NEW! IMPROVED! Those words are prominently displayed on various products, promising us that designers worked hard to make what we already like even better. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Anybody remember the famous flop of the 'new' Coca Cola back in 1985? After a major marketing failure, Coke brought back 'classic' Coke. Microsoft brings out a 'new and improved' operating system every now and then. It seems to me that they get it right only about every other time! Vista was not that great, but Windows 7 is a major step forward.
There is one thing that never needs improving, that we must not try to make 'new.' The Gospel of Christ Jesus is a 'finished work.' From age to age, culture to culture, person to person - He is the same, unchanging, and trustworthy. As He died on the Cross, reconciling Creation to the Creator, He breathed the words, "It is finished!" John tells us "knowing that all was now completed ... Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 19:30, NIV) He was not saying, "I'm done in, beaten, dying!" He proclaimed that He had completed the mission of satisfying the just demands of a holy God, making it possible for us to be true sons.
The letter to the Hebrews speaks of the finality of the work of Christ Jesus. Unlike the priests of the first covenant who offered sacrifices for the sins of the people year after year, Jesus "entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:12, NIV) What He accomplished cannot be improved. "As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies to cave in. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process." (Hebrews 10:12-14, The Message)
Disciple, I make much of this today. There will be those who try to bring a 'new and improved' Gospel to you. They will claim their additions are necessary to stay 'relevant' to the time, that they have found a new truth that will unlock the mysteries of God, that their message is the truth for this era. Don't believe it! Christ finished the work of our salvation and there is but one thing for us to do: accept Him in full faith. The Gospel is "Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again!" This is our creed, our hope, our confession.
Here's the word from the Word. Meditate on it for a few moments today. Then give thanks that He has done for us what we could never do for ourselves, that He did not leave the work incomplete, but gives us a finished work.
"Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision-the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead." (Colossians 2:8-12, NLT)
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Mystery
Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ my clarity
Bread of heaven broken for me
Cup of Salvation held out to drink
Jesus mystery
Christ has died and
Christ is risen
Christ will come again
Celebrate His death and rising
Lift your eyes proclaim His coming
Celebrate His death and rising
Lift your eyes lift your eyes
Christ has died and
Christ is risen
Christ will come again
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Charlie Hall
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