We spent the night in Bet Shean (where the Philistines hung King Saul from the wall) last night. This morning we traveled to Afula to return our rental car and caught a taxi to the Jordanian border. The border crossing was uneventful except that I had forgotten about a little canister of pepper spray that I had bought in
We arrived in
VISIT OUR SECURE SITE
The Good News of Salvation by Faith in Jesus
In our day the human condition sometimes seems hopeless. This is not without reason. Because of our wrong and sinful choices, we have shattered our relationships with each other. Lies, sexual immorality, violence, gossip and the list goes on. Sin hurts, offends and builds walls between people. In a similar but larger way, our sins offend God and separate us from Him. Because God is the perfect Judge, “the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness (Romans 1:18). ” The seeming hopelessness lies in the fact that we are all guilty of sin, we will all be righteously judged by God and should therefore be rightly sentenced to eternal death, “for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). ”
That is not God’s desire. God “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).” Because of His love for us, God provided one way for us to be forgiven for offending Him. Jesus Christ is that one Way. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).” This is our Living Hope. Jesus Christ, who is God Himself, came down to earth and lived a perfect life without any sin. Since death is the punishment for sin, Jesus did not have to die, yet He chose to die. He chose to take the death sentence that we deserved for breaking God’s Law. They spat on Him, beat Him and nailed His body to a cross. He suffered and died… in our place. Three days later Jesus rose from the dead proving that our death sentence had been completely paid and that He had defeated death. Because of Jesus, we can be forgiven of our sins. We have Hope.
In order to be forgiven of our sin we must do as Jesus said in Mark 1:15. He said, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good News!” God demands that we repent. This means turning away from sin and instead strive to know and please God. We can know God by reading His Word, the Bible, and we please God by obeying it. Secondly, God demands that we understand and believe the “Good News” that there is hope of being at peace with God because of Jesus’ death in our place. This is our Living Hope: Jesus paid for our sins with His life. Therefore, we can repent and turn to Him for forgiveness. We can have freedom from the control of sin in this life and freedom from the consequences of sin when we die. It is available only through faith in what Jesus accomplished on the cross.
That is not God’s desire. God “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).” Because of His love for us, God provided one way for us to be forgiven for offending Him. Jesus Christ is that one Way. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).” This is our Living Hope. Jesus Christ, who is God Himself, came down to earth and lived a perfect life without any sin. Since death is the punishment for sin, Jesus did not have to die, yet He chose to die. He chose to take the death sentence that we deserved for breaking God’s Law. They spat on Him, beat Him and nailed His body to a cross. He suffered and died… in our place. Three days later Jesus rose from the dead proving that our death sentence had been completely paid and that He had defeated death. Because of Jesus, we can be forgiven of our sins. We have Hope.
In order to be forgiven of our sin we must do as Jesus said in Mark 1:15. He said, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good News!” God demands that we repent. This means turning away from sin and instead strive to know and please God. We can know God by reading His Word, the Bible, and we please God by obeying it. Secondly, God demands that we understand and believe the “Good News” that there is hope of being at peace with God because of Jesus’ death in our place. This is our Living Hope: Jesus paid for our sins with His life. Therefore, we can repent and turn to Him for forgiveness. We can have freedom from the control of sin in this life and freedom from the consequences of sin when we die. It is available only through faith in what Jesus accomplished on the cross.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
We made it to Jordan
