The death of Jesus Christ upon the cross as a divine provision for healing and justice is in view, today. By establishing faith, hope (i.e., specific sacred expectations), and victory over death through resurrection and ascension, the cross serves as the remedy for multiple evils among believers and within the society at large. The disciples of the Lord are further equipped to meet challenges that include being falsely accused, betrayal, inequality, oppression, poverty, pretension, presumption, slander, and tyranny. Divinity is by no means blind, indifferent, unaware, or uncaring. The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Gift” (Level 1 with 73 points, a member since March 31, 2016) posted the following:
What is God's encouragement for those disheartened because of injustice ?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. (Acts 10: 36-42, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Trust and The Cross? (04/20/2016); The World and The Cross? (04/19/2016); A Guarantee of Judgment? (04/15/2016); Enduring As A Believer? (12/06/2015); All Is Vanity? (07/28/2015); Assurances of Salvation? (10/07/2013); Of War and Judgment (10/08/2013); Heart, Brain or Spirit? (10/09/2013)
“Gift”, for many the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross has been only a spark that kindles the fires of bereavement, condemnation, loss, and sorrow. The Lord was arrested, provoked, and falsely accused before the High Priest and Sanhedrin court. He also was tried, mocked, and scourged by Herod and by Pontius Pilate, representing the civil law of Judea, and the Roman empire. Even so, in the plan of GOD to make Deity fully knowable, and correctly known to created beings and living creatures, the cross is the foremost answer from GOD addressing the vast range of needs for affirmation, comfort, empathy, and encouragement. Mature Christians trust that, through operations of the Holy Spirit, blood, correction, and truth from the cross continue to flow to here and now. Like mercy, justice is a rubric of judgment—restoring balance and peace by applying divine law (i.e., the expressed will of GOD) to resolve conflict and settle disputes. Justice and mercy become accessible only by entering into judgment, and are never the outcome of reprisal, retribution, and revenge. The outcome of judgment always is blessing. The demands of judgment include agreement, attention to detail, authority, balance, completeness, corroboration, discipline, discovery, humility, impartiality, lawfulness, order, righteousness, truth, and unity. Injustice (simply put, unfair treatment) relates to bias, denial of benefits, oppression, persecution, prejudice, and violation of ones privileges and rights established through law. It is faith and the promises of GOD that allow believers to close their spirit to injustice. Thus, the cross also should be respected as an assurance that divinity will prevail over all corruption, cruelty, violence, and miscarriage of judgment. Consider again how these ideas are shared using language from the Bible:
(1.) Malachi 3: 13-18, King James Version (KJV): 13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. 16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
(2.) Romans 5: 17-19, KJV: 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
(3.) Ecclesiastes 5: 8, KJV: 8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Exodus 34: 4-8, KJV: 4 And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone. 5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. 8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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