Philip James
Well-Known Member
God did not hand over Jesus to Pilate. Who did?This doesn't mean that God has the greater sin...does it?
(If one thinks it was God that put Jesus on the cross)
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will."
How far above was it?
Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God.
Indeed.So then this shows my point. That he who turned over Jesus did so in sin...
not by the will of God...although God permitted it because of His divine strategy.
This makes no sense to me. If this is His strategy then it is also His will.
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose
Everything that Jesus did was in obedience to the Father. Jesus was unblemished in His life. His life was an offering to God...
Indeed! Alleluia!
But it was the devil that put Jesus on the cross. God allowed this as a propitiation to the evil forces that held us captive. In Christ we are set free...BECAUSE there is no more legitimate claim to they who are in Him. The death of Jesus frees up God's entire creation. The death of Jesus was God's "offering" (payment) to the powers that be...
The 'powers that be' never had any legitimate claim on Jesus, or on us for that matter.
not the offering of Jesus.
Jesus' offering was to God...His obedience. The strategy was the Father's. God purchased His creation back to Himself through the redeeming blood of Jesus. God did not hold the world captive...the devil did. The world was "kidnapped" so to speak by the devil.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
So who did God purchase His church from? Himself?
From ourselves. We had chosen death, and were imprisoned in death. By His death Jesus destroyed the gates that kept us from God, and removed the chains that held us fast.
No one need remain in that prison. We but need to follow Him!
The ememy likes to convince us that the gates and chains are still there... But as always, he is a liar.
Remember how God offered up Job to the devil? God does this to defeat the devil and prove him wrong.
In the end it is always righteousness that triumphs. And that is due to not only the tactical victory of Jesus but also God's strategic plan that no one imagined could happen. If they had known (the evil powers) they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Indeed. Alleluia!
Peace!