Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Good morning all my bloggy friends! It's a little rainy and dreary here this morning, but the last few days have been absolutely beautiful. I think spring is finally here - it seems like it's been a long time coming. In our Monday night small group, we have been discussing some largely debateable subjects of the Bible. I would like to share with you some opinions and see if it could give you something to chew on like it has me:

Today, we'll discuss Jesus' death on the cross. Due to Ephesians 4:7-10 and Peter 3:18-19, I believe that when Jesus took the sins of the world upon Himself, He went to hell to for us before He was in Paradise with His Father. I assumed He died, went to Hell and then when He was finished there, He went to Paradise but I was always confused by why He told the criminal next to Him that He would see Him in Paradise today (Luke 23:42-43). How could He go to heaven and hell at the same time?
Here's the opinion that made alot of sense to me: When Jesus was on the cross - at noon darkness fell over the land for 3 hours. During this time the veil was torn in the temple.(Luke 23:44-45) The darkness represents the evil that Jesus was taking upon Himself and the seperation He was enduring from God. This was the time that He was in hell suffering for our sins. When in John 19:30, Jesus says "it is finished" - it was finished, everything was finished and He went immediately to Paradise. Why would Jesus say it is finished if it wasn't?

By our discussions, I know that there are many differing opinions on this subject and we will only truly understand when we get to Paradise, ourselves - but I wanted to give you something to chew on today.
There's more to come -

Have a great day as we are servants to all
Christie

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