God’s Redemptive Plan Revealed
The goal in this review of God’s redemptive plan is to comfort the church in her sufferings, and the persecution of her enemies. It is to remind the church of the constancy and perpetuity of God’s mercy and faithfulness. It is above all else for the sake of the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These acts being manifested in God’s continuing work of salvation for His church, protecting her against all assaults of her enemies, carrying her safely through all the changes of the world, and finally crowning her with victory and deliverance. 1
The term redemptive history simply means the history of God’s acts as recorded in the Bible for the purposes of redeeming his people. The contemplation of this history is meant to fill our hearts with joy because God has pleasure in his work. The study of God’s redeeming work in history will strengthen our faith in God’s future acts of grace.
“My righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.” (Isaiah 51:8)
Righteousness is
used in Scripture for God’s covenant faithfulness. God’s righteousness and his salvation, the one is the cause, of
which the other is the effect.
Salvation is the sum of all those works of God by
which,
which purchase
the benefits that are by thecontained in the covenant of grace
are procured and bestowed.
The work of salvation itself toward the church shall only continue
until the end of the world. However, tThe
fruits of God’s salvation shall remain after the end of the world and last into
eternity. 1
“The word
redemption signifies a purchase of deliverance. In a narrow sense, this purchase of redemption was begun and
finished with Christ’s humiliation. It
was affected in Christ’s incarnation, carried throughout his life, and
ultimately ended with His death and resurrection. Through Christ’s work the redemptive plan of God was purchased
definitely for God’s elect. The broader
view of redemption includes all that God accomplished to achieve this end. This includes not only the purchase, but
also all that
which was in preparation and in succession of it. Including not only what Christ the mediator
has done but also what the Father and Holy Ghost has done. The work of redemption is a work that God
carries on from the fall of man to the end of the world. The work of redemption and the work of
salvation mean the same thing. Christ
is called the Savior and the Redeemer of his people.” 12
The purpose of the
whole creation of the world and everything in it is to display the ultimate
providence of God. God is most greatly honored and his name most greatly
glorified through his main work of providence i.e. the plan of redemption. All other acts of his providence tend to
this single end. The work of redemption
is not a work that always continues on while never being accomplished, but His
work is finished and definite for those whom it applies.
The effect of the redemption as it applies to the souls of the redeemed is common to all ages. It is common in particular people in their converting, justifying, sanctifying, and glorifying. “The work of God in converting souls, opening blind eyes, unstopping deaf ears, raising dead souls to life, and rescuing the miserable captives out of the hands of Satan, was begun soon after the fall of man, has been carried on until today, and will continue until the end of the world.”1
The large picture of history can be seen as various steps that are all parts of God’s great scheme of the redemption of his people. The following summarizes the main points that are to be accomplished in the grand scheme of redemption:1
1) To put all of God’s enemies under his feet, and that his goodness may finally appear triumphant over all evil. 1:Cor 15:25
2) To perfectly restore all the ruins of the fall.
3) To gather together in one all things in Christ
4) To perfect and complete the glory of all the elect in Christ. A glory “such as no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor has ever entered into the heart of man” (1 Cor 2:9). And to raise them to an indescribable height of pleasure and joy.
5) Glorify the blessed Trinity in an eminent degree.
Immediately after the fall of man God began to harvest souls to Christ. “He began to lay a foundation that would be built upon brick by brick reaching higher and being perfected until ultimately perfected in glory at the end of the age. His plan of redemption is like the slow rising of the sun. As God slowly reveals himself in his plan it is as the sun rising in the sky, shining more and more light until the final glory of his Son is revealed.”1
The Following are 70 passages of Scripture which encompass the Biblical Theology of Redemption, along with a brief explanation of each passage. All passages are taken from the ESV translation. May all glory and praise be to Jesus!
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.”
- God is the universe’s Creator. More amazing than simply being the Creator is the fact that God needed not lift a finger to do so. He spoke, and it was. That is the extent of the power of His Word. When God created, he declared it “good.” He was glad that He had created, and it was because His creation was a representation and expression of both his glory and his delight in Himself. (See also Psalm 104, Psalm 148:5)
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”
- When God spoke saying “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”, He thus signified that He existed in multiple persons before the beginning of the world. By creating humanity in the image of God, He gave human beings a distinct dignity like no other part of God’s creation. Man was created as the image bearer of God and given dominion over all other aspects of God’s creation; his purpose is to reflect and magnify the glory of God. (See also Matthew 19:4, Mark 10:6)
“And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
- God
created woman from man, making man the leader in relationship to the woman, but
equal because she is from his flesh and bone.
Because woman is like man but very different from man, harmony that
would be incomprehensible without woman was made possible by God. This unique union of a man and a
women, in heterosexuality, express the unity of the triune God. Where Father, Son, and Spirit are one in respect to nature, substance, essence, yet are
distinct and
different persons.
Man is to be a conduit of spiritual growth and a sharer of the grace of God. This passage also signifies the intimacy within marriage, which foreshadows the intimacy between Christ the groom and his bride, the Church. There was no shame in nakedness in the beginning, because sin had not tainted the perfection in which Adam and Eve first lived with God.
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”
-
This marks the first command given by God to man, signifying God’s authority
over man. It was God’s will to give man
capacity for moral decision-making and responsibility. The tree was good because it was part of
God’s creation,; it was simply a tree that God commanded man
not to eat from. God also shows in part
His sovereignty in telling the man “in the day that you eat of it you
shall surely die.” So, God
knows that man would choose to disobey Him and eat of the tree, although He
allowed man to choose disobedience.
“But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”
- The birth of sin came through the pride of mankind, where man desired to be like God. This is the first introduction of Satan in the Bible, coming in the form of the serpent to deceive. Here Christ immediately began His work as the mediator between the Holy God and sinful man. He undertook the work of being the Prophet, Priest and King; teaching, interceding and governing. From here and going forward in the Bible, God would act through Christ as the mediator. When God reveals Himself to mankind, it is through the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. (See also John 1:18)
“Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”
-
This is the essence
of sin: Idolatry. Part of God’s judgment toward man is giving
them up to their own sinful desires.
The specific sins are not the main cause of God’s judgment,; it is the exchange of
God’s glory for other things. This
exchange of glory and honor then leads to various specific sins as God gives
man over to those various desires. When
man exchanges the truth about God for a lie, he is futile in his thinking and
begins a dark path of treachery toward God.
Modern culture is an excellent assistant in suppressing man’s conscience
and making lies seem like truths.
“Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew they were naked.”
- Due to sin entering into the world through Adam, innocence was lost. When they knew that they were naked, they then needed to be clothed. God provided clothes for them with skins from animals that were likely slain for sacrifice. Likewise, when a lost soul realizes that he is lost and is in need of a Savior and is convicted by the Holy Spirit, God clothes them in the blood of Jesus to save them from their spiritual nakedness. “God’s clothing them with these was a lively figure of them being clothed with the righteousness of Christ. Beasts were slain in order to afford them clothing. And so it is with Christ to afford clothing to our naked souls.”1
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope”
- It was God’s will that sin enter the world so that His glory in redemption may shine. God never causes, makes, or forces us to sin. God hates sin. However he allows sin so that grace may abound. His name and His glory are made greater through redemption from sin.
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. For the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth.”
- This shows to what length the depravity of man reaches, without God all our thoughts and intentions are only evil. It says that from youth our intentions are evil. How true this is! You don’t have to teach an infant to steal or hate or envy, and you don’t have to teach a child to lie and cheat and disobey. Those things are inherited through the sin of Adam. There is no capacity for goodness without God. What sovereign power and goodness God displays by keeping and sustaining His church through the darkness of human depravity! He redeems us despite our wickedness.
“The Lord God said to the serpent…’I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.’”
- This is the first revelation of the Gospel. Before this there was no hope for redemption from sin. This was the first promise given of victory over sin and death. This passage points specifically to Satan’s torment of mankind on earth and Jesus crushing Satan by his death on the cross. It also shows that God would defeat Satan through the seed of Adam. From this point on until the arrival of Jesus on Earth, God will continue to declare the coming of One, the Second Adam, who would redeem His church.
“Now the Lord said to Abram…’I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”
- This is the unilateral promise that was given by God to Abram (later Abraham). This is a stark example of the doctrine of election – God has chosen whom He will save, with no cooperation by the creature. God later commanded Abram to leave everything and follow God in faith, that God would in all things be glorified by His chosen ones. When God says he will curse those who dishonor Abraham, He is telling Abraham that he will be an adversary to those peoples and nations that dishonor the nation of Israel. He also gives great hope to people from all nationalities because “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”, or in Jesus Christ, who is the true seed of Abraham, people from all nations will receive salvation. Abraham was able to obey God because of the faith he had, which came from God. God’s true saving grace produces in our hearts that which he requires for sanctification. We can overcome anxieties, fears, and sins and obey God’s call on our lives by trusting in the promise’s of God in Scripture; our faith is strengthened when we believe God will give us future grace that exceeds anything we can imagine in this lifetime.
“And he brought him outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”
- This is God’s covenant with Abraham that his offspring would be as the stars in the sky. “This verse provides the early core doctrine of justification by faith, not by works (Gal. 3:6-14). Abraham believed the promise of the birth of an heir from the dead (Rom 4:17-21; Heb. 11:11,12), and God counted Abraham to be righteous, to be meeting His covenant demand. Abraham’s justification by faith is a model of our faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s sacrifice for sin, and God’s crediting His righteousness to us by faith (Rom. 4:22-25).”2 “You cannot lay hold of salvation by grace through your feelings.”2 Do not listen to Oprah in this matter.
“Abraham fathered Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.”
- Jacob is referred to as Israel. This is a seemingly insignificant verse at first glance, but the mere mentioning of the names Esau and Israel has huge implications of God’s sovereign choice in election. This gives believers encouragement because salvation is not a result of human effort, but a work of God. So our witness to unbelievers is not in vain, because it is the power of God working through us that will draw lost souls to Himself. See Romans 9 regarding the sovereignty of Him who chooses.
“For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery”
-
This refers to God bringing the nation of Israel out from captivity and saving them from Pharoah’s hand. This is a further foreshadowing of the type
of redemptive work Christ would display on the Cross. Christ brings us up from Spiritual captivity and saves us from
Satan’s hand, freeing us from slavery to sin.
Believers are rescued from eternal bondage to pain and suffering in
hell, where the rest of the unbelieving world will be utterly destroyed for all
eternity.
“They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.”
- The old hymn Come Thou Fount says “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” Even God’s chosen people are prone to wander and in sin they rebel against the God that has been faithful to rescue them out of the hand of their enemies. We too as believers, when we do not hold fast to what is true, will be prone to wander. The sin of a believer will only be a disease for a season, but not everlasting. We must cling to the Bible as if our very lives depend upon it, because they do. (Hebrews 10:26-31)
“When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.”
- This could be compared to the way that people responded to the tragedy of 9/11. Before it happened, there was a general indifference toward church from the majority of the population, but as soon as the tragedy struck people were swarming the doors of churches everywhere. They looked to God for relief from their grief. And similarly to the nation of Israel, many paid only lip service to Him in light of the terrible circumstances. They in effect tried to use God as a security blanket to get them through that trying time until things were “good” again and they didn’t think they needed God anymore. This is a very, very dangerous way to approach the Lord.
“They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters,”
- As parents, we have a position of authority over our children, and when we raise them up we are setting foundations for how they will live the rest of their lives. In today’s world, sacrificing a son or daughter to the demons may be as seemingly harmless as signing them up for four different sports, letting them play video games for hours, aborting them before they’re born, or trusting pagan institutions to educate them. If we neglect the role of teaching our children to love and cherish Christ and the Scriptures more than their Nintendo DS, we are in danger of appearing more American than Christian. (Romans 12:2)
“He gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them…Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.”
- Even though we are secure in Christ, it does not mean that we will have our best life now. God still administers discipline to those he loves, and rightly so. However, even when we repeatedly turn our backs on God and try to do things our way, He still has compassion and does not let us be destroyed by the full force of His wrath! Chapter 78:38 is a picture of what Jesus would eventually do on the Cross by atoning for all the iniquity of every believer and satisfy God’s wrath toward sin so we wouldn’t have to bear it. This kindness shown by God is meant to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4)
“Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”
- God keeps his promises unlike any human being could ever imagine. He is always faithful to Himself and His children. When we stumble or fall into temptation, remembering the promises and integrity of God will help draw us back to Him. This is one of the cornerstones of our faith, remembering God’s promises and believing that He will keep every one of them. (Romans 8:28)
“Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them.”
- God provided a rescuer for Israel to save them from their enemies, but they didn’t acknowledge God’s provision. God’s covenant to the Church is compared often to a marriage, and the image of a whore is used to symbolize faithlessness on the part of God’s bride, the Church (see Romans 5:7-8 for further example of God’s grace toward sinners.) We must also remember that even when we a doing our best works we are still whores in the eyes of God. It is Christ alone who intercedes for us and makes our efforts a sweet aroma to God the father. (Isaiah 64:6)
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, ‘Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.’ But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, ‘No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.’”
- When the nation of Israel was united against the Lord, Samuel spoke the truth of God, and they rejected him because of it. This should give us hope and comfort when we are rejected by the world because of Christ. It is not us they reject, but the God that lives within us. We should be more concerned when we face no resistance from the world, because that means that we are conforming more to the culture than the Gospel, just as Israel desired to be like all the other nations. We need to stand up and fight our battles by the power of the Holy Spirit, and not sit and expect others to fight them for us.
“The Lord said to me in the days of King Josiah: ‘Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore? And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it. Because she took her whoredom lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree.’”
- This is very vivid picture of the world’s attempt to gray out the black and white truths of Scripture. In this passage God was not enough for Israel. They didn’t live by faith but instead played the part of the whore. Our world tries to add anything and everything to justify its whorish lifestyle. That is why the churches that tell you that you will be financially successful if you believe in God have the largest congregations in the world, and why millions and millions of people literally worship Oprah Winfrey for doing so much “good.” Everything that man can do apart from Jesus Christ leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12)
“For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.”
- This seductive power that sin has leads people away from God. This can happen by allowing the culture to become who we are, as opposed to being conformed more to the image of Christ. Despite the fact that we often play the part of the whore, God desires that we return to Him and pursues us passionately with his inexhaustible love and patience. To avoid being led astray we must seek our pleasure in God. He must become as our treasure.
“Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the Lord.”
- This is describing everyone in their state apart from Christ, in which there is no ability to repent and return to the God who created them. There is nothing man can do to come do God in his natural, spiritually dead state. There must be a work done by the Holy Spirit that drives us to our knees in desperation, pleading to be granted a new heart and mind in Christ.
“What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’ ‘Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.’ ‘The venom of asps is under their lips.’ ‘Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.’ ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.’ ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
- The most common view in humanism is that men are basically good. Scripture teaches that are men NOT basically good. In addition, the extent of the evil of mankind by nature is wretched and shameful, and nobody is exempt from it. Just admitting that we are generally sinful is not enough, we must be made aware how grievous our specific sins are in light of God’s holiness. God’s law helps us to see that we aren’t simply sinners, but that we are liars, thieves, adulterers, murderers, slanderers and idolaters. This presents a much more urgent need of a redeemer to save us from this pitiful state.
(Matthew 5-27,28; 1 John 3:15)
“Behold the days are coming, declares the lord, When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
- The human will is free to pursue the desires and motives of its heart. “A man never, in any instance, wills any thing contrary to his desires, or desires any thing contrary to his will. The will is always determined by the strongest motive.”5 However, God’s Word reveals to us that the “heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) This explains why the ‘free’ will of men always leads to sin and separation from God. (Romans 6:16-22; John 8:32;Luke 22:20; Jeremiah 32:38-40; Ezekiel 11:19))
Jeremiah 31:31-34 describes the Christian’s experience of the new birth as a part of the new covenant. When believers come to Christ it is not a decision that can be made by a sinner. In the new birth, the innermost desires and motives of our sinful hearts are changed through a miracle of the Holy Spirit to seek after God. This change in the object of our desires and pleasures will lead us to make decisions of repentance and faith towards Christ. These decisions at first glance outwardly appear as efforts of our own doing. (1 Cor. 2:11; 1 Cor 12:3)
It is God’s promise in his covenant that he will put his law within the believer’s heart. This will cause His ways to be a joy and pleasure that satisfies all that our heart could ever imagine. This should comfort us in times of uncertainty; we can rest assure that Christ will overcome our doubts and sins. He will convict us of all our sin and cause us to fall on our face and rest in him alone by faith in his Word. Christ will draw us to himself and we will know his voice. This assurance from God was purchased and sealed through the blood Christ. This is what was meant by the words “It is finished”. (John 6:44; John 10:3-18; John 16:19; John 19:30; Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3)
Only when God is sovereign over the election of His people can we say that He is the “author and perfecter of faith”. (Heb 12:2)
Definition of Covenant: “A covenant, in contrast to a contract, is a one-way agreement whereby the covenanter is the only party bound by the promise. A covenant may have conditions and prerequisites that qualify the undertaking, including the actions of second or third parties, but there is no inherent agreement by such other parties to fulfill those requirements.” Wikipedia
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declared the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."
- From this we can clearly gather that the primary focus of our redemption is not our benefit, but God's glory. For the sake of His holy name he saves us and redeems us and justifies us. We get the benefit of this act of God bringing great glory to Himself, but we must not think of ourselves as the center of the story. Jesus is the center of the story always, and our salvation is a testimony to His great love and faithfulness to people that deserve only hell and eternal torment.
The picture of God gathering the saints up in this passage shows the importance of corporate and communal living within the church. We are to be set apart, or holy, as God is holy. The ultimate end to this gathering up and being brought into our own land will be when we are in heaven with Jesus forever. But for now, we are gathered together to be the body of Christ and to live in community, building each other up and glorifying the Father by living in the world, but not being conformed to it.
This passage also shows that the work of regeneration is a work of God, not a choice of man. God is the one removing the heart of stone, that dead heart that has no ability to respond to the Gospel. God is the one who puts a new heart of flesh in us, and who puts his Spirit within us, giving us new life and the ability to respond to and love God. We cannot work to obtain these benefits from God. The image of baptism resembles this work of God putting our old heart to death and giving us new life from Him. (Also see Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:15, 2 Cor. 3:3)
"The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,'"
- This is a foundational description of the character of God. He is ultimately faithful and loving toward His chosen people, and does not forsake them even when they turn away from Him time and time again. Steadfast love is a very important thing to understand, as it shows God's covenant faithfulness toward His children. So this means that we have a rock solid assurance that God will always love us, through all things and despite all our transgressions. We have a God who is unfair to us, and praise Him for that!!! A fair God would send every soul to hell before they inhabited a physical body, however we get mercy, grace, love, faithfulness and forgiveness. Praise Him!
"Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
- The Ten Commandments were given to Moses not as a guideline of how to gain the approval of God by keeping all his commands, but to show that man is sinfully incapable of keeping any of the laws! This Mosaic law that was handed down to Israel showed the sins of the people as more severe in comparison to the holiness of God. Before this law was given, sin still abounded, but once the law was given it caused a realization of the vastness of our sin. This created impossibility for mankind to reach God, and left us in desperate need of One who would save us and free us from the condemnation of falling short of God's perfect holiness. Jesus Christ is that Savior, and his righteousness led to the securing of our eternal life through faith in Him alone.
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel...for he will save his people from their sins. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
- This is a direct prophecy from Isaiah of the coming of Jesus, and this Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled exactly in the New Testament, as it was foretold. Immanuel literally means "God with us", and that is of huge encouragement because God could have chosen to save us in whatever way he pleased, but He chose to dwell among us and be with us in order that we might know the extent to which he loves us. He is the Wonderful Counselor, able to relate to every single trial and suffering that we will every face, because He took on flesh and defeated all temptation and all sin. "The good news is the birth of Jesus Christ. The four royal names express His divine and human qualities, giving assurance that He is indeed 'Immanuel' (7:14). Mighty God. As a warrior, God protects His people (Isaiah 10:21; Deaut. 10:17; Jer. 32:18). Everlasting Father. The Father and King cares for His subjects (Isaiah 40:9-11; 65:17-25; Matt. 18:12-13; 23:9-12; Rom. 8:15-17). Prince of Peace. His government brings peace (Isaiah 2:4; 11:6-9; Psalm 72:7; Zech. 9:10; Luke 2:14)."2
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power."
- This is an amazing contrast of how God revealed Himself to people in the Old Testament versus how He did in the New Testament. In the Old Testament He spoke through mortal men, prophets, servants of God on Earth. In the New Testament He spoke through His Son, Jesus, immortally God, the perfection of prophesy that came from God through the old prophets. This shows the insufficiency of the prophets as God's mouthpiece. They spoke at many times and in many ways but could not provide redemption, but only point to the One who would do just that. This parallels the fact that animal sacrifices for sin in the Old Testament were insufficient to completely deal with sin, and how Jesus' sacrifice perfected what was begun long ago. He not only covered our sins, but also took them away. (Hebrews 9:18-26)
This also shows the majesty of Christ, who is appointed by God as heir of all things. This will be revealed in fullness when Christ returns, and "all things were created...for him" (Col. 1:16). He is preeminent, meaning that He was first in the beginning and existed as ruler of all things before their existence, and is supreme over all things, reigning as holy and dominant over all. His enemies will be placed under His feet (Heb 1:13) and He will destroy the enemy by his very breath and appearance (2 Thess 2:8). That is the scope of His majesty.
When you see Jesus, you see God the Father. Jesus was God's instrument in creating the world, and it is by the word of His power that He holds all things together (Col 1:17; 2 Peter 3:4-7). The power and authority that Jesus holds is beyond comprehension. Try to imagine every single molecule of every single plant, insect, animal, human, nation, planet, star and galaxy in the entire universe being kept in its exact state of order by a word. He doesn't have to lift a finger, He simply speaks and creation obeys. That is mind blowing and should be cause for marvel and reverent fear in respect of the awesome power of Jesus.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
- The Word in this passage refers to the deity of God the Son, whereas we normally call God the Son Jesus, or Christ. Those names refer to how God the Son took on humanity and was given a name by God the Father and also his work of salvation for all those who would believe. So God the Son, the Word, existed before time in a close relationship to God the Father, being "with God", and was Himself God. Again it is emphasized that God the Father displayed his magnificent power of creation through God the Son, and that life itself was in God the Son. When Jesus took on humanity, a miraculous thing occurred. A perfect, holy, divine and utterly spiritual being became utterly and totally human. This is something that is humanly impossible to understand; yet God made it happen effortlessly. To think that it was a great task or challenge for God to send His son somehow as a human to accomplish a work of great difficulty is to undermine the supreme sovereign power of God. It required no effort, as you and I understand effort, on God's part to bring all His purpose to pass as He had predestined before the foundation of the world. This union of perfection with ruin is miraculous and should not be overlooked. Jesus was fully God, and fully man, and because He came physically mankind was able to see His glory.
"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."
- This is why lost people are offended by the Gospel. A lost person can only do evil, regardless what you've been taught or what you've seen on T.V. Men are evil, and those men who have not been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and brought to new life in Christ hate the truth of the Gospel because it shows them for what they really are: sinners. This is one of the tragedies in many of today's churches, that they do not preach the Gospel and thus people are left in a state of feeling comfortable in their sin. What a dangerous place to be! We need Jesus to expose our imperfections so that we may be transformed into His likeness more and more, each and every day.
"Who has believed what they heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors."
- This is a prophetic overview of the coming of Jesus, the way in which He would come, the reception and response he would receive from the world, the type of suffering he would endure to pardon our guilt and the innocence in which he carried out this redemptive work. One of the key themes in this passage is found in verse 10 where it says "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him". Preceding that statement was a description of Jesus' sinless perfection, indicating that He did nothing to deserve such a death, but that the death He died was planned out according to the will of the Father and that it was God that killed Jesus, working through sinful man. God knew and orchestrated the exact details of Jesus' death long before the event ever occurred, and it was because of God's perfect timing and will that we can be reconciled to God through Christ. (See Acts 2:23)
"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"
- This is John the Baptist's declarative response to seeing Jesus in the flesh for the first time, also summarizing who Jesus is and what He does. He is the Lamb of God and He takes away the sin of those who are saved by His grace. Important to understand is that when Christ died on the cross, He accomplished the eternal mission of atonement for sin. When He said "It is finished" (John 19:30), He signified the finishing work of forgiveness which means that all past sins, present sins, and future sins had been paid for by the death of Jesus on the Cross. So through one man, Adam, all men inherit sin and death, and through one man, Jesus, all who believe inherit forgiveness and life. (See Romans 5:12-19)
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
- All religions are not the same, and God is not a bicycle wheel with many spokes leading to Him. This should compel us to share the message of Christ with people of all religious beliefs, while holding fast to the truth of the Gospel. There is one way, and it is through Jesus. (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
- This invites all to hear, but the only ones who will hear are those who realize their spiritual bankruptcy and the weight of trying to save themselves by keeping the law. Sinful rebellious humanity will not admit our spiritual poverty. We need a sovereign spiritual awakening.
“Though the law had been given by God as a help to His people, the oral traditions of the scribes and Pharisees went far beyond the demands of God and became a heavy burden. When the law was understood as a way of salvation, it became a ‘yoke of slavery’ (Gal 5:1). By contrast, the yoke of Jesus, while demanding, is ‘easy’ because it is from one who is ‘gentle and lowly in heart’ and can provide true rest for the soul.”2
“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”
- This is one of the reasons why “successful” people are often times unfulfilled. We should listen as Scripture says by delighting in “rich food”, or the Word of God. This food will satisfy beyond any amount of financial or social status.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1st John 5:12)
- When Jesus saves us, our soul is made alive and our life transforms from hopelessness and death to abundant hope and life. This does not mean you will be happy all the time or that you will be what the world calls “successful.” This means that your life will be made abundant by the inexpressible joy that comes from knowing Christ. Those who do not have Jesus as their Savior do not have this life but remain in death.
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved“ (Eph. 2:1-5) “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)
- This shows man’s total depravity, in that we were dead in our trespasses; not dying, not struggling to live, but completely dead. A dead man cannot chose to live, he must be brought to life. It is as if we were lying dead at the bottom of the ocean and Christ dove through the dark waves of sin to reach our spiritual corpse. He then breathed new life into our lungs, and began to bring us to the surface and onto the boat. That is the state of every single person who is apart from Jesus. God’s supreme act of love came when we were most undesirable. Grace is receiving what we do not deserve, and mercy is being withheld from that which we do deserve. Our sin and trespasses leave us deserving of death and hell, yet God’s mercy keeps us from experiencing His wrath. Likewise, it is His grace that bestows eternal life and union with Christ, of which we are totally undeserving.
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
- As humans, our God ordained representatives rebelled and the human race was thrown into sin. The image of God in man was tarnished, as a second or third or 40th clone would be (according to science fiction); see Gen 5:1-3. We have certain knowledge of God given to us at birth, which separates us from other animals. “For his invisible attributes, namely his divine nature and eternal power, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him.” (Rom. 1:20)
This is not a revelation of the Gospel, but an understanding that there is a creation and we are a part of it. It is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that reveals the truth of the Gospel to a human heart through the preaching of His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit. This is why it is so important to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19), because everyone has been created to worship, and people need to be told who is deserving of that worship. His name is Jesus, not Joseph, Mary, Oprah, Joel or Mohammed.
“Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
- This describes the Sovereign election of God. He predetermined those that would be made holy by the atoning work of his death, burial and resurrection. And it was in love that he did this, not a stifling of our will, but a salvation from the will that would only choose death apart from intervention of the Spirit. And this love was that of a Father, as we were adopted into the family of Jesus Christ. We were born into the family of Adam, and thus into the family of Satan. And this is the salvation we gain, adoption out of a family of death and into the family of life in Christ to follow in His footsteps. This adoption happened exactly as he had planned, and is for the purpose of praising his glorious grace. Our being chosen by God is for God and for the praise of God.
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
- This passage is an iron-clad chain of assurance that God has saved, is saving and will ultimately save us. Here we see that it was God who foreknew us. He knew us before we knew us. It was God who predestined us to be conformed to the image of Christ. He did it, and it was so that Christ would be the first one glorified by His own death. It was God who called us to Himself, it was God who justified us and it is God who will ultimately glorify us when Jesus gathers us and takes us home to heaven. So there can be no mistaking the fact that God is responsible for our salvation, and we have no room to take any credit for it. That is not only a humbling realization, but also a freeing one! If it were up to us there is no way we could be saved.
“Grace reaches back to eternity. And every step of the way leading to this very moment has been a moment of grace. Election is by grace; predestination is by grace; effectual calling is by grace; justification is by grace; and, because of all this glorious bygone grace, we may now, with tremendous confidence, stand in the great halls of Romans 8:28 and live the freedom and love and righteousness that come through faith in the future grace: that God will cause all things to work together for our good.”6
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
- Read through the entire chapter of Romans 6. The message is that the symbolic event of baptism represents our sinful nature being put to death as well as being raised into a new way of living as a disciple of Jesus. So then, having been given a new life of faith in Christ, that faith will display itself in works. This does not mean that works save, but that the evidence of a saved person will be that he bears good fruit, or good works. Being baptized is an outward act and display of inward faith and regeneration, and often the first step of obedience after conversion.
“Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
- Union with Christ summarizes our experience of redemption.2 (Ephesians 1:4,11 Romans 8:1 1 Corinthians 1:2) Practically this new creation is experienced through a renewal of the mind. (Romans 8:5, 12:2) The believer now has a love and thirst for the word of God that replaces the vanity of earthly toils of man under the Sun. (Ecclesiates) The believer mediates on God’s Word, which brings forth an increase of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22) This new life also births a new concern for seeking and savings those who are lost. Those who are in Christ have a new compassion for those who are lost, weeping over those who are dead in their sins.
“ Oh that my head were waters, O that mine eyes were a fountain of tears that I might weep over an unconverted, graceless, wicked, and adulterous generation.” G. Whitefield
2 Corinthians
5:17: A great verse. Being "in
Christ" - this use of the word, "in" is perhaps best portrayed
by the old Roman boats and the method by which the mast was connected to the
keel at the bottom of the boat. The foot of the mast was fixed in a
large, wooden socket that was stable, strong, and virtually unmovable.
2,000 years after sinking, all bits of such a boat may be rotted away - but the
socket into which the mast is fixed - remains. Such is the security of
being "IN Christ". Securely fixed.
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised…All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
- The whole plan of salvation and the history of redemption are God-centered. (Rom 11:36) Reconciliation is the establishment or restoration of loving fellowship after estrangement.2 We are given the ministry of reconciliation because God has ordained the revelation of His Gospel through the preaching of his Word. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25) As ministers of reconciliation we must display the estrangement and division of humanity from God. This must come through the preaching of the Law of God. We must act the “part of a skillful surgeon, who searches a wound before he heals it. I would show you the danger first, that deliverance may be more readily accepted to you.” G. Whitefield
This aspect of the ministry is key for a true conversion; we must be shown the reason of Christ’s painful suffering and death. The Ten Commandments must become our “hook” that God uses to bring conviction of sin. After a soul is deeply convinced of sin and desperate need of saving, only then will we show our precious pearl; salvation by grace through faith in Christ. (Matthew 7:6) “The law, from the beginning, is made use of as a schoolmaster to bring men to Christ” Jonathan Edwards
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
- This is the great commission given by Christ to his people. God’s purpose throughout history has been and will continue to be all about the proclamation of his glory and name. This verse is the foundation of missions and evangelism. The one thing we will not be able to do in heaven is preach the gospel to those who are lost. Missions are not just about giving up everything to move overseas, missions begin at home! We must be passionate for the growth of God’s kingdom! It must be our theme to “Call all people to full devotion to Jesus Christ”.
“Whatever opportunity you have, do it vigorously, do it speedily, do not defer it. If you see one hurrying on to destruction, use the utmost of your endeavor to stop him in his course. Show him the need he has of repentance, and that without it he is lost forever. Do not regard his despising of you; still go on to show him his danger: and if your friends mock and despise, do not let that discourage you. Hold on, hold out to the end, so you shall have a crown which is immutable, and that fades not away.” G. Whitefield
In the words of the Trumpet of the Great Awakening, this is our call to the nations:
“Come then by faith, and lay hold of the Lord Jesus; though he is in Heaven, He now calls you. Come, all you drunkards, swearers, Sabbath-breakers, adulterers, fornicators; come, all you scoffers, harlots, thieves, and murderers, and Jesus Christ will save you. He will give you rest, if you are weary of your sins. O come lay hold upon Him. Had I less love for your souls, I might speak less; but that love of God, which is shed abroad in my heart, will not permit me to leave you, till I see whether you will come to Christ or not.” G. Whitefield
“And they sang a new song saying, worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
- God is sovereign over the salvation of his people. It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33) This verse is a promise from God that our preaching will not return void. God will gather his sheep. (John 10:16, John 11:52) When we feel hopeless because our close friends and family do not see the glory of the Gospel, we must seek strength and hope in the promise that God is in complete control. When we feel weak and scared to speak out the truth we must seek strength in God’s Word; that despite the foolishness of preaching, he will use it for his glory. (1 Cor. 1:18-25) When we have to enter into closed countries and are persecuted when we share our faith, we must remember “for those who love God all things work together for good.”
These promises comforted Jim Elliot’s family and friends when they reached out to a tribe in Ecuador. The natives speared Jim and the other men to death when they attempted to share Christ. It may appear that they wasted their lives by dieing and leaving loved ones behind. However, God is sovereign! The men’s wives and young children entered the village to live among the people who murdered their husbands. Their bravery, sacrifice and kindness made way for a great movement of the Holy Spirit. The entire village ultimately came to Christ through this tragic event. When we begin to realize the power of God it will mean more to us than life itself; we will give anything to share that redeeming power. For the full story see the films Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2002) and End of the Spear (2006)
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
- Christianity is the human response to the revelation of God’s love. “Out of love for those who did not love, the Father gave the Son, the Son gave His life, and the Spirit was sent to save sinners” from eternal death and lead them into glory. This amazing reality causes the birth of true love in the believer’s heart. A love is born in us that expresses our gratitude towards God’s redeeming love and seeks to imitate its perfection. The test that our love is true is faithful obedience to God. True love is sacrificial and involves giving, spending, and “impoverishing ourselves for the glory of God and the well-being of our fellow men.”2 Our new love will cause us to seek joy in the will of God and the spreading of His kingdom. (Ephesians 4:32-5:2; 1 John 3:16; John 14:15, 21,23; 1 John 5:3; Luke 10:25-37)
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
- The eternal glory of heaven should consume all our thoughts and motives. We do not store up treasures that are of this world, our treasures come from the infinite worth of God’s promises to his redeemed. As Christ followers we are called to not conform to this world. We must not have anxiety about our clothing, food, or shelter like the unbelievers of the world. We must hope in the promises that God will provide all things that we need as long as we seek first the kingdom of God. This verse does not mean that we cannot enjoy the pleasures of the earth. But it does mean that those pleasures must be secondary to our quest for holiness. We must demonstrate the willingness to give up and forsake the pleasures of this world for the sake of God’s purposes and our sanctification. Our friends should notice that money, a large home, a new car, and the latest fashion are not important for the fulfillment of our lives. (Matthew 6:19-34)
“Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.”
- This is a promise of God. Everything is not rainbows and lollipops. We cannot be everyone’s friend. Sometimes, despite the sacrificial and gracious love that we try to attain, people will hate us. We must stand firm in the faith and stand up for our beliefs. People may call us hypocrites and intolerant but we must not waiver in our proclamation of the Gospel. We are in a battle and must confront sin head on! With love, we must expose the sin in our lives and in the lives of those who are close to us. We must not be silent when the world around us comes crashing in. We must stand up and take action against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Sometimes it is God’s will that we walk through times of persecution while still remaining firm in our faith. Christ walked through scourging and crucifixion and we are to pick up our crosses and follow our Savior.
“And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved…A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master…And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell…So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my father who is in heaven.”
- It must be our daily prayer that God would spark a faith deep in our hearts that could stand firm in time of fear, persecution, and death. Throughout history there have been many Martyrs who firmly believed that the promises of God were worth more than life itself. We can learn much through study of these courageous men and women in the faith. Remember young Rachel Scott.
Rachel Scott was slain while eating lunch with a friend on the lawn outside of her school's library. She was killed by multiple gunshot wounds to the head, chest, arm, and leg. News reports said that one of the gunmen, after having first shot Rachel in her leg, asked the wounded girl if she still believed in God, and that she had answered "Yes", provoking a second, fatal shot to her head at point-blank range. Rachel’s parents contend in their book, Rachel’s Tears: the Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott, that their daughter was targeted by the killers and died as a martyr for her Christian faith, based on videotapes made by the teenage perpetrators in which they are said to mock Rachel for her beliefs.
For many other true stories of inspirational faith we encourage you to read ‘Foxe’s Book of Martyrs’.
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
- Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him. Our lord is calling us to die to our former way of life. He calls us to turn from our sinful and worldly ways and pursue joy in fellowship with the triune God. All efforts to maximize the success of our earthly lives are wasted. Retirement funds and health care mean nothing when compared to eternity. God wants us to give our lives completely to him and to seek first the kingdom of God and he will take care of our every need.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
- Rejoice and be glad when you suffer and are persecuted! How is this possible? Only by an amazing act of God can we rejoice when we feel horror and pain. The absurdity of this statement proves the power and truth of God because nobody of this world has ever rejoiced in pain. The ability to rejoice and be glad when we suffer has root in the promise that “your reward is great in heaven”. The key to joy is faith in God’s future grace (our great reward to come), not in gratitude towards past grace (salvation). God’s past grace gives ground for our confidence in his future reliability.4,6
“We are not required to love others before we become people who trust in God. But trusting in God means trusting his future grace. So it is possible – indeed necessary – to bank on the promises of future grace before we are transformed into the kind of people who love others. We do not have to perform, before faith, what faith is meant to perform.”6
“Grace would not be grace if it were a response to resources in us. Grace is grace because it highlights God’s own overflowing resources of kindness. Grace is eternal because it takes that long for God to expend inexhaustible stores of goodness on us. Grace is free because God would not be the infinite, self-sufficient God he is if he were constrained by anything outside himself.” 6
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
- Christians should expect persecution. If we do not see forms of persecution in our Christian lives we are not speaking boldly enough for Christ and his Gospel.
(Matt. 10:17-18; John 15:20; 1 Pet. 4:12,5:9)
“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
- We are in a battle and must stand up for what we believe in. The world around us is hostile towards God. Everywhere we turn God is being attacked. Humanism, Paganism, and Evolution are everywhere, constantly attacking our beliefs. We must believe that the Gospel is worth fighting for with our lives. We must not be turned away by corruption in media and politics. We are sinning when we are passive regarding key issues including abortion and gay marriage. We are guilty of the sin of omission, not standing up for God when we should and must. We must be careful to show our love to people in all kinds of sin and accept them lovingly, but also to explain the magnitude of the sins and the redemption found only in Christ. We love the people and their souls but never ever promote or accept the sinful activity. (Ephesians 6:10-20, Romans 7:19, Matthew 7:21-23)
"For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
- Have you ever gone through a circumstance in life that you thought would never end? It seemed so heavy and hopeless that you would be burdened by it forever? The carnal nature of all of us is to squirm our way out of anything unpleasant at the soonest possible moment because we see with physical eyes that are dying every day that we live. This "slight momentary affliction" understates the comparative bliss that we will dwell in for eternity in heaven. When we fix our eyes on the glory and beauty that are in Jesus Christ, we are able to catch a glimpse of the surpassing greatness of knowing Him. When we see this as our treasure, we no longer dwell on thoughts of selfish self-pity or resentment of having to endure the difficulties that each of us face in this life. Our physical eyes are replaced with spiritual ones that turn their gaze away from this fleeting moment on Earth and upward toward the unimaginable splendor of living in perfected, glorified bodies without so much as a thought of pain, suffering, sin, guilt, grief, sadness, anger or death. There is no time for such hopelessness in the very presence of Almighty God. That is our true home, and the thought of that reality should make us look like aliens in this desolate land.
"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ , will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
- Again, the journey we take through suffering and perseverance leads to God's finishing work of glorifying us in Christ. "Eternal glory" denotes the preeminence of Jesus as the only One by whom we are made to be glorified. This state of having been restored, confirmed, strengthened and established cannot be reached apart from union with Christ.
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
- The sufferings
of a believer are many and come from various sources. The temptations of the flesh which are used by Satan as artillery
against the weak spots in our armor, our corruption from time to time coming as
a result of lowering our sword and shield and allowing the attacks of our
sinful past to become less hated than they should be, being hated by the world
and considered foolish or stupid because of Christ, personal tragedy or loss
that brings anguish and pain to the soul:
All these things constitute the sufferings of one saved by grace. Yet these sufferings are a joy to a truly
converted believer, because we know that without them we cannot be refined or
cleansed from our old way of living!
The sanctifying work of God in our lives brings us into a joyful state
of suffering, leading to the fruit of endurance. With endurance comes a spirit of perseverance, knowing the truth
that because of Christ we can stand until the end. Enduring suffering faithfully and joyfully produces Godly
character in our lives, because Jesus faithfully and joyfully endured all
things to the praise of the will of His Father. When we see an increased Godly character develop in our lives, we
have a heightened awareness of the hope of a much better future with Jesus in
Heaven. And finally we rest assured
that this hope will not leave us ashamed because it is a result of the love
that God has for us being given freely through the Holy Spirit who lives in
us. The Holy Spirit testifies that
God's love is true, and that God will absolutely finish the work that He began
in us. That is also why "the last
shall be first" (Matt. 19:30). The
suffering of a lost soul is in vain, because it leads to eternal death. The suffering of a saved soul is not in
vain, because it ends to eternal life.
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
- "As we
would say, 'fasten your belt; or 'roll up your sleeves.' Peter asks us to prepare for vigorous and
sustained spiritual exertion."2 Christianity is not a vacation
from the troubles and cares of the world, it is intense battle and hatred
against the dark spiritual forces at work in the world. This verse also makes it clear that our
ultimate goal is not the battle against sin, but "the grace that will be
brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." That ultimate hope is what drives us and
sustains us while we wage war against the enemy in the meantime. If you want your "best life now",
then you don't want Jesus in the way that a regenerated person does. Those who know Jesus know that our best life
begins when the life we live now ends.
"But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
- This parable from Jesus is extremely crucial to believers and non-believers alike. We see two different types of people here. One type will say to himself "I know God is real, but I can always follow him later in life when I'm older. I want to do my thing right now." This person does not see the warning of Christ's return as a legitimate threat to his life's plans. For this person, Jesus will come as a thief in the night comes; without warning or expectation. People who think they can wait around and decide later in life to be devoted to the Lord are deluded and very dangerously close to hell. The reason is that no one is guaranteed another second of breath, much less years and years to figure out whether or not they want to take Jesus seriously. Christians must be diligent to try to keep people from wallowing in apathy and sin, keeping the importance of the Cross and knowing Jesus at the forefront of conversation.
Hebrews 12:15-17 give an illustration of why this is imperative. "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears."
How chilling to think that there are those who truly believe they will have time later to pick up Christianity like the remote control for the TV and turn Jesus on in their life like a somewhat entertaining late-night re-run. People like that have no idea the danger that they are in, and believers must do everything we can to be faithful to the Gospel and bear witness to the holiness of God and the importance of knowing Him and being thus transformed into a new creature, one who loathes the sin that was so appealing before. Those who are not brought out of their sinful drudgery will be "cut in pieces" and placed with the hypocrites, where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth."
The second type of person that is represented in this passage is the one who is faithful and eagerly anticipating the return of Jesus. Those who are saved by Grace will be much more concerned with the eternal plan of God than the fleeing passions of the world, and although they will trip now and then because they are human and sinful, they will not be bound to sin or ruled by it. They will fight it vigorously and hate when they fall to it. These people will be greeted in eternity with acceptance, love, and association with God.
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."
- First is mentioned a starkly contrasting arrival of Jesus from heaven to earth. When He came the first time, he was as an innocent baby. He was humble, a servant, and did not consider to be equal to the Father (Philippians 2:6). The second coming of Christ will be quite a different scene. He will come as a warrior, a commander of vast armies, a judge, a ruler, an authoritative and supreme Lord over all creation. It will be unlike anything anyone could possibly imagine.
"For Paul, those 'in Christ' constitute a subcategory of those 'in Adam' (the whole human race), and comprise all who participate in the salvation of Christ (1 Cor. 15:22, 23), whether they lived before or after Christ. Therefore, this rising of the 'dead in Christ' is a resurrection of all the righteous dead, and not merely of New Testament believers, at the time of Christ's return (as in 1 Cor. 15:23; cf. John 5:28, 29)."2
"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."
- You've heard the popular descriptions of Jesus, the peasant, the popper, the weak, greasy-haired hippy who walked around like a dog with his tail between his legs. You've seen the shirts, "Jesus is my homeboy" and such. You know the image of Christ that the world portrays, it's one of a defeated man who thought he was all that but was really just a great teacher with a little bag of tricks.
Well, Jesus ain't your homeboy, and He isn't defeated, weak or greasy haired either. He is the "glorious, victorious, resurrected One." (Shai Linne, "The Atonement") He is closer than a brother to those whom the Father foreknew and the difference is He's our Lord too. Who else could be so close that they know more about you than you do and love you more deeply than your brother, mother, sister or father ever could and yet be your absolute, righteous, non-negotiable Lord? Jesus is THE Man, and not the one that scores you a six pack or front row seats to the Lakers game. He is THE Man that dragged your sin laden, lust filled, perverted, selfish, conceited, envious, slanderous, murderous, adulterous, devious, manipulative, blasphemous carcass stenched with death; out of the grave of the wicked, through the cleansing blood He shed on the Cross, and into the marvelous light of the Holy presence of the Triune God.
Not a big fan of war? Well, you may want to take a rain-check on the second coming, because it will be the most completely dominant military victory ever achieved. The imagery of verse 15 is mind blowing, especially the scene where "He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty." That is intense vindication being acted out toward the enemies of the cross, and the exact same terrifying wrath that each of us deserve but instead get to marvel at in awesome wonder.
He will destroy the idols of the world's worship and do it in a way that will cause all things to acknowledge Him as the One worthy of praise. But it will be too late at that point. When He comes back, it will not be to hand out wedding invitations, it will be to get the honeymoon started and make sure that nobody who wasn't invited steals any cake at the reception. There isn't leftover champagne or party favors, but plenty of eternal punishment, pain, fire, torment and isolation for those who will be thrown into the fiery lake.
" No sooner was the marriage solemnized between Christ and his church by the conversion of the Jews than the glorious head and husband of the church is called out to a new expedition, which seems to be the great battle that was to be fought at Armageddon, foretold ch. 16:16. And here observe, I. The description of the great Commander,
1. By the seat of his empire; and that is heaven; his throne is there, and his power and authority are heavenly and divine.
2. His equipage: he is again described as sitting on a white horse, to show the equity of the cause, and certainty of success.
3. His attributes: he is faithful and true to his covenant and promise, he is righteous in all his judicial and military proceedings, he has a penetrating insight into all the strength and stratagems of his enemies, he has a large and extensive dominion, many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords.
4. His armour; and that is a vesture dipped in blood, either his own blood, by which he purchased this mediatorial power, or the blood of his enemies, over whom he has always prevailed.
5. His name: The Word of God, a name that none fully knows but himself, only this we know, that this Word was God manifest in the flesh; but his perfections are incomprehensible by any creature.
II. The army which he commands (v. 14), a very large one, made up of many armies; angels and saints followed his conduct, and resembled him in their equipage, and in their armour of purity and righteousness—chosen, and called, and faithful.
III. The weapons of his warfare— A sharp sword proceeding from his mouth (v. 15), with which he smites the nations, either the threatenings of the written word, which now he is going to execute, or rather his word of command calling on his followers to take a just revenge on his and their enemies, who are now put into the wine-press of the wrath of God, to be trodden under foot by him.
IV. The ensigns of his authority, his coat of arms— a name written on his vesture and thigh, King of kings, and Lord of lords, asserting his authority and power, and the cause of the quarrel, v. 16." (Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible)
"They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called chosen and faithful."
- The enemies of God will be utterly destroyed, but the elect have nothing to fear, for they are sealed up in Christ. Jesus has the power and authority to both destroy and preserve, and He will display that power when He returns. (See ch 16:14, ch 3:21, ch 19:16, Deaut. 10:17, Luke 18:7, Romans 1:6)
"and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
- Satan's eternal destiny is the same as all those who will not believe. Just as unimaginable as the wonderful splendor of eternal life in heaven is the eternal death that will be experienced in the lake of fire for those who refuse to believe the Truth. This is also a predetermined outcome, as those who get thrown into the lake of fire are those who's names are not in the book of life, also called the "book of life of the Lamb that was slain." (Rev 13:8) "The Greek may also be rendered 'written in the slain Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the world' (cf. 17:8). The book is the heavenly roster of those destined to new life through the purchase of Christ's blood (3:5; 5:9)."2 Again the doctrine of election is displayed in the final outcome of God's plan of redemption. He will finish the work He started before creation began.
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.' And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.' And he said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.' He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"
- Our true home, new Jerusalem! A place prepared for us by God that will descend from heaven and be unlike the current sin-ridden decaying world that we live in. Here we mourn, but there mourning will cease to exist. Here we experience pain, but there pain will be vanquished. Here we cry and struggle and fight and strain, but there all tears will be wiped away, all struggles will end and all fighting and strain will be done away with by the Alpha and Omega.
"The final visions of Revelation weave into a beautiful unity a hose of biblical themes. Not the themes of creation (v.1), the holy city of Jerusalem, communion with God expressed through marriage imagery (v.2), the dwelling of God, including the tabernacle and temple (ch 4:1-5:15), saints as God's own people (v.3), the end of suffering and death (v.4), new deeds of salvation, trustworthiness of God's Word (v.5), living water (v.6), becoming a son of God (v.7), warnings to the faithless, and judgment (v.8)." 2
"Soon" does not have the meaning that we as humans often assign to it. In chapter 22:20, Jesus didn't say "Surely I am coming within the next year or two" or anything relative to humanistic definition. He refers to His timetable, and His time is not our time. "See 22:6,7,10,12,20. Spiritual war takes place throughout the church age, and the seven churches will soon experience all dimensions of the conflict. Moreover, the 'last days' spoken of by Old Testament prophecy have been inaugurated by Christ's resurrection (acts 2:16,17). The time of waiting is over, and God is conducting the final phase of His victorious warfare against evil. By such reckoning, today is 'the last hour' (1John 2:18)." 2
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
- The mysterious and wonderful work of redemption could only be accomplished successfully by One. Just as we were all doomed with Satan in sin through the one sin of Adam, we had to be redeemed, or bought back, by the purchasing work of One. Jesus Christ, our Lord. Now that we have seen and testified to the goodness of our God, the only true God, let us rejoice and be glad! Let us worship the King, the founder and perfecter of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2) He deserves and justly receives all glory because He has authority and dominion over all to elicit glory and majesty and honor for Himself. Before anything was, He was. He existed alone in perfect harmony as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He exists now in that perfection and will continue to do so forevermore. He keeps us to the end; the end of this passing moment of life where we will begin our true existence as co-heirs with Christ in His very presence where if we were to approach in our current state we would be killed instantly from the sheer holiness of Him. He stands Supreme as our joy, our treasure, our only hope of salvation and our Lord. Praise Him! Amen.
References:
1) Jonathan Edwards, “A History of the Work of Redemption”, 1773
2) R.C. Sproul, “Reformation Study Bible”, Ligonier Ministries, 2005
3) C.H. Spurgeon, “Grace: God’s unmerited favor”
4) John Piper, “Desiring God”
5) Jonathan Edwards, “On Freedom of the Will”, 1773
6) John Piper, “Future Grace”
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21; Isaiah 9:6