J Heinrich Arnold-Freedom from sinful thoughts.pdf

FREEDOM FROM SINFUL THOUGHTS - T H E C R O S Sthe power of evil, we cannot comprehend this. Until werealize that the main reason for his coming to earth wasto do this on our behalf – to free us from the powers ofdarkness – we will never fully understand our need forthe cross.The image of a sweet, gentle Savior, like the thoughtof an all-loving God, is surely wonderful, but it is only asmall part of the picture. It insulates us from the realpower of his touch. Christ comforts and heals, saves andforgives – we know that; but we must not forget that hejudges too. If we truly love him, we will love everythingin him; not only his compassion and mercy, but hissharpness too. It is his sharpness that prunes andpurifies.Christ’s love is not the soft love of human emotion,but a burning fire that cleanses and sears. It is a love thatdemands self-sacrifice. My father writes:The Earth can be conquered in no other way than throughsacrifice. Satan can be vanquished in no other way than throughthe Lamb. Jesus is the sacrifice who, being perfect, has beenvictorious over evil. In the sacrificial love of a lamb, Jesus hasovercome the dragon, disarmed Satan and smashed his weaponson the cross. Thus it is impossible for Satan to prevail, with hisinstruments of darkness and death, against anyone who is onein faith with the crucified Christ.Here we see that if Christ’s freedom is to become ours,70