Dear Explorer,
Luke records more of what Jesus taught that night in the upper room.
Read Luke 24:44-49
What does Luke 24:44 say about Jesus?
All the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus were fulfilled in His time on this earth or will be fulfilled at His 2nd coming. All. Every one of them!
Do you think that Luke 24:45 means that He supernaturally planted things in their mind, or do you think this is just a figure of speech meaning that they finally understood the things He had taught them over the course of the 3 years?
I don't know! But I think that, like a dot-to-dot picture, you can't always see the picture until it is completed. Jesus has now completed their training. I think that they finally understood. Their minds were opened to understand. Was that miraculous or just natural? I don't know.
Look carefully at Luke 24:47. It's easy to just skip over, but it is profound. This is the beginning of the New Covenant or New contract, the NEW WAY between God and man.
What does this verse say is the way to get forgiveness of sins?
The Old Testament Covenant or Contract (or what I call the Cocoon) established sacrifice as the way to forgiveness of sins. The New Contract says that repentance is the way to forgiveness of sins. Why?
Because the price (or wages) of our sin has now been paid in full. Jesus' blood covers all our sin. All we must do is invite Him into our lives and He marks our sins as “paid-in-full!”
There are two important things that I want to make sure you understand.
#1 Jesus paid for every sin ever committed by anyone – past, present and future.
God says that the wages of sin is death and then He provided His Son to die in our place so that we wouldn't have to perish (die spiritually and be eternally separated from God) for our sins.
God is the just and the justifier.
A very simple example would be a mother who says, “You can't go to the park until you pick up all your toys.” Then realizing that her child is overwhelmed with the task, gets down on her hands and knees and begins helping him/her pick up the toys. She is both the just and the justifier. She set the rule and is now accomplishing it for the child.
God says that you can't spend eternity with Me if you sin. But seeing how hopeless that is, sent His Son Jesus to pay for our sins, so that we can spend eternity with God.
#2 Even though Jesus paid for your sin, it's still your choice whether or not to accept the gift.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on this many years ago. The scenario was this: A man was convicted of a crime and was on death row waiting to be executed. The governor pardoned him. The man refused the pardon and asked them to go ahead and execute him. Was it legal to execute him since he had been pardoned?
So, the question that went all the way to the Supreme Court was: Can you refuse a pardon?
What do you think the Supreme Court ruled?
United States v. Wilson, 32 U.S. (7 Pet.) 150 (1833)
A pardon cannot be recognized by a judge if it has not been brought judicially before the court by plea, motion, or otherwise. United States v. Wilson, 32 U.S. (7 Pet.) ... It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered; and if it is rejected, we have discovered no power in this court to force it upon him."
God says the same thing. Your sin debt is completely paid in full by Jesus' death on the cross. The only thing that remains is for you to decide whether to accept it or reject it.
What do I have to do? Invite Jesus in and let Him take care of the details! He will forgive you for all your sins, past, present and future. And He will send His Holy Spirit into your core to give you instructions and empower you for this life. Then you will spend all of eternity in Heaven.
In His service, dale
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