The Justice of God

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Marji "Mike" Kruger

God is perfectly just, making it impossible that He not judge sin.
** For the LORD is a God of justice. (NIV) Isaiah 30:18
** It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. (NIV) Job 34:12

However, God is not only righteous and just, He is all-loving and has provided a means to be at one with sinful man while maintaining His integrity.
** For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come. (NIV) Isaiah 63:4

God’s reconciling love was demonstrated on the cross through the death of His sinless Son. God initiated the reconciliation. The crucifixion of Jesus was God’s predetermined plan (Acts 2:23) in which every detail of His sacrificial death was precisely planned. Thus, prophecies made in prior centuries were accurately fulfilled.

Continued tomorrow. . .

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Hopeless

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Marji "Mike" Kruger

No man is worthy of a relationship with a holy God because of Adam’s sin. . .

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned- . . .The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation. . .(Romans 5:12, 16a).” In Paul’s words, man was sentenced to death (Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death) because he was enslaved to sin (Romans 6:17).

The result of man’s sinfulness and God’s holiness is alienation or separation and death, both spiritual and physical death.
Alienation from God -
** Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1)
** Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (Habakkuk 1:13)
** . . .remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:12)

Sin Results in Death -
** As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, (Ephesians 2:1)
** Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27)

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Guilty By Association

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Marji "Mike" Kruger

After leaving Philippi, Paul and Silas travel 33 miles southwest on the Via Egnatia through Amphipolis and Apollonia, on their way to Thessalonica. They were consistent as they found a synagogue and shared God’s Word with the people.  Some of the Jews were persuaded as were “a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.” (Acts 17:4).

But, other Jews became jealous.  They went into the marketplace where the idle unemployed were rounded up, formed into a mob, and they stirred up a riot in the city. With these rabble-rousers, the Jews go to Jason’s house with the goal of capturing Paul and Silas to bring them before the city officials. But, the mob could not find Paul and Silas. So instead, they drag Jason and some other Christian before the officials.

The accusations: “These men (Paul and Silas) who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house.”  As their host, Jason is held responsible for their actions and for their proclamation of the Gospel. Guilty by association! The crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. What did Jason do? He did not join the jealous Jews. . .or the rabble-rousing mob.  He did not deny his association with Paul. . .or his faith.

The officials ordered Jason and the others to post bond for the missionaries, thus assuring them that there would be no further trouble. Because of his faith, and his association with Paul, Jason was held responsible for the “turmoil” caused by people becoming Christians. In essence, he was guilty because of association. . .guilty because of his association with Christ!

Would you be held “guilty” in the world’s eyes because of your association with Christ? Or do you look like everyone else? How does your lifestyle reflect Jesus to others? When has your life persuaded others to look closer at God?

Who are you more like – the jealous Jews? The easily influenced mob? Or Jason?

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Claims of Jesus Christ

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Marji "Mike" Kruger

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV) John 1:14

He claimed to forgive sins. . .
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (NIV) Luke 7:48-49

He claimed to give life. . .
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. (NIV) John 5:21
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV) John 10:10
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (NIV) John 11:25-26

He claimed to be Judge. . .
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. (NIV) John 5:26-27

He claimed to do miracles. . .
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. (NIV) Matthew 11:4-5

He claimed to establish God’s Kingdom. . .
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (NIV) Matthew 12:28
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (NIV) Mark 1:14-15

He claimed defeat of Satan. . .
Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. (NIV) John 12:31

He came to represent God. . .
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (NIV) John 6:38
I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.” (NIV) John 8:38
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’? (NIV) John 14:9

He came to be the Savior for mankind. . .
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (NIV) Matthew 9:12-13
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (NIV) Luke 19:10

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

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The Lamb of God

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Marji "Mike" Kruger

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (NIV) 1 Peter 1:18-19

God had told the Israelites: “At midnight I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn– both men and animals–and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood of the lamb you sacrificed will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”

This Passover is a foreshadowing of the hope of God’s true redemption. There had to be death, blood had to be shed (Hebrews 9:22) . . . if the lamb had not died, the oldest son would have. By the sacrifice, God taught that there must be death to atone for sin. . . the wages of sin is death. . . either the death of the offender or the death of the innocent substitute.

The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NAS) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (NIV 1 Peter 1:18-19) Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. (NAS 1 Corinthians 5:7)

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

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