Christians have become so accustomed to the Graces, Mercies and Compassions of Jesus that we feel he DID ALL HE DID for us, especially if we as individuals had been the only one to receive them..."he thought of me above all," as the song says.
Really an untrue statement. This writer has preached and written for years that, whether as God the Father in the Old Testament or God the Son in the New, Jesus Christ acted first purely for himself. As owner of the Kingdom, Christ had a concern for it beyond all interest Christians can have in it. His Reputation is at stake. His Authority. His Integrity. His Ownership. His Sovereignty. Why did Jesus cast out demons every time he confronted them? NOT to free the demoniac. THAT was the result, not the reason, for their expulsion. No...the reason was to reduce Satan to the charlatan he naturally was, not the master of humanity he claimed to be. He could exist only as God allowed it. When God withdrew permission, Satan necessarily collapsed in terror. Why did Jesus submit to death on the cross? To save believers from sin, we proudly shout. Well...again...the result of his death, not the first reason for it. Hebrews 2:14 explains: "to destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil." In other words, in the clash of spiritual wills, Jesus the Original Power, blasted the pretensions of Satan, the created power. The same principle applies in every decision, statement or claim Jesus made. He did it all to serve God, and served God perfectly. Now...here the believer can boast, without restraint. The wonder of the only...make that ONLY...religious Power exercised by the ONLY GOD, who Acted Solely for himself in history, is THAT ALL...not part, but ALL...not most...but ALL he did for himself had and has only the most beatific results for humanity.
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