Long Island Abundant Life Church長島豐盛生命教會
  • Home
    • About Us 關於教會 >
      • Mission Statement - 使命宣言
      • Statement of Faith - 信仰立場
      • Biblical Marriage - 合乎聖經的婚姻
      • Church Leadership - 教會同工
      • Doc, membership - 文件, 會員
      • Contact Us - 聯絡我們
      • Directions - 路線圖
      • Ministry opening - English Pastor
  • Chinese Ministry 華語事工
    • 崇拜
    • 講道集 >
      • 主日信息
      • 特會 / 講座
    • 主日學
    • 門訓小組 >
      • 門訓小組介紹
    • 團契
    • 讀經
  • English Ministry 英文事工
  • Youth 少年事工
    • Worship
    • Sunday School
    • Youth Fellowship
    • Events
    • Our Vision
    • Connect with Us
    • Parent Resources
    • Youth Prayer Requests
  • Children's Ministry 兒童事工
    • Children's Worship - 兒童崇拜 >
      • Children's Songs - 歌曲
      • Junior Worship, Archive - 學習內容
      • Junior Worship, Current - 學習內容
      • Preschool Worship, Archive - 幼兒崇拜
    • Sunday School - 主日學 >
      • Preschool - 低年級
      • Middlers, Current - 高年級
      • Elementary, Archive - 高年級
    • VBS-特别暑期聖經班 >
      • EVENTS- 特別活動
    • Nursery - 幼兒照顧
    • Resources - 資源
  • Missions/Evangelism 宣教/佈道
    • *Global Missions 全球宣教
    • *Missions Ministry 宣教事工
  • Chinese School 中文學校
  • Church Activities / News / Calendar 教會活動 / 消息 / 行事曆
    • 教牧心聲Pastoral & Coworkers' Sharing
    • 教會事工Church Ministry
    • Special/urgent 特別/緊急
    • Calendar 教會行事曆
    • Bulletin 週報
    • Archive 檔案 >
      • Pray for Hindus 2018 為印度人禱告
      • Seek God 2019 尋求神
      • Misc. 其他
  • Chinese Student Ministry 学生事工
    • Campus Ministry 校园事工
    • CSF 衣
    • CSF 食
    • CSF 住
    • CSF 行
  • Links 资源鏈接
  Long Island Abundant Life Church長島豐盛生命教會

John 19:1–27

6/19/2012

 
Click here to read today's passage on Bible Gateway.

The Greatest Sin
John 19:11 - "Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” 

As evangelicals in the US, most of us are very fond of saying that "all sins are equal in God's sight".  The question, however, is whether that is actually true.  I submit that based on this passage and others it is not.  First of all take this passage, referring to "greater sin".  Michael Patton from Reclaiming the Mind Ministries did a post on this a while back.  Some reasons NOT to think all sins are equal:

"2. Certain sins in the law are distinguished in a particular context as an abomination to God, implying that others are not as severe (e.g. Lev. 18:22; Deut. 7:25, Deut. 23:18, Isa. 41:24).

3. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is set apart as a more severe sin than blasphemy of the Son (Matt. 12:31)

4. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists particular sins in such a way as to single them out because of their depraved nature, separating them from others.

5. There are degrees of punishment in Hell depending on the severity of the offense (Lk. 12:47-48).

6. Christ often evaluates the sin of the Pharisees as greater than the sins of others. You strain out a gnat while you swallow a camel (Matt. 23:24). If all sins are equal, Christ’s rebuke does not make any sense. (See also Lk. 20:46-47)

7. Similarly, Christ also talked about the “weightier things of the law” (Matt. 23:23). If all sins are equal, there is no law (or violation of that law) that is “weightier than others.” They are all the same weight.

8. Unforgiveness is continually referred to as a particularly heinous sin (Matt. 6:14-15; 18:23-35)." [1]

So why is it that we say that all sins are equal?  I think that we are being a little fuzzy in our thinking.  Romans 3:23 tells us that ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  We are all sinful.  It does not follow, however, that all sins are equal.  He continues:

"If you disagree with this, just think--really think—about what you are saying about God. You are saying to an unbelieving world that your God is just as angry about the act of going 56 in a 55 as he is about the act of one who rapes and murders a six-year-old girl. Do you really want to go there? Do you really think this position is sufficiently supported to justify such a belief? Can you really defend it? If the Bible teaches it, fine: we go with the Bible and not with our emotions or palatability decoder. But I don’t believe that a viable case can be made for letting our theology argue for such a belief. I can’t think of many more things in Evangelical pop-theology that is more wrong, more damaging, or more misrepresentative of God’s character and the nature of sin." [2]

So other than that one random verse, what does this big discussion have to do with our passage for today?  I think that having this understanding of sin can cloud some very big and very real issues relating to Jesus.  In another related post, Patton deals with the biggest, greatest, worst sin of all: unbelief.  The reason we land in hell isn't that one little white lie we told - it's because we have set ourselves against God.  We have rebelled and refused Him.  This act of unbelief and rebellion is THE sin that will define us, lest we repent and believe.  Read:

"It is important to understand that hell not is filled with people who are crying out for God’s mercy, constantly hoping for a second chance. People are in hell because they have the same disposition toward God that they had while they were walking the earth. They do not suddenly, upon entrance into Hell, change their nature and become sanctified. They still hate God. People are in hell for all eternity, not because they [ran a red light], but because their fists are still clenched toward God. They are not calling on His mercy. They are not pleading for a second chance. They are in hell for all eternity because that is where they would rather be. It is their nature. As C.S. Lewis once said, “The doors of hell are locked from the inside.” [3]

Granted, this is perhaps overstating a bit:  the Bible is clear that hell also is punishment that is inflicted by God withdrawing His favorable presence from unbelievers, but you get the point.  The important issue is belief or unbelief.  If you reject the very God of the universe, you have committed the GREATEST sin.

And that is our passage for today:  Jesus Christ crucified.  It is told for us to read and believe.  That is THE decision of life:  do I believe, or do I not?  Will I lay down my own plans and my life for this dying man, or will I do it my way?  Will I rest in the power of His resurrection, or will I try to make my own way?  Make a choice, but be aware:  that decision will define you eternally.  Jesus sacrifices His very self for the world and asks "Believe" of us.  Believe and let your sins be covered by His blood.

[1] http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/09/all-sins-are-equal-in-gods-sight-and-other-stupid-statements
[2] Ibid.
[3] http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/04/will-one-white-lie-send-you-to-hell-for-all-eternity
Andrei
6/20/2012 02:32:23 am

Word; I've heard differing opinions on this issue, but I guess everything should ultimately be based off of the Bible. 'Evangelical pop-theology.' hmmm...

I find Pilate to be so interesting in these verses. His conflicted character sticks out. Verse 22 is so interesting: 'What I have written, I have written.' What do you think he is saying there?

Greg
6/20/2012 01:11:23 pm

"John’s story concentrates on the important details given in 19:19–22. It was customary for the Romans to provide a public, written notice of the criminal’s name and activity, and this was paraded before him (or hung around his neck) en route to his crucifixion. John alone employs the technically correct term for this “title” (Gk. titlos; Lat. titulus). He is also the only writer who notes that it came by Pilate’s order, and it may equally be true that this is “Pilate’s revenge” on the Jewish high council. When they arrive at Golgotha, the sign is affixed to the cross “over Jesus” (so Matt 27:37; Luke 23:38): JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS.
It is the language of the titulus that is important. It is written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. Jewish tombs often had multiple languages, and the cemetery at Bet Shearim in Galilee shows numerous examples of the presence of Hellenistic culture into this world. Romans would understand the Latin; the Jewish population would read the Aramaic; and Greek was the universal language of the Mediterranean world. Pilate has, in effect, placed on public display an announcement for the world. Jesus’ kingship is now available for the entire world to see.
It comes as no surprise that the chief priests are furious and insulted (19:20–21). They understand that the sign implies a kind of sarcastic endorsement by Rome of Jesus’ royal identity, and they do not like it. “This man said, ‘I am King of the Jews’ ” (NRSV) is their biting alternative, but Pilate for the first time in the story stands up to them. He refuses to publish a lie (even though he did not have the courage to act on the truth). Thus the scene ends and Jesus’ kingship stands secure."


Gary M. Burge, NIV Application Commentary: John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000), 526.

Josiah
6/20/2012 09:01:42 am

Another question: Julius Caesar died more than fifty five years ago from the time Jesus is crucified, why are the Greeks still calling out his name as king? Is he the great ruler all the Greeks look up to?

Greg
6/20/2012 01:14:20 pm

"Caesar" is the name of the Roman emperor. This isn't referring to Julius Caesar, but the emperor at that time, who was Tiberius Caesar Augustus (or Tiberius I, or Tiberius Julius Caesar).

Andrei
6/20/2012 03:30:52 pm

Wow that's crazy how things worked out. Can't fiddle with God's sovereignty I guess.


Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.