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What was so good about Good Friday?

...ere is no forgiveness for our sins. If Christ did not die, then he could not be raised. If Christ did not die, then there was no atonement for our sins (1 Jn 2:2; 1 Jn 4:10). And that is why Good Friday is good. Because without the death of Jesus, there is no redemptive forgiveness from God and thus no hope for ourselves. Eph 1:7-8a In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. Happy Easter everyone :)...

The Author of Life Knew Death For Our Sake!

...ts to the forgiveness of sin and new birth. Through “the water of rebirth” we receive the “renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5) that gives new life, and, as Peter says, “as an appeal to God for a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism brings about forgiveness and displays our repentance over our former life. Similarly, it is through the partaking of the Eucharist that we take on the eternal life that Jesus gives, to become a “partaker of the Lord’s immortality” as Clement of Alexandria wrote, and to make a reality the eating of the bread of life and being sustained by “every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deut. 8:3)....

Lent Day 39: Leo the Great: Sermon XLIX (On Lent XI)

...side from forgiveness and reconciliation amongst ourselves, Leo also says that our fast-times should be “fat and abound” with regards to almsgiving and care of the poor. “Let each bestow on the weak and destitute those dainties which he denies himself”, Leo says, which is reminiscent of other ancient sources which say similar things with regards to fasting, and to giving to the poor whatever you didn't use for yourself that day. Leo ends this sermon with an interesting view on forgiveness of sins being tied to baptism, repentance and almsgiving, and also quotes Sirach 3:30 as Scripture to back up his point. Regardless of that, it is right to focus on...

He is risen!

...  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. — 1 Peter 1:3-5...

The Coming of Jesus: The Olivet Discourse – Part 2

...eived the forgiveness of sins…in our habitation God dwells in us….This is the spiritual temple built for the Lord.”   The Temple Destroyed So let's look at how it all “came to pass” according to the historical record by Josephus. I’ve included some large quotes here from Josephus, documenting the destruction of the temple. It might seem a bit lengthy, but I thought it would be worth it in order to help in understanding just how great and terrible this Day really was! Then one of the soldiers, without awaiting any orders and with no dread of so momentous a deed, but urged on by some supernatural force, snatched a blazing piece of wood and, c...

Who is the New Jerusalem?

...eived the forgiveness of sins…in our habitation God dwells in us….This is the spiritual temple built for the Lord.”   Examining the rest of the description of the New Jerusalem, the link between the symbolism of the body of believers as a temple and holy structure from the Epistles becomes clearer, as we can see from Ephesians. Eph 2:19-22So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord...