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The Greatest Sacrifice

Bible study: Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2011 9:58 PM

On 11/11/11 Armistice Day, we remember those who gave their lives in wars to protect and preserve our lives and freedoms. On this day, let us not forget the GREATEST SACRIFICE - that of Jesus Christ.

Read Mark 14.33-36

The Greatest Sorrow
Why was Christ sorrowful? Was it because he knew that he would be betrayed by one of his own disciples - Judas Iscariot - that very night? Maybe it was because he knew that all his friends would forsake him and run to save their own lives. Perhaps it was because he knew that he would be handed over to his enemies who would put him on trial, mock him, spit on him, flog him and put him to death. But it was more than that. For the Lord Jesus Christ was not just going to die a death like other men. He was going to die for the sins of the world. The bible says that he became sin for us. He bore our sins in his own body on the tree.
This is what made the Lord Jesus Christ the most sorrowful. The fact that he, the sinless, holy son of God became sin for us. How he must have felt as he prayed in the garden as every sin which has ever been committed was laid upon him as if it was his own. This is what caused the extreme sorrow - he was to drink the bitter cup of punishment for all our sins.
The storm of God's holy anger against sin broke over the head of the son of God as he died for you and me, and the sorrow began there in the garden.

The Greatest Submission.
Notice his prayer. Father...not what I will. The plan of salvation originated with God the Father. It was not Christ's own idea that he should die on a cross to take away the sins of the world. Christ was the willing and obedient servant that would carry that plan out to completion. When the Lord Jesus left heaven and came to earth it was to do the will of the one who sent him - God his Father. He always did those things which pleased his father and he took delight in doing his father's will and being about his Father's business.
As a man, Jesus had his own will and could have chosen his own way. But he chose always to do the will of his Father. And that will was that the Son should offer himself as a sacrifice for all men so that they might be saved. Jesus became obedient to his father even to the point of death - even death on a cross. His was the utmost submission.

The Greatest Salvation
John the Baptist called Jesus "The Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the whole world." There is no one that is left out. Christ died for every one of us. The Bible says that God loved the world. That includes everyone too. And because Jesus has tasted death for everyone, everyone may believe in him and so receive forgiveness of their sins and eternal life. When anyone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ they are saved, they saved once forever and will never be lost. That his how safe it is to be in the hands of Jesus. He is strong to save. That is why when Jesus saves he saves forever. His is the utmost salvation. Salvation from sin and death and hell. Only Jesus can save like this, because only Jesus died for us and rose again on the third day. Now he is alive in heaven where he always lives to pray for those who believe in him.
Have you believed in the Lord Jesus? Have you been saved from your guilt and sin and from death and hell? Or do you only hope so? When we receive the Lord Jesus as our Saviour we don't have to hope so any more - for we will know so. For he saves us to the uttermost. All we must do is admit that we have sinned, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, asking him to come into our hearts and lives and remain with us forever. The Bible says Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

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Internationalism

Mathew Bartlett: Posted on Thursday, January 13, 2011 10:22 PM

It was a strange sensation for me as a British citizen to hear the President of the United States' voice on my BBC Radio announcing that a bomb had been intercepted at Manchester airport bound for Chicago (that was 29th October 2010).

My first reaction, I admit, was "why isn't the British Prime Minister announcing this?"

The bombs (another was found in Dubai) had been sent in mail from Yemen to the US, and no doubt were intercepted thanks to the international cooperation on intelligence that has been slowly built up following 9/11.

It became clear to me, as I listened to Barak Obama, that the world has at last become a truly "international" place. It is no longer true that what happens in another country does not affect you or I thousands of miles away. The global financial crisis is another manifestation of this fact. Someone put it this way, "the world is getting smaller." We may rightly describe our generation as the age of internationalism.

Long before international cooperation on counter terrorism; and long before mis-sold mortgages in the US led to a domino effect on the world's economy, God set out His own international agenda. God made all nations of men (Acts 17:26), every race and colour. And He loves the world (John 3:16).

Jesus Christ gave his life on the cross for the sin of every man woman and child that has ever been born (John 1:29); and after rising from the dead, told his disciples to "go into all the world and preach the good news of salvation (Mark 16:15).

Today, our church is raising funds to help Christian brothers and sisters around the world. Not only do we share the same faith, but we share the same hope that Jesus Christ will come again to be the King of all nations. One day, surrounding his throne in heaven, will be people from "every tribe, and kindred, and language, and nation." (Rev. 7:9)

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Are Iraqi Christians to Flee Iraq?

Mathew Bartlett: Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2011 1:16 PM

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Following the attack on Sayidat al-Nejat church in Baghdad, Athanasios Dawood, Archbishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church, has called upon all Christians to flee Iraq.

According to a CNN report (Bharati Naik, 8 Nov 2010), Father Saad Sirop Hanna of Saint Joseph's Church Baghdad commented: "I can understand this bishop. I agree with him from a certain point of view, but I disagree with him from another."

Persecution is a reality which has been faced by Christians throughout the last two thousand years, and today more believers than ever before are facing harassment and even violence as a result of their faith. Jesus said:

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you... Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me (John 15:18-21 NKJV).

The decision to stay or leave is difficult. Jesus sometimes allows his followers to flee persecution:

When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. (Matt. 10:23 NKJV)

But there are other times when believers are called upon to stand firm in their faith and not be afraid of the enemy. They may take our lives but not our souls.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt. 10:28 NKJV)

To a persecuted church in first century Asia Minor, Jesus sent this message:

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev. 2:10 NKJV)

No doubt some will, for the sake of their families and other reasons, choose to leave Iraq, and will do so in the will of God. Others will stand firm, continuing to worship God and to give a Christian witness to the people of a country which, although torn by war and rent by religious and sectarian differences, is still dear to them.

The tragic events of last week reminds all Christians of their responsibility to pray for Christians in Iraq, and for persecuted believers everywhere.

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Are Iraqi Christians to Flee Iraq?