Today marks the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech. This speech ranks as one of the most inspirational and compelling speeches ever delivered. Dr. King touched hearts with his words and sparked change in our country.
Congress passed the civil rights bill. Integration became the policy for public schools. And a people group, oppressed simply because of the color of skin, began to taste the freedoms our constitution spelled out for every American citizen.
Fifty years later, everyone agrees there is more work to be done. Even though we have traveled many miles down the road of social equality, there are many miles left to go.
The issue is near and dear to my heart. I was 5 in 1963, living near Atlanta, GA. I experienced integration first hand. By the time I reached high school, our school system was fully integrated. I felt the deep tension of two groups trying to figure out how to live harmoniously. Some school days were frightening. Fights in the hallways were common, and on several occasions riots broke out.
I graduated high school in 1976. Some changes had occurred. The way previous generations thought about those of a different skin color was giving way to a new mindset. Going to school together, competing against each other both academically and athletically, and learning to be friends changes the way you view each other. We were starting to see each other as equals.
One would think that our country was well on its way to seeing Dr. King’s dream fulfilled. Headlines news today tells us that is not the case. Racism still plagues this nation and prejudice still resides in the hearts of people. Is there a solution?
Jesus Christ is the cure to our heart problems. He alone is the One who can bring healing to our souls and empower us to live and love as one. Paul spelled out this reality in his letter to the Galatians. To this group rife with divisions and prejudices, he wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
In Christ, we have new hearts. As the writer of Hebrews stated, Jesus Christ has placed his laws of faith, hope and love in our minds and has written them on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). In Christ, we have the Holy Spirit, the One who takes the things of Christ and makes them real to us. In Christ, we live in His love spelled out in the New Covenant. In Christ we find unity and harmony. In Christ, racism finds its end.
Jesus Christ is the solution.
Every Sunday, at our church service in Carrollton, TX, we see this reality as believers from all walks of life and every ethnic group come together to worship as one the One who loves us and gave His life for us.
God so loves the world. His grace is there for the “whosoever wills”, regardless of skin color or ethnic background. This is why we do what we do as a ministry. This is why I’ve given my life to the proclamation of Jesus Christ. The world needs Him!
Month: August 2013
Basic Gospel — Your Sins Have Been Forgiven
Forgiveness ranks as the number one topic of discussion on the Basic Gospel broadcast. Here are three things we have learned from all the questions that have been asked about this critical issue:
- The forgiveness of God is greatly misunderstood,
- People like to argue about forgiveness,
- People long to have forgiveness.
You can understand why forgiveness is such a hot topic. All of us sin. This reality raises numerous questions in our minds.
- What do I do when I sin?
- How can I know that God has forgiven my sin?
- If He has forgiven me, why do I keep doing the same sin over and over?
Here is the good news. All of these questions are answered by the three words Jesus uttered from the cross, “It is finished!”
Jesus paid the debt in full. Nothing more needs to be done, or can be done concerning forgiveness of sins.
I wished I had known this truth early in life.
With each sin I committed in those days, I felt I needed to do something to get it forgiven. I prayed. I promised. I studied the Bible. I made deals with God. But nothing changed. The sad reality was I believed what I did after I sinned was more important in securing forgiveness than the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
I wanted His forgiveness so badly, but in spite of all my efforts, I never felt forgiven.
The glorious truth is that there was nothing I could do to gain God’s forgiveness. Jesus had already done the work. He forgave all of my sins. His shed blood took them away once and for all.
When His finished work finally hit my heart, the weight of guilt lifted from my shoulders. And something even better happened. The love of God broke through to my soul. It was the first time that I knew, I mean really knew, that He loved me.
This is what I wanted more than anything. I think we all want to truly know that God loves us. Forgiveness is the truth that makes God’s love real to us.
Just three simple words comprise the most powerful, life-changing phrase in the entire Bible.
It is finished!
These three words can change your life.