CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS
THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE BIBLE
It is impossible to over-estimate the importance of a
clear understanding of the various truths connected with our Lord's death.
Let us consider the great truth of the Atonement that He made in His
death.
1. THE NEED OF THE ATONEMENT.
The entrance of sin into this world has affected man's relationship to God
and also his own nature. Sin is the transgression of the law, or more
literally, sin is "lawlessness," the entire absence of man's
submission to the Divine law. In this condition of lawlessness expressed
in actual transgression, a number of consequences are involved.
Sin affects our relationship to God. It brings man into a state of
guilt before God. It also involves man in the Divine condemnation of sin,
and further, it issues in man's entire separation from God. We can see all
this in the story of the first sin (Gen.3), where these three results of
guilt, condemnation and separation are clearly brought before us.
Sin also affects all the powers of man's nature. It results in the
darkening of the intellect, the deadening of the conscience, the
defilement of the heart and the distortion of the will. Sin also hurts
man's relation to his fellows, causing animosity, hatred, malice, and
other sins against the love and care that we owe to one another.
Lastly, Sin issues in death, which, in its final form, is the
separation of the soul and the body from God forever. It is evident,
therefore, that if man is to regain his true position before God, and also
to recover the true equilibrium of his nature, sin must be dealt with and
put away. God's relation to this world is one of righteousness, and as
this relation has been set at nought by human sin, God's broken law must
be honoured, His righteous character vindicated, and man's position and
nature restored. This great need is involved and expressed in the thought
of an Atonement.
2. THE PROVISION OF THE ATONEMENT. As Atonement is intended to
cover man's relations to God, to himself, and to his fellows, we can
readily see that man himself has no power to provide that which will meet
the demands of God's righteousness and fulfil His Divine and perfect
requirements. Only by a perfect obedience could any man fulfil God's will,
an obedience that must be perfect in thought, intent and motive, as well
as in word and action; but this is manifestly impossible with our sinful
nature. "He that offends in one point is guilty of all"
(Jas.2:10). "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things
which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Gal.3:10).
Moreover, the chasm between man and God, by reason of sin, is so wide that
man alone and unaided cannot span the gulf and get back to God. A Mediator
is needed, One Who is both God and Man, and Who is also free from sin.
job's cry, "Neither is there any daysman between us that might lay
his hand upon us both" (lob 9:33) is the cry of humanity in all ages,
and indicates man's deepest need.
It is the glory of the Gospel of Christ that it records the wonderful plan
by which God met that need in the Person and Work of His own Son.
"Now the righteousness of God is. ..manifested...even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe. For there is no difference, for all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom.3:2i-24). The
message of the Gospel to every man in the world is, "There is one God
and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus"
(ITim.2:5).
3. THE MEANING OF THE ATONEMENT. The simplest statement of this
truth is perhaps found in the words, "Christ also hath once suffered
for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (I
Peter 3:18), and "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on
the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by
Whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). The Person Who suffered
on the Cross is the Son of God, Who in His own self bare our sins (see
Isaiah 53:6).
The fundamental thought of the Atonement is reconciliation between God and
man by means of a propitiation, this propitiation being the sacrificial
death of Christ. When we read of "the wrath of God" it is
certain that it must have some real meaning and application, teaching us
of God's judicial displeasure against sin, and telling us in unmistakeable
language that sin is that abominable thing which He hates (jer.44:4). The
death of our Lord Jesus Christ made it, and still makes it possible for
God to forgive sin. It liberated His love (which sin had held back) while
maintaining His righteousness. There is no opposition between the Father
and the Son; it was God Who required the Atonement and God Who provided
it. What His justice demanded His love provided. "For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son," and now God can be
"just, and the justifier of Him that believeth in Jesus"
(Rom.3:26).
The Atoning Sacrifice is the essential truth of the Bible and we must be
careful to make it the centre of all our thought, life and hope. Whether
or not we can fully understand all the various aspects of truth connected
with the death of Christ, the believing soul can bow in adoration before
God and say, "The Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for
me."
- Abridged, Dr W.H. Griffith Thomas.
BROKEN COMMUNION
You may have a house stored with untold treasure, but if
you have no means of communication with that house, the treasure profits
you nothing. So it is with Christ. In Him are "unsearchable
riches"; in Him "all fullness" dwells; and remember, dear
fellow believer, everything that is in Him, is yours in Him.
But all this will profit you nothing - absolutely nothing - if you are not
in communion with Him. If you have allowed the communication to be broken,
there is at once a stoppage of the supplies. The whole resources of the
risen Christ of God are yours, but only yours in Him. It is not so while
following afar off, or while walking in the flesh. How could it be? Hence
the command to abide in Him (John 15:4-11; I John 2:28), and to walk in
Him (Col.2:6,7). But if communion is broken, if sin is allowed to lie on
the conscience, you are at once out of communication with the great
storehouse - Christ. There is not a weaker, more helpless creature on the
face of the earth than a Christian cut off from communion with his God.
What a lamentable condition for a child of God to be in, sitting at ease,
out of fellowship with God; messages going, it may be, but none coming, as
it is written, "Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, that our
prayer should not pass through (Lam.3:44). Our God is the God of truth as
well as of mercy. The Lord looks on the heart; He desires truth in the
inward parts (Psa.51:6). "If we walk in the light as He is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another (I John 1:7). Fellowship with
God is a conditional thing, as it is written, "If I regard iniquity
in my heart, the Lord will not hear (Psa.66:18); and again, "Shall
the throne of iniquity have fellowship with Thee?" (Psa.94:20).
Beloved child of God, let nothing break the communion between you and your
Father in heaven. Remember that we have been called into the fellowship of
His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (l Cor.l:9). Such is your calling. Satan
and the world would fain drag you down from it, and make you content with
something less. But let it be yours to joyfully take the place of nearness
and fellowship to which God has called you, there to abide, so that you
may be among those who can say, "Truly our fellowship is with the
Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."
- Abridged, Believers Pathway.
NOTHING BETWEEN
Nothing between, Lord, nothing between;
Let not earth's din and noise
Stifle Thy still small voice;
Let me in Thee rejoice -
Nothing between.
Nothing between, Lord, nothing between;
Thus may I walk with Thee,
Thee only may I see,
Thine only let me be -
Nothing between.
- E.H.H.
CONFIDENCE IN GOD
There are few believers who are permitted to pass through the journey of
life without encountering trials of a more or less severe nature. If in
the trial, our confidence in God remains unshaken, or is deepened thereby,
the spiritual profit gained is a most valuable asset.
In the third Psalm we find recorded the experience of David under one of
the heaviest trials which he was ever called upon to bear. The persecution
in the days of Saul was light when compared with this. The nature of the
trial is indicated by the words that preface the Psalm: "A Psalm of
David when he fled from Absalom, his son."
David had committed a grievous sin, and God had threatened to raise up
evil out of his own house. The predicted evil took the form of a rebellion
which was headed by Absalom, his son, the account of which is found in 2
Samuel 15-17. When David learned that Absalom had stolen the hearts of the
people, and had proclaimed himself king in Hebron, he fled from Jerusalem
with a band of faithful followers. At this testing time, the true and the
false friends of David were fully manifested.
David Was Not Despondent. While he was conscious that the odds were
overwhelmingly against him, David was not crushed or despondent. They may
be "increased that trouble him," and those that "rise up
against him" may be many, and some may say "there is no hope for
him in God," but David knows better. He who had helped him in the
past would not fail him now. So he begins the Psalm with
"Jehovah." He puts the Lord between himself and his enemies, and
thus he is able to strike a note of confidence. The Lord is his shield,
what has he to fear, even though "ten thousands of people should set
themselves against him round about?" The Lord is his glory, then let
Shimei curse and revile, for "Thy blessing is upon Thy people"
(v.8). The Lord is the "lifter up of his head," therefore he can
calmly wait for the salvation of the Lord. What God was to David, so He is
to His people now. "No change Jehovah knows." Let us do the will
of God and all will be well. If He does not save us from our troubles, He
will save us in our troubles.
David Asleep Amid Difficulties. But David states the crowning proof
of his confidence in v.5: "1 laid me down and slept, for the Lord
sustained me." Trouble is responsible for many sleepless nights. This
sleep was not the result of exhaustion so much as of complete trust in the
tender care of the Lord. It was confidence born of believing prayer.
"I cried unto the Lord and He heard me" (v.4). Knowing that he
was heard, he knew his prayer was answered, and he lay down and slept. He
slept when he was a fugitive from his home, his subjects up in arms
against him, his own son heading the rebellion, and his most trusted
counsellor, Ahithophel, in the ranks of his foes. He knew his God,
therefore he could trust Him. It is in the days of adversity that our
experimental knowledge of God is revealed. When Paul was troubled on every
side he says he was not distressed, and when he was perplexed he was not
in despair. Why? because he knew Whom he had believed, and the knowledge
of God is "the best of all sciences."
The Master Asleep Amid Storms. There is a beautiful incident in the
life of our Lord recorded in the Gospels. At the close of a busy day of
toil He said to His disciples, "Let us pass over to the other
side" (Mark 4:35). While they were crossing the lake there arose a
great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship so that it was being
filled with water. The disciples were in an agony of fear; the Master was
sleeping. The question of the disciples, "Master, carest Thou not
that we perish?" seems to indicate that in their judgment, His
sleeping at such a time betokened indifference for their welfare. But they
were never so safe as when in the company of their Lord, and they should
have known surely that no boat could sink with Him on board. Had He not
said, "Let us pass over unto the other side?" Who could hinder
when all the elements were under His control? Do we not see here that
perfection of trust which He always exhibited as the dependent One?
"Preserve Me O God, for in Thee do I put My trust" (Psa.16:1),
was the prayer of His heart. He is the leader as well as the perfecter of
faith (Heb.12:2). He ascribes the fearfulness of the disciples to want of
trust. "How is it that ye have no faith?" In the emergency of
the moment their faith seemed to vanish. Seas of trouble are sweeping over
many of the Lord's dear people at present. Times are trying, and the
future is uncertain. Many a heart is heavy with grief and suspense.
Entertain not for a moment a doubtful thought, for He careth for you.
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you"
(Psa.55:22).
The Apostle Peter Asleep Amid Dangers. In Acts 12 we see the apostle Peter
in prison and condemned to die. The Church was praying, and Peter
experienced deliverance in the trial before he was delivered from it. On
the night before his execution appointed by Herod, Peter was sleeping
between two soldiers. Whether he lived or died he was the Lord's, and
being prepared to glorify Him either way, his slumber was undisturbed
until he was awakened by the angel of the Lord. His mind was stayed on
God, therefore his heart was at perfect peace.
A More Recent Example. In his autobiography George Muller put it on
record that on hundreds of occasions he retired to rest without having
sufficient food to give his large family of orphans their breakfast. Yet
he was so confident that God would not fail him that he never lost half an
hours sleep. "They who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true."
Let us boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear"
(Heb.13:6).
- John McAlpine.
I COME AGAIN
John 14:3.
There is no truth of God in the New Testament that has the prominence
given to it, that this truth of His coming again has. The coming again of
our Lord Jesus Christ has been well called the "pole star" of
the Church.
When God causes this truth to take and hold a place in our hearts, it
revolutionises our whole lives. We read our Bible in a way that was not
possible before. It gives us an entirely new viewpoint from which to view
the things of earth, and it brings a holy calm, peace and rest into our
lives. It draws out our affections to the Man at God's right hand, our
Saviour and Lord, It imparts to us a longing desire to see His face, and,
to His cry, "Behold I come quickly," it leads our hearts to
respond, "Even so, Come Lord Jesus."
His coming for His Church is personal; that is to say, He will come in
Person for her. This fact is stated in John 14:3, "I come
again." We should notice that in the R.V the "will" is
omitted. The verb is not future, but present. This is so important, for it
keeps the fact of His coming as a present hope in our hearts. Again,
"the Lord Himself will descend from heaven" (l Thess.4:16).
"We look for the Saviour" (Phil.3:20). The reader will readily
think of other passages which establish this great truth - the Personal
return of our Lord.
Then this coming is titular, that is, it is associated with His titles.
When God brings Him before us as the "Son of Man" He does not
want us to interpret it as "Son of God." No matter what the
title may be, it is the same blessed One; but the different titles are
God's revealings of Him in different characteristics, relationships and
glories. His second advent is distinctly associated with His coming as the
"Son of Man:" His coming in manifested glories to Mount Olivet.
This advent is Israel's hope. The Old Testament is full of it, and it is
to this coming the Synoptic Gospels refer.
But the Old Testament knows nothing of the Church's hope. It is given by
revelation in the New Testament. It is His coming, not to earth, but into
the clouds. It is for the Church which He calls "My Church." She
who is His body, that she might be His bride. It is her hope, for,
"There is one Body and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one
hope of your calling" (Eph.4:4). She is built upon Him, not as
"Son of Man," but as "Son of God" (Matt.16:16-18). She
waits and looks for Him as such - the One whom having not seen she loves.
The One, thank God, she will soon see, and be like, and be with Him
forever. She will see Him in His unveiled glory, with nothing to come
between forever. This is her hope.
He and I in that bright glory
One deep joy shall share:
Mine, to be forever with Him
His, that I am there.
- Believer's Magazine.
NEARER TO THEE
It is a sure sign of growth in the divine life, that there is a
continuing desire for a closer walk with God. "Not as though I had
already attained, either were already perfect. but I follow after"
(Phil.3:12), is the language of faith. God's people go "from strength
to strength" (Ps.84:7). They are daily receiving "grace for
grace, or grace upon grace, for "whosoever hath, to him shall be
given" (Luke 8:18).
It is true that we are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of God's
house; yet, at the same time, if we are walking in the communion of the
Holy Spirit, our soul panteth after God as the hart panteth after the
water brooks. Like Paul, our desire is, 'That I may know Him and the power
of His resurrection" (Phil.3:10).
- Selected.
SATAN DEMANDED - I HAVE PRAYED
Luke 22:31,32.
The approaching departure of our Lord, so plainly foretold, and so
imperfectly understood, was to be marked by intensified Satanic activity.
In this lay a special danger for Judas, who became the betrayer of the
Lord, and also for the other disciples in their nearing hour of trial,
although they did not apprehend it. Through the years of our Lord's
itinerant ministry, Judas had been with Him, hearing His words, seeing His
works, and had been the trusted treasurer of the company. His betrayal of
the Lord, and his own end, are pictured in a remarkable way in the history
of Ahithophel's betrayal of David (2Sam.15:12; 17:1-23; Matt.27:5). The
betraying hand was with Him on the table, the hand that received, but
would not be able to retain, the coveted thirty pieces of silver. How
little he had thought of all that would be purchased for himself with that
money. The deed of betrayal was soon regretted, and before he cast the
silver into the holy place he uttered words of testimony for the betrayed
One, "I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent
blood." None knew better than he, that guiltless blood had been
delivered up. He had sinned against the greatest light, and Satan had made
sure of him.
But there were the other disciples, and it almost looked as if they had
deliberately laid themselves open to the enemy, through purely selfish
ambition with its blinding effects. They seemed oblivious to the deepening
sorrows of their Lord. Gethsemane and Calvary were unthought of, though so
near. Selfish preoccupation had limited the range of their sympathy. An
old dispute, quiescent for a time, but never settled, burst forth with
energy, ungenerous and untimely. "Who should be the greatest?"
This frame of mind was dangerous, and our Lord sought to save them from
themselves, and from Satan's power. In effect he told them, that whatever
others might do, it was not for them to emulate the ambitions of the
nations or their great ones. Let the greater be as the younger, and the
leader as the servant. His example should be sufficient for them, "I
am among you as one that serveth." That was the only way of greatness
for them. Their loyalty was lovingly acknowledged, and would be rewarded.
They would have dominion at the right time and in the appointed way, so
they needed not to seek transient, self gratifying authority over one
another. With such prospects they might well be satisfied with the
lowliest place, if it was of His appointment (Luke 22:24-30).
The nature of their terrible foe, the vastness of his resources and the
subtlety of his methods were well known to the Lord, but the disciples
were then in ignorance of him and his devices. So with concern, shown in
His suddenly altered tone, our Lord solemnly gave this warning,
"Simon, Simon, Satan demanded to have you" - all of you, without
exception - "to sift you as wheat." Each unit, each grain of
"wheat" was demanded to undergo the winnowing process. The
ordeal designed for them was to be unsparing and searching. Pressure from
without, inward agitation, with the intent to overwhelm and overthrow
faith and loyalty, would have to be met.
"But 1 have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." The Lord
had specially prayed for Simon, the impulsive, bold leader and ready
spokesman. He had not waited for the hour of testing, but had already
acted on his behalf, on whose powers of leadership so much hung for good
or ill to his brethren.
Unaided human nature, however fearless and strong, is weakness itself
against supernatural foes. But His work on their behalf, who were so weak,
could not fail.
His prayer for us has been recorded in John 17. "I pray for them: I
pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given me; for they
are Thine" (v.9). "Holy Father, keep through Thine own name
those whom Thou hast given Me" (v.11). "I pray not that Thou
shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them
from the evil" (v.15).
Not without the scars of conflict did Simon pass the test, but through
bitter sorrow and tears of repentance he came back, and he became a
strengthener of his brethren. For the trial was permitted to strengthen,
not to destroy him.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
He will not, He cannot desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell shall endeavour to shake,
He'll never - no, never - no, never forsake.
- Robert Stephen.
A MOMENTS PRAYER
Pray for one another - James 5:16.
I cannot tell why there should come to me
A thought of someone miles and miles away,
In swift insistence on the memory -
Unless there be a need that I should pray.
Too hurried oft are we to spare a thought
For days together, for some friend away;
Perhaps God does it for us, and we ought
To read His signal as a call to pray.
Perhaps, just then, my friend has fiercer fight;
Some overwhelming sorrow or decay
Of courage, darkness, some lost sense of right,
And so, in case my friend needs prayer, I pray.
Friend, do the same for me, if I, unsought,
Intrude upon you on some crowded day;
Give me a moment's prayer in passing thought;
Be sure I need it, therefore pray.
- F.M.
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R.M. Goatley,
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