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One
Very Offensive Savior
The Rejection of a Bloody Crucifixion
by Pastor John Hamel
“And he shall be for a sanctuary…a stone of stumbling …a rock
of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for
a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among
them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.”
(Isaiah 8:14-15)
This is indeed
quite an accurate prediction.
Eight hundred years before Jesus was
born, the Prophet Isaiah predicted He would be the cause of great offense
to many. So much so that many would reject Him. In doing so
they would stumble, fall, be broken, snared and
taken captive by Satan!
This has proven to be true not only amongst
the Jewish people
of the world but also with non-Jews.
Many are offended
by Jesus’ “bloody” crucifixion.
The Blood of Jesus agitates those who
have not accepted it being shed in place of their own blood.
However,
once the Blood is accepted, it ceases to be agitating and annoying.
It becomes precious and no longer repulsive.
“Forasmuch as ye
know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot:” (1 Peter 1:18-19)
Another reason some
are offended by Jesus’ bloody crucifixion is because it calls for a change
of lifestyle. People resist change, especially those who love immoral
living. (John 3:19,20)
Jesus also said …“If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
Some folks find
this particularly offensive, even maddening. They don’t want to be
told that sexual sins in particular are wrong.
They want to believe that God gave them their improper sexual desires and
therefore they don’t have to change.
Some actually want to believe
they are “a woman in a man’s body” and vice versa.
This is not
true. When God created us, none of us got put in the “wrong
package.” None of us got past “Quality Control” in the wrong
body.
Some people are
offended to hear this. They don’t want to hear that sin, all sin, has
to go in order to be right with God.
This is not a popular message
with the liberal crowd. Regardless, God calls sin “sin” and not
“progressiveness.”
If Preachers said,
“Guess what? God’s changed His mind. Just go to the website www.GodhaschangedHismindagain.org and download the new revelation from the
Bible. He’s now accepting all religions, all cults, all
make-believe disciplines, all false gods, sincerity and a wide range
of excuses,” sinful people would jam that website. Those Preachers
would become popular immediately.
However, God never
changes His mind and that’s never going to happen. (Malachi 3:6) The
sinful people of the world will continually be faced with Jesus’ bloody
crucifixion until He returns.
“But we preach
Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks
foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)
Are you offended by
a bloody Savior?
If so, you’ll have to pay the
penalty for your own sins and you aren't going to like that.
(Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15)
If you’re not
offended, simply say, “Jesus, I’m not offended by Your Blood. I choose You as my Precious Bloodied Savior.” (Romans
10:13)
This is when things
will stop happening TO you and start happening FOR you.
Be Blessed … John and
Barbara Hamel
How
to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)
How
to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power
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