~ 3 Men Taking Three Different Actions
~
Your Choice!
~ The Bible describes three kinds
of human beings. In three successive
posts we are looking at the three from different perspectives. The most important two questions for each
individual to answer are:
- Am I a disciple of Jesus Christ?
- If so, am I living like it?
The Man Who Died For Sin
(The God-Man) ~ “Then Jesus said, ‘Father,
forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered,
saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen
of God.’ … Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth
until the ninth hour. Then the sun was
darkened, and the veil of the temple
was torn in two. And when Jesus had
cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, “Into Your hands I commit My
spirit.”’ Having said this, He
breathed His last” (Luke 23:34-35, 44-46).
Jesus Christ was fully God and while on earth simultaneously fully man—God’s
Man.
The Man Who Died In Sin
(The Natural Man) ~ “Then one of the criminals
who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us’” (Luke
23:39). This man died as a man in sin.
The Man Who Died To Sin
(The Spiritual Man) ~ “Then one of the criminals
who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even
fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due
reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your
kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him,
‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise’” (Luke 23:29-43). This second thief died as a man born again
through the Spirit of God a man in Christ.
concluding thought
~ “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone
desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me. For whoever desires to save
his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find
it. For what profit is it to a man if he
gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of
His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his
works’” (Matthew 16:24-27).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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