John 20:19-30
The Consequential Gospel
1. Peace with God is now available, v. 19-20
Military- Exemption from the rage and havoc of war.
Spiritual- The tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot.
2. The story is not over, v. 22
3. The responsibility is ours, v. 23
Absolution is a pronouncement of remission (forgiveness) of sins to the penitent. Penance is a sacrament and the power to absolve lies with the priest, who can grant release from the guilt of sin to the sinner who is truly contrite, confesses his sin, and promises to perform satisfaction to God.
Here are some of the problems with the concept of absolution…
Man doesn’t have the authority to pronounce forgiveness of sin. Man has the responsibility to announce forgiveness.
Forgiveness doesn’t depend on contrition or how bad we feel.
Man is incapable of satisfying God through performance. Only Jesus can satisfy God…and He has!
-Hebrews 6:1-9
4. God knows what we doubt, v. 24-29
“A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person’s faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection. Believers should acknowledge and wrestle with doubts—not only their own, but their friends’ and neighbors’.”-Tim Keller “The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism”
Mental chewing gum…
Does your conversion still hold wonder for you?
Do you, or anyone else, experience your life in Christ as interesting?
How is doubt at work in your life these days?
What is Jesus inviting you to today?
How will you pray as a result of what you heard today?