For nearly 30 years I had wondered.

For nearly 30 years I had wondered.               

I just didn’t get it. I didn’t understand. I had asked myself this question for nearly 30 years. You may have wondered the same thing. I even stated the question, out loud, to my pastor in a church meeting and he went on to the next question. I later decided he didn’t know the answer either. 

My question: How is it that Jesus’ death on the cross saved me from my sins?

I knew He had done it. I was certain I had been redeemed. But, I wanted to know how. How did that work? What was it that took place that gave me Salvation?

I finally got my answer. My husband and I, with our two sons, eventually started attending a church strong in teaching biblical truths. I’ll call it a word church. [That's not to say the answer had never fallen on my ears before. Perhaps I just wasn’t listening.]

Somewhere along the way, through good teaching and personal Bible study I found my answer. I realized how Jesus’ death on the cross, coupled with my belief that it’s true and receiving Him into my heart, gave me the gift of salvation.

This is how it works:

God the Father—Creator of the universe—is holy. In other words, there is no evil—not even a smidgen—of evil or sinfulness in Him. And, He will not, in any way, tolerate sin.

Keep in mind that before Adam and Eve’s original sin, everything was perfect. The Garden of Eden was true paradise, in the fullest sense of the word. It will be so again in the future, after the return of Jesus.

When Adam and Eve sinned, God expelled them from the garden and from that point on mankind was bent toward sin. This first couple had, of their own free will, severed their relationship with God.

From that point on, sickness, hardship and death became part of the human condition. Now for a limited time, Satan is allowed to have certain power and authority on the earth.

So, now man’s (men & women) relationship with God is disconnected and Satan continues to tempt every human to sin against God. God and Satan are cosmic enemies, each one desiring every person to be in his respective kingdom. In the end, we know God wins. God’s ultimate victory is prophesied throughout Scripture and is described in detail in the Book of Revelation.

Meanwhile, God still loved Adam and Eve, as well as all subsequent people born on the earth. God wants everyone to be in fellowship with Him and He desires that all live with Him in His Kingdom when their life on earth ends.

But God will not go against His own nature. And an important characteristic of His nature is that He does not, and never will, tolerate sin. Given the fact that every human ever born sins, we have a serious dilemma.

AND—God wants a family. We were each created in the image of our Heavenly Father (Gen. 1:27) for the purpose of being in fellowship with him. He wants each of us in His eternal family.

So what was God to do? He loved everyone and wanted to have a relationship with each and every person.

Well, God had a plan all along. He knows the end from the beginning (1 Pet. 1:18-20). His Son, Jesus, who was there even in eternity past, was the answer to this cosmic dilemma.

Because of God’s love and mercy for mankind He decided to send Jesus to earth (John 3:16-17). This Messiah--Deliverer--would be born of a virgin for the purpose of restoring mankind to a right relationship with God.

Justice had to be served. That’s why everyone who is born will eventually die. But if we die without having paid for the many sins we’ve each committed in our entire lifetimes, we’ll receive the eternal punishment of Hell. We’re not capable of saving ourselves because we’re tainted with sin. 

But Jesus lived on earth as a man for 33 years and never sinned. He was pure and spotless in every way.

The requirement for justifying our debt of sin was the sacrificial death of a sinless, flawless, spotless man. Only one man ever walked on the earth who could meet this requirement. That one man was Jesus the Christ—Son of God—Son of man.

Photo by Connie Wohlford

 

He is God and He was a man. His life and death perfectly encapsulates the justice and mercy of God. God’s justice and mercy merged at the cross of Christ.

Because Jesus became a man, he could die in our place. We each owe a debt we cannot pay and He paid a debt He did not owe. He took the punishment we deserved.

Jesus is our Deliverer—our Savior—our Messiah! 

He took the punishment for all mankind, but only those who believe and receive Him will actually obtain His salvation and experience eternal life in Heaven with Him.

A lot more could be said to answer the question. God’s Word, the Bible, explains it thoroughly. I recommend that all read the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—to learn more about Jesus.

I’m grateful to finally come to a degree of understanding of how it is that Jesus’ death on the cross saved me from my sins. We who are followers of Jesus, will have perfect understanding when we reach Heaven.

Meanwhile, with assurance and joy I am gratefully redeemed to full relationship with my Heavenly Father through the One who took my punishment, Jesus, God’s Son.

I hope you are too. And, if not, I invite you to believe and receive Jesus as your Savior too. Pray and tell God, your Creator, of your decision. May God richly bless you.

Your comments are welcome.

©Connie Wohlford 2018

What Is Honor?

What Is Honor?

Have you ever been dissed? You know—disrespected, disregarded, disenfranchised, disconnected, or dishonored?

We’ve all been dissed at some time in some way. How does it make you feel? I have certainly experienced it on numerous occasions, leaving me feeling hurt, rejected and even angry.

No one likes to be the target of a diss and it speaks volumes about the perpetrator.

The Bible addresses this topic on many occasions referring to it as honoring and dishonoring. And it’s mentioned by several different writers in both the Old and New Testaments.  

We’re probably all familiar with the Fifth Commandment, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12 NKJV). 

In order to look at honor from a biblical perspective, let’s go back to the origin of the word as it was used at the time God gave the Ten Commandments and in the days of the early church when the New Testament was penned. 

Big Walker Lookout Tower - Photo by Connie Wohlford

Kadab, kabed, and hadar are Hebrew words for honor in the Old Testament days of Moses. Some meanings are: honorable, promote, glorify, ornament with splendor, glorious, majestic, favor, weighty—as in carrying great weight or to be ample. (1.) These words are attributed to God, people, things, and blessing from God, depending on the context. 

In the time of the First Century early church the Greek word doxa was used in ascribing glory, deity, and honor to God. If doxa brings to mind the doxology—hymn of praise—sung in many churches, it’s because it is the root word for doxology. The word timé (tee-may’), meaning to value, esteem, hold in high regard, venerate, deem precious, costly, beloved, ascribe dignity, was used in reference to God, people, and things, depending on the context. (2.)  

So to honor or dishonor someone was a big deal then and is a big deal now. We, in the body of Christ, need to understand honor. We need to know what honor looks like. To honor or dishonor someone is born out of an attitude of the heart.

There are three pillars of ascribing honor:

1- Those of us who are followers of Jesus know we must first honor God. What are ways we can show honor to God? He alone is worthy of our highest honor and we cannot honor God without honoring His Son. Jesus said, “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 5:23b NKJV).
We could start with a heart of gratitude which begins with recognizing who God is next to who we are. It might seem silly but for a moment try to form a mental picture of yourself standing next to God. Can you even do such a thing? Such a thought makes me tremble.  

The Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men” (Isaiah 29:13). Notice the mention of fear toward God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10a) so here is the logical place to begin. Think for a moment—to genuinely fear God, recognizing His majesty, awesomeness and power, leads to honoring Him, respecting Him, and desiring Him. 

Next let’s take a look at all God has done for us. First and foremost, He sent His only Son, Jesus, to take the punishment we deserved. And let’s not forget abundant life. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ESV). Certainly God is worthy of all honor and praise.

2- We need to see ourselves as God sees us and honor ourselves accordingly. God deemed us worthy of the sacrifice of Jesus to reconcile us to full fellowship with our Creator. If God felt we were worth such a price we should certainly see ourselves as valuable.

Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV). 

What are ways in which we can honor our bodies and our very life? 

According to 2 Peter 1:3 God has provided for us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Knowing that our body houses God Himself should inspire us to maintain our physical bodies in ways that please Him. Our eating, sleeping, and exercise habits should reflect our desire to take good care of our physical shell. Also the things we do with our bodies should honor God’s Holy Spirit who lives in us.

3- We need to honor others. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4). 

Are you now asking, “How can I honor myself and still esteem others above myself?” I’ll admit that’s a balancing act. I’ve often had a personal struggle with trying to keep too many plates in the air resulting in the neglect of myself and even my own family. We need to go about this prayerfully, seeking God every step of the way. 

In his letter to the house church in Colossae, Paul gave practical advice on how to honor others. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2 NKJV).   

^“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:12-17 NKJV).

So what does honor look like? 

It’s basically living by the Golden Rule—treating others the way we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12). And we should add to that other principles seen in Scripture regarding honoring God and Jesus, ourselves, and other people. 

Bestowing honor to God, self, and others, (beginning in our own homes), will not only bless its recipients but will exemplify Christ in us. In this way we show others what Jesus looks like, drawing them to Him in the process. We can be assured that in so doing we’ll be pleasing God who loves to reward those who honor Him and do things His way.  

How will you impart honor today?   

Honor Opens New Opportunities & Rewards

Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2018 Connie Wohlford

1. (1) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, by James Strong, Crusade Bible Publishers, INC., Box 90011, Nashville, TN 37209, “Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary,” pages 32 and 3513. 

2. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, by Joseph H. Thayer, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., PO Box 3473, Peabody, Massachusetts, Fourth Printing - May 2000, pages 155-156 and 624.