Modern Day Magi

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14............. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. - Acts 17:11

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Mark 2

This chapter begins with one of the very famous scenes from Jesus' ministry. Jesus heals the paralytic man who was lowered through the roof. After fogiving the man's sins Jesus is accused of blasphemy. To which He responds "Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

This highlights the hollowness of the forgiveness of sins given by anyone other than God. Of course it is much easier to SAY that sins are forgiven than to say to a paralysed man "get up and walk". It is impossible to actually fogive sins (unless you are Jesus) but very easy to say they are forgiven. Forgiveness is not really varyfied untill the next life. Saying to a criple, "get up and walk" and then having him stay crippled would expose the fraud. Jesus was not and is not a fraud. He healed the cripple, just as he forgave the sin and saved him.

posted by Modern Day Magi @ 7:39 pm  

6 Comments:

  • At 9/02/2008 09:35:00 pm, Blogger Paul G said…

    It's good to have you back again MDM!
    What do you mean by "Forgiveness is not really verified until the next life"?

     

  • At 9/04/2008 06:52:00 am, Blogger Modern Day Magi said…

    Yeah a poor choice of words huh?

    I meant that any charlatan can say to anyone, "you are forgiven and saved." And if the charlatan speaks well enough he will be beleived. It is not until that foolish person is before the throne of Jesus and hears the words "I never knew you" that the deception is realised. Scripture warns us of many false prophets, warns to be careful to beleive in the gospel of Jesus' death and reasurrection according to the scriptures or else you might beleive in vain. Scripture tells that there will be many who cry out "Lord, Lord." but will not be saved.

    However if the same man says to a criple "get up you can walk" right then and there, when the beleiving criple tries to walk and can't the lie is exposed.

    I did not mean to suggest that there can be no assurance of Salvation. It is because Salvation is by the grace and sacrifice of Jesus and not because of any of man's works that we can be assured of salvation.

    You know this though...

    MDM

     

  • At 9/04/2008 04:10:00 pm, Blogger Wes Walker said…

    One reason forgiveness from men rings so hollow is that the wronged party has to be the one to offer forgiveness.

    On some level people know and affirm "against You alone, O Lord, have I sinned" (as David who had committed adultery and murder realized)

    Welcome Back, MDM.

    off-topic:
    Please keep Orissa, India in prayer. Many Christians are in harm's way at this moment. Thousands have had Churches, homes, businesses, burned. Many fled to the jungle for (relative) safety. Some have experienced violence. Some have been murdered.

    Among the murdered are the pastor who hosted my three month missionary visit in 1996, and his mother.

    Interestingly, what God had me teach when I was there was exposition of I Peter. Sobering now to see how relevant the major theme in that became.

     

  • At 9/05/2008 11:17:00 pm, Blogger Joe said…

    What about those who say, "Get up and walk, in the name of Jesus!" and nothing happens.

    Have they been exposed a frauds?

     

  • At 9/14/2008 06:13:00 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Good thoughts, MDM. Glad you're back!

     

  • At 11/13/2008 08:51:00 pm, Blogger Tim A said…

    MDM,
    It has been sometime since I have visited your blog. I have enjoyed what you have written.
    The one on Halloween, and this one on Mark, and the forgiveness of Jesus. Good stuff.
    T.A.

     

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