All believers in Jesus as the Son of God, that have accepted Him as payment for the sin or bad karma that separates them from a relationship with the Father of all things and have obeyed all that Jesus commanded us as his followers have the promise of eternal life in heaven. Jesus death on the cross paid for the sins of all mankind.

In the beginning of all things, our parents took out a debt that separated every generation after them from the very face of God the Father. That debt required payment before any man could have a relationship again with Him. It is a debt that every culture has defined through sacrifice. Be it the Yajna in the Rig-Veda for the breaking of Karma or the first prescription given in Exodus 29:36-37, “Sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. 37 For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy.” NIV

All the activity in making the sacrifice was to make people Holy. God has a requirement for us to be able to have a relationship with Him. “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44, NIV It was a way of elevating men from a low caste to a higher caste. God never expected men to stay in a state of want, or despair, but he expects men to prosper and live as blessed people. God gave them specific instructions that had to be followed for them to remain in favor with Him.

When paying a debt a person gives over money, or whatever has been seen as of value for payment by the contract between the buyer and the lender. In this principle God the Father is the lender. Our parents at creation made the decision to break His only command. The command that the Father had for his children, do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. “And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."” Genesis 2:16-17, NIV

Every parent wishes that their children would be kept from learning certain things in life that could harm them. Our heavenly Father tried to keep us from learning things that would keep us from His love and care. The evil one lied to them in saying that they would not surely die. “"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5, NIV In his own way, he told them that, “a loving god would not kill his children.” The death that God spoke of to our parents was that of spiritual death. The death He meant is actual separation from God and His Spirit.

These are the two things that Jesus’ death on the cross were to accomplish, payment for our parents debt for the knowledge of both Good and Evil, and the destruction of death, the one true obstacle of all men from their creator.

It is said that Paul was the only one that stated that Jesus death on the cross was for the payment of sin. This is not true. The first reference would happen several hundred years before Jesus in the prophecies of Isaiah the prophet. “4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.” Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

It was also prophesied by Zechariah the priest in accordance to his son John’s place in God’s plan for salvation through Jesus. “76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, Luke 1:76-78, NIV

Jesus also made the statement of his death in forgiveness or as I like the King James word remission. Remission or remittance is the reminder of sin needing payment. It is a debt that was not meant for me to have, but God gave provision for payment through His son Jesus. “45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ [Jesus] will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:45-48, NIV All of these statements were introduced by practice from the beginning with God giving the standards for the payment for sins and Jesus stating in Luke of the purpose of his death on the cross as final payment for all men’s sins. Paul gave us only the understanding of what we were paying for and why we needed to pay for it. He did not give us the principle of Jesus’ payment for our sins.

Why do we base this on eternal life and not just this life? When God commanded our parents not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, He stated that they would surely die. Death was the true curse. It had to be destroyed to completely pay for the debt. Jesus death on the cross was only part of the payment. The knowledge of Good and Evil made us “like” God, but not god. There was no provision still for us to have a personal relationship with the Father of All things. Death kept us separate still. We could not dwell with Him in heaven until it was destroyed.

Now Paul teaches us the position of Jesus death in Romans. “25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Romans 4:25 NIV Justification is what we need to take the position that God has for us. It is a judgment or settlement. Because of Jesus death on the cross payment was made, and because of his resurrection from the dead in three days, God acknowledged that payment for our sins.

This allows us to live without fear of our actions, but releases us to be “sons” of God through Jesus. We are no longer led by the physical world, but by the Spirit of God. “13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:13-15, NIV We do not have to be afraid of what will happen to us when we leave this body. We have the promise of the Father to accept us into heaven.

Is this for always? Do we have to fear losing this gift? It is a new contract for us as believers in Jesus Christ. We can always choose to follow the way of the world. There are two examples in scripture given. First, Paul gives advice to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:14, 15. In this instance we have young widows that have decided to follow Jesus teachings after their husbands have died. Paul takes time to explain the circumstances for many of the younger widows that they fall away from the teachings of Jesus and follow the worldly, immoral lifestyles. Paul instructs Timothy to allow the widows to remarry and allow them to live as honorable wives through Jesus’ teachings. “14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. 1 Timothy 5:14-15, NIV Secondly, Paul asks for help from Timothy, and requests him to come quickly to him. “9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.” 2 Timothy 4:9-10, NIV Our relationship with God through all time has been a choice of every individual. “15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15, NIV

Finally, we ask ourselves who is this payment being made for by Jesus death on the cross? It is for all men and women. God gave the prophecy in Joel 2:28, “’And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” NIV This is the afterward. Jesus death and resurrection put us in the afterward. The time when God’s Holy Spirit would be poured on all people. Jesus’ words stand on their own through the acknowledgment of His actions on the cross. In Matthew 28:19, he commissioned or commanded the disciples to teach what he had taught them. “19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."” Matthew 28:19, NIV He then told the disciples what his action on the cross would be for all men, it would be, and “… repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47-48, NIV

There are many teachings in the Bible that can be taken as contradictions, but when interpreting the Word of God the reader has to be careful. It is an important part of the Follower of Jesus. It is the true essence of Jesus as shared in John 1:1-5, “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” NIV The scriptures are the light of God’s message. It has been given to be studied fully and not just by the surface letters, but by its context, its culture, and its audience. “15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15, NIV But, in the teaching of Jesus’ death on the cross for all men and women as payment for sins to make men justified for a relationship with the Father of All things for eternity it is clear.

Jesus paid it all.

For More info: markmaine@usmissions.org

13.1 miles doesn’t seem like much for any one that’s trained for a goal like the Annual Chicago Marathon. Forty four year old Jeffrey Randall was someone doing just that in his training. Jeffrey had trained well. In fact, this race was part of his Marathon training.

Mile after mile clicked by for him, as he went through the motions. Nine, ten, eleven, he was strong. But, somewhere he missed a sign from his body, because at mile 12 he just stopped. He collapsed from the race.

Strong, virile, able to push himself to the limits. Unfortunately, he missed something his doctor could have told him, “You need to be careful. You have heart disease.”

We are now some days from that event and running each of our own races. Major players in finance, Lehman Brothers, AIG, and Merrill Lynch all in financial despair. Thousands of homes in foreclosure, and families left homeless due to severe national flooding. Physical races that test the spirit of men, and make each of us worry about tomorrow.

Jesus shared that there were going to be hard times for the disciples. Matthew 24:6, he shares with us that there will be wars, famine, and hatred take heart hope is coming. The race is almost over. He prepared the disciples in Matthew 6. He was the doctor each of us needs. The one to remind us of our personal heart disease.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:25-33, NIV

How do we then run our race? Jesus shares in verse 33 sums up the total training process for us. First, we seek the kingdom of God. His kingdom can be found by living like Jesus. Jesus made his decisions by asking himself, “What would God (The Father) have me do?” He would even ask the father for answers, and God would reply. Jesus made sure that there was nothing to keep him from hearing God’s voice and reading the signs.

Second, seek His righteousness. His righteousness is freely given to anyone that asks. It is asking for God to forgive us the things that keep us from hearing Him. And, accepting Jesus’ life as payment for that sin.

Are you in your twelfth mile? Do you feel the signs of stress from the race? Then, this is your day to start retraining. Ask God for the answers, accept the gift of His son Jesus, and let your faith in Him take you the end of your race. We weren’t made to race alone, so why should you. Accept Him today.

Note: Please keep the Randall family in your prayers, Jeffrey is survived by his wife and two daughters living in Naperville, IL.

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Praise Report
1.  In June prayer was requested for Ken who was in a coma. He is doing much better now and is in physical therapy. He was without medical insurance and Medicaid agreed to cover his expenses.

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (Psalm 55:22, NIV).

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, NIV).