When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.
Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.
Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "THEY DIVIDED MY GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS."
Sin is out of fashion. The word is an embarrassment to the world and many churches. So called Christian schools do not mention the word ‘sin’ in their faith studies and yet, when God calls to judge, the world wants or expects salvation – that is, the sinful heart denies sin, yet wants salvation. This is of course illogical – one requires salvation, at any time, because something stupendous is about to happen – you are about to be hit by a car failing to stop at a stop sign. This happened to our family the other day, and the car was destroyed. Yelling did not stop the car hitting us, not did imagining that time ceased after the crash – the illogic of evolution. We require salvation because we have sinned.
The Bible says: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God goes on to say that all sin deserves death – hence the need for all to seek salvation “the wages of sin is death” – you need to be saved from you sin; else your soul will be cast into hell in a day to come. Many have tried to make good with God, but no-one has ever succeeded except Jesus Christ. Therefore, we need to rely totally on God for our salvation, noting that sin must be dealt with – this being an elementary universal law.
God has provided a way to deal with sin by paying for it by death (also a universal law – “the wages of sin is death”); the death of His own son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, God has provided a substitution, in that his son Jesus Christ has died in place of us – if we want it. This is not automatic – indeed it is a great lie that all who die will be in heaven – only those that accept the gift of Jesus Christ will be saved. A gift is not a gift unless accepted – to be saved you must accept Jesus Christ, in faith, believing that he has indeed died for your sin.
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:30-31)
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O'er us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu'rors we are!
His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
