The Impatience of Christianity

Strange how there is such a vast number of religious people in the Christian community today who just can’t wait to get Jesus from the manger in Bethlehem where he was born to the Cross at Golgotha where he was crucified so he can shed his blood.  Stranger yet is that after the Resurrection, the same people place Jesus back on the Cross so he can continue to shed more blood for the remission of sins, and then refuse to let him come down from the Cross to reveal to everyone the truth about himself and his Heavenly Father.  Testifying about God and making him known was Jesus’ mission two thousand years ago.* It is his mission today also.  This fact is verified by Jesus’ own words in his closing prayer near the end of his life: “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”  John 17:25, 26.  Two thousand years ago the religious community would not accept what Jesus said to them; in fact, they hated him and said he was “demon-possessed and raving mad” (John 10:20), that he deserved death.  Jesus himself clearly testified that “They hated me without reason.”  John 15:25.  Hard to believe, isn’t it?  Insane religious people hated what Jesus said to them and what he demonstrated, so they screamed for his death and killed him.  Does Jesus still deserve death today?  How would today’s religious leaders react to Jesus if he said the same things to them as he said to the religious leaders twenty centuries ago?  Perhaps it would be beneficial to study what Jesus said that brought about his death.   

While on the Cross, Jesus said for everyone to hear: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”  Luke 23:34.  However, today’s Christianity does know what it is doing because their mindset says that by keeping Jesus on the Cross, everyone can then continue to receive forgiveness of sins and be ‘covered by the blood.’  Hebrews 9:22 states: “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”  That verse does not mean that until Jesus died there was no forgiveness given by Jesus or by his Father, but that verse is commonly quoted as the reason why Jesus died and why he needs to be kept on the Cross: so forgiveness can be granted to those seeking pardon.

Take an honest look at current mainstream theology.  It seems as though today’s religious community has an insatiable thirst for Jesus’ blood.  If a person would actively listen to the words of songs being sung, as well as the sermons being given from the pulpit and the messages being given during world-wide mega-evangelistic crusade gatherings, it is evident there is strong emphasis, and perhaps even demand, for Jesus’ blood.  This is especially true when Easter is celebrated by the universal Christian community.  Friday, the day of the Crucifixion, is declared to be a good day; in fact, it is called Good Friday.  The following Sunday (Easter morning) is declared to be Resurrection Day, as Jesus arose from the place of burial that day.  For many people, the Birth, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ comprise the Gospel, the Good News, and for those people and others, receiving forgiveness of sins is of primary importance when considering eternity and one’s salvation.  Is God’s forgiveness of sin everyone’s entitlement to Heaven?  What if you died and you unintentionally omitted asking forgiveness for one sin?  Would God say: “Sorry, there’s nothing I can do for you now!”

Jesus didn’t have to die to prove he could forgive sins because, after all, he is, has always been, and will always be forgiveness personified.  Our Heavenly Father is exactly like that too!  Forgiveness existed long before Calvary took place, as examples in the Old Testament and the New Testament give evidence to that fact.** Even before any sin was committed, forgiveness from God and Jesus had already taken place because it is part of their character.  Scripture says that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  Hebrews 13:8.  Jesus himself stated: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”  John 14:9.  It seems absurd to think that as Jesus was dying on the Cross it became his initial act of forgiveness.  Perhaps it would be beneficial to study what Jesus said about himself and his Heavenly Father that brought about his death.   

If Jesus is your friend, and if you believe and accept as truth what Jesus says about himself and his Heavenly Father, for what purpose would you want him dead?  Why would you want to keep him on the Cross?  The Biblical record shows that Jesus didn’t come down from Heaven and just die.  A large contingent of insane religious people hated him and wanted to kill him,*** and they succeeded in doing so by nailing him to the Cross.

Forgiveness of sin does not transform people from sinners into saints.

 

Did Jesus forgive everyone’s sins when he died on the Cross?
If he did, does that mean everyone will be saved?
If Jesus didn’t forgive everyone’s sins, who then will be saved?

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*       John 18:37.  “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.  Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king.  In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

**     Matthew 9:2-8; Mark 2:3-12
         Luke 7:36-50
         Exodus 34:6, 7
         2nd Chronicles 7:14
         Nehemiah 9:17
         Psalm 85:2; 86:5, 15; 130:4
         Jeremiah 31:34
         Daniel 9:9
   
***   Matthew 17:23
         Mark 3:6: 10:33, 34; 14:1, 55
         Luke 19:47 
         John 15:22-25; 5:18; 7:1, 19; 8:37, 40; 11:53

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