Jesus forgives our sins once and for all

Jesus forgives our sins once and for all. Out of love and gratitude, we follow him. We pledge to be his disciples, to go wherever he goes. We don't always live up to that pledge. We need help with our obedience.

Obedience is an out-of-date word. We prefer freedom to obedience. We want to be our own masters, make our own decisions. We want to hold our own destiny in our hands. We want to be the boss. And yet, we aren't. We are truly free when we obey the one who made us, who died for us.

Obedience does not come easy but obedience means doing what we should even when we do not want to do it. We go day after day, thinking we are good, obedient Christians. In fact, we are just doing what we want to do. It just so happens that what we want to do is what God wants us to do.

One day that changes. We bump up against a command from God that makes us very uncomfortable. "Go sell all you have and give to the poor." "Deny yourself and take up the cross." Wash one another's feet." "Love your enemies."

The list could go on and on. When we face those uncomfortable verses, we can explain them away, ignore them, or try to justify our failure to follow them. But that is not obedience.

To obey is to do the Will of God, especially when we find it hard. Someone has said,

"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting.

It's been found difficult and left untried."

How do we obey when it's difficult? How do we obey when we don't want to?

We need help. Obedience is learned through pain and suffering; even Jesus had to learn it that way.

Hebrews 5:8-10

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus learned obedience. He was made perfect. What does this mean? Wasn't Jesus perfect, the sinless Son of God? We understand how we must learn obedience, but how did Jesus have to learn it?

The word "perfect" is better translated "complete." Jesus was sinless, but he was not the complete Savior until he became one of us, until he experienced temptation. If we believe Jesus was tempted as we are tempted and could have sinned then we have to accept their was the possibility of failure. Part of Jesus, if only for a short amount of time, did not want to do what God commanded. Isn't that what temptation means? Part of Jesus did not want to go to the cross. He wanted the cup to pass. He wanted it so much… Luke wrote

Luke 22:44

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

But he learned to obey, to do what the Father wanted, even if it wasn't what he wanted. Again, Luke wrote……

Luke 22:42-43

…, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

More than anything else, Jesus wanted to do the will of the Father.

Isn't that obedience? Isn't that what we need to learn? We need to learn to put our wants behind our desire to do the will of God, to obey.

We need help with obedience, and Jesus gives us that help. His power not only forgives all our sins, it also gives us the will to obey. He is the source of salvation, the source for obedience.

Maybe Christians today are too comfortable. Paul told Timothy "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12. I don't know about you but I don't feel persecuted. Does that mean I am not living a godly life in Christ Jesus? Apparently Paul thinks so. What do you think? Maybe I should take a close look at me?

Rather than seek an escape from persecution and its imminent harm, there is a clear message that Christian persecution has value in ways too often overlooked, ignored, or misunderstood. There may even be some spiritual value that is unattainable any other way. Maybe we have too eagerly looked for ways of avoiding persecution and have missed out on some of the greatest blessings God has to offer.

How could Peter and the disciples rejoice in being beaten? How could Stephen ask for mercy on those stoning him? How could Paul take pride in the times of his greatest suffering? Maybe Peter, Paul, Stephen and others are right now asking similar questions about us: "How could they be so pleased with their ability to escape persecution? How can they be indignant with the world's oppressive attitude toward Christians? How can they take themselves to be participants with Christ while pursuing lives of ease?

Paul warned Timothy: "the time was coming when people would not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they would accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and would turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4:3, 4.

Each individual is responsible for their own salvation. All others can do is to bring to their attention where the Bible teaches that Jesus is The Way. They must read. They must study. They must develop their faith. One cannot be given faith.

Knowing what to do, (knowledge), why to do it (perspective), and how to do it (skill) are all worthless if we do not have the conviction and motivation to do it!

The population of the United States continues to grow while the numbers of those who believe the Bible is the Word of God and comply with its authority continue to shrink in comparison.

John wrote in Revelation

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen