Filipinos Whip Their Backs, Have Themselves Nailed To Crosses In Effort To Atone For Sins - christiannews.net
Excerpt from this article:
"...the whippings and crucifixions are carried out with “the belief that
such extreme sacrifices are a way to atone for their sins, attain
miracle cures for illnesses or give thanks to God.” Some walk the
streets beating their bare backs bloody while others gather to watch the
men who volunteer themselves to be nailed to the cross."
-----------------------------------
Man can - and will - make atonement for their sins, but not by having
themselves nailed to a cross. There are only 2 ways that our sin debt
can be paid for:
1. By believing and trusting in the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
2. By suffering eternal punishment in hell
Those
who think that sin can be 'atoned for' by simply having themselves
nailed to a cross have a very shallow view of the 'exceeding sinfulness
of sin.' Here is how Jonathan Edwards describes how those who reject
our Lord Jesus will pay for their sins:
"It
would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God
for one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity. There will be no
end to this exquisite horrible misery. When you look forward, you
shall see a long forever, a boundless duration before you which will
swallow up your thoughts, and amaze your souls, and you will absolutely
despair of ever having any deliverances, any end, any mitigation, any
rest at all; and you will know certainly that you must wear out long
ages, millions and millions of ages, in wrestling and conflicting with
this Almighty merciless vengeance; and then when you have so done, when
many ages have actually been spent by you in this manner, you will know
that it is all but a point to what remains. So that your punishment will
indeed be infinite."(Sinners in the hands of an angry God)
Our Lord Jesus says:
"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I Will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart. For my yolk is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 10:28-30
Here is what-Thomas Wilcox? (1549 - 1608) says about those who would add to the finished work of Christ:
"Believing is the most wonderful thing in the world. Put anything of
your own to it, and you spoil it. Christ will not esteem it believing.
When you believe and come to Christ you must leave behind your own
righteousness (oh, that is hard!), all your holiness, santifications,
duties, tears, humblings, etc., and bring nothing but your sins, your
wants and miseries, else Christ is not fit for you, nor you for Christ."
