So what’s the issue - you may ask? Is there a problem with society modifying itself or morphing into any shape the current generation fancies?
The problem with that approach to life is that it ignores the fact that the traditional structures of society exist for a reason. As a Christian I believe that God is the creator and originator of life. His creation reflects His design and being the highest intelligence in the universe He knows best contrary to what many people in the modern world believe. He is also a morally perfect being and so knows and desires what is best for His creatures ie us. The problem comes when we don’t live according to His guidelines (rules, laws etc). This has got nothing to do with God being heavy handed or vindictive it’s just that He knows what is best for us and the seriously negative outcomes of not living that way.
It’s a bit like buying a washing machine and trying to wash dishes in it. It won’t end up well. Washing machines were not designed to wash dishes. Humans were not designed to live outside of the principles God has set in the Bible.
The ‘family unit’ scenario is only one example of how we as humans have deviated from God’s master plan (as explained in the Bible) and as a result experience ongoing and future consequences that hurt us and leave us feeling hopeless and fearful. The sad reality is that the pathway we choose has long term consequences because we’re designed to live for ever.
I didn’t write this post to upset anyone or to be controversial but because I believe we have a genuine problem. My other reason for writing is to let people know there is a solution. It’s well documented and has been experienced by million’s. Let me explain.
The scene is set
The whole story of the Bible is built around the theme of salvation:
- God designed and created.
- He set rules, explained them to Adam and warned him of the consequences of not living as we were designed to (the Bible calls it sin)
- Humans are rational, moral intelligent beings who are free to choose
- God knew what humans would do and so had a plan prepared in advance
The situation deteriorates (the problem)
So humans did just as God knew they would. History demonstrates that we don’t have the will or the ability to solve the problem.
The choice is either we accept the results of our rebellion, lose the prospect of peace, joy, pleasure, contentment OR someone is found who has the ability and resources to pay for our wrongdoing, clear our debt, remove our guilt and in doing so give us the prospect (if we are willing to accept it) of a new beginning and a new type of life.
The truth is that not one human could do this as all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (His high standard). We are doomed and without any hope or prospect of recovery or salvation.
Salvation is provided (the plan)
Enter Jesus - 2025 years ago. He did what no one else could ever do for the human race.
Here are some verses from the Bible that explain what Jesus, the Son of God, did to provide salvation for us. This is the climax of the story I have just been telling you. It could however just be the beginning of life for you if you ‘repent and believe the gospel’. To repent means to have a change of thinking, a change of attitude, move from resistance and rebellion towards God and trust and place obedient faith in Him. You can believe and be saved, you can come to the Lord Jesus and experience forgiveness and the guarantee of heaven.
Below are some key passages from the Bible to support the points made above.
John 3:16-21
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light lest his deeds be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been done by God.”
1 Tim 1:15-17
It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. Yet for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all His patience as an example for those who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life. Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Cor 15:1-11
The Resurrection of Christ
Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I proclaimed as good news to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I proclaimed to you as good news, unless you believed for nothing.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. After that, He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Acts 13
“Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the word of this salvation was sent. For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning Him. And though they found no ground for death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. And when they had finished all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead; and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. And we proclaim to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’ But that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and FAITHFUL lovingkindnesses OF DAVID.’ Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘YOU WILL NOT GIVE YOUR HOLY ONE OVER TO SEE CORRUPTION.’ For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid among his fathers and saw corruption; but He whom God raised did not see corruption. Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and that in Him, everyone who believes is justified from all things which you could not be justified from through the Law of Moses. Therefore watch out, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you:
All photos courtesy of Unsplash
Quotations from Legacy Standard Bible
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