Today’s telephones are more like mini-computers. Even my
plain-Jane cell phone allows me to text messages around the world and go on the
Internet. Times have changed with telephones, all things electronic and in many
other ways.
Things have changed when Christians try to talk to others
about Jesus Christ, at least in North America. Two thousand years ago, John the
Baptist had no problems pointing people to the Lord.
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. (John 1:35–37)
Today, if a follower of Jesus spoke of Him as the Lamb of
God, they would get a blank stare at best. In our culture, there is no longer
any general knowledge about the Jewish sacrificial system and the significance
of calling a man God’s Lamb.
This is not restricted to our culture. When Christian
missionaries go to primitive people groups, their goal is to translate the Scriptures
using terminology that makes sense to those groups. The book “Peace Child” is
one example of the struggle to find something in a culture that makes sense of
Jesus dying for their sins as a substitute, just as the lamb was the substitute
for the ancient Hebrew people. If offered in faith, trusting God to forgive
their sin, the lamb was sufficient. However, those people looked forward to a
permanent sacrifice, one that need not be offered every day, one that would
take away the sin of the world.
This concept makes little sense to modern people. It
sounds pagan, even silly that God (even if there is a God) would require blood
to atone for sin. Even the concept of sin has changed so that many consider
that this is merely a guilt trip and that sin does not exist. Just as the
telephone has evolved, so has the idea of faith in God, and just as there are
many types of telephones, there are many religious beliefs.
Yet there is something about the telephone that has never
changed. Its basic function is to provide a way of communicating with someone
that is not standing beside me. Whether I use a tin can and a fence line (those
once existed as primitive telephones also) or a fancier model with more bells
and whistles, the goal is still communication.
This is the same with the purpose of the lamb. Simply
put, Holy God created human beings in His image and had a personal relationship
with Him. However, they rebelled against His command and became sinners (fell
short of the image). God said the soul that sins shall die, creating a huge
problem for human beings.
But God loves His creation so He promised to restore that
broken relationship. He would send someone to save them from their sin and give
them a new, pure life. In the meantime, they needed to sacrifice lambs for
their sin. Each lamb was a substitute, dying in their place so they could
remain alive, even though there was no change in their character — yet.
Then Jesus came. He was the One who would restore
humanity to the relationship for which we were created. First, He had to die
for the sin of the world, which He did. Then He rose from the dead and offers
that new life to sinners. It is not automatically imposed. In ancient times,
just as atonement was only for those who believed God and obeyed by slaying a
lamb, so it is with those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. This is for
those who believe (and obey Him, in that order). The idea of “salvation by
faith” has never changed.
Also, faith and new life go hand in hand, happening at
the same time. Our part is to believe. God’s part is to forgive our sin, come
into our hearts and give us a new nature. From that new nature we have new
life, eternal life, a life that changes who we are and how we live.
This is the Gospel. God loves us. In sin, we reject Him.
He must punish sin (He is holy), but instead of punishing us, He sent His Son
as our substitute. Because of Jesus sacrifice and resurrection, God offers
forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe. A great plan, one that works
for all generations, all people groups, all time.
What about the “many valid religious beliefs”? Upon
examination, those other beliefs have changed the gospel from “Jesus did it
all” to “I can earn favor with God by…… (fill in the blank). Even some who call
themselves Christian base their faith on a “I will do it myself” foundation. Jesus
knew that would happen. His timeless response makes sense.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
I love my compact little phone that needs no wires nor a
big box on the wall, but I also love the unchanging gospel of Jesus Christ.
Communicating it to others is a challenge, but it is still God’s plan of
forgiveness and a changed life that throughout the centuries has stayed the
same.
Father, when I walk into a telephone store, I’m amazed at
the choices and varieties. How does anyone select a new phone? Yet when it
comes to reaching You, knowing You, communicating with You, how simple You have
made it. Whether we call Jesus the Lamb of God, the Savior, the Lord of Lords,
God in human flesh, or all the many ways He is revealed and spoken of, He
remains the only way to You.
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