“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
I have referenced the passage above before, but it is such a powerful passage that we would all do well to consider it on a daily basis. For this reason I must postpone the consideration of law once again, for without forgiveness there would be no escape from the condemnation of the law.
First of all, I would like to draw your attention to the word “then.” This seems like a rather inconsequential word, but in fact it is of incredible importance because it indicates that Jesus said it AFTER something else. In this case it is after a lot of things, for Jesus said it as he was hanging upon the cross of Calvary.
The worst that man could do to the Son of God had all been done, save for the piercing of his side in John 19:34. In other words, all of man’s hatred and guile against the Lord Jesus Christ was reckoned as ignorance in that one statement by the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (Jn 1:29) As a result, not one person that has ever lived, before that time or since, is left ineligible to claim the atoning death of Christ for their own salvation.
For centuries much hatred and persecution has been heaped upon the Jews for a statement made to Pilate by the unruly crowd at Jesus’ mock trial. “Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” (Mat 27:25) The Catholic church has a long history of persecuting the Jews, which they have justified based on that sentence the Jews pronounced upon themselves. Even many Reformers, most notably Martin Luther, held views of extreme anti-Semitism, and that vein of hatred continues in Christendom to this day.
However, that statement was also BEFORE the Lord’s declaration of forgiveness on the cross. In fact, it was primarily for the Jews’ benefit that he made that statement because they KNEW he was their Messiah, but rejected him. The gentiles, on the other hand, including the Roman soldiers, were not privy to that knowledge, and so they were truly ignorant of the true import of their actions.
As Christians, then, we have no right or means to hold the Jews responsible for the death of our Lord, for their sentence has been commuted in God’s eyes to manslaughter, for which there is a City of Refuge and pardon at the death of the high priest. (Num 35) The City of Refuge is a subject that I hope to explore at a later date, but in short, EVERY sinner—that is every man, woman and child upon the face of the earth—can claim God's forgiveness in accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
So just how big is the sinner’s offence against God? Just how much is he forgiven when he begs for mercy from Almighty God? The Lord himself illustrates it for us in Matthew 18: 23-35.
“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.” (Mat 18:23-27)
How much is ten thousand talents exactly? Well, to put it in perspective, the annual budget of Herod at the time is estimated to have been 2000 talents at the most, and more likely closer to 1000 talents. That man’s debt was 10 times larger than the annual budget of Herod’s entire kingdom! However, even that is hard to conjure in our mind, so let’s convert ten thousand talents to today’s US currency.
A talent is generally accepted to have been 75 lbs, and there are 16 ounces in a pound. If we take today’s gold price of approximately $1650 per ounce, that translates to 19.81 BILLION dollars! That is an inconceivable debt for almost any man to pay, but let’s not forget that this man was a servant—a slave in other words—with no real source of income.
That is what we were! We were slaves to sin that owed an insurmountable debt of incredible magnitude to God with absolutely no means to pay so much as a penny against it! The only thing we can do is throw ourselves upon his mercy, and he will forgive us that debt.
You would think that a man that had been forgiven a debt of such magnitude would be the most magnanimous individual you would ever encounter. However, the subsequent actions of that servant exhibit nothing of the kind.
“But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.” (Mat 18:28-30)
If we are to understand the magnitude of this action, we must understand what 100 pence is. In US currency today it is approximately $16. What? He had his fellow servant thrown in prison for 16 bucks? A sentence, by the way, that was indefinite, for he had no way to pay a cent of it in prison!
To put it in perspective that would be like a Microsoft employee making such a monumental mistake that it cost the company 19.81 billion dollars, but Bill Gates forgave him that debt. In return, that employee went down the hall and had a fellow employee—one who had done nothing against him by the way—thrown in prison because he owed him lunch at Starbucks!
Absolutely unbelievable! Where is the guy’s perspective? Where is his gratitude? Who could possibly do something like that?
I can. You can. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we have been forgiven a debt that we could never pay in an eternity of judgment! Not only that, but the Lord has “raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:6) And what do we do in return? We withhold forgiveness from our family, our friends, and our brethren in Christ. It doesn’t matter what it is—anything that anyone could do against us is so puny it is not even worth considering when held in the light of the debt that we have been forgiven!
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
-Robert Robinson
Are you holding something against someone—anyone—today? Let it go! And forgive that person. Maybe you haven’t even talked to that individual in a very long time—there is no better time than right now. The other party may not repent, but you MUST extend the offer of forgiveness, just as my precious Saviour did upon the cross of Calvary when he died in my place.
If you do not, you will experience the same thing as the man in Matthew 18:34, for God will deliver you to the tormentors. If you are a true believer you will not lose your salvation, but God will not permit you the assurance of that. If you are holding an unforgiving spirit you have no right to call yourself a child of God, for “if a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 Jn 4:20)
Bitterness is the result of an unforgiving spirit, and it will destroy you. This is a solemn warning to all of us, and we MUST follow its admonition. “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” (Heb 12:15)
-A.N. Scharf
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Salvation is Final
When a sinner falls before the Lord Jesus Christ in humble repentance, that individual takes responsibility for his or her own depravity and sin and accepts the atoning work of Christ as the only means to reconciliation with God. At that moment something amazing happens: salvation. We know that because that is what God’s word tells us. Paul told the despondent jailor in Acts 17: 31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” I have used that verse many times, and will continue to do so, because it is one of the simplest and yet most profound statements found in the Bible, indeed all the books of history combined.
There is no waiting period, no probation, and no penance to pay—it is immediate and complete. However, it is not a reconstitution or rehabilitation of the sinner—that individual in fact receives an entirely NEW nature. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor 5:17)
Our old nature, sad to say, continues to live and we must continually reckon that nature to be in the place of death because he cannot be rehabilitated. He is a sinner by nature and practice. “Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Rom 6:6) We should not serve sin, but sometimes we allow our old nature to wreak havoc in our lives. That is why a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ can still commit sin. “The evil which I would not, that I do.” (Rom 7:19) That is also why John said, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
However, the “new creature” in a believer CANNOT sin. That is why John makes a seemingly contradictory statement in the same epistle. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9) This is entirely the result of God’s grace working in us. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Eph 1:6)
We are accepted by God in Christ! “Where is boasting then? It is excluded.” (Rom 3:27) It is all because of the work of Christ on the cross at Calvary. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor 5:21)
All believers in the Lord Jesus are made as the righteousness of God! Unbelievable! God is perfect, holy, without spot or blemish. “Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be…even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” (Rev 16:5,7) We, on the other hand “were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Eph 2:3)
How is this change possible? “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” (Tit 3:5) That is such good news because “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Is 64:6)
The last thing the Lord of Glory uttered as he died at Golgotha was, “It is finished!” (Jn 19:30) The Greek is actually one word that means paid in full. We know from Luke 23:46 that this was uttered “with a loud voice,” and that statement should resound loudly in the heart of every believer.
This should enable all of us who have put our trust in the Lord Jesus should echo the words of Paul in his epistle to the Galatians. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Gal 5:16)
The verses just quoted, and many more, also prove that one who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ can never lose their salvation. If it is God’s work and he has declared it as finished there is nothing we can add to or take away from the salvation that he offers. If we accept that offer we become one of his sheep, and he our shepherd. (John 10)
In that same passage the Lord himself assures us that “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
However, many true believers in Christ have no assurance of their salvation. They continue to be plagued by their own failings and sin, unable to have the peace in their heart that the Lord intends them to have. This leads me to the subject of the question with which I began this series, and that is the principle of law. I will endeavour to explore that subject in the coming days. While the previous installments may seem like a lengthy preamble, it is vital to understand the principle of mercy and the resulting outpouring of grace when juxtaposed against the principle of law.
-A.N. Scharf
There is no waiting period, no probation, and no penance to pay—it is immediate and complete. However, it is not a reconstitution or rehabilitation of the sinner—that individual in fact receives an entirely NEW nature. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor 5:17)
Our old nature, sad to say, continues to live and we must continually reckon that nature to be in the place of death because he cannot be rehabilitated. He is a sinner by nature and practice. “Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Rom 6:6) We should not serve sin, but sometimes we allow our old nature to wreak havoc in our lives. That is why a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ can still commit sin. “The evil which I would not, that I do.” (Rom 7:19) That is also why John said, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
However, the “new creature” in a believer CANNOT sin. That is why John makes a seemingly contradictory statement in the same epistle. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9) This is entirely the result of God’s grace working in us. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Eph 1:6)
We are accepted by God in Christ! “Where is boasting then? It is excluded.” (Rom 3:27) It is all because of the work of Christ on the cross at Calvary. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor 5:21)
All believers in the Lord Jesus are made as the righteousness of God! Unbelievable! God is perfect, holy, without spot or blemish. “Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be…even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” (Rev 16:5,7) We, on the other hand “were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Eph 2:3)
How is this change possible? “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” (Tit 3:5) That is such good news because “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Is 64:6)
The last thing the Lord of Glory uttered as he died at Golgotha was, “It is finished!” (Jn 19:30) The Greek is actually one word that means paid in full. We know from Luke 23:46 that this was uttered “with a loud voice,” and that statement should resound loudly in the heart of every believer.
This should enable all of us who have put our trust in the Lord Jesus should echo the words of Paul in his epistle to the Galatians. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Gal 5:16)
The verses just quoted, and many more, also prove that one who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ can never lose their salvation. If it is God’s work and he has declared it as finished there is nothing we can add to or take away from the salvation that he offers. If we accept that offer we become one of his sheep, and he our shepherd. (John 10)
In that same passage the Lord himself assures us that “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
However, many true believers in Christ have no assurance of their salvation. They continue to be plagued by their own failings and sin, unable to have the peace in their heart that the Lord intends them to have. This leads me to the subject of the question with which I began this series, and that is the principle of law. I will endeavour to explore that subject in the coming days. While the previous installments may seem like a lengthy preamble, it is vital to understand the principle of mercy and the resulting outpouring of grace when juxtaposed against the principle of law.
-A.N. Scharf
Friday, March 16, 2012
His Mercy Endureth Forever
In previous articles I have dealt briefly with the subjects of grace and forgiveness, but what is grace exactly? I have heard it defined as undeserved favour, or getting something we don’t deserve. However, I think that definition falls short of conveying the true power and import of grace.
I, and many of my contemporaries, have grown up in a culture of entitlement, where we have begun to think that we deserve the plenty that we enjoy—that it is our right. However, we in fact have no right to grace because we DON’T deserve it. Furthermore, grace given is always the prerogative of the giver—nobody can extract grace from someone else by either force or favour.
I discovered an excellent definition of grace on Webster-dictionary.net specifically in regards to God’s grace, which is the only standard we ought to use. “The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.”
For many years I have believed grace and mercy to be two separate entities, not necessarily dependent upon each other. However, I believe the definition above is one of the best I have seen for grace because it is in fact dependent on God’s mercy. Mercy could be defined as undeserved compassion, or not getting something we do deserve. Webster’s defines mercy as, “Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it.”
The phrase “his mercy endureth forever” appears no less than 41 times in the King James Bible. In other words, mercy is part of God’s infinite and eternal nature, which allows him to extend grace to sinners. However, God’s justice is never set aside to make room for mercy—both aspects of his character must be satisfied.
God’s mercy cannot extend grace to sinners unless justice is served, “for the wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23) God says that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” (Heb 9:27) for God MUST judge sin. God CANNOT accept us because we are all sinners. We may well ask the same question posed by Bildad thousands of years ago, “How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?” (Job 25:4)
Unlike Bildad, who asked the question in a rhetorical manner, we have the definitive answer. Almost two thousand years ago, “when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman” (Gal 4:4) to die in our place. “For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor 5:21)
But praise be to God, he did not remain in the state of death! When the mourners went to the intended tomb of the son of God it was empty, and an angel was there to declare, “He is not here: for he is risen.” (Mt 28:6) As a result, “whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43) Any in that condition can declare with utmost certainty, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom 8:34)
-A.N. Scharf
Mercy and truth unite,
Oh, 'tis a wondrous sight,
All sights above!
Jesus the curse sustains,
Guilt's bitter cup He drains,
Nothing for us remains,
Nothing but love.
-T. Kelly
I, and many of my contemporaries, have grown up in a culture of entitlement, where we have begun to think that we deserve the plenty that we enjoy—that it is our right. However, we in fact have no right to grace because we DON’T deserve it. Furthermore, grace given is always the prerogative of the giver—nobody can extract grace from someone else by either force or favour.
I discovered an excellent definition of grace on Webster-dictionary.net specifically in regards to God’s grace, which is the only standard we ought to use. “The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.”
For many years I have believed grace and mercy to be two separate entities, not necessarily dependent upon each other. However, I believe the definition above is one of the best I have seen for grace because it is in fact dependent on God’s mercy. Mercy could be defined as undeserved compassion, or not getting something we do deserve. Webster’s defines mercy as, “Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it.”
The phrase “his mercy endureth forever” appears no less than 41 times in the King James Bible. In other words, mercy is part of God’s infinite and eternal nature, which allows him to extend grace to sinners. However, God’s justice is never set aside to make room for mercy—both aspects of his character must be satisfied.
God’s mercy cannot extend grace to sinners unless justice is served, “for the wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23) God says that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” (Heb 9:27) for God MUST judge sin. God CANNOT accept us because we are all sinners. We may well ask the same question posed by Bildad thousands of years ago, “How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?” (Job 25:4)
Unlike Bildad, who asked the question in a rhetorical manner, we have the definitive answer. Almost two thousand years ago, “when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman” (Gal 4:4) to die in our place. “For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor 5:21)
But praise be to God, he did not remain in the state of death! When the mourners went to the intended tomb of the son of God it was empty, and an angel was there to declare, “He is not here: for he is risen.” (Mt 28:6) As a result, “whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43) Any in that condition can declare with utmost certainty, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom 8:34)
-A.N. Scharf
Mercy and truth unite,
Oh, 'tis a wondrous sight,
All sights above!
Jesus the curse sustains,
Guilt's bitter cup He drains,
Nothing for us remains,
Nothing but love.
-T. Kelly
Friday, March 9, 2012
Forgiven Offenders
I heard a quote from recently that is relevant to the subject of grace.
"I don't like repeat offenders, I like dead offenders." -Ted Nugent
I have to say that rings true to my sense of justice. However, God has something entirely different to say.
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." -Jesus Christ (Luke 23:34)
Not long after he said that, the repentant thief that was dying beside him experienced the power of that forgiveness.
"Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)
-A.N. Scharf
BEHOLD the Lamb, whose precious blood
Drawn from His riven side,
Had power to make our peace with God,
Nor lets one spot abide.
The dying thief beheld that Lamb
Expiring by his side,
And proved the value of the Name
Of Jesus crucified.
His soul, by virtue of the blood,
To paradise received,
Redemption's earliest trophy stood,
From sin and death retrieved.
We, too, the cleansing power have known
Of Christ's atoning blood,
By grace have learnt His name to own,
By which we're brought to God.
To Him, then, let our songs ascend,
Who stooped in grace so low:
To Christ, the Lamb, the sinner's Friend,
Let ceaseless praises flow.
-G. Rossini
"I don't like repeat offenders, I like dead offenders." -Ted Nugent
I have to say that rings true to my sense of justice. However, God has something entirely different to say.
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." -Jesus Christ (Luke 23:34)
Not long after he said that, the repentant thief that was dying beside him experienced the power of that forgiveness.
"Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)
-A.N. Scharf
BEHOLD the Lamb, whose precious blood
Drawn from His riven side,
Had power to make our peace with God,
Nor lets one spot abide.
The dying thief beheld that Lamb
Expiring by his side,
And proved the value of the Name
Of Jesus crucified.
His soul, by virtue of the blood,
To paradise received,
Redemption's earliest trophy stood,
From sin and death retrieved.
We, too, the cleansing power have known
Of Christ's atoning blood,
By grace have learnt His name to own,
By which we're brought to God.
To Him, then, let our songs ascend,
Who stooped in grace so low:
To Christ, the Lamb, the sinner's Friend,
Let ceaseless praises flow.
-G. Rossini
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Wondrous Grace
We yearn for justice; we plot retribution; we seek vengeance: such things are the natural desires of our hearts, and yet justice demands the sentence of death for all of us. This is because God says that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23) and the “wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23) It is a dichotomy really, that we who deserve judgment of the harshest sort seek it so zealously for others.
This penchant for vengeance is partly a façade, for if we focus on the faults of others we are not so prone to see our own. The Lord Jesus made reference to that in Matthew 7:3 when he asked, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” Is it not because we don’t want to see what is in our own eye? I don’t want to acknowledge that MY “heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jer 17:9)
We read stories of the horrors of the German holocaust, Stalin’s bloody purges, or a host of other things and we begin to seethe with righteous indignation, horrified with what men can do to one another. And rightly so: but do we pause to consider the even more horrific fact that all of us are capable of such atrocities?
“Never!” you say. However, do you suppose that a representative German soldier that marched Jews to their deaths at Auschwitz in 1944 considered that he would do such things when he was sitting at home reading the newspaper in 1939? In most cases no! And yet, when the circumstances arose that “legalized” such things, he participated in one of the worst injustices of the 20th century.
We all deserve to die because we have all fallen short of God’s standard. When God created Adam in the perfect paradise of Eden he gave him only one commandment. “The LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:16, 17) Adam was to instruct his wife, Eve, of God’s standard, and so continue in harmony and communion with God.
However, when Satan entered the Garden Eve was deceived and Adam freely ate of that tree, willfully breaking God’s standard and thereby falling short of his glory. As a result, “by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Rom 5:12)
Adam should have died right then and there! And he did, spiritually speaking, for he was cast out of the Garden and separated from communion with his creator. “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” No longer did he have access to the tree of life, but he continued to live physically for a very long time. However, the summation of his life was just as God had said, for “all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.” (Gen 5:5)
But the fact that Adam continued to live another moment is the first example of one of the most amazing attributes of God’s character: Grace! God could not overlook Adam’s sin—the consequence was as sure as God’s word. However, when Adam sinned by disobeying God’s direct order the first death was not his, but that of an animal. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” (Gen 3:21) Adam and Eve had tried to cover their nakedness when “they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Gen 3:7) but that was not sufficient, for no blood was shed in death. God himself killed an animal—the first death in the world—to shed the blood and provide coats of skins for rebellious man.
An even more amazing example of grace was the promise that God gave to Eve that her seed would bruise or crush the serpent. (Gen 3:15) Millennia passed before this promise was fulfilled, but it came to pass in the person of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God.
When we are introduced to this promised seed in John 1:1, he is introduced as the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (Jn 1:1-5) Furthermore, as a fulfillment of the promise made to Eve so may years before, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Full of GRACE and truth! And what grace! “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8,9) There was nothing that Adam could do to reverse or even mitigate the sentence of sin, but God in his grace stepped in with an animal sacrifice to die in his stead. It was God’s gift. Adam could not buy it—God gave it.
So too with God’s gift of his eternal, only begotten Son. “God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (Jn 3:17) “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Tim 1:15) That is free, unmerited, wondrous GRACE!
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Rom 5:7-9)
Grace has not replaced justice—justice had to be satisfied. After all, the Word is grace AND truth. However, the judgment of our sin was meted out upon the holy, spotless Lamb of God. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Is 53:5) God’s requirement for sin is satisfied as a result. “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (Is 53:11)
God’s grace is a wondrous thing, but it will come to an end. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) However, “the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (v. 7)
Grace has saved me, and grace will save you too if you haven’t already taken it as God’s gift to you!
-A.N. Scharf
Grace is the sweetest sound
That ever reached our ears,
When conscience charged and justice frowned,
‘Twas grace removed our fears.
‘Tis freedom to the slave,
‘Tis light and liberty;
It takes its terror from the grave,
From death its victory.
Grace is a mine of weatlth
Laid open to the poor;
Grace is the sov’reign spring of health;
‘Tis LIFE FOR EVERMORE.
Of grace then let us sing!
(A joyful, wondrous theme!)
Who grace has brought, shall glory bring,
And we shall reign with him.
Then shall we see His face
With all the saints above,
And sing for ever of His grace,
For ever of His love.
-T. Kelly
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Road Map
In any journey one cannot hope to reach the intended destination without knowledge of the way to get there, usually accomplished with a map. If we have gone a certain way before we may have the map in our heads, knowing which roads to take, where we need to turn, and where we may pause for a break in the journey. There are times when we may have no knowledge of the road before us, but can reference a published document with the routes available between point A and point B. Other times we may have neither knowledge nor document available to us, or we are uncertain of the map’s direction, at which time a knowledgeable and trusted guide is of inestimable value.
The same is true in our journey of life, and the only map available that is worthy of our trust is the Word of God. As I referenced before, the “word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Ps 119:105) God alone can declare the “end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done.” (Is 46:10) Furthermore, the same God declares that “my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is 55:9)
The scriptures are the revelation of an infinite God to finite man for the benefit of the latter to bring him into a relationship with the former. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Tim 3:16) Without it we would be lost in our own speculations as to the purpose and direction of our lives, just as the multitudes who have rejected the claims of God on them. “When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Rom 1:21,22)
“God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is” (Acts 4:24) “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” (Heb 1:2) Not only that, but the Son promised that “when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” (Jn 16:13)
However, the words which he has spoken cannot be understood intellectually, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor 2:14) That is, we need the Spirit of God to understand the things of God, for “the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor 2:11)
How then do we receive the Spirit? That, praise be to God, is so simple that a child can grasp it. In fact, the Lord said “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein” (Lu 18:17) because it requires nothing but simple trust. When the Philippian jailor enquired, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:30, 31) That is present tense! Not tomorrow, not next week, not when you get a few things straightened out in your life: right NOW! There is nothing simpler than that!
When an individual becomes like a child in that simple act of trust “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor 5:17) That person will be able to join with the prophet Jeremiah in declaring that “thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” (Jer 15:16) As time goes on he will discover that “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1 Cor 2:9, 10)
At this point I must pause in the trajectory of my subject and consider a rather sensitive matter that may at first seem tangential, but in fact is of utmost importance to understanding the scriptures. The scriptures, or Holy Bible that we have today, was not written in our native language—in my case English—but was written in the ancient tongues of Hebrew, Greek, and some Aramaic. We therefore must rely upon an accurate translation to get the message that was originally intended by the Spirit of God in inspiration to the original writers.
Today we have a plethora of English translations, most of them produced in the last 150 year or less. There are many options to choose from, but as with any smorgasbord the quality and value of the “eating” will be a direct result of the choices made. Unfortunately, I believe most of the choices available on the Bible translation menu are of poor quality at best and toxic at worst.
It is not my intent to go into a long dissertation of the sundry issues pertaining to the translations available to the English speaking world, but hopefully to inspire the reader to consider the source of their Bible.
I suspect that most people are as I was in thinking that all the translations come from the same sources, but in fact they do not. Most of the translations since 1881 have relied upon a set of manuscripts compiled by Brooke Foss Wescott and Fenton John Anthony Hort. These men were in fact heretics by Biblical standards, and were champions of so-called textual criticism, which called almost every aspect of the authority of the scriptures into question. The seeds of this scholarly criticism have borne the fruits of apostasy today. Furthermore, the more recent a translation is the more it has been affected by this apostasy, but that is an entirely different subject, which I will not address at this time.
Some of the modern versions are not translations at all, but are paraphrases, such as The Message. I believe they should be classified as commentaries at best because they are merely the interpretation of their authors, not translation of the inspired text—no matter what manuscript is used. Some, like the New Living Translation, purport to be translations of thoughts. Once again, this is not a true translation, but an interpretation of a thought or section in the original text. Since it is interpretation and not translation, it is left wide open for error on the part of the interpreter.
Consider, for a moment, that you wanted to read Victor Hugo’s seminal work “Les Miserables” but you do not speak French; you must then rely upon a translation. Many such have been done into English, but some are adaptations and not translations. If you want to read Victor Hugo’s book, you either have to learn French or get an English translation that is as close as possible to the original. That is, a word for word translation with changes in word order only for grammatical convention.
Only a word for word translation is able to accurately convey the meaning of the original text. It may be more difficult to follow at times due to the grammatical rules of the original and translated languages, but that in itself leads to an increased knowledge on the part of the reader, both of the Biblical text and the language in which he reads.
Due to the considerable influences of heretics such as Wescott and Hort on the Biblical text, both in manuscript form and its translation, I believe it is crucial to use an English translation that predates the so-called “higher criticism” and “textual criticism” of the late 19th century. Personally I use the 1611 King James Version, which has stood the test of time of over 400 years. It is sometimes called the Authorized Version, but I don’t particularly like that nomenclature because it was authorized only in the sense that King James authorized the translation work to be done for the Church of England.
I must hasten to add that I do NOT believe, as some mistakenly do, that the King James Version is inspired in its English form, but is still a translation from the original inspired languages. As such, it is not perfect, but is as close to it as I can get in my native tongue, and it has been blessed by the Lord in the saving of souls and subsequent growth “in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)
Consequently, any scriptural quotations I use will be from the KJV. I do reference other literal translations from time to time as a study help, but only as one would reference a dictionary or concordance.
For me there are several practical benefits to this as well. First of all, the scripture I have committed to memory has been the King James, which gives me that map in my head that I alluded to at the outset. Secondly, the English of 1611 was far richer than the language we use today and thereby more specific. One such example is the personal pronouns “thee, thou, thine etc” versus “ye, you, yours, etc.” The former is always singular and the latter is always plural, making it much easier to determine the force of a given passage as being individual or collective. The King James also gives the reader a larger vocabulary, making it easier to understand both specifics and nuances of the text. This gives me the fine detail that I need to understand God’s ways and means in the map that he has given. Finally, there is an abundance of doctrinally sound study helps that have been compiled over the course of four centuries as a guide in understanding those details.
Some who read this may wish to defend the modern translations by pointing out errors in the KJV. As I mentioned before it is not perfect, but the imperfections are few and are widely known due to the length of time that it has been in circulation. Furthermore, in most cases these imperfections do not change the meaning of the passage, unlike many modern translations. A good example would be Acts 12:4 where the term Easter is used. It has been correctly pointed out that Easter was not celebrated as a “Christian” holiday until long after this point in history, probably not until at least the second century AD. As a result, the original word should be translated Passover, as it is in every other occurrence of the word in the New Testament. However, the intent of the passage is to describe a series of events at a certain time of year, and Easter and Passover are roughly the same time, so the meaning of the passage is not changed despite the incorrect term.
All of this is to say that in this our journey called life we need a map that is accurate, detailed, and true. Only the inspired Word of God can fill all requirements, but we must be exceedingly careful that it is an accurate copy and that it is interpreted correctly. There is nothing worse—or more dangerous—than trusting a map that does not have all three characteristics, especially if it purports to be the Word of God.
-A.N. Scharf
The same is true in our journey of life, and the only map available that is worthy of our trust is the Word of God. As I referenced before, the “word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Ps 119:105) God alone can declare the “end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done.” (Is 46:10) Furthermore, the same God declares that “my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is 55:9)
The scriptures are the revelation of an infinite God to finite man for the benefit of the latter to bring him into a relationship with the former. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Tim 3:16) Without it we would be lost in our own speculations as to the purpose and direction of our lives, just as the multitudes who have rejected the claims of God on them. “When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Rom 1:21,22)
“God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is” (Acts 4:24) “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” (Heb 1:2) Not only that, but the Son promised that “when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” (Jn 16:13)
However, the words which he has spoken cannot be understood intellectually, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor 2:14) That is, we need the Spirit of God to understand the things of God, for “the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor 2:11)
How then do we receive the Spirit? That, praise be to God, is so simple that a child can grasp it. In fact, the Lord said “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein” (Lu 18:17) because it requires nothing but simple trust. When the Philippian jailor enquired, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:30, 31) That is present tense! Not tomorrow, not next week, not when you get a few things straightened out in your life: right NOW! There is nothing simpler than that!
When an individual becomes like a child in that simple act of trust “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor 5:17) That person will be able to join with the prophet Jeremiah in declaring that “thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” (Jer 15:16) As time goes on he will discover that “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1 Cor 2:9, 10)
At this point I must pause in the trajectory of my subject and consider a rather sensitive matter that may at first seem tangential, but in fact is of utmost importance to understanding the scriptures. The scriptures, or Holy Bible that we have today, was not written in our native language—in my case English—but was written in the ancient tongues of Hebrew, Greek, and some Aramaic. We therefore must rely upon an accurate translation to get the message that was originally intended by the Spirit of God in inspiration to the original writers.
Today we have a plethora of English translations, most of them produced in the last 150 year or less. There are many options to choose from, but as with any smorgasbord the quality and value of the “eating” will be a direct result of the choices made. Unfortunately, I believe most of the choices available on the Bible translation menu are of poor quality at best and toxic at worst.
It is not my intent to go into a long dissertation of the sundry issues pertaining to the translations available to the English speaking world, but hopefully to inspire the reader to consider the source of their Bible.
I suspect that most people are as I was in thinking that all the translations come from the same sources, but in fact they do not. Most of the translations since 1881 have relied upon a set of manuscripts compiled by Brooke Foss Wescott and Fenton John Anthony Hort. These men were in fact heretics by Biblical standards, and were champions of so-called textual criticism, which called almost every aspect of the authority of the scriptures into question. The seeds of this scholarly criticism have borne the fruits of apostasy today. Furthermore, the more recent a translation is the more it has been affected by this apostasy, but that is an entirely different subject, which I will not address at this time.
Some of the modern versions are not translations at all, but are paraphrases, such as The Message. I believe they should be classified as commentaries at best because they are merely the interpretation of their authors, not translation of the inspired text—no matter what manuscript is used. Some, like the New Living Translation, purport to be translations of thoughts. Once again, this is not a true translation, but an interpretation of a thought or section in the original text. Since it is interpretation and not translation, it is left wide open for error on the part of the interpreter.
Consider, for a moment, that you wanted to read Victor Hugo’s seminal work “Les Miserables” but you do not speak French; you must then rely upon a translation. Many such have been done into English, but some are adaptations and not translations. If you want to read Victor Hugo’s book, you either have to learn French or get an English translation that is as close as possible to the original. That is, a word for word translation with changes in word order only for grammatical convention.
Only a word for word translation is able to accurately convey the meaning of the original text. It may be more difficult to follow at times due to the grammatical rules of the original and translated languages, but that in itself leads to an increased knowledge on the part of the reader, both of the Biblical text and the language in which he reads.
Due to the considerable influences of heretics such as Wescott and Hort on the Biblical text, both in manuscript form and its translation, I believe it is crucial to use an English translation that predates the so-called “higher criticism” and “textual criticism” of the late 19th century. Personally I use the 1611 King James Version, which has stood the test of time of over 400 years. It is sometimes called the Authorized Version, but I don’t particularly like that nomenclature because it was authorized only in the sense that King James authorized the translation work to be done for the Church of England.
I must hasten to add that I do NOT believe, as some mistakenly do, that the King James Version is inspired in its English form, but is still a translation from the original inspired languages. As such, it is not perfect, but is as close to it as I can get in my native tongue, and it has been blessed by the Lord in the saving of souls and subsequent growth “in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)
Consequently, any scriptural quotations I use will be from the KJV. I do reference other literal translations from time to time as a study help, but only as one would reference a dictionary or concordance.
For me there are several practical benefits to this as well. First of all, the scripture I have committed to memory has been the King James, which gives me that map in my head that I alluded to at the outset. Secondly, the English of 1611 was far richer than the language we use today and thereby more specific. One such example is the personal pronouns “thee, thou, thine etc” versus “ye, you, yours, etc.” The former is always singular and the latter is always plural, making it much easier to determine the force of a given passage as being individual or collective. The King James also gives the reader a larger vocabulary, making it easier to understand both specifics and nuances of the text. This gives me the fine detail that I need to understand God’s ways and means in the map that he has given. Finally, there is an abundance of doctrinally sound study helps that have been compiled over the course of four centuries as a guide in understanding those details.
Some who read this may wish to defend the modern translations by pointing out errors in the KJV. As I mentioned before it is not perfect, but the imperfections are few and are widely known due to the length of time that it has been in circulation. Furthermore, in most cases these imperfections do not change the meaning of the passage, unlike many modern translations. A good example would be Acts 12:4 where the term Easter is used. It has been correctly pointed out that Easter was not celebrated as a “Christian” holiday until long after this point in history, probably not until at least the second century AD. As a result, the original word should be translated Passover, as it is in every other occurrence of the word in the New Testament. However, the intent of the passage is to describe a series of events at a certain time of year, and Easter and Passover are roughly the same time, so the meaning of the passage is not changed despite the incorrect term.
All of this is to say that in this our journey called life we need a map that is accurate, detailed, and true. Only the inspired Word of God can fill all requirements, but we must be exceedingly careful that it is an accurate copy and that it is interpreted correctly. There is nothing worse—or more dangerous—than trusting a map that does not have all three characteristics, especially if it purports to be the Word of God.
-A.N. Scharf
Friday, March 2, 2012
Light for the Path
Over the course of the last few days I have embarked upon a journey. Not a journey to reach a destination necessarily, but rather a journey of illumination of the path of a Christian in the peculiar time of earth’s history in which I find myself. This illumination has exposed things of great interest and things of great danger—the two not necessarily divorced one from the other. The closest description I can think of is a minefield in a meadow bursting with a profusion of sensory delights. The best single word I can think of to describe that picture in my mind is “deceptive.”
I grew up in what some might call a sheltered environment—one which I am thankful for in retrospect, even if I didn’t always appreciate it at the time. In his infinite love and grace, the Creator and Saviour of the world placed me in an environment in which his word—the Word of God—was the ultimate authority. I have no great conversion story in which I was rescued from the streets, or pulled from the brink of an abyss of addiction. However, I have been heretofore a recipient of no less a miracle in that the Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed my soul and kept me by his grace. Oh, that is not to say I have not sinned grievously, for that would be a lie and a sin in itself. However, I count myself as another miracle of God’s grace no less than one saved from the lowest estate.
The reason for that is the very character of sin—a word which has almost disappeared from our modern vernacular. We make mistakes, errors, exhibit poor judgment, and a host of other acknowledged shortcomings, but never sin. God, however, has a different dictionary than we do—one that does not change with the passage of time because it is unswerving and unerring Truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), therefore he sets the standard, not us. That standard says that “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom 3:10) and consequently “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23). In other words, it doesn’t matter how “big” the sin is, sin is a departure from God’s standard.
In the story of the prodigal son the repentant profligate says, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight.” (Luke 15:21) Even though he had squandered the father’s resources and besmirched his reputation, the sin was against heaven—against God. The sin was evident to the father because he knew God’s standard, but the offence was against God, not man. As a result, sin must be judged by God.
This judgment is unavoidable, “for the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23) and “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezek 18:4, 20) That is not the end however, for “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Heb 9:27) That judgment is meted out by the God against whom all sin is committed. (Rev 20:11-15)
There is, however, a remedy for sin—provided by the same God who judges sin—in the person of his eternal son, Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) There is no other way, for the rest of the verse quoted previously from John 14:6 states that “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Anyone who does not believe in the only begotten son of God “is condemned already.” (John 3:18)
Why is that? How can someone be condemned already just because he or she does not believe in this self-proclaimed son of God? “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)
So we have come full circle—no one can meet God’s standard, so God had to send a substitute to meet the standard for us. And herein lays the crux of the matter, and my real purpose in writing. If no one can meet God’s standard, why did he give Moses the law and require the Israelites to keep it? If there are none righteous, and only a substitute from God himself would suffice, what was the purpose of the law given in the Old Testament with its multitude of ordinances, sacrifices, and feasts? Furthermore, do they apply to a Christian as well as to the children of Israel to whom they were given?
It is my intention, with the Lord’s help, to write a little on these subjects each day. I do not intend it to be an exhaustive study by any means, but rather an overview of what God’s word says on these very important matters. There are many questions that plague us when it comes to God’s plan and purposes, but that is because we put far too little value on what he HAS revealed to us. The Psalmist declared, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105) We will never have the peace and contentment that God desires for us until we trust God’s word in all matters, one step at a time.
My opinion is of no value—and neither is anyone else’s. It matters not what any one of us “thinks” about an issue—it only matters what God says about it. For that reason, my hope and prayer is that any who read this delve into the scriptures themselves to discover what God has to say about these things. There are many disagreements among Christians, and they are all because of one simple fact, or rather the antithesis of fact: error. That may seem like a harsh thing to say, but God is not the author of confusion. If two Christians disagree on a matter of scripture, one or the other—or quite possibly both—are in error and not in communion with the Spirit of God on the matter. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Cor 14:33)
May the Lord help every believer in him, this writer most of all, to put his Word above all else. After all, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
I grew up in what some might call a sheltered environment—one which I am thankful for in retrospect, even if I didn’t always appreciate it at the time. In his infinite love and grace, the Creator and Saviour of the world placed me in an environment in which his word—the Word of God—was the ultimate authority. I have no great conversion story in which I was rescued from the streets, or pulled from the brink of an abyss of addiction. However, I have been heretofore a recipient of no less a miracle in that the Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed my soul and kept me by his grace. Oh, that is not to say I have not sinned grievously, for that would be a lie and a sin in itself. However, I count myself as another miracle of God’s grace no less than one saved from the lowest estate.
The reason for that is the very character of sin—a word which has almost disappeared from our modern vernacular. We make mistakes, errors, exhibit poor judgment, and a host of other acknowledged shortcomings, but never sin. God, however, has a different dictionary than we do—one that does not change with the passage of time because it is unswerving and unerring Truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), therefore he sets the standard, not us. That standard says that “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom 3:10) and consequently “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23). In other words, it doesn’t matter how “big” the sin is, sin is a departure from God’s standard.
In the story of the prodigal son the repentant profligate says, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight.” (Luke 15:21) Even though he had squandered the father’s resources and besmirched his reputation, the sin was against heaven—against God. The sin was evident to the father because he knew God’s standard, but the offence was against God, not man. As a result, sin must be judged by God.
This judgment is unavoidable, “for the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23) and “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezek 18:4, 20) That is not the end however, for “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Heb 9:27) That judgment is meted out by the God against whom all sin is committed. (Rev 20:11-15)
There is, however, a remedy for sin—provided by the same God who judges sin—in the person of his eternal son, Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) There is no other way, for the rest of the verse quoted previously from John 14:6 states that “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Anyone who does not believe in the only begotten son of God “is condemned already.” (John 3:18)
Why is that? How can someone be condemned already just because he or she does not believe in this self-proclaimed son of God? “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)
So we have come full circle—no one can meet God’s standard, so God had to send a substitute to meet the standard for us. And herein lays the crux of the matter, and my real purpose in writing. If no one can meet God’s standard, why did he give Moses the law and require the Israelites to keep it? If there are none righteous, and only a substitute from God himself would suffice, what was the purpose of the law given in the Old Testament with its multitude of ordinances, sacrifices, and feasts? Furthermore, do they apply to a Christian as well as to the children of Israel to whom they were given?
It is my intention, with the Lord’s help, to write a little on these subjects each day. I do not intend it to be an exhaustive study by any means, but rather an overview of what God’s word says on these very important matters. There are many questions that plague us when it comes to God’s plan and purposes, but that is because we put far too little value on what he HAS revealed to us. The Psalmist declared, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105) We will never have the peace and contentment that God desires for us until we trust God’s word in all matters, one step at a time.
My opinion is of no value—and neither is anyone else’s. It matters not what any one of us “thinks” about an issue—it only matters what God says about it. For that reason, my hope and prayer is that any who read this delve into the scriptures themselves to discover what God has to say about these things. There are many disagreements among Christians, and they are all because of one simple fact, or rather the antithesis of fact: error. That may seem like a harsh thing to say, but God is not the author of confusion. If two Christians disagree on a matter of scripture, one or the other—or quite possibly both—are in error and not in communion with the Spirit of God on the matter. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Cor 14:33)
May the Lord help every believer in him, this writer most of all, to put his Word above all else. After all, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
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