The wages of sin is death
Submitted by Forgiven on September 23 2001 12:01:37
In reply to Re: The Cross submitted by Bach on September 22 2001 10:02:13
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but the free gift of God os eternal life through the death of Jesus. It is true to say that many before Jesus were forgiven - but that action by God is only possible as a result of the death of Jesus; the cross has its effect throughout history, not just subsequent to his death. In Romans Paul doesn't make any difference between the forgiven offered to David and Abraham as against that offered to us - and it is all possible as a result of the cross. The distinction is crucial; whilst it may be very attractive to support a non-violent response to the present situation, it does not follow from Christian doctrine as revealed in the New Testament. Indeed the phrase 'Vengenance is mine, I will repay' is not intended to suggest that the perpetrator will go unpunished. The issue is important because it means that we are not required as Christians to tell people that the terrorists will go unpunished; if we are to preach the gospel to people in the face of this situation, if we have to defend the belief that they have 'got away with it', then our preaching is far less likely to be acceptable to them. And that is always the most crucial thing; have people found forgiven so that when they die they will be with God for ever; in one sense ANYTHING else is irrelevant, because one day it will be irrelevant. "For I consider the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed" Rom 8 v 18 |
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