23/04/2022
Mark 1 v 1-8; 1 Cor 1 v 1-17

The true meaning of God’s message

“Behold I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” (Mark 1 v 2-3)

Do we really take the time to stand still and consider the true meaning of God’s message and the actual impact that Jesus had on the world during His time on earth? It was revolutionary!
He didn’t just come to simply die for our sins like some cartoon hero, but to overthrow the religious establishment of the time and with that empower people to accept His saving grace through His death on the cross.
John prepared the way and eventually paid a hefty price, but not before reaching many who accepted God’s grace and forgiveness for their sins.

Preaching a baptism of repentance

“John the baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark1 v 4)

It is clear that religion has taught us one thing, maybe two… we are not inherently good, simply making wrong choices. Can you explain how a 2 year old can understand when you ask her if it was she who ate the candy, and then she shakes her head wildly, abolutely denying it, while holding the candy behind her back? We are fine as long as our good deeds outweigh our bad actions. Ever thought who the judge of these good deeds and bad actions would be? Who sets the standard and who determines the penalty?

The true meaning of God’s message lies in the undesputed fact, that we are born in sin, from the fall of man, when they disobeyed God’s instruction.

Agree to disagree?

“Now I exhort you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Cor 1 v10)

There is only one way to reconcile with Him and this we can all agree upon, if you believe that you are a wretched, fallen man, deserving death and yet have been forgiven. All that is required, is to acknowledge this fact, repent of your wrongdoing, take up your cross and follow Him.

There are many other things we can agree to disagree about, but the above is not negotiable. The things spoken of that form the basis of our faith, cannot be reasoned away through fancy words and clever speech. We can then just as well believe that we have been forgiven and all that we have to do is live a good life and become a better person.

Christ and the cross

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.” (1 Cor 1 v 17)

The cross is the crux and the true meaning of God’s message is clear. We have sinned against the God of the universe, the Creator and sustainer of the living, who made us in His image, but because God is love, He gave us a mediator and paid the ultimate price, something we could never afford ourselves.

Good deeds cannot save us from the wrath of a loving God. Today you have an opportunity to make right with God. Will you use it and give up everything this life has to offer and choose Christ?

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, Life Application Study Bible, unless stated otherwise. Copyright by “The Lockman Foundation”

Image contributed by LUMO project