Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: ondria@nyquist.bellcore.com (Ondria Wasem 21332) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: a Christian motif that doesn't make sense to me Message-ID: Date: 5 Jun 90 04:25:24 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Bellcore, applied research Lines: 77 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article you write: |> i've heard it on television religion, i've heard it on radio religion, |> i've heard it from Christians trying to convert me, but it makes no |> sense to me, and as it seems that it is quite fundamental to |> Christianity and that there are a lot of smart Christians in |> explaining how Their religion works and convincing even more people to |> be Christians, here is what it is: |> ``Jesus died for your sins,'' meaning that the Death (and the |> subsequent Miracle) of Jesus allows my sins to be forgiven. |> this idea is not self-evident to me, and what Christians seem |> concentrate on is the gruesome details of the Crucifixion and not why |> such an act causes the sins of a Christian who has Accepted Christ as |> Their Saviour (whatever that means). |> |> qpliu@phoenix.princeton.edu |> qpliu@usc.pppl.gov The first level of understanding of this Christian "motif" is that by repenting and believing on Jesus and all that He did for us (born of a virgin, died on the cross, resurrected, healings, etc.), we are granted everlasting life in the hereafter, as well as a measure of peace and joy in our present state in the physical world. This is all quite true, but a confused, "doesn't make sense" feeling can remain, because with our physical brains, we are unable to truly understand what it will be like to be solely spirit without flesh, or what God really is, or how we can be truly close to Him. It also doesn't answer many of the questions of how, in one's daily life, one takes part in the "body of Christ," or of what one's relationship with God at this very moment really is. Another level of understanding helps me in my daily walk with the Lord. First of all, it's written that God's words are spirit (John 6:63), so I try to look for a spiritual meaning in them. By a spiritual meaning, I mean something to do with my relationship with God, others who seek God, and others who do not seek God, as these relationships stand now, in time, as I live. I emphasize "relationships," not conditions. It's not material wealth or poverty, or physical health or sickness, that matters, if God's words are truly SPIRIT. I trust in God to take care of the hereafter, but since I cannot understand it, I work on my present relationship with God, knowing that in doing so, God will take me in when I die. So now, my current thoughts on "Jesus died for your sins": What is spiritual death as opposed to physical death? Spiritual death is a separation from God, a lack of understanding and knowledge of God, or being "dead in sin." What is sin? Sin is a turning away from God, or disobedience, whether in thought or action. It is seeking spiritual death, rather than spiritual life. Finally, who is Jesus? Of course, historically Jesus was God in the flesh walking the earth. Presently, He is our "Wonderful Counsellor," "Almighty God," "Prince of Peace," "Everlasting Father," and even more.(Isaiah 9:6) We cannot deal directly with history, nor can we, with our small minds, understand God. However, recall that "... ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."(I Cor. 12:27) This of course refers to those who are for God, not against Him. So, "Jesus died for your sins" means that the body of Christ, being God's people, die due to sin. That is, when you and I sin, we are immediately separated from God and become spiritually dead, the body of Christ dying. Fortunately, by believing on Jesus, we, the body of Christ can be resurrected just as He was. As it says in John 5, he who believes on Jesus is granted everlasting life. Spiritually speaking again, life is a close relationship with God, an understanding and knowledge of God, and being "dead to sin." This spiritual life brings one great peace and strength here and now, not just after death. To sum up, Jesus didn't only die to grant us salvation and everlasting life after our deaths, if we believe, but also to save us and comfort us while we live, and to help us to understand the cycles of our relationship with Him throughout our lives. His death is warning to us as to what will happen when we sin (spiritual death), but His resurrection gives us assurance that by our repentance and faith, He will return us to spiritual life. Praise Jesus! Ondria J. Wasem ondria@nyquist.bellcore.com