Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
I remember growing up singing native Tiv songs during Sunday evening Family Time, around a bowl of hot kunun gyeda. One of my favorite songs went something like this:
The Jews put the Lord Jesus on the ballot
To run against Barabbas
Barabbas lost the vote -
Barabbas was not fit to die
You remember the story don’t you? Pilate, the Governor, in a desperate last-gasp attempt to rescue Jesus from an irate Jewish mob makes an offer he thinks they should not refuse. “Which prisoner do you want me to pardon?” he asks. “Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?” (Matthew 27:17). As far as he’s concerned, it’s a no-brainer. Barabbas, the infamous robber and murderer versus Jesus, healer of the sick and the most fascinating character to walk the roads of Judea for centuries.
At that moment, the Jews had a choice. They could get rid of one of these two men with their vote. And they chose Jesus. Barabbas lost the vote. Barabbas was not fit to die.
All of a sudden the heavens fell silent. There was an upset. The Author of Creation had just been chosen to die by the very people he had created. They considered the life of a hardened criminal worth more than His. What horror! What an outrage! What blessedness!
Because along with Barabbas we all lost the vote that day. None of us was fit to die and, indeed, none is. Not until we have died with Christ into his own death. For at the moment of his death, he stepped up and took the mantle of redemption. He gave himself up so that we could die freely. Without Jesus’ death, ours would be a sore shame. But since he has died and, thankfully, has been raised to life we are, at last, fit to die.
With love, Doosuur
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...so close, yet so far.
ReplyDeleteYou accurately posit that "Jesus" Is "Barabbas" (close), yet you fail to note that "Jesus" was His Name, "Barabbas" is what He was Called... "Barabbas" is an Aramaic appellation, the meaning of which is: Bar = Son + Abba = Father (or God). Therefore, "Jesus, the Son of God" was set free and Not condemned to die by crucifixion.
Nevertheless, you continue as if the Jews and Pontius Pilate made a mistake...
All is right with God, -it is the Pauline machinations that is askew.
Roland, -a reluctant iconoclast.
Hey Roland.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comments. Now i'm not by any stretch of the imagination a Philosopher. But thankfully I don't need to be, because all God has ever required of me is that I believe. And I do.
Did the Jews make a mistake? Yes or No, doesn't matter to me. What matters is that i'm grateful they chose Barabbas and not Jesus. Imagine if Jesus had won the vote! Terrible choice.
Yes indeed, all is right with God. And that is ALL that matters to me.
God bless you.
Doosuur, -an exuberant believer
Doosuur,
ReplyDeleteI have no clue what you mean by: "Imagine if Jesus had won the vote! Terrible choice." and am very confused by your statement.
Are you saying that you 'agree' that it is a 'good thing' that "Jesus Christ" 'lost the vote' and therefore should have beeen crucified"?
Please clarify the above.
As for myself, I believe that 'life' is as 'eternal' as God Himself is eternal, i.e. 'there is no Death' (only a period of unconsciousness or a form of 'sleep' or rest... until we, seemingly as 'individuals', Will to be (re)incarnated or 'born' once again... with a new 'body' and circumstances). It is 'hog-wash' that (the) 'Son of God' "died for our sins" rather that He Lives to show us the Way. (Without 'Him' we are Lost.)
Roland, a reluctant iconoclast.
Hi Roland. Sorry for the delay in replying; i'm not frequent on blogger.
ReplyDeleteAs it is, my comments stem from my belief that Christ Jesus died for my sins and that without his death my life would be lost.
We agree that our current existence is not all there is to it. Where we differ is with our understanding of what happens hereafter. The Bible is my standard and it says "it is appointed to man to die ONCE and after that to face judgement." In other words this life, as it is, is all we have to determine where we will be after death (or sleep as you call it).
In the simplest of terms, here's what I believe:
1. God loves all mankind and desires that we be with him
2. Because God is Holy, our sin separates us from Him
3. The only acceptable substitute for sin is the death of someone. That someone was Jesus. He was Himself without sin and thus made the perfect sacrifice, or substitute
4. Once I accept Christ's provision for my sin I can once again be with God as he originally intended. If i do not accept that then I remain with my sin, and thus separated from God
This is what I believe. I appreciate your comments and would love to continue this discussion. Thanks a lot
Doosuur
Oh Doosuur,
ReplyDeleteNow I 'understand' why you 'believe' that it was or is 'a Good thing' that "Christ" Died... I don't Agree with you (or, rather the 'Pauline Doctrine' that you have been taught), but I Do Understand...
I also 'disagree' with you regarding: "Where we differ is with our understanding of what happens hereafter." No, Doosuur, that is Not 'where we differ', however, Let me clarify my position as YOU seem to think where we differ... I do not believe in 'death'... that is not the Same as Your understanding as "hereafter"... for me, there is only "NOW" (whether 'here' and/or 'elsewhere'... whether an hour from 'now' or a week or a year or ten thousand years... NOW is ALWAYS Now... it is 'Consciousness'... All the time and Everywhere... for YOU "hereafter" is After 'death'.
Will you be Conscious After 'Death'? Indeed, are you 'conscious' now? What are you 'conscious' of?
Where we really 'differ' is not about 'Life or Death', -not even about 'Now' versus 'hereafter'... but rather about the 'difference' in our 'knowledge and understanding of what "Truth" is'.
I 'know' what I Know, you, on the other hand, 'assume' that 'The Bible' is the "TRUTH"... which, might very well be the 'Truth'...
Well, here is THE TRUTH of THE BIBLE... The Holy Gospels (or New Testaments) were written ten years After the 'descendant of David' and Jewish 'messiah' was crucified.
THAT is an undeniable Fact and the absolute Truth of the matter... it can not be disputed or argued or un-avoided or circumvented... it just Is.
Furthermore, the 'Holy Gospels' were written for the sole purpose of instilling 'Faith' only, -they were Not written as a 'history' of the Jews (or even a 'history' of "Jesus Christ") in the scientific sense of that word. (Was 'Jesus Christ' "born in the days of Herod the king" -who died in 4 B.C. according to Matthew (2:1) OR, "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled... And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea... to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. While they were there,... she gave birth to her firstborn son." (which occurred in 6 A.D.)???
Clearly, one of the two 'Holy Gospels' is INCORRECT... they Can't Both be 'True'!!! (I could provide a hundred examples of 'Untruths'.) Yet, you 'believe' that the 'Bible' is the Absolute and Only 'Truth'...
Beginning with the Holy Gospels as THE ONLY guide to 'Truth'... it can be shown that It is replete with 'Falsehoods' or 'contradictions'... including the very Purpose for the 'Son of God's' being born in the first instance.
You say (and 'believe'): "that Christ Jesus died for my sins and that without his death my life would be lost.", -I say that, 'No Body DIED For YOUR Sins', rather, that Jesus [Barabbas] (a 'Son of God) Lived because it was given to Him to 'Forgive' Sins And, put man on the path to our Eternal Home. "Christ Jesus'" death is not a 'substitute' for Sins... 'Forgiveness' is the Only absolution of Sins.
And herein is the 'rub'(the 'conflict', if you will)... whether you 'believe' in "Christ Jesus" or not... whether I 'believe' in "Christ Jesus" or not, the FACT is: HE is Not here NOW in the Present (in the world of the flesh or materiality). THAT is the 'Problem' we face in each of our lives... It is one thing to 'believe' in a (dead) Book... it is quite another to 'believe' in the Everliving 'Son of God' (who) is Always Alive and Always walks among us... He Always Will 'walk among us'... the 'Problem' is that (some of us) 'believe' in a (dead) Book (as Paul 'teaches') instead of the Living Reality that Is All Around Us... But that (some people) Deny the Living 'Truth'... believing instead in the 'holy words of Paul' (that contradicts the actual 'Jesus').
If I were in need of medical attention, I would Not seek Hippocrates (the Father of Medicine); if I were in need of legal advice, I would Not seek Moses (our Lawgiver) or Solomon (for his Wisdom); if I were in need of Spiritual Salvation (and I am); I would Not seek a Dead Prophet or Savior... but Him who Is of God Himself (and no other).
Doosuur, you were given Life... an Opportunity to sit at His Holy Feet... seek Him with all your heart and mind and soul... Only Him can 'forgive' you your Sins and set you on the path Homeward... this is your 'birthright'... all else is vanity.
'Paul' and his False 'Docrtines' or Teachings are transparent... The 'Son of God' is the only 'Truth'... sit at His Holy Feet and Know the Love He Has For YOU.
Please Know the 'difference' between what "Jesus" actually said and what Paul says 'Jesus said'.
Yours in His Naam...
Roland, -a reluctant iconoclast.