Pages

Thursday, 4 October 2012

Christ died for the world, the death that "every man" would die were it not that He gave Himself for every man,


Just before His crucifixion, the Son of God made a promise: He will "draw" all men to Himself, that is, He will reconcile all men to the Father, He will give all who are thirsty to drink of the water of life, and He will give all who are hungry to eat of the bread of life, IF ... His people will lift Him up to be seen crucified for all men and crucified by all men (cf. John 12:32, 33).
Christ died for the world, the death that "every man" would die were it not that He gave Himself for every man, and yes, to every man.
All that the fallen Adam did to bring a condemnation upon every man, Christ as our second or "last Adam" did to bring a verdict of acquittal to the same every man. He reversed what Adam did; Adam cursed, Christ blessed; Adam brought us eternal death, Christ brought us eternal life. Adam brought darkness, Christ brought us light.
Adam alienated us all from God, brought us into the world separated from Him; Christ brought us into the world reconciled to Him IF we will receive His message of atonement. (He has already done the reconciling in principle.) He will force no one against his free will, but He says, "Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).
"Whosoever will." That includes every Muslim who "will" let his heart "come." They may have been taught to deny He died on His cross; but their conscience cannot deny that love for every man in that He died his second death. This truth of life only in Christ is free for all to believe. Those who choose to disbelieve, bring eternal separation upon themselves, while those who believe the News of His love already receive the gift of eternal life in Him.
The much more abounding grace of the Lord is stronger than mistaken information imbibed in childhood and youth; when the angel of Revelation 18 lightens the earth with glory, truth will cut through long held prejudice; God knows how to speak to His "other sheep ... which are not of this fold" (John 10:16), and they will hear His voice and their prejudices will disappear like morning dew. He will have a people who can lift up "Christ and Him crucified" and can reach those hearts.

No comments:

Post a Comment