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There has been much controversy about the “Passion of
Christ” and I would like to say today, I am thankful the
Lord went to the cross for you and me. If He had not, there
would be no salvation for us today. The following is my take
on all the hotly debated events that have taken place since
the movie was released.
I would like you to ask yourself today, who is responsible
for the death of Christ? The Jews? The Christians, the Romans?
Read these verses with me. John 10:15 As the Father knoweth
me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the
sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there
shall be one fold and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father
love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it up
again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.
I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again.
This commandment have I received of my Father.
I would like to know: can you see the truth in these verses?
The Lord died WILLINGLY for all of us, we are all equally responsible.
We are sin and have sinned and someone must die because of it.
The Lord took our place willingly, that we might have eternal
life. In the context the word sheep initially stands for the
Jews. There is also another verse here to bear in mind. 16 And
other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them I must
also bring, and they shall hear my voice; These, I believe are
the Old Testament Saints. It also includes the Gentiles. The
Lord died for the sins of the World. I can’t help but
think also the verse that says, and they shall hear my voice,
as being the call of the rapture for us.
Still not convinced that the Lord died willingly? Matthew 26:52
Then Jesus said unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place:
for they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall
presently give me more than 12 legions of angels? 54 But then
how shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
You see, The Lord could have escaped the whole matter anytime
He wanted, He could have also gotten down off the cross any
time he wanted. But he had a baptism to be baptized with, it
was death. Had He gotten down off the cross you and I would
have never showed up on this earth. Thank you Jesus! This is
what I was saying in the story
I wrote about the centurion at the cross.
Sorry, didn’t mean to get off into all that. I would
like for you to read the book of Acts when you have time and
you will see it was a transition period between the Gospels.
First it was the Gospel of the Kingdom, which the 12 Apostles
were preaching, and then over about Acts 28 you can see a definite
change in the program. You see folks, without filling up the
page with scripture references and delving deep into controversy
about when the Body of Christ started, I just want you to see
the apostles were teaching what the Lord taught them to teach
and the Apostle Paul’s message was that of Grace. When
the Jews said, We have no King but Caesar, that began the diminishing
of the Nation Israel. The Gospel the 12 were preaching went
on until they were all martyred and that was the end of it.
Then the destruction of Israel in A.D. 70 was the “casting
away of Israel” and from there the message that has been
preached is unto anyone (not just Jews) that will hear it. The
message of grace.
At some point in the future, as I have written before, there
will come a time for national salvation for Israel again. But
I would like you to keep in mind, that day won’t come
as long as the Grace message is in effect. Now I know for some
of you this is a hard pill to swallow but nonetheless it is
true. The Gospel of the Kingdom will pick up right where the
Apostles left off; they (the Religious Jews that are truly seeking
God) will be restored by Elias (Elijah) and they will go through
the tribulation, looking for the antichrist to come and looking
for the Lord to reign as King in the millennium. There will
be no more message of grace when that begins. But first there
has to be a change. It will either be the rapture of the Church
or the entire world will go into apostasy, similar to what it
is doing now. If you are saved, you will never see the tribulation,
at least not from earth, for we are saved against the Day of
His wrath.
The Nation Israel, at some point, has to be restored. It is
a country right now and not the Nation it will be in the future.
I have heard many reports on the rebuilding of the Temple, etc.
But I really don’t think we will be here to see it. If
the Temple is being rebuilt, then that means Elijah has come
and our message will have already been finished and we will
be gone.
I read a report the other day about the recent earthquake in
Israel; it cracked the ceiling in the Dome of The Rock. I just
want to say this: the present Temple there could implode and
go underground and it still won’t be in Jewish hands as
long as the Muslims have control over that mount. There will
be a war, I am sure of it. I am sure.
So, for what it’s worth, please read the book of Acts
and then skip to Hebrews and see if they don’t run together.
The books between are the Books of the Apostle Paul and they
are the message for the Church today, nothing else will get
you saved in this day and time. It is the message of Grace that
was a mystery hid in God, revealed to the Apostle Paul for us.
Face up to it and get out of those apostate, New Age churches
or someday the Lord may let you try to save yourself by the
Law and enduring to the end...in the Tribulation.
I didn’t watch “The Passion Of Christ.” I
already have the truth I need to know about it in the Word of
God.
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
Shalom,
michael
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