In the Pentecost service our preacher reminded us that His presence with us does not need to be invited by us. Because in the Spirit He is always with us. We need to accept the gift and just get on board in obedience. Great stuff, so I thought about the various gifts of God in Jesus and spelled them out for the preacher's pleasure afterwards.
Prophecy of His coming, Incarnation, Miracle-working, Cross, Atonement, Resurrection, Ascension, Intercession, Return, Judgement, Shared Glory. All greeted with audible approval, APART FROM ONE. Silence, then slight embarassment and clear discomfort.
Because like most preachers on the rota he dislikes or certainly downplays the atonement of Christ, by which the justified anger of God towards rebellious man was turned aside in Christ's death. This wonderful truth that gives assurance of God's acceptance and love (and makes sense of all those bloody animal sacrifices in the OT) and enables us without guilt or soul-searching or insecurity to follow Him in brotherhood and in freedom.
Why is this such a stumbling block?
Prophecy of His coming, Incarnation, Miracle-working, Cross, Atonement, Resurrection, Ascension, Intercession, Return, Judgement, Shared Glory. All greeted with audible approval, APART FROM ONE. Silence, then slight embarassment and clear discomfort.
Because like most preachers on the rota he dislikes or certainly downplays the atonement of Christ, by which the justified anger of God towards rebellious man was turned aside in Christ's death. This wonderful truth that gives assurance of God's acceptance and love (and makes sense of all those bloody animal sacrifices in the OT) and enables us without guilt or soul-searching or insecurity to follow Him in brotherhood and in freedom.
Why is this such a stumbling block?
