That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Before Christ the only thing you are (or were) is an enemy of God. (Ro. 8:7-8) You were at enmity (hatred) of God. By nature. Sorry to burst your bubble. But NO. We are NOT ALL Children of God. In fact, just the opposite.
"you who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath... (Eph 2)
We're not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners...conceived into a body of sin, corruption and death. Born into this world ready to serve the god of this age who has been given the earth and all it's kingdoms. (Luke 4:5-7)
Anthony J. Carter, pastor of East Point Baptist Church, in East Point Georgia, author of "On Being Black and Reformed: A New Perspective on the Afican-American Christian Experience writes:
We were once "without hope and without God in this world." Even though we may have had a desire for a better life now and a blissful eternal existence, there was no real hope or confident expectation of one. Outside of Christ, hope is little more than wishful thinking. It has no ground or assurance. It is essentially an atheistic and even godless condition.
No hope outside Christ. Seen as godless, through you may practice one of the many world religions. There is no hope in these. They are empty, useless, vain, worthless. Devoid of being able to do anyone any good when death calls and you stand before the Creator. Only One Way. Only One Truth. Only One Hope. Only One who gives and maintains life. And all things that exist now and forever. and Only One Saviour.
The blood of Christ takes those who were strangers and makes them family. The blood of Christ reconciles enemies to God. The blood of Christ ends the hostility. The blood of Christ gives us a home. (Anthony Carter Tabletalk June 2011 issue)
It is the blood of Christ that ends the hatred we have by nature for the true God of Scripture.
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.(Romans 5)
I know many will have a problem with a God who is angry and will assume it is like their own anger. "God does not become angry because of the “heat of the moment” or because He possesses a confusing, constantly fluctuating emotionality. On the contrary, God’s anger is rationally retributive. His anger is His direct, calculated response to sin." (Apologetics Press)
God's anger at man's sin is profoundly prevalent throughout both the Old and New Testaments:
Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them On the day of the LORD'S wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.
2Peter 3: the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Isaiah 13: 13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
Heb 12: 25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Rom. 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
Col. 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience...
1 Thess. 1:10 "to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Rev 19:15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
As that wonderful Old Hymn so beautifully says....
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain:
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2. For my pardon this I see:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Refrain)
3. Nothing can for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Refrain)
4. This is all my hope and peace:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."(Jesus in Matt 7 )
if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; (Ro. 10:9)
Much more then, having now been justified (made right with God) by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.(ro. 5:9)
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