Subject: Re: God's love cannot be meeting point with man
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 08:24:23 GMT
From:   (Nigel B. Mitchell)
Reply-To:  
Newsgroups: aus.religion.christian

In  (Andrew Bromage) wrote:

>Nigel, I have a question which I'd like clarification on.  Well, I
>think I already know what your answer will be, but if you were to
>answer it publically, it might help clear up a few misconceptions which
>are going around about what you believe.

>The question is this:  If our meeting point with God is in his love, and
>if we are saved precisely because God loves us, and no legal process is
>required to do so, what do you mean when you assert that "Jesus died for
>us"?  What was actually achieved on the cross and in his resurrection?

Hi, Andrew.

I have explained this here before, but I am happy to do so again. It
is the heart of the Good news.

The Incarnation, God coming amongst us in the flesh in Jesus Christ,
is the sign for humanity of God's love. Jesus taught how people can
live to get the most out of life, and his teachings are summed up in
"Love God, and love your neighbour". 

Unfortunately, many people rejected Jesus and his teachings. They
conspired to crucify him. For those who witnessed those events, it was
merely another political/sectarian execution, but to us, with the
perspective of time and faith, it was deicide.

If God was an angry and vindictive tyrant, he could, would, and
possibly should have brought humanity to a painful end at that point.
But by raising Jesus from the dead, he demonstrated that his love is
everlasting, and triumphs over evil and death. The Cross is the sign
and symbol of that all- conquering love.

There is lots more, but that is the crux of the matter (pun intended)

cheers

N+

Nigel B. Mitchell