Re: [TruthTalk] The Mediation of Christ

[Wm. Taylor]

DM asks > Is there anything a person can say, think or do that would displease God?    BT: Yes, of course there is.   DM  writes to Jonathan > Yes, sin is a legal problem.  A sinner is a criminal deserving of punishment.  This all has to do with God's Justice, which sometimes works contrary to his love for the individual, but never contrary to his love for everyone.   In a different post Lance wrote to DM  > Is there anything a family member can say, think, or do which would displease you?   DM responds > Yes, most definitely, yes.    BT: If something of mine is wrongly taken from me, I am displeased. If something is stolen, I want it back; and I want it back in the same condition in which it was taken from me. If it was in pristine condition when it was taken, I want it back in pristine condition -- nothing less will satisfy me.   Now, is it right for me to want these things and to be satisfied with nothing less? I believe it is, but from where does my rightness come? If I am right to want my stuff back and to be satisfied with nothing less than the return of my stuff in the condition in which it was taken, then this rightness comes from the rightness of God. It is his rightness. There is no other way to establish rightness other than in a transcendent rightness; hence, if it is right it is right in God's eyes.   David, this is justice: me getting back what was wrongfully taken from me. This is also justice on a grander scale, in fact the grandest of scales: God getting back what was wrongfully taken from him, and getting it back in pristine condition.   Does it displease God when his creation sins against him? Yes, of course it does. But sin does not have the last say. God sent his Son to the far country to re-gather his creation and to restore it to Him undiminished, unscathed, perfected. That he did. Justice is served in the act and being of Jesus Christ.   When we link punishment to justice and say that justice is served in the punishment of the perpetrator, we lose track of righteousness, we lose track of justice. Let's say for instance that one of my sons is murdered (what a terrible thought!). And let's say that the murderer is arrested and brought to trial; and that he is convicted and sentenced to death. Is justice served at his execution? Certainly not! Why? because I am not satisfied. I want my son back!   Execution may be what his murderer deserves but it does not right the wrong, it only takes a life for the life which was taken. Right would be if I got my son back, alive! and restored. That would be justice.   This is what Jesus Christ did at the cross. He gave his life for the one's that were taken (the life of all humanity), thus taking the punishment the perpetrators deserve. But, not being able to hold him, his enemies (sin, death, and the devil, and NOT HUMANITY) were defeated and he was resurrected, bringing with him and restoring to life and presenting to the Father all the lives that were taken, i.e., all of humanity. Now, that is RIGHTNESS! That is Justice: The Father getting back what was wrongfully taken from him!    Does it displease God when we sin against him? Of course it does. But it does not affect justice. Justice was worked out in Jesus Christ. The only sin that changes the restoration of life to God through the Son in the Holy Spirit (i.e., the sin that violates justice), is the sin which says to the Holy Spirit, NO! I will not put my faith in the Son because I do not believe that God even exists.   You wanted an answer. There it is }:>)     Bill             ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 5:43 AM Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] The Mediation of Christ > Jonathan wrote: > > I think that there are many things that a person > > can say, think, or do that would be displeasing > > to God.  I do not believe that these things make > > one unaccepted by God.  > > Why then did the Torah say the following? > > If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the > voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they > have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father > and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his > city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders > of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey > our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city > shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away > from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.  (Deuteronomy > 21:18-21 KJV) > > Why did Jesus teach us the following? > > Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye > did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And THESE > SHALL GO AWAY INTO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT: but the righteous into life > eternal. (Matthew 25:45-46 KJV) > > Jonathan wrote: > > I want to reply to your earlier post today regarding > > our different (or what I think is different) views > > of sin.  In a sentence I believe sin is an organic > > problem, a disease whereas I think you come to the table > > approaching sin as a legal problem. > > Oh yes, Jonathan.  You are very wise.  I definitely do not believe that > sin is a disease.  I think this modern concept of sin as a disease has > caused great iniquity among Christians. > > Yes, sin is a legal problem.  A sinner is a criminal deserving of > punishment.  This all has to do with God's Justice, which sometimes > works contrary to his love for the individual, but never contrary to his > love for everyone. > > Peace be with you. > David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida. > > ---------- > "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man."  (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org > > If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed.  If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. >