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Texas pastor reminds all that the cross is proof of God's love for humanity

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Texas pastor reminds all that the cross is proof of God's love for humanity

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“Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly … God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:5-8).

This message is a reminder that the hope provided by Jesus Christ is an objective reality, Rev. Jeremiah Johnston told Fox News Digital.

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Johnston is pastor of apologetics at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, and founder of the Christian Thinkers Society.

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“In Jesus we are blessed by God with an excruciating gift,” Johnston told Fox News Digital via email. 

“The word excruciating is derived from the Latin at its root (excruciat based on crux, meaning ‘a cross’). That is, the Latin meaning had to do with suffering extreme torment, such as being crucified,” he said. 

Rev. Jeremiah Johnston of Texas said that the hope of Jesus is an “objective reality.”  (iStock/Bertuzzi Photography)

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With Jesus, “God sent his Son to a filthy, bloody, squalid cross to demonstrate His love for us.”

THIS PRAYER IS ‘NOT COMFORTABLE,’ BUT THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS HELP BRING HOPE DURING LENT

This means that Christians should “never have the attitude that God is somehow lucky to have us,” said Johnston. 

Christians should “never have the attitude that God is somehow lucky to have us” — and should instead acknowledge that “long before we were born, God loved us.”  (iStock)

With this passage, all people should be assured that “long before we were born, God loved us before we had done anything good or bad.” 

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The cross, said Johnston, is proof of the extent of how much God loves humanity. 

WHAT IS LENT AND THE LENTEN SEASON, AND HOW DO CHRISTIANS OBSERVE THE TIME BEFORE EASTER SUNDAY?

“Let’s focus in on the final phrase, ‘But God proves (Συνίστησιν in Greek) His love for us,’” he said, referencing Romans 5:8. 

Christ’s death on the cross is how Christians “can know that God loves us now,” said Johnston.  (iStock)

“This is the equivalent of saying God is still proving His love for us in the present by His completed action of sending Christ to die for us on the cross.”

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Essentially, “we can know that God loves us now because of all Christ did for us on the cross,” he said.

“This is all God ever needed to do to show His love at the present time,” he said.  

 

“The death of Christ [is of] biting significance as a permanent stamp of God’s full and joyful acceptance of those who trust in Jesus for forgiveness of sin and eternal life in heaven,” Johnston said.  

Jesus, he said, “established hope for us that does not disappoint.” 

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“And the hope that is ours in Jesus is an objective reality — and the subjective feeling of hope will come as we allow Christ to be established in our hearts through communion with Him in his Word,” said Johnston. 

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Los Angeles, Ca

Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico

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Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico

A man wanted for a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles was arrested and extradited from Mexico after fleeing the U.S. in 2024.

The suspect was identified as Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Authorities had been searching for him since the deadly incident on October 10, 2024. 

Rojas and a second suspect, Joshua Rojas Sr., 47, of Downey, were driving on the northbound 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights around 4 p.m. when they became involved in an altercation with another driver that escalated into a shooting.

  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, was arrested and extradited to the U.S. from Mexico on June 2, 2026, in connection with a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles. (California Highway Patrol)

Video of the tense confrontation showed the suspects, who were driving a Dodge Durango SUV, opening fire on two men in a Cadillac sedan. 

The shooting forced the victim to pull over abruptly. That’s when a suspect ran up to the Cadillac, opened the passenger-side door and fired several shots at close range.

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In a panic, the Cadillac driver tried to escape by making a sudden U-turn and driving against oncoming traffic. He eventually crashed head-on into several vehicles.

The suspects ditched their SUV and fled toward a freeway exit on foot. The Cadillac driver was left with serious injuries and his passenger was killed. Their identities were not released.

The incident caused a miles-long backup that left thousands of motorists stranded on the freeway for hours and authorities worked to clear the scene.

Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified the two men as the suspects involved. 

Joshua Rojas Sr. was arrested in San Bernardino on October 22, 2024, on a murder charge. He remains in custody awaiting trial.

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Meanwhile, Christian Rojas had fled the U.S. and was hiding in Mexico, detectives said. A $4.3 million bail warrant was issued for his arrest. 

“Through a coordinated international effort, investigators determined that Rojas was living in Palomo de Arriba, Mexico,” CHP officials said. “The U.S. Marshals Service worked with Mexican state police to locate and arrest him on the outstanding warrant.”

On June 2, 2026, Christian was arrested and extradited to the U.S. to face a murder charge. 

“This arrest demonstrates that time and distance will not shield violent offenders from justice,” said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “For nearly two years, our detectives remained relentless in their pursuit of those responsible for this senseless act of violence. Through exceptional collaboration with the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, we located and apprehended this suspect and brought him back to face the charges. We remain committed to protecting the public, supporting victims and their families, and holding violent criminals accountable wherever they may try to hide.”

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Los Angeles, Ca

NB 405 Freeway closed near LAX after pursuit ends in gunfire

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NB 405 Freeway closed near LAX after pursuit ends in gunfire

The northbound 405 Freeway will remain closed for several hours near Los Angeles International Airport after a police pursuit ended with officers opening fire Friday morning. Unconfirmed reports indicated the incident began with a robbery at a 7-Eleven store, which ended with Los Angeles Police Department officers pursuing the suspect in a Kia. The chase […]

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Los Angeles, Ca

'Top Gun: Maverick' actor identified as victim stabbed to death in Tarzana

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'Top Gun: Maverick' actor identified as victim stabbed to death in Tarzana

The victim in a bizarre and deadly stabbing in Tarzana has been identified as 81-year-old character actor James Handy, best known for a recent role in Tom Cruise’s “Top Gun: Maverick.” The stabbing happened around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 19200 block of Erwin Street in the West Valley area. Officers responded after receiving a […]

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