The Incarnation is also over, and yet, we put out Nativity scenes every Christmas.
āAttractiveā has nothing to do with it. Itās an essential element of the story of salvation. We use images to tell the story - both the Nativity scene, and the Crucifix.
Is it over? Are you saying that Jesus is no longer God? Does He not have a glorified body? And why do we put out creches at Christmas? Crucifixion is indeed part of the salvation process, as is Resurrection! So, He had to be crucified, buried, spend three days in the bowels of the earth, and be risen from the dead, to proclaim victory over the grave! But I respect your choice to remember His tragic death by means of a crucifix! Can you respect my choice not to?The Incarnation is also over, and yet, we put out Nativity scenes every Christmas.
āAttractiveā has nothing to do with it. Itās an essential element of the story of salvation. We use images to tell the story - both the Nativity scene, and the Crucifix.
So, what exactly do you suppose Paul meant by this verse? Work OUT your salvation with fear and trembling, or work towards your salvation? And fear and trembling about what?
Why do you NEED to wear such a necklace?
For the same reason that a slave needs to wear his chains - to remember that he has been bought with a price, and to whom his life belongs.
Does His death on the Cross not continue to save us from our sins?
To remember that God humbled Himself to come into the world in exactly the same way that we do.
How do you suppose God intended getting Jesus crucified, therefore fulfilling prophecy? If not Judas, it would have been someone else; because the Jews did nohave the authority to execute anyone! So, they needed someone to get ācloseā to Jesus, and at the prescribed time(Isnāt Godās timing phenomonal), betray Christ into the hands of the Romans!At some point he must have, or else why would he have given up everything to follow Him?
All these things did happen - but Judas did not become a follower of Christ for personal gain, since there was nothing to gain, at the time. Each and every one of the 12 gave up their family ties, their jobs, their homes, and every other material consideration, to wander with Jesus throughout the whole country of Israel. So, there must have been a spark of faith, at the beginning. Who can say how it got quenched, or even when (since it seems clear that during the last several months of Christās ministry, Judas was already out of the program, and probably only stuck around because he had no place else to go).
However, that having been said, the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews was not writing to Judas, but to second-generation converts who had gone through the conversion process, who had been taught in person by the Apostles, and who had been carefully screened for membership in the Church. Since Christianity was illegal by that time (since both St. Paul and St. Peter had already undergone the death sentence for their preaching) itās not likely that any of these people had joined the Church to make business connections, or to impress a member of the opposite sex - their faith must have been real when they made their original Profession of Faith at their Confirmation ceremony.
They were determined to have Him crucified, three days before they even knew that Judas existed, and certainly before Judas offered Him up to them. They would have found a way on their own.
Right - and yet, it was still the Sanhedrin who passed sentence on Him.
It was Caiaphas who sold Jesus to the Romans; not Judas. Judas sold Him to the Sanhedrin - but they were already on to Him, by that time, anyway.
If I remember correctly, He said ,āIt is finished!ā I take this to mean that His work in the world, as a human, at least was done!Does His death on the Cross not continue to save us from our sins?
To remember that God humbled Himself to come into the world in exactly the same way that we do.
He was signifying that the Sacrifice was finished - not that salvation itself was finished (otherwise, how can people not born yet at the time of the Crucifixion receive salvation?)
When Satan entered Judas, it became clear that he was being used by both God and Satan! God had planned all along for Christ to be crucified, and knew that the Jews had no authority to carry out the execution, but the Romans did. So, yes, the Sanhedrin paid for the betrayal, and had long since passed sentence on Jesus; but, Pilate, fearing some type of revolt, or uprising, conceded to the crucifixion, even though he may have had reservations about it! The Romans had no problems with Christ, but knew that the Jews could riot if they did not carry out the crucifixion! I donāt believe that Judas knew from the beginning, that he was going to betray his āfriendā, until Satan entered him; which was allowed by God!
I never indicated that the salvation was over, just that He had finished the work His Father had given Him to do! And as we all know, His death on the Cross and Resurrection, are the reasons that we have the promise of salvation!
āIt is finishedā has very deep meaning. You might find Scott Hahnās The Fourth Cup to be well worth the read. Here is a link to get you started:I never indicated that the salvation was over, just that He had finished the work His Father had given Him to do! And as we all know, His death on the Cross and Resurrection, are the reasons that we have the promise of salvation!
Well I am sure, this is where Godās plan really sticks in Satanās craw. God could see the end result and while Satan had no idea.
Just imagine if Satan would have known exactly who he was helping to crucify!
We are slaves to sin, and our own selfish, destructive habits! Slaves wear chains, because their masters do not want them to get far if they run off! We sometimes keep our chains on, because we do not fully believe that we have been delivered!For the same reason that a slave needs to wear his chains - to remember that he has been bought with a price, and to whom his life belongs.
Catholics donāt wear āour chainsā because we believe we are slaves to sin, we wear them because we like to remember who released us from certain death and how he did it.
As am I a slave to Christ! I know that he freed me from those chains; you know,āmy chains are gone, Iāve been set freeā¦ā?
Yes, but would that have fit into Godās perfect plan for the crucifixion?
Mankind was burdened by OT legalism. Christ broke those bonds of slavery to the law, freeing us to serve in brotherhood with Him ā¦ so says Paul, so teaches John. We serve Christ via the āspiritā of the law, not the letter.For the same reason that a slave needs to wear his chains - to remember that he has been bought with a price, and to whom his life belongs.