I finally broke down and admitted I just ain’t going to be able to do much outside for a while – so, I have a team out there helping Carla get the weeds down. 

The hillside is the worse; about 100 but 200+ feet and it is almost straight up and down.  It takes about 6-8 man hours to trim.  The rest is larger and will take about the same amount of time.

It gets hot out there and they were a little later getting here than expected, so, I made sure to tell them that if they needed to come back tomorrow due to the heat, do so.

The dogs are sleeping on the daveno and neither one realized we have visitors, that was a surprise to me, but just as well; don’t need’em barking at ‘em.

Romans 5:8-11 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Atonement according to the dictionary is:

noun

1. satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.

2. (sometimes initial capital letter) Theology. the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind, especially as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ.

When we do something against another person we must make it right, we must give something to alieve the injury, whether it is a physical replacement (ie. repair a vehicle we have damaged) or a verbal slight or a removal of someone’s good name, etc.

In most people there is a sense of judgement, you did wrong therefor you should pay.  Although, they seem to consider that for themselves to a much lesser degree.

We have courts of law to help determine the extent of the injury and what is a fair recompense for that injury.  They may not always be right, but there are remedies for what we feel may be excessive or not enough – we can appeal the decision.

Sometimes the payment is a simple ‘I am sorry’ or as often depicted when a husband forgets his wife’s birthday or anniversary he brings home some flowers or candy, as an atonement to her and seeking her forgiveness.

In time before Christ atonements were done by sacrificing animals; without that sacrifice of blood before God the sins were not forgiven – and only up to a point, for sinning the next day required another animal to be sacrificed.

This was done in recognition that sin was an injury against God and recompense had to be paid.

Sin is still an injury against God and still must be paid; atonement must be made.

And, of course, it has been made by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and the acceptance of His sacrifice as evidenced in His resurrection.

We are no longer required to go to the temple and ask the priest to offer up sacrifices on our behalf – Christ died once for us and He offers up His sacrifice on our behalf – we just have to confess our sins and ask forgiveness of our Father through Him.

It used to be that criminals were incarcerated as punishment for their crime – they had to atone for their offenses against society. 

Most of us still consider incarceration or fines as a penalty for wrong doing.

However, prison is now looked upon by the hierarchy of society as not a punishment, but a place where the person can be reformed and then allowed back into society.

Ask a criminal about it, and he says he ‘is doing time,’ not ‘I am being made better.’

There is a price to be paid when a law is broken.

While we may not be under the Law as the Jews were, we still have a price to pay for the sins we commit, they are an affront to God and must be recompensed.

But, what is the price.  The most faithful Jew sinned.  All of the sacrifices he made in atonement were insufficient for him to enter heaven – upon his death he went to Abraham’s Bosom where he remained until Jesus’ death and resurrection.

It is the sacrifice of Jesus, and only His sacrifice that allows God to consider the atonement for the faithful Jew AND our sins has been made.

Nothing he or we can do will be enough to earn our way into heaven; our sins place us under a death penalty unless they are forgiven.

They cannot be forgiven without atonement.

It isn’t a ‘catch 22,’ God has provided a way for us, through Jesus Christ, where our sins will be forgiven and we will be accepted into His arms as a child of His.

We serve God, not as an atonement for our sins – that has already been accomplished by Jesus – but out of a love and obedience to God. 

There is a difference, and unfortunately many people think they have to earn their way to righteousness – and even be righteous before Jesus can save them.

We know better, and we can help them understand that the atonement has been paid and their guilt is washed away through the blood of Christ.  Not by anything they can do, but what God has already done.

Later, Art :-)  

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again