Nathanael's blog

Sunday night; during youth, Jim went over Ephesians chapter 2. The first couple of verses immediately hit me

(2;1-2) “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of the world.”

(2;4-5) “But because of his Great love for us. God who is rich in mercy made us us alive in Christ”

What an awesome truth!

The fact that we were dead in things, such as: Guilt,shame, pain, anger and even feelings of uselessness , things that seek to keep up separate (meaning of sin). We then commit the sins that we think of taking drugs, stealing and fornication just to name a few in order to try to fill that void.   I know in my life, I felt  anger, guilt and pain Etc.–

Growing-up I went to to church. I knew What the Bible said:  that God sent his only Son to so that We might be saved(set free)  from these things. (John 3:16-17) For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world though Him

But I still could not bring myself to that God loved me, after all I am in a wheelchair. ” if God did love me why would he do this to me?”

For the Answer to that Question see: http://nathanaelsblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/life-from-a-gifted-prospective/

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As I was reading  the rest of Ephesians Monday morning  I came across Verse(s) 1 of Chapter 5 “Be imitators of God, as dearly loved Children”  Why? verse 2. “Just as Christ loved us”

After I finished reading, I rolled to the hill overlooking the baseball field to watch the sun rise; just as the first bands of light was breaking from  behind the clouds, giving everything a soft  glow; the birds started to sing.

I then thought “this is exactly what Adam and Eve saw (minus the ball field) They were provided that awesome view along with all the food they could eat (Gen 2:16) because Abba, God LOVED them.

But if you know the story Adam and Eve did fall from Grace(Gen 3)  But God already had a plan  set in motion.

Thousands of years later, He would send Jesus to die for our sins.

Isa 53:5 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( ssee also 2 peter 2:24)

The Thought that God Loves mankind so much, that he would give  his very best, so that I would not have to suffer death (Romans 6) but that we have life through Chris.

The thought that we get to experience sun rises, sunsets, life art and others.. and the thought that as believers we can do it through NOTHING but the belief in Christ (John 14:6) free from Guilt, and shame is AMAZING to me.

I didnt even scratch the surface, or do the love of God justice. Romans 5:8 rings forever in my Memory”But God demonstrates His own love for us in this that while we were  still sinners Christ died for us”

This Easter I encourage everyone to view the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, in light of God’s love and willingness to forgive us our sins;  because of that forgivness  we can rest in the knowledge that we are “alive in Christ“

http://nathanaelsblog.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/summing-up-the-bible/

http://nathanaelsblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/gods-design/

http://nathanaelsblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/by-the-grace-of-god/