To unite with the cross, one must acknowledge the truth about sin through faith.
1) Humans are Sinful Beings Due to the Sin that has Entered into Life.
| Through the sin of one man, Adam, death spread to all men which means that sin entered into life itself. Thus, all men by following the genealogy of Adam are born sinners, and they are called sinful beings. Their beautiful original form, which was created after God’s image, was completely broken, and since then they have a fundamental problem in their lives. When the image of God in human beings broke, the natural ability to live a godly life died. Thus, when God sees human beings from his side, their physical bodies are breathing, but in fact, they are considered dead. All of us are born as sinful beings. This means that although we may appear to be good, we have a life is more than capable of committing grave sins in the right circumstances and situations. In other words, as a sinful being, we are not capable of hating or rejecting sin because it became a part of us as one. It means we’ve become a being that is inseparable from sin. Once again, we became a being who can’t escape from eternal judgment and death for our sin. Realizing sin means acknowledging that one is an existential sinner. Only then, we will thoroughly agree and acknowledge why I must die on the Cross. At that moment, when we recognize our sinful being before God; the Cross of Christ becomes my cross, the death of Jesus becomes my death, the resurrection of Jesus becomes my resurrection, and the gospel becomes a reality in me. Therefore, by discovering our being before the gospel and realizing how hopeless we are is the gateway to entering the Gospel. |
》Scripture Prayer
(Romans 5:12-19) Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
(Matthew 15:18-20) But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. Let’s confess that no matter how hard we try with religious efforts; we can’t be free on our own from sin as sinful beings. Also, let us thank God for saving us, a sinner, who couldn’t avoid from the punishment of hell through the Cross.
As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. (Romans 3:10-12)
2. We as slaves to sin cannot escape from the authority of sin. When we die on the Cross with Jesus Christ who came to this earth for us; and by resurrecting with Jesus Christ in faith will make us live in true freedom. Let’s pray with determination to live out a holy life by discarding all of old-self’s sin such as habits, values, attitudes and considering myself dead to sin.
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:34-36)
2) How Does God See and Deal with Sin?
| Since we became one with sin itself, there is no way to objectively know the seriousness of our sin. Our emotions and feelings soaked in sin greatly deceive and justifies ourselves! We cannot trust in ourselves in regards to sin. We can’t feel or see the true extent of sin itself. We do not know how horrible and disgusting sin is. That is why we commit sin again and again even though we know we will be judged. However, we can realize the gravity of sin when we see how God, who is Love, deals with sin. God is just in dealing with sin. All things in the world comes to end when death comes. Yet, even after death, the sin remains. Rather, from the point of death, starts the beginning of real judgment. The settlement of sin starts after death. Sin will not cease to exist without judgment. All human beings will surely die, then absolutely they must stand before God. Before God, they will confess their sins clearly and truthfully one by one. No one will escape from this judgment. One’s eternal destination who does not repent of one’s sin is the burning of sulfur in hell. In order for the love to be eternal, sin cannot be tolerated in any way for eternity. That is why God created hell to lock up sin for eternity. The existence of hell indicates that the complete and eternal victory against all evil that has been accomplished in reality. Through the gospel of the Cross, we could see how seriously awful our state of being one with sins was and how horrible a fate. |
》Scripture Prayer
(Luke 16:22-31) 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
(Revelations 20:12-15) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. Am I ready to stand before the judgment of God? Let’s pray for all of us to have a faith that can hold onto Jesus Christ who is our only basis to stand by the judgment.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12)
2. Let’s give praise of gratitude to Father God for saving us; sinful beings from the eternal judgment and punishment of hell through the gospel of the Cross. Let’s pray to stand by faith in the fear of God; not fearing men.
I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! (Luke 12:4-5)
3) We Can Go Forward to the Cross Only After Declaring the Death Penalty in the Heart
| The gospel proclaims the death penalty on all human beings. Therefore, the Bible declares that everyone is a sinner. In the world, there is no one who can fulfill the justice of God with one’s merits. Before God, one must receive the judgment and penalty as a “sinful being,” regardless of how good or bad that person is. No matter how hard we try and struggle; it is impossible to escape from this fate. Even with our best efforts with tears for God; the final verdict of the gospel is that there is no hope at all for any salvation in us. When the death penalty is given to a hopeless and desperate being; only then, I can make the way to the Cross. The Invitation to the Cross is only given to those who have received the death penalty in the heart. Only then may they stand in that place of the Cross. Anyone with even the slightest belief in their self-righteousness will never ever go to the place of the Cross. Therefore, any hope in myself must be eliminated. “I am completely finished,” “I am absolutely hopeless with any efforts from my side,” “I could only be headed to hell”; The gospel proclaims the death penalty on all human beings. Therefore, the Bible declares that everyone is a sinner. In the world, there is no one who can fulfill the justice of God with one’s merits. Before God, one must receive the judgment and penalty as a “sinful being,” regardless of how good or bad that person is. No matter how hard we try and struggle; it is impossible to escape from this fate. Even with our best efforts with tears for God; the final verdict of the gospel is that there is no hope at all for any salvation in us. When the death penalty is given to a hopeless and desperate being; only then, I can make the way to the Cross. The Invitation to the Cross is only given to those who have received the death penalty in the heart. Only then may they stand in that place of the Cross. Anyone with even the slightest belief in their self-righteousness will never ever go to the place of the Cross. Therefore, any hope in myself must be eliminated. “I am completely finished,” “I am absolutely hopeless with any efforts from my side,” “I could only be headed to hell”; these phrases of death penalty must be declared in my heart. At this moment, I crucify my old-self on the Cross and truly take part in the life of Jesus Christ through the faith. |
》Scripture Prayer
(Romans 3:9-20) What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. Let’s earnestly approach the light of the Gospel and carefully examine our own sin-ridden reality. Humbly acknowledging the truth about our sinfulness, the core of our being made one with sin, let’s come before God with the unexplainable aspects of our sinful nature that cannot be justified without sin. Recognizing the deserved judgment upon such a self, let’s seek God’s mercy and pray.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First, clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. (Matthew 23:25-27)
2. Let’s admit that from my side, I cannot avoid the severe judgment of God. Let’s confess that my desperate fate in the judgment is to receive the punishment of hell. As for those who received the death penalty in the heart; let’s pray to God with a broken and contrite heart for him to allow his mercy and forgiveness upon us.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm. 51:16-17)
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