HIS BLOOD WAS SHED FOR YOU - WILL YOU LIVE FOR HIM?

In Luke's Gospel, he quotes Jesus as saying:  "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47).  According to the Apostle Paul, what Jesus was telling them, was to preach the Gospel.  Paul, in writing his first letter to the Church at Corinth, defined the Gospel:  "...I declare unto you the Gospel....Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Cor. 15:1, 3-4).  Paul explained why it was of the utmost importance that the Gospel be preached; he wrote:  "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Rom. 1:16).

Most everyone knows that "repentance" means to "have a change of mind; to be sorrowful over one's sins, and a genuine desire to submit to the will of God."  I like to describe it as a sinner going about his business, when he "hears Jesus' still, small voice" calling out his name.  When he turns to see that it is speaking to him, he sees His nail-pierced hands reach out to him!  Realizing that He is the risen Lord, he falls to his knees and worships Him.  It is like Saul's meeting with Him as he travelled to Damascus to kill Christians! (Acts 9:1-8).

Remission, on the other hand, is not as well known.  It is defined as:  forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed).  The Greek word found in Luke 24:47 is ἄφεσις (aphesis), which is translated "remission" in Matt. 26:28; Mark 1:4; Luke 1:77; 3:3; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 10:43; Heb. 9:22; 10:18.  It is translated "forgiveness" in Mark 3:29; Acts 5:31; 13:38; 26:18; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14.  It is also translated "deliverance" and "liberty" in Luke 4:18.

I highly recommend that you note these references, and read them for yourself; the common idea when "remission" is mentioned, has to do with Christ shedding His blood to cleanse us from sin.  For without the shedding of blood, there is no remission." (Heb. 9:22)!

 

JESUS DIED FOR YOU TO MAKE YOU ACCEPTABLE TO HIS FATHER!

ACCEPT HIM AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR TODAY - TIME IS SHORT!