For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a
ransom for all, to be testified
in due tome. Whereunto I am
ordained a preacher, and an
apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ,
and lie not:) a teacher of the
gentiles in faith and verity.
1Timothy 1:5-7
This is the Gospel: Jesus Christ, the Mediator, and that Mediator gave Himself a ransom for all; which implies there is only on Mediator. This then excludes any other worship to any other god, or image. Jesus Christ came to earth to pay the debt owed to the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, sin (singular) and by His death, resurrection, and ascension into to heave to present this propitiatory sacrifice to the Father sins (plural) can be forgiven. Jesus did not sin, the Father did not sin, the Holy Spirit did not sin, therefore the only sins that could be forgiven, atoned, are the sins of man. The children of God are redeemed, forgiven, and have the promise of God that they will have eternal life, an immortal body. Ezekiel makes this very clear that God does not desire the destruction of anyone, but only their welfare and salvation: "Say unto them, as I live, aith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Does this mean that God will save all men? No! Man must turn from their evil ways or they will perish, not because this is the desire of God, but rather due to their own fault. Why would God allow sinful man to continue? Why would God not save some who will turn from their evil ways and allow those who would not, one to live forever, the other to die? God is Holy, God is Just, God is love, God is Merciful, but God through His love, mercy, and justice will not allow sin to continue and to continually affect those who have turned to Him. God is Holy!
This fact is most necessary to understand and grasp: it is not otherwise; man must come to know the truth to be saved. What is the truth? Jesus Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life, no man can live that does not come to Him and convert to Him, to live by Him and to grow in their relationship to Him for man will live eternally with Him. The time to begin that eternal life with Him is now, when you have come to believe and convert to Him. Jesus Christ paid the price for your sins, so why would a person say they love Him, call themselves Christian and not do the things that He said to do, how to live, how to please Him, the Godhead? Jesus Christ by His work on the cross has brought mankind to a place where they can stand on the terms of God. Not a covenant of works, this does not save a person, but as a rule of life; you as a Christian are under grace; you have been saved by grace, you are made righteous by grace. Sin through Satan, Adam and Eve brought death, and life through a Person who did not sin, is given by grace, no other way can a person be saved except through the grace of God, by God enabling that person to have faith, to be called of God, you are called the "elect."
Let us then learn to pray in faith without doubting, to worship ins spirit and truth. Free you minds from resentment, pray for all, especially those who are in the truth.
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob
for his help, whose hope is in the
LORD his God:
Psalm 146: 5
Praise God: You are free
Richard L. Crumb
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