Voluntary Crucifixion is an Insult to Jesus' Finished Work
It's Good Friday and I really believe it's time to address the issue of voluntary crucifixion. I would like to specify that the practice of voluntary crucifixion is not found in the official Roman Catholic catechism. It's just like the superstition of not taking a bath on Good Friday where it's not officially taught in the Roman Catholic institution but some Filipinos have incorporated something else into their worship not taught by the official Vatican canon. Please note that a group of heretics known as the Flagellants were even considered as a heretical sect by the Vatican Council.
What makes the idea of voluntary crucifixion which is termed as "penitensya" (which means penance) an insult to the finished work of Christ? The very belief that you can earn your merit by voluntary crucifying yourself to get justified before God is absolutely not biblical.
Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: [9] Not of works lest any man should boast.
The very practice itself is also giving out the same heresy that the sacrifice of Jesus was once and for all. There would be no more sacrifice for sins. The work on the cross is finished. There is nothing you can do to add or subtract to it.
John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.
Hebrews 10:12
But this one man after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Those people who are crucifying themselves to earn God's favor are actually incurring His wrath for this reason. Jesus was sent to die on the cross for their sins, salvation is 100% free in Jesus Christ and no amount of human effort can make up for one's sins. The very act of doing so is making yourself a fool who thinks that one's sacrifice for sins will appease God but it won't.
What appeased God the Father's wrath? It was the death of His Son on the cross! It was the perfect sacrifice that could redeem people from their sins! It's the Blood of Jesus! No amount of bloodletting can ever appease God's wrath. Jesus' sacrificial love made Him take the wrath of the Father so justification in Him can take place!
Isaiah 53:10
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall be His seed, He shall prolong His days and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
Hebrews 2:9-15
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. [10] For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. [11] For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, [12] Saying, I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. [13] And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. [14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; [15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Hebrews 9:11-14
But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The idea you can buy God's gift of salvation is an insult. Unfortunately, many people are stuck in their pride and love for sin. Worse, some of these people who voluntarily crucify themselves on Good Friday live very filthy lives as a testimony that they are not saved at all! Jesus already did it all so why even try to add to His finished work by voluntary crucifixion?
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