Say What?

This past week our son-in-law forwarded an audio file to me of a repair request being made at a hospital to the "helpdesk" that creates tickets for the hospital's site services. The request went as follows: "I have a crucifix that's falling apart. I need to have Jesus re-hammered onto the cross."

Jesus RE-HAMMERED to the cross? That immediately brought to mind the warning of the Hebrew writer where we read. . .

"(4) For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, (6) and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since THEY ARE CRUCIFYING ONCE AGAIN THE SON OF GOD to their own harm and HOLDING HIM UP TO CONTEMPT." ( Hebrews 6:4-6 ESV)

It was for our sins that Jesus accepted the nails that held Him to the cross. [Though it has been suggested it was His love and not the nails that held Him there.] The death Jesus died "once for all" ( Hebrews 7:27; 9:26; 10:10; Romans 6:10) is sufficient to deal with our sins. However, if we deliberately keep on sinning, what other sacrifice can we expect for our sins than what has already been given? ( Hebrews 10:26) It is as if we are NAILING HIM AGAIN to that cross.

Let us not be guilty of "RE-HAMMERING" Jesus to the cross. After He died -- REMOVING THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS -- His body was removed from the cross. The power of Jesus' blood means He did not have to do it again and again. ( Hebrews 9:28) Let us therefore be watchful that we do not fall away. May we fully appreciate what Jesus accomplished on the cross and not dare be guilty of crucifying Him all over again by returning to the sins of the past. His resurrection back to life is now the assurance of eternal life for us as well. Praise God for the adequacy of the single sacrifice of Jesus that all the offerings under the old law together (note Hebrews 10:11-14) could not have fully accomplished.

Have a great day PRAISING GOD FOR THE CROSS JESUS BORE, THEN LEFT BEHIND!
Carl

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