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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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Trading Places Ed Leonard of British Columbia had been working about a month in the northern half of the volatile country of Colombia when he was kidnapped by guerrillas who were trying to raise money for the drug lords and revolutionaries who controlled much of the country. Leonard had been fed beans and rice for 106 days in a remote mountainous region 300 miles north of Bogota, while the guerrillas tried to extort money from his employers at Terramundo Drilling. Negotiations took a strange turn when Leonard's boss, Norbert Reinhart, arrived with an amazing offer. Instead of paying off these captors, Reinhart gave himself as a ransom so that Leonard could be set free. Reinhart took his place. So, day after day, Reinhart experienced what Leonard had. Both men were Canadian, worked for the same company, and they both had families. Reinhart left behind a wife and two daughters. Fortunately, Reinhart was later able to walk out of the camp alive and well, having spent 96 days as a prisoner. Reinhart is rightly remembered as a hero. How clearly this illustrates, at least in some small way, man's predicament. The Bible teaches that mankind was hopelessly enslaved and held captive by sin (Luke 4:18; Romans 6:17; 2 Timothy 2:26). Jesus taught, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a SLAVE to sin" (John 8:34). To “commit sin” means to transgress God’s law (1 John 3:4). Since ALL accountable persons sin (Romans 3:23), NONE has any means whereby to negotiate his OWN salvation. In response, God "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). Jesus came in a robe of flesh (Galatians 4:4; Romans 8:3; John 1:14) in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7). All-God and all-man all at once, the One superior to all offered Himself in the place of all (Titus 2:11; Hebrews 9:14). He traded the endless glory of heaven for a sacrificial sojourn, the climax of which was the suffering of the cross. The end result of heaven's scheme of redemption is that "being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:9). Jesus "gave himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:6) so that we might be freed from the bondage of sin. * Fortunately
for us, JESUS
emerged from the TOMB alive and well - having spent 3
days and 3 nights as DEATH’S prisoner - because it
was impossible for the grave to hold Him
(Acts 2:22-24). And because HE LIVES, He is able to redeem those who: believe in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). He will CONTINUE to cleanse those who CONTINUE to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7). WE are imprisoned by SIN under the sentence of DEATH (Romans 6:23). Jesus “traded places” with us by dying on the cross for our sins. His death purchases our redemption -IF- we will accept His offer on HIS terms. Will YOU accept His offer? David A.
Sargent, Minister *
Adapted from "Daily Bread" 2/9/07 by Neal
Pollard, minister of the To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:
HTML version: subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchzip.com Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
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