The Holy One calls to me this morning. He is leading me into some very narrow catacombs of thought about the structure of Divine Authority. Today, He poses the question of ultimate accountability. "Who do you trust to stand before a Holy God in your behalf?"
In the big issue of rescue and safety (Salvation) that is not an unreasonable question. As I walk with the Lord, I am more and more convinced that life is a matter of perspective and seeing something from a different angle is important to the picture of our lives here on earth.
We talk about "salvation" and those who are "in the know" about Christ realize He is the only One making the claim as that of man's Savior. Of course He backed up His claim by dying on the Cross and defying death through a miraculous resurrection, historically documented from eye witness accounts.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John speak of the event and, then, at the beginning of Acts chapter 1:1-11, the account of His mysterious Ascension was recorded by Luke in his letter to the one known as "Theophilis".
The question posed by the Holy One this morning takes me to the thoughts of life on this fallen earth: The sin nature of all men. The personal accountability for "missing the mark" required by Holiness, and the ultimate salvation from the penalty we all know we deserve..
Somehow we have perfected the art of blame-shifting in an effort to free ourselves from the guilt of our unacceptable actions. This behavior represents a big part of the problem in getting it right with the Sovereign God of all Creation. Blame-shifting doesn't cure the guilt or bridge the chasm between God and man.
White-washing sin is another method we use to try to diminish responsibility for "bad form". That method may postpone the accountability but in the end at some point we will have to deal with things we have said or done. Consequences follow actions.
The Holy One pushes me past what I already know about personal guilt and accountability, to press in about the historic and symbolic, but obsolete function of the "priests" of old. These were men chosen by God to represent the coming Intercessor and Savior of the world of men, Jesus the Christ.
Before Christ came and gained the honor of becoming humanity's Great High Priest, men served in that function and role under the Divine structure of authority and accountability before God. They offered up blood sacrifices to atone for the sins of men and to quiet the guilt and fear of Holiness.
But now, by the sacrifice of Christ and His Blood of atonement,we are assured that the curtain that existed between God and men keeping humanity at a distance was torn in two. Access to the God, the Father was obtained and made available to any and all as individuals. "All" meaning any who would choose to follow Christ Jesus and claim Him as their Savior and Lord.
Jesus is the Great High Priest of Holiness. All who came before or who have taken up that role since His death and Ascension are merely men, fallen flesh, just like you and me.
I understand the point to the question that the Holy One asks. I look around at the structure of our religious age and see that many are relying on Pastors and Priests to not just teach truth but somehow represent us to God the Father and that is a dangerous mistake.
Since the Cross, the responsibility and accountability for our life falls directly on our own heads. We will not make it to Heaven because we belong the this "church" or this "denomination", or follow and support that person's "ministry".
For all the confession going on in a box to the ear of a man, nothing is forgiven that does not issue out from God Himself and through the Blood of His chosen sacrifice for our sin, Jesus the Christ.
Likewise any shepherd we may find to respect and honor is still just part of the flock and a sheep himself. There is only one Great High Priest. Only one Good Shepherd and only one Savior of the world.
I know and confess that there is no one besides Jesus that I will trust to stand in my behalf before a Holy God. I respect those called to be "pastors and priests" to teach and instruct us but when it comes to my eternal security and needed forgiveness for all I have done or will be tempted in my flesh to do, the only One I trust with my eternity future is the one who came from there to save me.
The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
In the big issue of rescue and safety (Salvation) that is not an unreasonable question. As I walk with the Lord, I am more and more convinced that life is a matter of perspective and seeing something from a different angle is important to the picture of our lives here on earth.
We talk about "salvation" and those who are "in the know" about Christ realize He is the only One making the claim as that of man's Savior. Of course He backed up His claim by dying on the Cross and defying death through a miraculous resurrection, historically documented from eye witness accounts.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John speak of the event and, then, at the beginning of Acts chapter 1:1-11, the account of His mysterious Ascension was recorded by Luke in his letter to the one known as "Theophilis".
The question posed by the Holy One this morning takes me to the thoughts of life on this fallen earth: The sin nature of all men. The personal accountability for "missing the mark" required by Holiness, and the ultimate salvation from the penalty we all know we deserve..
Somehow we have perfected the art of blame-shifting in an effort to free ourselves from the guilt of our unacceptable actions. This behavior represents a big part of the problem in getting it right with the Sovereign God of all Creation. Blame-shifting doesn't cure the guilt or bridge the chasm between God and man.
White-washing sin is another method we use to try to diminish responsibility for "bad form". That method may postpone the accountability but in the end at some point we will have to deal with things we have said or done. Consequences follow actions.
The Holy One pushes me past what I already know about personal guilt and accountability, to press in about the historic and symbolic, but obsolete function of the "priests" of old. These were men chosen by God to represent the coming Intercessor and Savior of the world of men, Jesus the Christ.
Before Christ came and gained the honor of becoming humanity's Great High Priest, men served in that function and role under the Divine structure of authority and accountability before God. They offered up blood sacrifices to atone for the sins of men and to quiet the guilt and fear of Holiness.
But now, by the sacrifice of Christ and His Blood of atonement,we are assured that the curtain that existed between God and men keeping humanity at a distance was torn in two. Access to the God, the Father was obtained and made available to any and all as individuals. "All" meaning any who would choose to follow Christ Jesus and claim Him as their Savior and Lord.
Jesus is the Great High Priest of Holiness. All who came before or who have taken up that role since His death and Ascension are merely men, fallen flesh, just like you and me.
I understand the point to the question that the Holy One asks. I look around at the structure of our religious age and see that many are relying on Pastors and Priests to not just teach truth but somehow represent us to God the Father and that is a dangerous mistake.
Since the Cross, the responsibility and accountability for our life falls directly on our own heads. We will not make it to Heaven because we belong the this "church" or this "denomination", or follow and support that person's "ministry".
For all the confession going on in a box to the ear of a man, nothing is forgiven that does not issue out from God Himself and through the Blood of His chosen sacrifice for our sin, Jesus the Christ.
Likewise any shepherd we may find to respect and honor is still just part of the flock and a sheep himself. There is only one Great High Priest. Only one Good Shepherd and only one Savior of the world.
I know and confess that there is no one besides Jesus that I will trust to stand in my behalf before a Holy God. I respect those called to be "pastors and priests" to teach and instruct us but when it comes to my eternal security and needed forgiveness for all I have done or will be tempted in my flesh to do, the only One I trust with my eternity future is the one who came from there to save me.
The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
No comments:
Post a Comment