2019-04-18
Hebrews 9:22 NAS
Third, Calvary was vital! Exactly how vital? As vital as life or death, hope or despair, heaven or hell. It’s our only means of salvation! “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 NLT). Without Christ’s death, our sins would have separated us from God forever. But for His death we’d be subject to the full penalty of God’s law, pronounced guilty for every sin we’ve ever committed and as condemned sinners, lost forever. Paul writes, “Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God” (Romans 3:19 NLT). No exceptions – “the entire world,” including you, stands guilty in God’s sight. But because Jesus fulfilled every requirement of God’s law on our behalf, we have been forgiven and declared righteous. That’s vital information. And you only have two options when it comes to Jesus: Accept or reject Him! He said, “Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16 NLT). Jesus’ sacrifice resolved the sin question; now it’s up to you to resolve the Son question: “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22 NKJV). The answer is simple: Put your trust in Him and be saved.
Soul food: Jam 3-5; Luke 23:13-25; Ps 7:10-17; Prov 10:17-18
2019-04-17
1 Petrus 2:24 NLV
Tweedens was Golgota plaasvervangend. As mens na die kruis deur die lens van sentimentaliteit of bygeloof kyk, mag dit dalk jou emosies affekteer, maar dit kan nie jou siel red nie. As dit egter as plaasvervangend gesien word, kan die kruis enige siel red! Die apostel Petrus skryf: ‘Hy het self ons sondes in sy liggaam weggedra kruis toe. Só is ons vry van die sonde. Nou kan ons lewe omdat God ons verhouding met Hom herstel het. Deur sý verwonding is julle genees!’ As Jesus die kruis geweier het, sou God ons vir ons sondes tot die dood toe moes veroordeel. In plaas daarvan, as ons plaasvervanger, het Jesus ons verdiende straf op Homself geneem om ons vry te maak en vir ons die ewige lewe te gee. Plaasvervanging was histories God se idee om sy mense van die straf van hulle sondes te red. Toe Adam en Eva gesondig het, het God ‘n dier as plaasvervanger gebruik om hulle ongeregtigheid te bedek. Hy het Abel se offer van die ‘…eerstelinge van die seisoen…’ (Genesis 4:4 NLV), en Abraham se ram wat in ‘n bos vasgesit het in ruil vir Isak se lewe aanvaar (sien Genesis 22:13 NLV). Dit is vir eens en vir altyd sonder twyfel gedemonstreer toe Jesus Homself op Golgota opgeoffer het. God was ten volle tevrede met Christus se versoenende dood en het ons rekords geskrap en ons as onskuldig in sy aangesig verklaar! ‘God het Hom wat nie sonde geken het nie, sonde gemaak ter wille van ons sodat ons, op grond van ons eenheid met Christus, deur God vrygespreek kan word’ (2 Korintiërs 5:21 NLV). Alles wat Jesus gedoen het, van sy maagdelike geboorte, sondelose lewe, versoenende dood, wonderbaarlike opstanding, glorieryke opvaring en priesterlike bediening in die Hemel, het Hy as plaasvervanger en redder gedoen.
Sielskos: Jak 1-2; Luk 23:1-12; Ps 7:1-9; Spr 10:16
1 Peter 2:24 NLT
Second, Calvary was vicarious, which means “an act undertaken by someone in another’s place.” Seen through the lens of sentiment or superstition, the cross may affect your emotions but it can’t save your soul. But seen as substitution, the cross can save any soul! The apostle Peter writes, “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.” Had Jesus reneged at Calvary, God would have been forced to sentence us to death for our sins. Instead, as our substitute, Jesus suffered our justly-deserved punishment, freeing us and giving us eternal life. Substitution was historically God’s idea to deliver His people from the penalty of their sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, God substituted an animal to cover their iniquity. He accepted Abel’s sacrifice of the “firstlings of his flock” (Genesis 4:4), and Abraham’s ram caught in the thicket in exchange for Isaac’s life (See Genesis 22:13). But without question God’s greatest soul-saving theme – substitution – was once-for-all-time demonstrated when Jesus offered Himself at Calvary. Fully satisfied with Christ’s atoning death, God expunged our record and pronounced us innocent in His sight! God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NAS). On the cross Jesus became what we were – sin – so we could become what He was – righteousness! Everything Jesus did from His virgin birth, sinless life, redeeming death, miraculous resurrection, glorious ascension, and priestly ministry in Heaven, He did as a substitute and savior.
Soul food: Jam 1-2; Luke 23:1-12; Ps 7:1-9; Prov 10:16
2019-04-16
Lukas 23:33 NLV
Wat by Golgota gebeur het, het ons lotsbestemming verander. Ten spyte van die mites en misverstande, is die waarheid duidelik en lewensveranderend. Kom ons kyk daarna. Eerstens was Golgota vrywillig. Die toeskouers het gedink dat Jesus ‘n slagoffer van omstandighede buite sy beheer was: die samewerking van Joodse haat en Romeinse mag. Hoe verkeerd was hulle nie! Jesus het Petrus se goedbedoelde maar ondeurdagte verdediging verwerp deur te sê: ‘Besef jy nie dat Ek ‘n ganse leërmag engele van my Vader sou kon vra om ons te beskerm en Hy sal hulle oombliklik stuur nie?’ (Matteus 26:53 NLV). Jesus kon gekies het om sonder swaarkry, pyn of die dood te lewe. Niemand het hom gedwing om na die kruis te gaan nie. Hy het gesê: ‘Niemand ontneem My my lewe nie, maar Ek offer dit uit My eie op. Ek het die volmag om dit op te offer en Ek het die volmag om dit weer op te neem…’ (Johannes 10:18 NLV). Golgota was verseker onregverdig. Dit was egter nie moord nie, maar versoening! Sy vyande het bedoel dat Golgota sy lewe moet beëindig, maar Jesus het bedoel dat dit ons van ‘n verlore ewigheid moet red. Nadat hulle die ergste gedoen het maar Hom nie kon keer nie, het Petrus hulle op die dag van die Pinksterfees met hierdie oorwinnende waarheid gekonfronteer: ‘Maar julle het opgetree soos God dit vooruit bepaal het. Met die hulp van nie-Jode het julle Hom aan die kruis gespyker en vermoor’ (Handelinge 2:23 NLV). Selfs die Vader het Hom nie gedwing nie. Jesus het ‘…sy lewe gegee om vryheid vir elkeen te koop…’ (1 Timoteus 2:6 NLV) – insluitend vir jou!
Sielskos: Dan 11-12; Luk 22:63-71; Ps 16; Spr 10:15
Luke 23:33 NKJV
The word “Calvary” appears only once in the New Testament, but what happened there changed our destiny. In spite of the myths and misunderstandings, the truth is clear and life-changing. Let’s look at it. First, Calvary was voluntary. Those who watched it thought Jesus was a victim of circumstances beyond His control: the collusion of Jewish hatred and Roman might. How wrong! Jesus rejected Peter’s well-intentioned but misguided defense, saying, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53 NIV). Jesus could have chosen to live without hardship, pain, or death. No one coerced Him into going to the cross. He said, “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again” (John 10:18 NLT). Calvary was certainly unjust and unfair. But it wasn’t assassination, it was atonement! His enemies intended Calvary to end His life, but Jesus intended it to save us from a lost eternity. And after they had done their worst and failed to stop Him, Peter confronted them on the day of Pentecost with this victorious truth: “In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him” (Acts 2:23 GNT). Even the Father didn’t force Him. Jesus “gave himself as a ransom for all [people]” (1 Timothy 2:6 NIV) – including you!
Soul food: Dan 11-12; Luke 22:63-71; Ps 16; Prov 10:15
