WTKM  Devotions: Why Did Jesus Have To Die?

Friday: April 2, 2010

Title:  To Give Us Eternal Life

 

I recently heard a speaker tell an audience that the most precious thing we have is “time.”  He reminded us that we can buy time or borrow it.  Each one of us has only 24 hours in a day.  When those 24 hours are over (and they go so quickly) we can never go back and relive them.  That’s how it is with the years of our lives also.  We have only so many years (which again go so quickly) and then they are over.  Like the hours we cannot go back and relive them either.

 

Hi, I’m Pastor Jeff Schimp of Glacier Hills Bible Church here in Hartford, Wisconsin.  This Easter week I have been sharing each day on WTKM  radio reasons why Jesus had to die.  One of the clearest reasons Jesus had to die was that He might give to us eternal life.  Listen to the words of the Bible:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

 

Furthermore the Bible goes on to say:

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on Him.” John 3:36

 

The death of Jesus Christ was so that you and I might have eternal life.  When we see how quickly the hours and then the years pass we begin to realize how very temporary life for us on this earth is.  God has placed within the human soul a longing of that which is eternal and lasting.  In the Bible Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, “He has put eternity into man’s heart.”  While we fight aging with face creams and exercise the reality is that death is coming for each one of us.

 

The only true escape from the approach of death is found in gaining eternal life.  Gaining eternal life is what this day “Good Friday” is all about.  Jesus Christ gave His life upon the Cross of Calvary so that you and I might have “everlasting life.”  That life is gained as we place our trust in Jesus Christ to be our Savior.   Listen again to what the Bible says about becoming a Christian:  “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

 

Furthermore the scripture states, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:12 .

 

Can you stop for just a moment and answer one question.  What have you done with Jesus?  Have you placed your faith in Him as your Savior and Lord and as the One Who gives you everlasting life?  That decision is the most important decision you will ever make.  I urge you to consider it carefully.

 

I’d like to offer you additional help in this area.  You may contact me through our web page  www.Glacierhillschurch.org While you are there you will see our invite to our Good Friday and Easter Services along with location and times.

 

God bless and have a wonderful day!

WTKM Devotions Why did Jesus have to die?

Thursday:  April 1, 2010

Title:  That we might die to sin and live to righteousness

 

I’m sure most of us have begun our days with many good intentions of things we “intended” to do but at the end of the day never got them done.  The same is true in another area of our lives.  We “intend” to deal with some issues in our lives like becoming more patient with our spouse or kinder to our children.  Yet, we often find ourselves trapped in the same defeating behavior  again and again.

 

Hi, I’m Pastor Jeff Schimp of Glacier Hills Bible Church here in Hartford, Wisconsin.  During this week I am addressing the topic “Why did Jesus have to die?”  One of the reasons Jesus had to die was because you and I are powerless in ourselves over our sinful actions and patterns of life.  Now what I have said is a lot to grasp, but let me begin to explain with a Bible verse:

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

I Peter 2:24

Our defeating behavior is caused by our nature.  The Bible tells us that we are born with a sinful nature and that the outcome of that in our lives is our wrong behavior.  Now that’s not and excuse for our behavior.  That tells us that we have a problem which needs attention.  But try as I might to control my behavior I will still struggle against my sinful nature.

 

Now here is where the death of Jesus applies.  I refer again to the passage I read, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin …” The Bible tells us that our old nature was in the mind of God hung upon the Cross (tree) with Jesus Christ and that it might die.  The result is that with the old nature dead we might live for righteousness (those things that are good).

 

This is what God applies to those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.  The believer in Jesus Christ is given a new nature and a new power, the power of Christ within to live a new life.  The Bible says it this way. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ , he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” II Corinthians 5:17

 

When I trust Jesus Christ and His death upon the Cross for the forgiveness of my sins I am given a new nature and with that new nature God places new desires within my heart.  I now desire to live a new life and am given power to carry it out.  Again the Bible says, “Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from life to death, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”

Romans 6:13 .

 

The springtime all around us speaks of new life.  With great energy some of the spring flowers are bursting through the soil.  The buds on the trees are preparing themselves to open.  It’s a time of new life.  How about for you?  If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior are you ready to trust Him and experience “New Life’?

 

I’d like to help you further.  You can find contact information on our web page www.Glacierhillschurch.org While you are there you will find an invite to our Easter Weekend Services at Glacier Hills Bible Church along with location and times.

 

My God bless you today as you remember that Jesus died so that you and I might have new life!

WTKM Devotions: Why Did Jesus Have To Die?

Wednesday:  March 31, 2010

Title:  For the Forgiveness of our Sins

 

Have you ever had someone not give you forgiveness for something you did against them?  Some people can hold a bitter grudge against us and despite our offering apology and seeking forgiveness offer us only coldness.  For those who have experienced this (and many have), this is a painful, painful experience.

 

Hi, I’m Pastor Jeff Schimp of Glacier Hills Bible Church here in Hartford, Wisconsin.  This week I am addressing the question, “Why did Jesus have to die?”  Interestingly enough the answer to this question relates to my opening words about people who will not forgive.  You see, the reason Jesus Christ had to die was that He might offer Forgiveness for our sins.  Now that’s a pretty big concept, but let me start with reading a Bible verse which says just that:

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7

 

In the word “Forgiveness” we will find the word “give.”  When we forgive someone for a wrong they have done to us we don’t get even.  Instead we “give” away our right to get even or to be angry.  In our world today it seems like the smallest thing done against us is a reason to “sue” somebody.  Forgiveness gives up that right.

 

That’s what God does when He forgives us.  In Psalm 103:12 God tells us that “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”

 

But all this raises a problem.  Some things require more than simple forgiveness.  For example take a Judge who simply asked the defendant “Are you sorry?” and then simply said upon his “yes’ answer “go your way”.  Something is wrong with this picture.  Something has been stolen or someone has been hurt or suffered loss.  Something inside of us cries out saying “Where is the Justice in this?” especially if we are the one that was hurt of suffered loss.

 

Now that is why Jesus had to die!  There was a penalty that had to be paid before forgiveness could be offered for our sins.  It’s like the Judge of the Universe stepped down from the bench and said, “I will pay the penalty” so that you can be forgiven and go free.  This is what Jesus Christ has done for us.  His death was the payment for our sins so that we might be forgiven and go free.

 

God offers to each of one of us the gift of forgiveness and eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ.  All He requires is that we be willing to accept the gift He offers us by putting our trust in His Son Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.  Acts 10:43 of the Bible says, “Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name.”

 

You can find out more or contact me through our web page  www.Glacierhillschurch.org While you are there you will also see our invite along with times and location to our Easter Weekend Services at Glacier Hills Bible Church.

 

Remember, Jesus died so that you and I might have the forgiveness of sins.  May God bless you today!

WTKM  Devotion “Why did Jesus have to die?”

Tuesday:  March 30, 2010

Reason 2:  To Show His Own Love for Us?

 

This is the week leading up to Easter Sunday.  This Friday is known as “Good Friday?”  Have you ever wondered why the day in which Jesus’ death is remembered is called “Good Friday?”  Like most of you I remember the day in which my loved ones and friends died.  But I certainly don’t call it a “good” day.

Hi, I’m Pastor Jeff Schimp of Glacier Hills Bible Church here in Hartford, WI.  The day in which Jesus died is remembered as “Good Friday” because the death of Jesus Christ was for our good.  The death of Jesus was not an accident or a mistake or the result of circumstances.  It was as I shared yesterday because God loved us and sent His Son Jesus to meet our need of a Savior.  Jesus died to show us the love of God.

 

Today I want to share from the Bible another reason for the death of Jesus.  It is that Jesus Christ Himself might show us His Own love for us.  Listen to these words from the Bible:

“…Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

The Bible (God’s Word to us) makes it very clear that Jesus Christ gave up His life for us because He loved us.  His death was not the result of cruel circumstances.  He willingly and purposely came into this world (our world) to live among us and then to give His life for us.

 

The Apostle Paul the writer of the New Testament book of Galatians says it this way:

“[He] the loved me and gave Himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20

 

Jesus Christ came into the world because I had a need for a Savior.  It is my sin that had cut me off from God.  So the sufferings of Jesus Christ upon that Cross had everything to do with me.  He loved me enough to see my need and then to give His life for me.

 

This is the need of every single human being that has ever or will ever live upon this earth.  Jesus Christ loved us and gave His life for us.  He now gives us the opportunity to either accept or reject His love.   In the Bible we read these words, “To all who receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God “  John 1:12 .

 

Let me personalize this a bit.  Look into your own heart.  Have you accepted the Love Jesus Christ has for you by inviting Him into your life?  Do you know for certain that when you die  you will spend eternity in heaven with Him?  The message of Good Friday is that because of Jesus’ death we can know.  That’s why Jesus had to die.

 

I’d like to help you more if you have questions.  You can find contact information at www.Glacierhillschurch.org You can also find more information about our Good Friday and Easter Services at Glacier Hills Bible Church.

May God bless you and may you know that Jesus Christ died for you because He loves you.  Have a good day!

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WTKM  Devotions  “Why Did Jesus Have to Die?”
Monday March 29, 2010
Reason 1:  To Show Us God’s Immeasurable Love

This coming Friday many will attend Church Services to Observe “Good Friday .”  It is the day in which the death of Jesus Christ is remembered.  We place stones and monuments in cemeteries to remember our loved ones or to honor those who have served our country.  We remember the life of each of these people.  But on Good Friday we remember the “death” of Jesus.  This raises the question, “Why then did Jesus have to die?”

Hi.  I’m Pastor Jeff Schimp of Glacier Hills Bible Church here in Hartford, Wisconsin.  This week on WTKM radio I am addressing the question, “Why did Jesus have to die?”  Join me each day this week as I share with from the Word of God as we seek to answer this question.

The Bible tells us that one of the reasons Jesus had to die was to show God’s Immeasurable Love for us.  Listen to these words from the Bible:
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:7-8   NIV
Notice that God demonstrates His Own love for us in sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for us.  The Bible states that while it is possible that someone might give his life for a righteous man, God did something altogether different than this.  He gave His Son Jesus Christ to die for you and me while we were still sinners.

One of the hardest things for us to admit is that we are sinners.  We prefer to talk about having issues or maybe our addictions.  But the Bible makes it clear that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”  Romans 3:23 .  We have all failed to keep God’s perfect law and as a result are kept from being able to enter God’s presence now or in eternity.  This is the universal human problem and it is huge.

The Good News (the Bible calls it the Gospel which means good news) is that God loved us so very much that He reached down into this world in the form of Jesus Christ to give His life upon that cross which we remember on Good Friday so that eternal life would be available for all who would receive it.  Listen to these words from the Bible:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   John 3:16   NIV

Why did Jesus have to die?  Jesus had to die because God loves us so very much, an immeasurable love, which required the death of His Son for our sins.  In other words, “God loves you and me so much that He would rather die than live without us.”

Before I end today I’d like to invite you to our Good Friday and Easter Services at Glacier Hills Bible Church.  You can check our Web Page  www.Glacierhillschurch.org for times and location.  You may also contact me for further help through the Contact Section on our Web Page.  

Have a blessed day and know that God loves you with an immeasurable love!

Happiness is an ice cream cone.

This is what I tell my children.  Happiness is not peace.  Happiness is not joy.  Happiness is fleeting and from this world.

While you are eating the ice cream - you are happy.  It's so delicious - melts in your mouth - sweet - yummy - blaa blaa blaa.  But it melts, it gets eaten and two minutes after you're done, you want more.  An ice cream cone doesn't last.  It is like happiness; it lasts a short while.

I believe we all pursue Joy - our soul longs for it.  We all seek peace - peace of mind - peace in our life.

If you believe what you see on TV - you are after the ice cream cone.  For me, I believe I will find peace and joy when I align my wants to my needs.  If I only want what I need, life would be easier.  So the next question is how do I know what I need?

If I would determine what I need by myself, I'm destined to fail.  Reading God's Word gives me the guide to my needs.  Prayer gives me a chance to be thankful and ask for help to understand my needs - to help me align my wants to my needs.  Because the Lord wants me to make my needs His needs.  Wow - that really takes the self out of the picture - doesn't it?

For me, I believe when my wants are His needs, peace of mind comes as a hug from the Holy Spirit.  Joy is a light from within through Jesus Christ.  Both align to help me walk through this life to honor God our Father in heaven.

Peace & Joy,