#Did Gentiles crucify Jesus

[thinkingonscripture]

Who Crucified Jesus?

The question is sometimes raised as to who crucified Jesus? According to Chafer, “Closely related to the contrast between the divine and human sides of Christ’s death, is the question: Who put Christ to death? As already indicated, the Scriptures assign both a human and a divine responsibility for Christ’s death.”[1] According to the testimony of Scripture, Jesus’ death on the cross was the…

[readfull]

Answer to those who say "Jesus loves you" Face the truth

Answer to those who say “Jesus loves you” When they tell you that Jesus loves you and died for you, or will save you, just calmly and confidently tell them that’s a lie.  “Jesus couldn’t save himself, let alone me.” Jesus Could Not Save Himself From Crucifixion. Stop telling me such a lie anymore. I don’t believe that Jesus loves me, died for me or saves me from eternal death as you claim –…

[hiswordsarekisses]

“No one in his right mind would fabricate this religion; many would (and do) look at us as fools. But when the Spirit fills this strange framework with inward life and fullness, it becomes rich and beautiful — a magnificent story of divine love for humanity, a glorious rescue mission with a stunningly personal touch.

To the one whose eyes have been opened by the Spirit, this story — and the Person at the center of it — becomes life itself and the only way to make sense of it.

What once appeared shallow is now deep. What once looked senseless now seems to be the only plausible truth. The faith that struck you as foolish now fills your heart with meaning. What was once overwhelming is now empowering. What’s the difference?

The Spirit and the vision he gives us.

Without the living, breathing presence of the Spirit, Christianity appears to be an impotent, absurd belief system, a poor framework for understanding the world and beyond.

That’s why, to Spiritless eyes, we’re subject to so much mockery. (Granted, some mockery is deserved. Much of it is not.) But it’s also why we have to insist on seeing everything — life, other people, ourselves — through the lens of the Spirit.”

~ Chris Tiegreen

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭31‬

[myremnantarmy]

𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

Mt 20:17-28

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,

he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,

and said to them on the way,

"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,

and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests

and the scribes,

and they will condemn him to death,

and hand him over to the Gentiles

to be mocked and scourged and crucified,

and he will be raised on the third day."

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons

and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.

He said to her, "What do you wish?"

She answered him,

"Command that these two sons of mine sit,

one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom."

Jesus said in reply,

"You do not know what you are asking.

Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"

They said to him, "We can."

He replied,

"My chalice you will indeed drink,

but to sit at my right and at my left,

this is not mine to give

but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard this,

they became indignant at the two brothers.

But Jesus summoned them and said,

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,

and the great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you.

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;

whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve

and to give his life as a ransom for many."

[wisdomfish]

Non-Christian sources confirm the validity of New Testament

The Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus (A.D. 37-100), is the first non-Christian author to mention Jesus. In the Antiquities, Josephus writes:

There was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day (Antiquities 18:3:3).

Tacitus (A.D. 56-120), the Roman historian confirms that the crucifixion of Jesus actually took place. Writing in his Annals, he records:

 Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind.

Pliny the Younger (A.D. 62-113), Roman governor in Asia Minor, established that early Christians worshiped Jesus as a god:

They (Christians) were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food, but of an ordinary and innocent kind (Epistles 10.96).

Suetonius (120 AD) was a Roman historian and court official.  When recounting the history of the emperor Claudius some years before him, he said,

“Because the Jews at Rome caused constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus [Christ], he [Claudius] expelled them from the city [Rome]” (Life of Claudius, 25:4).

Lucian, born (c. AD 125 – 180), the pagan author Samosata, while ridiculing Christians, accepted that Jesus actually existed:

The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day—the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. … You see, these misguided creatures start with the general conviction that they are immortal for all time, which explains their contempt of death and voluntary self-devotion which are so common among them; and then it was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws. All this they take quite on faith, with the result that they despise all worldly goods alike, regarding them merely as common property. (Lucian, The Passing of Peregrinus)

Celsus (2nd century), the Greek philosopher, while arguing against Christianity, also accepted that Jesus existed:

O light and truth! He distinctly declares, with his own voice, as ye yourselves have recorded, that there will come to you even others, employing miracles of a similar kind, who are wicked men, and sorcerers; and Satan. So that Jesus himself does not deny that these works at least are not at all divine, but are the acts of wicked men; and being compelled by the force of truth, he at the same time not only laid open the doings of others, but convicted himself of the same acts. Is it not, then, a miserable inference, to conclude from the same works that the one is God and the other sorcerers? Why ought the others, because of these acts, to be accounted wicked rather than this man, seeing they have him as their witness against himself? For he has himself acknowledged that these are not the works of a divine nature, but the inventions of certain deceivers, and of thoroughly wicked men.

~ Samples, Kenneth Richard. ‘Without a Doubt: Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Fri June 07th, 2024 ... Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B/Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Reading 1

____________

Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9

Thus says the LORD:

When Israel was a child I loved him,

out of Egypt I called my son.

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

who took them in my arms;

I drew them with human cords,

with bands of love;

I fostered them like one

who raises an infant to his cheeks;

Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,

they did not know that I was their healer.

My heart is overwhelmed,

my pity is stirred.

I will not give vent to my blazing anger,

I will not destroy Ephraim again;

For I am God and not a man,

the Holy One present among you;

I will not let the flames consume you.

Responsorial Psalm

______________

Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6.

R. (3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

God indeed is my savior;

I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the LORD,

and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water

at the fountain of salvation.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;

among the nations make known his deeds,

proclaim how exalted is his name.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;

let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,

for great in your midst

is the Holy One of Israel!

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Reading 2

____________

Eph 3:8-12, 14-19

Brothers and sisters:

To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,

to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,

and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery

hidden from ages past in God who created all things,

so that the manifold wisdom of God

might now be made known through the church

to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.

This was according to the eternal purpose

that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whom we have boldness of speech

and confidence of access through faith in him.

For this reason I kneel before the Father,

from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory

to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,

and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

that you, rooted and grounded in love,

may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones

what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,

so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Alleluia

________

Mt 11:29ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord;

and learn from me, for I am meek and gentle of heart.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or

_________

1 Jn 4:10b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God first loved us

and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

________

Jn 19:31-37

Since it was preparation day,

in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,

for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,

the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken

and they be taken down.

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first

and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,

they did not break his legs,

but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,

and immediately blood and water flowed out.

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;

he knows that he is speaking the truth,

so that you also may come to believe.

For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled:

Not a bone of it will be broken.

And again another passage says:

They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

One just has to open a newspaper today or watch the daily news to see a plethora of examples where the world’s darkness reveals that the light of God’s love needs to be shone more brightly. In the spirit that lives within all of us, we too may hold onto a heavy-hearted darkness about ourselves, or places where there may be stumbling blocks to God’s love truly finding a home in our hearts.  So, to celebrate a day of unconditional love, a sacred love, flowing forth from the heart of Jesus, is a devotion and a day of solemnity that brings hope to our world and a joy to our hearts.

I would like to reflect a bit on why this solemnity of the Sacred Heart is a dear devotion for me and a devotion to which I owe my vocation to the priesthood recall the genesis of this devotion, and why for us it is a solemn day of celebration and a transforming devotion that will change our hearts and the heart of our world for good, for God. 

First, a personal story. When I was a young boy, our home parish, Immaculate Conception in Waukegan, Illinois, had to the left of the Altar, a huge mosaic to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I used to love to sit in front of that piece of art and was mesmerized in the connection between the love that Christ had in his eyes and the love that that exposed heart symbolized.

Second, all celebrations, like this solemnity, have their beginnings. This story, is all about heart, the heart of a nun’s story, the heart of the Jesuit’s story.  heart of our story. First, the heart of a nun’s story. The place was the Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial in France. Between 1673 and 1675, our Lord appeared three times to a contemplative nun, Margaret Mary Alacoque, showed her his heart. In the first appearance, Jesus commissioned her to spread devotion to his sacred heart. In the second, he asked for Holy Communion and a Holy Hour of Reparation.

Third, during the octave of Corpus Christi in 1675, Jesus asked her to see a special feast established in reparation to his heart for the injuries done it. He added: "Go to my servant the Jesuit Father, Claude de La Colombiére and tell him from me to do all in his power to establish this devotion and give this pleasure to my heart." And Claude did "all in his power." The young Jesuit whom Jesus identified to Margaret Mary as "my faithful servant and perfect friend" preached the devotion to the end of his short life. (source: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/the-revelation-of-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-paral-le-monial-france-13719.

This devotion remains a devotion that is promoted and defended in the Society of Jesus to this day.  even though celebrated with remains alive in the Society.  In a more recent Jesuit General Congregation (General Congregation 35, 2008) the Jesuits stressed and emphasized promoting Christ’s sacred heart when it proclaims, “Nothing could be more desirable and more urgent today, since the heart of Christ burns with love for this world, with all its troubles, and seeks companions who can serve it with him.”

And finally, Christ’s sacred heart and us. And so, what’s wrong with a little devotion, why has it become an outmoded practice. The word devotion is a word of affection, of love, of knowing that someone is so in love with us they are devoted to us, and in return we, in our love for them, and the things that represent them, like the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are so in love, so devoted to them.  So, the heart of Christ, as well as our own hearts, symbolizes something wonderful, something that is about the lifeblood flowing through our veins yes, but also, of what is and should be the heart of our faith, the heart of our very life, and this, this is love divine.

For love has the power to transform our very lives, to transform our world, in radical and wonderful ways, away from our own brokenness and need for healing, and into those places in this world that still live in darkness, oppression, hatred, and injustice, so that these places, these hearts of ours can feel too love’s clear promise of heaven.  We recollect this image of Christ’s sacred heart, and see there a love given freely, a love fraught with all meaning, and see Christ’s love encouraging us to be brave, to not be afraid, for it’s only love after all.

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

Bl. Franz Jagerstatter

(May 20, 1907 – August 9, 1943)

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter’s Story

Called to fight for his country as a Nazi soldier, Franz eventually refused, and this husband and father of three daughters—Rosalie, Marie and Aloisia—was executed because of it.

Born in St. Radegund in Upper Austria, Franz lost his father during World War I and was adopted after Heinrich Jaegerstaetter married Rosalia Huber. As a young man, he loved to ride his motorcycle and was the natural leader of a gang whose members were arrested in 1934 for brawling. For three years he worked in the mines in another city and then returned to St. Radegund, where he became a farmer, married Franziska and lived his faith with quiet but intense conviction.

In 1938, he publicly opposed the German Anschluss–annexation–of Austria. The next year he was drafted into the Austrian army, trained for seven months and then received a deferment. In 1940, Franz was called up again but allowed to return home at the request of the town’s mayor. He was in active service between October 1940 and April 1941, but was again deferred. His pastor, other priests, and the bishop of Linz urged him not to refuse to serve if drafted.

In February 1943, Franz was called up again and reported to army officials in Enns, Austria. When he refused to take the oath of loyalty to Hitler, he was imprisoned in Linz. Later he volunteered to serve in the medical corps but was not assigned there.

During Holy Week Franz wrote to his wife: “Easter is coming and, if it should be God’s will that we can never again in this world celebrate Easter together in our intimate family circle, we can still look ahead in the happy confidence that, when the eternal Easter morning dawns, no one in our family circle shall be missing—so we can then be permitted to rejoice together forever.” He was transferred in May to a prison in Berlin.

Challenged by his attorney that other Catholics were serving in the army, Franz responded, “I can only act on my own conscience. I do not judge anyone. I can only judge myself.” He continued, “I have considered my family. I have prayed and put myself and my family in God’s hands. I know that, if I do what I think God wants me to do, he will take care of my family.”

On August 8, 1943, Franz wrote to Fransizka: “Dear wife and mother, I thank you once more from my heart for everything that you have done for me in my lifetime, for all the sacrifices that you have borne for me. I beg you to forgive me if I have hurt or offended you, just as I have forgiven everything…My heartfelt greetings for my dear children. I will surely beg the dear God, if I am permitted to enter heaven soon, that he will set aside a little place in heaven for all of you.”

Franz was beheaded and cremated the following day. In 1946, his ashes were reburied in St. Radegund near a memorial inscribed with his name and the names of almost 60 village men who died during their military service. He was beatified in Linz on October 26, 2007. His “spiritual testament” is now in Rome’s St. Bartholomew Church as part of a shrine to 20th-century martyrs for their faith. Blessed Franz’s liturgical feast is celebrated on August 9.

***

【Build your Faith in Christ Jesus on #dailyscripturereadingsgroup 📚: +256 751 540 524 .. Whatsapp】

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

7th June >> Mass Readings (USA)

Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

First Reading Hosea 11:1, 3–4, 8c–9 My heart is overwhelmed.

Thus says the LORD:

When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.

My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Isaiah 12:2–3, 4, 5–6

R/ You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.

R/ You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name.

R/ You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!

R/ You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Second Reading Ephesians 3:8–12, 14–19 To know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.

Brothers and sisters: To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 11:29ab

Alleluia, alleluia. Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord; and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: 1 John 4:10b

Alleluia, alleluia. God first loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 19:31–37 One soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

Since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled:

Not a bone of it will be broken.

And again another passage says:

They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[unitedbyprayer]

(via Preach The Word Of Truth)

Preach The Word Of Truth

https://www.unitedbyprayer.com/united-by-prayer-wall/preach-the-word-of-truth

One of the main messages that Paul was keen to get over to these unbelieving Gentiles in Athens, was that God, the Maker of heaven and earth, has fixed a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness and that judgement, they were informed, would take place through a Man, Whom God Himself had appointed, a Man Who had been raised from the dead, and His Resurrection would serve as the as proof of His authenticity and authority to take on this judicial role as judge of all.How important to Preach The Word Of Truth and tell all who are dead in their trespasses and sins that God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved..  'He who believes in Him is not judged; but he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  All who reject Christ's sacrificial death and God's offer of salvation, that final day of judgement is fast approaching, God has fixed a day in which the crucified and resurrected Jesus will judge the world in righteousness.  

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Our United Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You that our sins were judged at the Cross and that there is now no condemnation for us because we are in Christ. But we realize that there are many that remain dead in their sins. We pray that You will use us to tell those that You place in our paths, that Christ died for their sins, that He was buried, and rose again, so that all who believe on Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. This we ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.

[pugzman3]

My friend, it wasn't just the Jews who were responsible for Christs death but the whole world. He came to die for ALL our sins that ALL may be saved. He was crucified by the gentiles. anti-Semitism is never good....they are still Gods chosen people.

That is true but that isn't the point of the post. You are correct, Jesus came to die for the sins of the world. Yes he did 100%.

But thebpointnof the post is another piece of a bigger picture. And I will say this to be clear, God is no respecter of person and neither am I. Now, what you just threw down was a conditioning. And I've had Jews try the same thing on me. Speaking truth is not antisemitic. Anyone can go to the Gospels and read that Pilot wanted to release Jesus, but the Jewish leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees, Sanhedrin) pushed him to do it, threaten to stir the people, pulled the "ceasar is king" card, and threatened the people if they didn't side with them. So Pilot turned him over to be killed.

Now, the point of it was more pointing to the Pope and vatican. One pope going against scripture (concerning the very death of Christ of all things), no pope afterwards rebuking it. This should be very telling to anyone who claims to be a Christian. This also adds more clarity to the union of Catholics, Jews, and Muslims that is now taking place.

The last thing, and this will be harsh but it is truth. God's people, are the ones who claim and follow Jesus Christ. Whether Jew or Gentile. That was ALWAYS the plan. Jews were the start, given the oracles of God, to be a light for the Gentiles. But there is a new covenant now per Jeremiah 31, repeated throught the New Testement. No one lives without Jesus Christ. And there is so much twisted stuff out there that has people convinced otherwise this way or that.

Lastly this. I strongly suggest you, and everyone examine how much they have been conditioned. Because we are pressured constantly to think one way or another, and none of those align with the true Gospels. And the days will come when you stand for the word of God and bear the brunt from the world, or you will cave in to the conditioning and persecut thise who do not. It's already happened, but that in itself is conditioning everyone for the big one.

I appreciate your sincerity and hope you know I was trying to return it and not come across too blunt, I do that sometimes. Also hope it clears up why I made that post. Take care.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Morning and Evening

by Charles Spurgeon

Evening Devotion for March 2nd

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. - Ephesians 3:8

The apostle Paul felt it a great privilege to be allowed to preach the gospel. He did not look upon his calling as a drudgery, but he entered upon it with intense delight. Yet while Paul was thus thankful for his office, his success in it greatly humbled him. The fuller a vessel becomes, the deeper it sinks in the water. Idlers may indulge a fond conceit of their abilities, because they are untried; but the earnest worker soon learns his own weakness. If you seek humility, try hard work; if you would know your nothingness, attempt some great thing for Jesus. If you would feel how utterly powerless you are apart from the living God, attempt especially the great work of proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ, and you will know, as you never knew before, what a weak unworthy thing you are. Although the apostle thus knew and confessed his weakness, he was never perplexed as to the subject of his ministry. From his first sermon to his last, Paul preached Christ, and nothing but Christ. He lifted up the cross, and extolled the Son of God who bled thereon. Follow his example in all your personal efforts to spread the glad tidings of salvation, and let "Christ and him crucified" be your ever recurring theme. The Christian should be like those lovely spring flowers which, when the sun is shining, open their golden cups, as if saying, "Fill us with thy beams!" but when the sun is hidden behind a cloud, they close their cups and droop their heads. So should the Christian feel the sweet influence of Jesus; Jesus must be his sun, and he must be the flower which yields itself to the Sun of Righteousness. Oh! to speak of Christ alone, this is the subject which is both "seed for the sower, and bread for the eater." This is the live coal for the lip of the speaker, and the master-key to the heart of the hearer.

[alwaysrememberjesus]

Serve God By The Spirit

Philippians 3:1–6. Rejoice in the Lord! (v. 1)

In today’s world, confidence is a positive trait. We want children to be confident adults, so we tell them they are unique, above average, and destined for greatness. But Paul’s view, as he tells us in Philippians 3:1–6, is radically different. His confidence was not in himself, but in the power of God’s Spirit.

The apostle employs the strongest language he knows to warn the Philippians to be on guard against those who would replace the freedom of the gospel with the bondage of Mosaic law. He calls them “dogs,” “evildoers,” and “mutilators of the flesh” (v. 2). This last reference is connected to their claim that it was necessary to undergo the Jewish rite of circumcision to be saved (v. 3). When Paul calls them “dogs,” he may have been using a slur that these teachers applied to Gentile believers who were uncircumcised. If you were uncircumcised, you were considered spiritually unclean. These people believed they were promoting righteousness, but they were actually doing evil because their teaching undermined the gospel.

If anyone had a right to be confident in their religious performance, it should have been Paul! He lists his credentials in verse 5. Paul was a Jew by birth and circumcised as an infant. He had observed the law of Moses and was a member of one of its strictest parties. His devotion was so strong that he persecuted the church. By the standards of this system, Paul would be considered faultless. But when he was confronted by the risen Christ, everything changed (Acts 9:1–6). The best thing that ever happened to Paul was to lose his self-confidence. Before he could become truly righteous, he needed to see that everything he did on his own had failed.

What do you place your confidence in? The only way to serve God is by the Spirit, and the only way to have the Spirit is by faith in Jesus Christ. Don’t concentrate on your own effort. Look to Jesus to make you righteous.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me... I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). We are one with Christ!

[hieromonkcharbel]

God’s Son did not disdain to become a baby. Although with the passing of the years he moved from infancy to maturity, and although with the triumph of his passion and resurrection all the actions of humility which he undertook for us were finished, still today’s festival renews for us the holy childhood of Jesus born of the Virgin Mary. In adoring the birth of our Saviour, we find we are celebrating the commencement of our own life, for the birth of Christ is the source of life for Christian folk, and the birthday of the Head is the birthday of the body.

Every individual that is called has his own place, and all the sons of the Church are separated from one another by intervals of time. Nevertheless, just as the entire body of the faithful is born in the font of baptism, crucified with Christ in his passion, raised again in his resurrection, and placed at the Father’s right hand in his ascension, so with Him are they born in this nativity.

For this is true of any believer in whatever part of the world, that once he is reborn in Christ he abandons the old paths of his original nature and passes into a new man by being reborn. He is no longer counted as part of his earthly father’s stock but among the seed of the Saviour, who became the Son of man in order that we might have the power to be the sons of God.

For unless He came down to us in this humiliation, no one could reach his presence by any merits of his own.

The very greatness of the gift conferred demands of us reverence worthy of its splendour. For, as the blessed Apostle teaches, We have received not the spirit of this world but the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things which are given us by God. That Spirit can in no other way be rightly worshipped, except by offering him that which we received from him.

But in the treasures of the Lord’s bounty what can we find so suitable to the honour of the present feast as the peace which at the Lord’s nativity was first proclaimed by the angel-choir?

For it is that peace which brings forth the sons of God. That peace is the nurse of love and the mother of unity, the rest of the blessed and our eternal home. That peace has the special task of joining to God those whom it removes from the world.

So those who are born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God must offer to the Father the unanimity of peace-loving sons, and all of them, adopted parts of the mystical Body of Christ, must meet in the First-Begotten of the new creation. He came to do not his own will but the will of the one who sent him; and so too the Father in his gracious favour has adopted as his heirs not those that are discordant nor those that are unlike him, but those that are one with him in feeling and in affection. Those who are re-modelled after one pattern must have a spirit like the model.

The birthday of the Lord is the birthday of peace: for thus says the Apostle, He is our peace, who made both one; because whether we are Jew or Gentile, through Him we have access in one Spirit to the Father.

St. Leo the Great

[albertfinch]

REVELATION OF CHRIST IN US

"He then began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent" (Matthew 11:20).  In anger He rebuked Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum (Matthew 11:21); with tears, He cried out to Jerusalem (Luke 13:34). If He expected cities to repent in the first century, He expects cities today to repent as well.

"For if the MIRACLES had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes" (Matthew 11:21).

What hinders the turning of the people's hearts?

Part of the answer lies with the Church, with our sins of self-righteousness, indifference and unbelief.

TURNING CITIES BACK TOWARD GOD

Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities known for their debauchery and sin. Yet, Jesus said that His life, revealed in power, can bring even the vilest of cities, places which ought to be destroyed, to "sackcloth and ashes." The strategy, therefore, to win our cities is for the Church to reveal Christ's life in power. Yes, the revelation of Christ in us as individuals, and the power of Christ displayed corporately through us, can turn our worst cities back toward God!

The future does not belong to the world; it belongs to the transformed Church.  God "desires all men to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4). With this in mind, Paul taught that entreaties and prayers should be made on behalf of all men, "for kings and all who are in authority" (1 Timothy 2:1-4). The sacrifice of Christ provides for the salvation of all men. Heaven waits only for the Church to act.

One may say, "But, that was then. Our cities are worse. They are beyond redemption." Not so. Jesus continued His rebuke of cities, saying, "If the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day" (Matthew 11:23).  When Christ is manifested in power, Jesus said even Sodom could find repentance!

THE OBSTRUCTION TO REVIVAL: COMPLACENCY

Jesus does not have a problem with the hot or cold dimensions of life. It is the lukewarm that He will spew from His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). What stopped the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum – communities that already had the blessing of Christ's healing – from embracing ongoing renewal? They assumed Christ's love was given only to enrich them. All they saw were the rewards of Christ without understanding His requirements.

The majority of the first century saints gave their lives to Christ with the full knowledge they would face persecution, suffering and, possibly, death for their faith. Such was the character and vision of the Church in the first century.

WE NEED TO RE-EVALUATE OUR PREACHING

The main emphasis of much of today's Christianity, however, is to help Believers become "normal." So much of our contemporary teaching keeps alive the very nature Jesus calls us to crucify!

We need to re-evaluate our preaching. Are we preaching the Cross and the call to follow Jesus?

What are we training our people to become?  More importantly -- are we training and equipping (DISCIPLING) our people?

Church members need to be encouraged to "think bigger."  They need to see themselves as ministers to their fellow man. God doesn't call us to earn money, but to change lives (DISCIPLE others INTO THEIR CHRIST IDENTITY). If we will remain concerned about lives and doing the will of God, He will take care of the finances.

One of the unique things about the Church of the New Covenant is that God has authorized and commanded every believer to do the work of the ministry! God wants an entire army of workers out doing the vital work of DISCIPLESHIP of the saints into their Christ identity and building up His Body, the Church.

The Father's goal is to use us to turn our cities back to Him. But God has made no provision for the healing of our land apart from us COMING TO UNDERSTAND AND CARRY OUT GOD’S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE so we can truly bear fruit that remains, thereby advancing His Kingdom over all the earth.

Once we realize this vital truth, we shall return to the source of New Testament Christianity, and our cities will have hope for redemption. When the Church demonstrates the love and power of Christ, repentance and revival can occur even in a place like Sodom.

PRAYER:

Lord, forgive me for my unbelief and apathy. You have promised that even Sodom would come to You at the revelation of Your character and power. Through your scriptures give me understanding Lord Jesus, for the sake of your glory and the renewal of our cities. Amen.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY:

[myremnantarmy]

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

Gospel Mt 20:17-28

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,

he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,

and said to them on the way,

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,

and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests

and the scribes,

and they will condemn him to death,

and hand him over to the Gentiles

to be mocked and scourged and crucified,

and he will be raised on the third day.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons

and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.

He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She answered him,

“Command that these two sons of mine sit,

one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”

Jesus said in reply,

“You do not know what you are asking.

Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”

They said to him, “We can.”

He replied,

“My chalice you will indeed drink,

but to sit at my right and at my left,

this is not mine to give

but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

When the ten heard this,

they became indignant at the two brothers.

But Jesus summoned them and said,

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,

and the great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you.

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;

whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve

and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

[childofchrist1983]

Both Jews and Gentiles rose up against God's only begotten Son and Messiah, Jesus Christ, and caused Him to be crucified; but they did not realize they were fulfilling God's prophecies and purposes. Like Joseph's brothers who sold him as a slave into Egypt, they meant it for evil, but God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20).

As mortal humans, we do not understand many things that happen to us in this life. But we know that while men freely choose to do evil and wrong others, they are not outside of God's Providential rule of His creation. They only "bring" what God "sent", and we know that God can and does work all of it together for the good of us, God's people and children, and for His own everlasting glory. Therefore, we will not be discouraged amidst the wrongs done to us by others. Rather, we will trust that "God meant it for good." Trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His mercy and grace. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives and give us a new direction according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful Lord, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[mrlnsfrt]

It Is Finished 2023

Heaven beheld as Jesus was betrayed into the hands of the murderous mob, and with mockery and violence hurried from one tribunal to another.

Angels heard the sneers of His persecutors because of His lowly birth.

They heard the denial with cursing and swearing by one of His best-loved disciples.

All of heaven saw the frenzied work of Satan, and his power over the hearts of men and women.

Imagine this terrible scene...

The Savior seized at midnight in Gethsemane, dragged to and fro from palace to judgment hall, arraigned twice before the priests, twice before the Sanhedrin, twice before Pilate, and once before Herod, mocked, scourged, condemned, and led out to be crucified, bearing the heavy burden of the cross, amid the wailing of the daughters of Jerusalem and the jeering of the crowd.

Heaven viewed with grief and amazement Christ hanging upon the cross, blood flowing from His wounded temples, and sweat tinged with blood standing upon His brow.

From His hands and feet, the blood fell, drop by drop, upon the rock drilled for the foot of the cross.

The wounds made by the nails gaped as the weight of His body dragged upon His hands.

His labored breath grew quick and shallow, as His soul panted under the burden of the sins of the world.

All heaven was filled with wonder when the prayer of Christ was offered in the midst of His terrible suffering, —“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.

Yet there stood men, formed in the image of God, joining to crush out the life of His one and only Son. What a sight for the heavenly universe! (Inspired by The Desire of Ages)

Controversy

How did we get here?

How can anyone make sense of Jesus, a man who lived a perfect life hanging on a cross? Even more puzzling how do we end up with the Son of God dying on earth? To make matters even more complex, Jesus is God, He is our Creator, why is He dying, when it would be more convenient for Him to simply destroy us and make a brand new earth?

The Bible refers to Jesus dying on the cross as “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

If you were starting a revolution, a movement to impact the whole world, would you have the hero of your story, the savior, die a humiliating and painful public death?

Seems odd right? Who would come up with this story and think it is a good one? Would it not be much better to have the hero be incredibly strong and have him destroy all his enemies? Would that not be a much better story to tell, would that not be a better hero? One you could be proud of?

Why would you tell the story of the hero dying a terrible death while all his followers ran away? The cross sounds more like a defeat than victory. Yet here we are, still talking about it, some 2000 years later. Why does this story persist?

A story about an all-powerful God who toys with His creation and uses them as mere entertainment or slaves makes sense.

A story about a mighty God who is indifferent to the lives of lower beings living in a speck floating around in a vast universe makes sense.

There are so many stories about various gods, so many religions and beliefs, and so many fables, yet here we are talking about one which is particularly challenging. A story where we have the most powerful God, in fact, the only God, the creator God, dying for His creatures, that He created, that He could easily destroy, that cannot live without Him. Yet God not only sustains us, even as we live in rebellion against Him, but He also died for us.

This kind of love, and this level of self-sacrifice, make my head spin.

This story is so odd, that this God, after doing all this, offers us the gift of salvation, offers us eternal life, as a free gift. He then tells us to tell everyone the good news, that they don’t have to die, that they can have eternal life, that they can have hope, and that everything will be okay. There is no special reward for us doing this, we do not gain bonus eternal life, or a bigger house on the new earth depending on how obedient we were.

Yet, people who truly believe in this wild story, of a God who loved the world so much that He sent His one-of-a-kind Son to die so that everyone who believes in Him would not have to die, but instead have life that would never end, live a transformed life. These people who believe in the God of the Bible live a transformed life. Their life does not make sense. They help people for free! They go out of their way to be kind to people they don’t even know. They volunteer and give and help and do things to help those who could never repay them. You would expect these followers of the God of the Bible to be miserable people, to be poor and exhausted from all that volunteering and helping and donating. Yet, they seem to be healthier, happier, and more content than those who live simply to gratify their own selfish desires.

Many of these people give away 10% of their income, and a good number of them give even more, not to mention countless hours of volunteer work. How can people who give so much live happy and healthy lives? How can they have enough for themselves? Especially in this economy?

In a world that is becoming more and more divided. When people find all kinds of reasons to fight and offend and attack, these believers in Jesus come together and enjoy a sense of community based on helping each other and even those outside of their group.

This is very puzzling indeed.

As you can probably tell by now, this story is no regular story. Though many try to discredit it, poke fun at it, and downplay it, it is the most powerful story in the world, because it introduces the listener to the very heart and character of God.

The enemy

This is explained in more detail in my post One Story to Rule Them All, but Jesus explains the existence of evil by claiming “an enemy has done this” (Matthew 13:28). This enemy is called Lucifer (light bearer), Satan (adversary), Devil (false accuser), among other names.

Lucifer had been originally an angel of light.

“You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. - Ezekiel 28:12-15

Lucifer was cast out of heaven because he desired to be God.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. - Isaiah 14:12-15 NKJV

Lucifer started a rebellion in heaven. He wanted to be God. Lucifer believed that he could do a better job than what God was doing.

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. - Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV (bold mine)

Not only did Satan start a rebellion, Revelation 12:4a tells us that "His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth." I understand that to mean that one-third of the angels of heaven followed Satan in his rebellion against God. (In prophecy sometimes stars represent angels Revelation 1:20)

Satan had been so crafty with his lies that I believe it was not until the brutal death of Christ on the cross that the character of Satan was clearly revealed to the angels. Satan's deceptions had been so masterful that even holy beings had not clearly seen the true nature of his rebellion.

These verses help paint a fuller picture of the story of redemption.

You may be wondering, why did God not destroy Satan right away? Why cast him to earth?

God could have destroyed Satan and the rebellious angels as easily as you can cast a pebble to the ground, but He did not do this. God was not going to crush a rebellion by force. Coercion is found only under Satan's government. God's principles are very different. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means He uses. God's government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power.

If God simply crushed Satan and his followers He would have proved Satan right. God would forever appear to be a tyrant instead of a loving God. The whole universe would follow God out of fear of being destroyed and the angels would have forever wondered if Lucifer really would have been a better ruler. 

Time reveals the truth

Satan came to earth and tempted Adam and Eve, and when they fell, they chose Satan over God. Now the universe would watch and see the outcome of Satan's style of leadership.

Aleister Crowley, an occultist from the early 1900s, claims that "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."

I really don't want to chase that rabbit into the occult and satanism, etc. but I mention this just to point out how his law is diametrically opposed to God's law which can be summed up in loving God above everything else and your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:34-40)

God's law is focused on others while Satan's is focused on self. God says "If you love me keep my commandments" (John 14:15) Satan says "Do whatever you want."

Another way of describing this is God has a law, and Satan is against the law.

Being an outlaw can seem harmless, even fun. Doing what you want doesn't seem like an evil way to live one's life. So you can see why Satan would have gained a following, and why many others who did not follow him might still have wondered if maybe Satan was not that bad of an angel, maybe he was on to something.

How we view God

Many seem to view God as a harsh, old-fashioned, stern, all-powerful being who can't wait to zap those who disobey His will. Satan has done a good job spreading his views of God. Sadly he seems to have used the church on many occasions to misrepresent God and turn many away from Him. Causing many to believe that they can indeed be much happier living without God, living as if God did not exist, just doing whatever makes them happy.

Enter Jesus 

God revealed Who He is in the Old Testament. His grace, His mercy, His patience, it’s all there. But that was not enough. Jesus' life on earth is the greatest revelation of who God is.

Through Jesus, God's mercy was manifested to humanity. Jesus was the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). Jesus lived a perfect life, a life of perfect obedience to the law of God, and though He was tempted like us, Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15 [more verses about Jesus' sinlessness]). Since Jesus never sinned, that means He never broke God’s law (1 John 3:4). In living a perfect life Jesus was nothing like the religious leaders of His time.

In living a life that followed the will of God in every aspect with perfection Jesus was not an unpleasant person, rather the opposite, children wanted to be with Him and multitudes followed Him. Jesus brought life and healing and clarity regarding the will of God. Jesus revealed not only the true character of God, but also what a perfect life of obedience looked like, not something terrible, but rather the greatest blessing this world had ever witnessed.

Relating to the Law

Nevertheless, mercy does not set aside justice. The law reveals the attributes of God's character, and not a jot or tittle of it could be changed (Matthew 5:18) to meet humanity in its fallen condition.

God did not change His law, but He sacrificed Himself, in Christ, for the redemption of all humankind.

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” 2 Corinthians 5:19. 

I believe everyone understands that the law requires righteousness,—a righteous life, a perfect character; and we humans cannot offer this to God, because we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). We cannot meet the claims of God's holy law.

But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men. The Desire of Ages page 762

This is how our past sins are forgiven, thanks to God's patience. More than this, Christ imbues us with the attributes of God. He builds up our human character to become more and more like His divine character, full of spiritual strength and beauty. This is how the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ. God can “be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:26. 

I find it amazing how God's love can be been expressed in His justice just like in His mercy. Justice is the foundation of God's government, it is also the fruit of His love. Satan tried to separate mercy from truth and justice. Satan sought to prove that the righteousness of God's law is an enemy to peace and happiness. But Christ shows us that in God's plan justice and mercy are inseparable, the one cannot exist without the other.

“Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10.

Justice and Mercy

By His life and His death, Jesus proved once and for all that God's justice did not destroy His mercy. Jesus also made it clear that sin could be forgiven, and that the law is righteous, and can be perfectly obeyed. Satan's charges against God's government and character were refuted.

God had given humanity unmistakable evidence of His infinite love.

Satan, however, had one more trick up his sleeve. He would now proclaim that mercy destroyed justice, that the death of Christ did away with the Father's law.

The problem with this line of thought is that if it had been possible for the law to be changed or repealed, then Christ did not have to die. I have a whole post on how Jesus prayed to the Father asking if there was any other way, but there wasn't, so Jesus agreed to drink the cup (die on the cross for our sins). (Matthew 26:36-46)

The problem with doing away with the law is that doing so would immortalize transgression, and place the world forever under Satan's control. If the law was faulty in any way and needed to be changed somehow, it would prove Satan's claims that God's government was flawed and that he, Satan, could do a better job as God. It was exactly because the law was changeless, and because humanity could be saved only through obedience to its precepts, that Jesus was lifted up on the cross. Yet the very means by which Christ established the law Satan represented as destroying it. This is where we have the last conflict of the great controversy between Christ and Satan.

The death of Jesus on the cross demonstrates that God's law is perfect and immutable.

The cross also made manifest the true nature of sin, revealing the true character of Satan.

At the cross the destruction of sin and Satan was forever made certain, the redemption of man was assured, and the universe was made eternally secure.

Christ fully comprehended the results of the sacrifice made upon Calvary. To all these, He looked forward when upon the cross He cried out, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Finally, at the end of time, the final destruction of sin will vindicate God's love and establish His honor before a universe of beings who delight to do His will, and in whose heart is His law.

 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,“Write, for these words are true and faithful.” - Revelation 21:1-5 NKJV