Tuesday, January 31, 2006
The Good News
V23. "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'
Now the good news is that if there were a human being who perfectly kept all the law, mankind may have a glimmer of hope. This One could represent Adam’s race. Enter Jesus of Nazareth who would be our sacrificial lamb. Paul explains this in Romans. In his first three chapters he explains the doctrine of sin and at the end of chapter 3 he explains the doctrine of mans justification: Rom. 3:21-28 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22. even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24. being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25. whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26. for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Man must at first understand his hopeless condition or he will never see the need of a savior to save him from the deadly sin disease. A knowledgeable sick man that is terminally ill earnestly seeks a doctor. This savior/doctor must have the resources of righteousness to act in man’s stead before the Judge, to pay his sin debt. Jesus met all the criteria requiring the demand of the law providing a spotless blood sacrifice that would reconcile man’s sin debt. Upon the cross Jesus received God’s wrath for every sin committed and for every sin that will be committed by His elect. All others will hear, “I never knew you; depart from me you who practice lawlessness.”
It all boils down to this: Either Jesus Christ, who has the resources to pay your sin debt, will do so through your faith in His completed work, or you, who practice lawlessness and have not the resources to pay your own way out can present your own estimated righteousness and have faith in yourself. Many years ago the Christian slogan was, “One Way,” this still remains true for today. I pray that you get it right.
Now the good news is that if there were a human being who perfectly kept all the law, mankind may have a glimmer of hope. This One could represent Adam’s race. Enter Jesus of Nazareth who would be our sacrificial lamb. Paul explains this in Romans. In his first three chapters he explains the doctrine of sin and at the end of chapter 3 he explains the doctrine of mans justification: Rom. 3:21-28 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22. even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24. being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25. whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26. for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Man must at first understand his hopeless condition or he will never see the need of a savior to save him from the deadly sin disease. A knowledgeable sick man that is terminally ill earnestly seeks a doctor. This savior/doctor must have the resources of righteousness to act in man’s stead before the Judge, to pay his sin debt. Jesus met all the criteria requiring the demand of the law providing a spotless blood sacrifice that would reconcile man’s sin debt. Upon the cross Jesus received God’s wrath for every sin committed and for every sin that will be committed by His elect. All others will hear, “I never knew you; depart from me you who practice lawlessness.”
It all boils down to this: Either Jesus Christ, who has the resources to pay your sin debt, will do so through your faith in His completed work, or you, who practice lawlessness and have not the resources to pay your own way out can present your own estimated righteousness and have faith in yourself. Many years ago the Christian slogan was, “One Way,” this still remains true for today. I pray that you get it right.
# posted by Castusfumus : 6:06 PM
