Thrust Statement: Jesus is God’s answer to the problem of evil.
Scripture Reading: Acts 4:12
As one reads the daily news and listens day after day to the current events on television with all its horrors, one wonders whether or not this twenty-first century is not the beginning of a new Dark Age. As one looks at the events that transpired in the last century (for example, two world wars), one is conscious that something is wrong with the world—something that is mysteriously and radically wrong. Humanity is faced with the fact of evil, the fact of guilt, and the fact of death. As one peruses the channels of history, one’s faith is sadly shaken in the goodness of men and women. One witnesses the battling inconsistencies in humanity as one observes life as it fluctuates between good and evil. Just a brief fleeting glance at the annals of history confirms the depravity of men and women. In other words, life oscillates between heights and depths, between unselfish devotion to the ideal and ruthless egotism, between the desire to serve and between the lust for power, and between one’s inherent desire to love and between one’s self-assertion, which self-assertion works disorder in the world.
As the world turns farther and farther away from Christ, the world becomes less and less moral in its reaction toward other human beings. Just a casual reading of the newspapers and the viewing of the news on television reveal the utter disregard for human life and moral ethics in this world. If one wishes to focus upon the world at large, one observes evil in its full bloom. A laid-back glance at the world, one witnesses greed, lust, murder, hate, drunkenness, homosexuality, marital infidelity, and so on. In all these sins, one views the age-long predicament of modern humanity—moral beings who are sinners. What is the answer to the sin problem of lost humanity? The solution is found in no one else except Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. It is in this vein that Peter addresses the religious leaders concerning their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).[1] Only redemption offered by Christ can meet the sins of the human race.
This world is full of sin and suffering, but sin and sufferings are not the only enemies of humanity. One enemy still stands out with devastating results—death. In spite of the definiteness of death, many, so it seems, act as if death is not a reality, at least not for themselves. In other words, numerous individuals act as if they are not made to die. The author of Hebrews calls attention to the reality of death and judgment: “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:26). If one wishes to gain victory over death, this triumph can only be found in Jesus Christ. Paul addresses this issue of death this way: “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Paul continues his thoughts by saying, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (15:57).
The answer to the world’s problems, as stated by Paul, is found in Jesus. Yet, the world, as a whole, looks upon Jesus of Nazareth as a strange man upon the Cross. Nevertheless, countless thousands have found and still find the amazing wonder of God’s forgiveness, and, at the same time, find divine victory over pain, over sin, and over death. One can hardly focus upon God’s act of deliverance without a realization that this rescue from damnation comes from beyond history. Even though salvation comes from outside of history, nevertheless, one beholds salvation given to sinful humanity in terms of history. In this frame of mind, John writes: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,d who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
As one reflects upon John 1:14, one is immediately conscious that God sent His Son into the world to redeem the world, that is to say, “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (3:16-17). John begins his Gospel with eternity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (1:1-3). One is never complete without one’s heart set upon eternity. Life, in and of itself, can never satisfy the inner longings of men and women since there is in everyone a consciousness of the eternal. Life on this planet points beyond itself. One knows institutively that there is life beyond this life. It is in this vein that Solomon, through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, penned these words: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Even though men and women have a built in system of eternity, yet, while Christians are upon planet earth, they must fight a spiritual battle to make this world a better place for future generations (Matthew 5:13-16; Philippians 2:12-18). The Christian’s hope is still set on God and the time beyond death and the fashions of this world. It is this same regard that Jesus says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Also, Paul, in writing to the Christians at Colossae, expresses the need to look beyond this life in one’s spiritual earthly sojourn: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).
Christians are
members of the Kingdom of Heaven, the kingdom spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Daniel 2).
Within this kingdom, Christians still work toward and pray for God’s will to be
performed on earth. In fact, Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). Christians are to work toward this end—“Your will be done on earth.” It is because of one’s belief in
eternal life beyond the grave that makes life meaningful in spite of the
sufferings experienced here in this earthly life. This consciousness brings one
face to face with the meaning of “believe.” What does it mean to you to say
that you believe in Jesus? Hopefully, it means committing yourself to the Christ
and all that implies. Yes, it is belief in eternal life beyond the grave that
gives meaning—real meaning—to this life. The need of men and women on planet
earth is none other than Christ the Savior of the world.
Once more, with just a casual glance at the world of humanity, one’s faith in civilization is sadly shaken. The war in Iraq with its radical Islamic extremists is a classic example of the breakdown and disillusionment of the modern world with all its intellectual and moral chaos, a world without the God of the Bible. Even though this world is a world of intellectual and scientific advancement, nevertheless, one witnesses that even this world of modern times is the repeat, as it were, of the dark ages in which chaos reigned between the 5th and 15th centuries AD. As stated above, the human race is faced with the fact of evil, the fact of guilt, and the fact of death. The only answer to the modern day dilemma can only be found in the Gospel of God, which is Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. The Gospel is the Good News of deliverance from evil, guilt, and death. It is not education that will transform the world into the kingdom of God, but rather the transforming message of the Gospel of Peace. Paul expresses the force of this statement to the Corinthians: “God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). This message is foolishness to the world of unbelief. As one stands, as it were, before the Cross of Jesus, one cannot condone the sins of humanity. Man’s inhumanity to man can only be eliminated through Jesus. The message of salvation through Jesus is the only hope for humanity.
The sins of every individual have an indelible quality. One cannot explain sin away or ignore or forget it. The newspapers and television are constant reminders of sin in all of its horrors. Many individuals live as if God does not exist. In other words, their lives move on a plane that is remote from God. Unfortunately, countless people live their lives without reflecting upon the presence of God and live their lives alone as if they themselves are the sole masters of their own lives. What is sin? One can state categorically that sin is life without God. Without Jesus, one is under the condemnation of God, that is to say, the wrath of God. God’s remedy for sin is none other than Jesus’ death upon the Cross. The death of Jesus is not a catastrophe, but rather the victory of God over the dominion of sin. Today, believers are incorporated into the Body of Jesus through faith and the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit. For almost two thousand years, Christians have celebrated the Lord’s Supper, as it is generally called, in order to share, as it were, in the atonement produced by the death of Jesus. In the observance of the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine, the Gospel is presented as a message concerning the gift of eternal life.
In Jesus, one is able to escape separation from God—guilt is removed. If one looses God, one looses oneself. The one thing that stands out in Christianity that is not found in religions outside of Christianity is that God became a man and came to planet earth to redeem lost humanity. For instance, the gods of India never died for the sins of humankind nor did they give their lives as a ransom for many. At the very heart of the Bible stands the idea of guilt as separation from God. Attention is called once more to the statement that there is nothing in any religion outside of Christianity that sets forth the belief of a man who came from eternity to earth to reconcile individuals to God through His own personal sacrifice of His life so that those who are separated from God by guilt and sin can be reconciled. At the very heart of Holy Scripture is the idea of the guilt of sin separating one from God. This One who came from eternity into time is the One that Paul writes about as he seeks to encourage the Corinthians to remember his message of salvation: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:2).
Humanity wants every kind of redemption from evil except the evil that strikes at the very heart of every person—the guilt of sin that burdens. The guilt of sin means that all is not well. What is the answer? Humanity’s need is Christ the Savior of the world. The spiritual health of every human being is dependent upon a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Paul addresses God’s response to the sin problem:
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sina for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)
Isaiah (739 BC), too, dealt with the consequence of sin in all its ugliness—separation from God. To deal with this estrangement from God, God Himself devised the means of reconciliation through Jesus. Isaiah writes: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). This prophecy finds its fulfillment in the crucifixion of Christ. It is in Him and through Him that God breaks down the barrier of guilt. Peace and reconciliation with God is accomplished for those who put their trust in Him as the Atoner for their guilt. One can hear the words of God echoing, as it were, in the hearts of those who respond to Jesus: “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Isaiah 53 is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is in Him and through Him alone that the atoning event of redemption took place. In spite of the Jews rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, nevertheless, the Cross is still the crown and the climax of His whole atoning work of reconciliation. This atoning work took place through Him alone, not through Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Mohammed, or any other so-called gods or men. It is in this vein that Jesus states emphatically that He and He alone is God’s Way of salvation: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Guilt is the fate
of humanity. Paul writes: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God” (Romans 3:23).
One cannot explain sin away; one cannot ignore it or forget it. In the words of
Paul, one can only cry out: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from
this body of death (7:24)? Immediately following Paul’s penetrating
question, he gives the answer: “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord”
(7:25)! John also writes with sensitive insight
about one’s hope, in spite of one’s own feelings of inadequacy in his or her
struggles to live the Christian life: “This then is how we know that we belong
to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20
whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and
he knows everything” (1 John 3:19-20).
For Paul, death is an inevitable fact. All humanity faces the certain
and ruthless and final fact of death—no one can escape. Death still paints a
picture of guilt and evil. On the surface, hope seems to be doomed for
humanity. Yet, in spite of seemingly hopelessness for humanity, God provides
forgiveness and reconciliation in spite of all the seemingly hopelessness of
the past that appears to be beyond repair.
Physical death still strikes terror in the hearts of men and women. Death reminds everyone of the brevity of his or her earthly life. Everyone fades as a leaf. In spite of the stark reality of death, many individuals still live as if they are not made to die. Yet, death is certain. Remember, as stated above, the author of Hebrews expresses the certainty of death this way: “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Humanity’s victory over death is Jesus Christ. In Him and Him alone is death swallowed up in victory. God’s answer to humanity’s need is found in the story of redemption (the Gospel). The story of redemption is about God moving in this world through a human life, namely, Jesus. It is through his birth, death, and resurrection that God accomplished victory over the grave. The story of Christ is the story of power from beyond this world of time. It is in time that one witnesses God moving and acting in order to bring about reconciliation of lost humanity. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, one beholds one of the mightiest activities of God in the universe—forgiveness of sins through the giving of His One and only Son. In this act, God brings the power of the eternal world into this world of sin and death. God brings together eternity and time.
CONCLUSION
In the Cross of Jesus, one is painfully aware of the horror of sin in all of its heinousness and filth and utter degradation. On the other hand, one is also conscious of the revelation of God’s redeeming love in all of its beauty and compassion and mercy. Who can deliver one from evil, guilt, and death? The answer is found in Jesus who is able to liberate one from condemnation. Salvation can only come from outside oneself; it must come from the other side of reality—God who is eternal. In salvation, one observes the Trinity at work. Jesus who is not of history was nevertheless in history. In Him, one sees the unique act of God—an act to accomplish humanity’s need of salvation. This is what the Incarnation is all about. John writes: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,d who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The Incarnation is the very heart and pulse beat of one’s faith.
As one reflects upon humanity’s need, one should remember that the center of the world is God, not humanity. God’s claim upon humanity is founded in the very nature of God Himself. Even though individuals may reject God’s claim upon themselves, they cannot escape it. Sin has divided and alienated and split up humanity. Yet, men and women are not without hope. Men and women can find their wholeness in God through Jesus the Savior of the world. The advent of Christ into this sinful world of humanity makes a new beginning—God’s new beginning. In Jesus, God is still at work with the wrongness of humanity. This wrongness of human life is dealt with in the human life of the infinite God. In Jesus, one witnesses God breaking into human history. The Christian faith does justice to the world of sin and shame. On the other hand, world religions do not. A classic example, as stated earlier, surrounds the radicals of the Islam religion. On the other hand, Christianity does justice to the world of men and women. God is still acting and has acted in the midst of a world having gone wrong through its rejection of the One who is called the “Prince of Peace.” It is in Christianity that every person has significance. God is in action in Jesus Christ. In conclusion, listen to the words of Isaiah and of Paul:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,b Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has
gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who
reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the
world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has
committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We
are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal
through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21
God made him who had no sin to be sina for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)