Life’s been a little busy this past month. As a result, it’s taking a bit longer to finalize and post my next major article. In light of that, since it’s Easter, I thought I would reprint an article I posted for this day in 2018, updating it only to make it accurate for 2023.

SCRUBBING BUBBLE SALVATION

You may be familiar with the bathroom cleaner from S.C. Johnson called Scrubbing Bubbles. When I was a kid this product went by the name Dow Bathroom Cleaner and the Scrubbing Bubbles were its mascot. In the commercial, these cartoon bubbles with brush bristles for legs would race up and down the tub and sink, leaving sparkling porcelain in their wake. When they were done, all the bubbles would circle and exit down the drain, crying out, “We work hard so you don’t have to!”

In the past, I have used an altered version of this slogan to share the gospel on Facebook. For Good Friday and Easter of 2018, I created and posted a banner depicting the three crosses on Calvary with the phrase, “Jesus Endured God’s Wrath So You Don’t Have To!”

I think that sentence is the big secret of the Gospel. I doubt many non-Christians have heard this message or, if they have, understand what it means. The view much of the world has toward Christianity is that it is works-based. Works are not necessarily bad if we are talking about caring for the needy, loving our neighbors, and making the world a better place. However, if we are talking about our relationship with God, this view can be very misleading. The image many people have of the church is that God loves us because we do the right things. Furthermore, by doing these things we will earn entrance into heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Further misunderstanding might occur when others are told about Jesus. Typically, the message people hear is, “Jesus loves you and died for your sins.” What does that mean to someone without a biblical background? In fact, what does this mean to someone who is familiar with the Bible? I suspect that a significant portion of the church does not fully understand the impact of the cross. I know for myself it was years after becoming a Christian I that I began to understand what Jesus’ death truly accomplished. For many, Jesus’ primary purpose was to be the ultimate example of how to love others and worship God. As for his death, giving his life for us is akin to jumping in the way of a bullet to save someone else’s life. (Or, if you prefer, catching a grenade, throwing his hand on a blade, or jumping in front of a train for ya.)

Yes, Jesus did show us how to love others. Yes, Jesus taught us the right way to worship God. And yes, Jesus died for us. But this is just the surface of what he accomplished. Jesus’ death on the cross was not just a simple execution. It wasn’t just a painful bloody experience that ended his life. No. What happened on that cross, what we didn’t see, was the most intense, excruciating, lonely, soul-tearing experience that goes beyond anyone’s imagination.

Scripture attempts to paint a picture of sin’s penalty, the eternal wrath of God. Such imagery includes burning flames, unquenchable thirst, complete darkness, heavy chains, devouring worms, wailing, gnashing of teeth, and eternal separation from God. (The reality is probably much worse than what these words convey.) While hanging on the cross Jesus endured all of this and much more so that those who trust in him will not have to.

If you’ve stolen, lied, or cheated. If you’ve mistreated someone. If you’ve bullied someone. If you’ve harbored anger and resentment. If you’ve been sexually immoral. If you’ve been unfaithful in your relationships. If you’ve remained silent when you should have spoken. If you’ve chosen your own comfort over another’s needs. Even if you’ve taken a life or done anything else that scripture categorizes as sin. If your faith is in Christ the penalty has been paid! That is the good news!

Doing good deeds. Loving your neighbor as yourself. Fighting for justice. Living humbly. These are all important and will benefit and bless our lives and our world. But they won’t save. Man’s best effort will always fall short of God’s expectations. When it comes to our relationship with God, Christians are not reconciled because we successfully live the life that was modeled by Jesus Christ. Instead, we are reconciled because Jesus endured God’s wrath as though he lived the life modeled by us.

* * *

In addition to changing my banner that year, I also posted my definition of a Christian.

Someone IS NOT a Christian because they…

Are kind, loving, and considerate;
Are generous and charitable;
Go to church, pray, and read the Bible;
Refrain from lying, cheating, or stealing;
Practice a code of moral or family values;
Have a certain political view;
Identify with or love a person of a particular gender;
Or educate their children in a certain manner.

Instead…

Someone IS a Christian because they…

Do most things WRONG much of the time,
But trust in the work of Jesus Christ,
Who, despite doing everything RIGHT all of the time,
Suffered and died to pay the penalty for what THEY did wrong,
So that, through faith,
They may be eternally reconciled to God.