Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

Colossians 1:14  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”Thank you so much for hanging in there with me in this series of teaching’s. They are pretty direct, especially if its your first exposure to Biblical teaching. However a “watered down” gospel message is like a drinking glass filled with holes; that when filled cannot hold water, much less quench one’s thirst. I promise you that I will not do that to you, or to the gospel that  has given me such hope.Next, as true with anything in print, we cannot hear the voice or feel the heart of the one saying it. So in answering these remaining questions, the voice I want you to hear is that of a parent calling their child out of a busy street. I want you to hear the urgency in the parents voice and to feel the emotion of wanting to save the child from danger. I also want you to picture the resistance on the child’s face as he/she continues to play in the street blinded to the dangers. With that said, let’s answer our first question.”What is my indebtedness?” As we all know debt is a liability, and the “playing field” is not even until I pay my debt. But what is this debt? It is unlike any debt we know, but before I can explain it, I must cause you to understand God’s holiness, at least as best as is humanly possible.

When our girls were young we enjoyed taking them camping. As with all camping trips, there are campfires. Towards the  evening hours as the camp fire was burning down I would notice that there was little to no smoke coming from the fire. All that could be burned had been burned, remaining only the hot embers. Between them existed a glow that was more intense, purer and hotter than the fire had been with the wood. If I threw any pine needles or twigs on the fire at this point, they would burst into flames and be gone within moments. Such is the Holiness of God. It is pure, hot and consuming towards anything that is less than holy. Not because God is mean, but the nature of Holiness is as the nature of those coals. Anything that is not as pure or as intense  cannot exist or stand in His presence. That is the best picture of Holiness I know. Now contrast that against our humanness, our failings, even our best attempts cannot measures up. As those pine needles or twigs burst into flames before the intensity of the embers. We before such holiness would be utterly consumed.

So now God has a problem. His love for us seeks to bring us near, close to his heart, but then his holiness would consume us. So as God allowed for a sacrifice of substitution in the Old Testament, so we need a sacrifice. An atonement, an ” innocent lamb” that by confession, repentance and placing my faith in him would bare my sins and receive my punishment. My indebtedness is my sins, past, present and future. In all areas of my life I fall short of living a holy life. I need a Savior to redeem me and transform my life. On my own merits I could never stand before the presence of The Lord Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Christ is that, the go between God and me. Being fully God, fully man and the Holy Spirit, a mystery to say the least. He was and is the perfect sacrifice. In my repentance his death atones for my sin and forgiveness is granted. In accepting his sacrifice for me, coming into agreement with him, I am given a new nature. Spiritually becoming indwelt by the Holy Spirit, which allows me to live a different life and ultimately come before a Holy God.

I know In these  last two paragraphs I have said a lot. Volumes of books are written about these topics, being inexhaustible. But pause now, hear the voice of the Father calling us to leave the streets of this world and come to Him. See Jesus crucified… and I understand that this is somewhat morbid, but there is no greater testimony of God’s love for us. Understand that by his death our debts have been paid, “leveling the playing field,” canceling my debt of sin and enabling me to come into the extended arms of the Father. Who is ever seeking to save those outside His presence and make us His children. Amen

Father God,
I have never understood salvation, the need for a sacrifice, repentance or the problem that exists between my sinful nature and your holy nature. I am not sure that I completely understand it now or will ever fully understand. But what I do understand is your love for me, your commitment to save me and because of that I accept you into my life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and allow me to walk a life that now seeks to please you, not me. Thank you and Amen.

Dios lo Bendiga,