A Brief Bible Study |
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Your Bible Lesson For The Day
To Whom Does God Offer Justification?
When our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, two criminals were crucified with him. One of the criminals joined the crowd in mocking Jesus. The second criminal rebuked that first criminal, asking him if he didn’t even fear God, since he was under the same sentence of death that Jesus was under. Then that second criminal admitted publicly in front of everyone present that he and the other criminal had indeed committed crimes that deserved the death sentence. Then, when that second criminal asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered his kingdom, Jesus told him that that very day he would be in paradise with Jesus. Jesus’ assuring that criminal that he would be in paradise is a good illustration of to whom God offers justification and the forgiveness of sins. So let us look at the two following passages and then answer the question: “To whom does God offer justification and the forgiveness of sins?”
Luke 24:47 tells us that Jesus told his disciples “repentance and the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all the nations.” Forgiveness of sins is the same thing as justification; it merely states the same truth in a different manner. So to whom did Jesus say the forgiveness of sins and justification should be preached in his name? To all nations, correct?
In Mark 16:15 Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” The gospel is the good news about Jesus, that he paid for our sins on the cross and that we have the forgiveness of our sins and are justified through faith in him. This being true, to whom did Jesus say the gospel of forgiveness and justification should be preached? To all creation, right?
Now, in the above verses who are “all nations” and “all creation”? Do those terms not refer to all people everywhere? Everyone? Then answer the opening question: “To whom does God offer justification and the forgiveness of sins?” The answer is obvious: All people everywhere. Everyone. Even people like you and me. And yes, even criminals like the one on the cross next to Jesus!
Luke 24:47 tells us that Jesus told his disciples “repentance and the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all the nations.” Forgiveness of sins is the same thing as justification; it merely states the same truth in a different manner. So to whom did Jesus say the forgiveness of sins and justification should be preached in his name? To all nations, correct?
In Mark 16:15 Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” The gospel is the good news about Jesus, that he paid for our sins on the cross and that we have the forgiveness of our sins and are justified through faith in him. This being true, to whom did Jesus say the gospel of forgiveness and justification should be preached? To all creation, right?
Now, in the above verses who are “all nations” and “all creation”? Do those terms not refer to all people everywhere? Everyone? Then answer the opening question: “To whom does God offer justification and the forgiveness of sins?” The answer is obvious: All people everywhere. Everyone. Even people like you and me. And yes, even criminals like the one on the cross next to Jesus!
