2023_12_06 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading-
According to Merriam-Webster, sentimentalism is a belief system built on feelings, rather than reason or thought. As I listen to people talk about their faith, I am increasingly concerned that many hold to sentimentalism, rather than a solid Biblical foundation. One example of this is the idea that God forgives us because He is our Father and He loves us. Of course, this is true but it is not the whole truth. God loves us, but He forgives us because Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin and guilt. Paul says in his letter to the church in Corinth, “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.” 1 Corinthians 15:3 (NLT) This may seem obvious but it is essential to remember. Oswald Chambers, in his book My Utmost for His Highest explains it well: “The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of the very mind and intent of God. There is no place for seeing Jesus Christ as a martyr. His death was not something that happened to Him— something that might have been prevented. His death was the very reason He came. Never build your case for forgiveness on the idea that God is our Father and He will forgive us because He loves us. That contradicts the revealed truth of God in Jesus Christ.”
As we have studied the Bible this year, we see that God’s holiness and justice require that sin be addressed and dealt with. Out of His great love, God chose the only way that would give us the opportunity to be forgiven and free. Jesus paid the debt that you and I owed. Our response (the only one that works) is for us to admit our guilt, ask God to forgive us through Christ’s sacrifice, and then reorient our lives to trust and obey Him out of gratitude. Sentimentalism is strong on God’s love but easy on our sin. True Christianity is strong on both God’s love and our sin. “Christ died for our sins”.
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor