Looking toward the celebration of Resurrection Sunday, let me share some thoughts from A.W. Tozer from his powerful book, Paths to Power.
According to Tozer, “there are some things that only God can do, and for us to attempt to do them is to waste our efforts; and there are things which only man can do, and for us to ask God to do them is to waste our prayers.
Among the things which only God can do, of first importance to us is the work of redemption. Atonement was accomplished in that holy place where none but a divine Savior could come. That glorious work owes nothing to the effort of any man . . . It was all of God, and man could simply have no part.
Redemption is an objective fact. It is a work potentially saving, wrought for man, but done independent of and exterior to the individual. Christ’s work on Calvary made atonement for every man, but it did not save any man. . . (Emphasis added)
If atonement was made for all men, why are not all saved? The answer is that before redemption becomes effective toward the individual man there is an act which that man must do. . . God cannot do our repenting for us. . . God has commanded all men to repent. It is a work which only they can do. It is morally impossible to one person to repent for another. Even Christ could not do this. He could die for us, but He cannot do our repenting for us.”
As you look forward to the celebration of the Resurrection, consider the atonement–have you appropriated it for yourself? Have you repented of your sin? Repentance is a godly sorrow over sin and a turning from the sin. It is actually the idea of making a u-turn and going 180 degrees in the opposite direction from which you were traveling to follow God.
If you have assurance of salvation, then be praying for those for whom Christ died but who have not yet appropriated the free gift of salvation and have not repented for their sin. It is a great time to remember that God desires that none would perish but that all would come to repentance.
If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. We are currently offering a special on our bible study, Road to Resurrection, which helps the student to delve into the events which took place leading up to and on the Day of Resurrection.
Rooted and Grounded 