Soul-stirring stuff

We live in a world where people don't believe in souls. Yet thrilling things happen in this world that can only be described as soul-stirring.

Something like that happened to me again today, and maybe it's contageous. Check out the words of this hymn (but if you recognize it, don't sing them):

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood.
To every believer the promise of God.
The vilest offender who truly believes
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice! Let the people rejoice!

 Uncommon ideas that thrilled my soul:

• God's love for His world, in perfect concert with Christ's love for His world, is so magnificent that He willingly sacrificed His Son in our place. 
• Jesus gave up His life to "atone for sin." He willingly let driven, self-centered men (like you and me) torture Him and crucify Him, but not just to be a martyr or an example. Jesus' sacrifice literally appeased a just God's wrath. My sin, your sin, is offensive to God. Rather than punishing us for that offense, Jesus Himself voluntarily took that punishment in our place.
• Did it work? It worked: "perfect redemption"!
• Redemption? That's right. Someone paid the ransom for me, and it cost blood.
• Now, it's a standing promise of God, available to everyone who'll receive it.
• You don't have to "be good" to earn God's favor. "The vilest offender" is eligible to receive a pardon from God.
• We are pardoned, forgiven, made right with God, the moment we believe.

So, what is this "believe" business? That's another tricky term. Lots of people say they believe in God. By that, they usually mean, "I believe there must be a Supreme Being."

But there's much more to this word belief.

If you tell your child, "I believe in you," you aren't just saying, "I believe you exist." You're saying, "I have confidence in you that you will reach your potential." You're also saying, "I'm going to keep investing myself in you to help make that happen." True belief in your child has two facets. There's an aspect of appreciation for the character of your child, and there's an aspect of your commitment to him.

If you say, "I believe in the president," you aren't just saying, "I believe the president exists." You are saying, "I believe that the president is good for our country. I believe in his leadership. I will willingly follow him as a citizen of this country because I am convinced he is leading us in the right direction." True belief in the president has two facets. There's an aspect of appreciation for the character of the president, and there's an aspect of your commitment to him.

In the same way, if you say, "I believe in God," you aren't just saying, "I believe God exists." You're saying, "I believe God is God. He is fully in control of the Universe and of me. I unconditionally relinquish my autonomy and surrender my goals and my agenda to Him. And I believe that, with Him in charge, I am inconceivably better off than when I'm in charge."

The Bible says the same thing. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." "God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.""As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God."

This is soul-stirring stuff. I hope it helps you understand why I am a Christian.

Jesus Christ "opened the life gate that all may go in."

I'd love for you to join me.