgiveness for our sins and opened a way for us to enter into God’s presence. Jesus’ last words on the cross have significance for every person who has ever lived. Because He was “obedient to death” (Philippians 2:8) we can have life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16, NIV

Trusting God in every situation

Jesus fully trusted the Father. He walked in complete obedience – all the way to the cross. He trusted God with the process and the pain. He trusted God with the reason and the result. He committed Himself to the One worthy of trust.

Is there a situation in your life right now you need to commit to God?

What is it hardest to trust God with?

Monday Minute in the Word – Life’s Purpose

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Why do many people who are successful by worldly standards still struggle to find fulfillment and contentment? This dilemma is as old as humanity itself.

Why am I here?

Israel’s King Solomon faced a similar struggle. Solomon pursued happiness and fulfillment in life through human means such as education and material things. And by human standards he was wildly successful. In fact, the whole world knew of Solomon’s wisdom and wealth.

But Solomon failed to find meaning in all his earthly pursuits (Ecclesiastes 1:2). After a lifetime of collecting people, wealth, power, and experiences Solomon discovered that man’s sole purpose is to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). He could have saved himself a lot of trouble if he had turned to God’s Word for the answer.

16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16, NIV

Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’”

Isaiah 43:17, NLT

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:27, NLT

Your life has meaning and purpose.

You were made by God and for God. He created you for His glory. God wants you to reach out to Him. Your purpose in life is to fulfill the role for which you were created – to glorify and worship the Creator in a relationship with Him.

Does your life feel meaningless?  Have you entered into a saving relationship with God?

If you know Jesus, does your life bring Him glory every day?

Famous Last Words – Criminal on the Cross

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My husband really enjoys this Cajun restaurant not far from our home. The first time I went with him I didn’t like what I ordered, but I thought it must have been just that dish. Since Wayne likes the place, I decided I should give it another try. In fact, I tried it a third time for good measure. Three strikes and that restaurant is out for me.

How could two people – who usually agree on most things – form such a different opinion from the same basic experience? I don’t understand it, but I really don’t understand how the two criminals that were crucified on either side of Jesus witnessed the same Savior and made such drastically different decisions.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43, NIV

The two criminals both saw Jesus’ response to the crowd, the soldiers, and the Jewish leaders. They both had heard of His miracles and teaching. Yet in their dying moments, one rejected Him and one recognized Him as King. With his last words, the repentant sinner accepted Jesus as his Savior. Then he opened his eyes in paradise.

Don’t wait until your last breath to give you life to Jesus. Do you know Him as Lord and Savior?

Monday Minute in the Word – Of First Importance, 1 Cor 15:1-8

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Imagine that someone sitting next to you in a restaurant began choking on her dinner. What would you do first? What would be the most important course of action?

  • Tell her she should take smaller bites and chew her food more thoroughly.
  • Show her how to perform a Heimlich maneuver on herself.
  • Try to find someone else in the restaurant to help her.
  • Immediately perform the Heimlich and save her life.

I think most of us would agree that the last option is the best. (Of course if we have no clue how to perform the Heimlich, then the third option could also save her life.)

When you encounter people who are spiritually dying what do you do first? What is the most important thing to tell them?

One of my favorite Scripture passages is 1 Corinthians 15. In the first 8 verses, the apostle Paul succinctly shares the heart of our faith – the Gospel – and tells us why this news is “of first importance.”

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, NIV

The Greek word translated as “of first importance” in verse 5 means “chief, principal, first in rank or quality.” There is no news, no information, no message more important than the glorious truth that Jesus died for our sins and then conquered death to give us eternal hope. Yet, we often hesitate to share this message.

What do you tend to tell others first about your faith in Christ?

How much importance do you put on sharing the Gospel message with others?

The Cross is Not Enough – Monday Minute in the Word

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Jesus’ death on the cross is not sufficient to provide the abundant and eternal life God has promised us.

Does that statement shock you? If you are a Christian, I would expect you to be highly offended and perhaps not read another word. But if you’ll hear me out, I think you’ll agree with me.

The apostle Paul firmly believed the cross was not enough. Read what he wrote to the Corinthian Christians:

And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 1 Cor 15:17-19, NLT

Peter also knew that our eternal hope depended on the resurrection of Christ:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV

So why do we so often leave out the Resurrection when we share the Good News of Jesus? We don’t forget to talk about the Cross. And yes, praise God, the death of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary provided the payment that my sins – and yours – had earned. Our sins deserved the death penalty. Our sins brought us spiritual death and separation from our holy God. But Jesus Christ took that penalty on Himself. Without the cross of Christ we would still be dead in our sins. But that is only part of the Gospel message.

Image from visualbiblealive.com

Paul knew the Gospel is incomplete without the resurrection.

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul succinctly expressed the Good News. He boils down the message to its most important components.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.  1 Cor 15:3-4, NIV

Yes, Jesus’ death paid the price of our sin, but His resurrection provided our hope for life – both now and eternally. Don’t miss these important truths:

  • Jesus’ resurrection proves everything He said and did was true. See John 14:20
  • Jesus’ resurrection defeated death! That victory is His and ours! See Romans 6:9
  • Jesus’ resurrection provides us with new life in God. See Romans 6:10, Col 3:1
  • Jesus’ resurrection guarantees our physical resurrection. See Rom 8:11, 1 Cor 15:20-21
  • Jesus’ resurrection gives us power for this life. See Philippians 3:10, Romans 8:11

The resurrection is the power of God for those who believe! Because Christ has been raised, we will be raised! Believers, we have the same power living in us that raised Christ from the dead! Let’s shout it out!

What was your first reaction to: “The cross is not enough?”

Do you tend to forget about the resurrection? I’d love to hear your thoughts about the power of the resurrection in your life.