The Cross – The Work of Jesus Christ

The Atonement – Why is it Necessary?

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things,

that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,

to make propitiation for the sins of the people. NASB

 

The Necessity of the Atonement

When we speak about the “necessity” of the atonement, it is important to realize that there is more than one issue at hand. First, mankind has a great “need” to be saved because of sin, and he has an utter inability to save himself. If God does not act to save mankind from this desperate plight, mankind would be hopelessly lost and destined to perish. This is because of the Holiness of God. God cannot allow sin to go unpunished, His justice will not allow it. If He did He would not be truly just or righteous. But He is in fact righteous, and His nature demands the just satisfaction of the consequences for sin.

Deuteronomy 27:26 – 26 ‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.‘ And all the people shall say,’ Amen.’ NASB

Romans 1:18-20 – 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. NASB

Sin is a violation of the very nature of God whish is expressed in the Law of God. By this Law, the whole world has become aware of its desperate plight before God and is now accountable to God.

Romans 3:19-20 – 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. NASB

This is the reason why God gave the Law. It was to make it painfully obvious to us that we have violated God’s nature continually, and this has brought death upon us and brought about our great need to be saved from the wrath of God.

Romans 7:12-13 – 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. NASB

The Law also teaches us that God’s standard of righteousness is unattainable for sinners. This purpose of the Law is to show us our great need for justification before God’s holiness. Because we are in such a desperate plight, the Law leads us to the obvious conclusion, that we need a Savior. 

Galatians 3:19-22 – 19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. NASB

Therefore when we see our utter inability to measure up to or keep the Law of God, we are driven to a hopeless and desperate state in ourselves to meet God’s demands of righteousness. This then teaches us that we must look outside of ourselves to Christ Jesus to be saved.

Galatians 3:23-24 – 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. NASB

Therefore is absolutely necessary that mankind have a way to become justified before God. This now is why the atonement is necessary for mankind to be justified before God. Without it mankind is guilty under God’s law and hopelessly awaiting His fearful judgment which His nature demands. God cannot be violated by sin without reacting to it according to His nature.

Consider how John Murray has expressed this…. “Sin is the contradiction of God and He must react against it with holy indignation. This is to say that sin MUST meet with divine judgment. It is this inviolable sanctity of God’s law, the immutable dictate of holiness and the unflinching demand of justice, that makes mandatory the conclusion that salvation from sin without expiation and propitiation is inconceivable. It is this principle that explains the sacrifice of the Lord of glory, the agony of Gethsemane, and the abandonment of the accursed tree. It is this principle that under girds the great truth that God is just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. For in the work of Christ the dictates of holiness and the demands of justice have been fully vindicated. God set Him forth to be a propitiation to declare His righteousness.”  

These ideas illustrate another aspect of the “necessity” of the atonement. Secondly, if God decides to save mankind, there becomes a “need” for the means by which God will do it. Because mankind cannot provide a way for himself to be justified before God, having violated Gods Law and become accountable to him, God must now act to save mankind, or they will perish. Now concerning this matter, there are two views about the necessity of the atonement.

·         Hypothetical Necessity – This view was held by good men in the church such as Augustine, Aquinas, and even Calvin for many centuries. It is the idea that God has no necessity to save mankind by means of the vicarious substitution of Christ, but could have used other means to bring about atonement. But God in His wisdom chose to use the means of the atonement of Christ, to save mankind because it was the way in which the greatest number of advantages concur and in which grace is most marvelously exhibited. In other words, the Cross was not absolutely necessary to be the means of salvation, but the means that God chose to use by His own sovereign decree.

·         Absolute Necessity – This view is the classic protestant view held by such men as Turretin, RL Dabney, Berkhof, Murray and both A.A. and Charles Hodge. In this view, the atonement is seen as necessary because God had purposed by His free and sovereign grace to save mankind in His decree, and because of His perfect nature, vicarious sacrifice was the only menas by which it could be brought about. Murray states, “while it was not inherently necessary for God to save, yet, since salvation had been purposed, it was necessary to secure this salvation through a satisfaction that could be rendered only substitutionary sacrifice and blood-bought redemption.”

Concerning these two views of the necessity of the atonement one might ask, why does it matter? The answer to this question is of paramount importance, as to see the infinite value of the Cross of our blessed Savior. Why did Christ die? Was it absolutely necessary? Could some other person have achieved this great salvation? Might we have been saved some other way, or was this just a “hypothetical” set of circumstances that God chose to use of which He had many choices? On these questions we shall look to the Scripture. It is rather clear in the text of Scripture that the atonement of Christ was in fact the only means by which salvation could be obtained. In Hebrews chapter 2 we see that in order for Christ to “make propitiation” or satisfaction for divine justice, and also to be merciful to mankind, “He had to be made like His brethren in all things.”

Hebrews 2:17 – 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. NASB

More than this, because of the infinite perfections of God, we needed a high priest that was undefiled and without blemish so that He could die for the sins of others and not His own sins.   

Hebrews 7:26-27 – 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. NASB

Also, we needed an undefiled high priest who could enter the tabernacle in heaven, and sprinkle the mercy seat there, in the presence of the Holy God, once for all.

Hebrews 9:23-24 – 23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 23 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; NASB

The sacrifice of Christ was absolutely necessary because it is impossible for the blood of goats and bulls to take away sins.

Hebrews 10:4-7 – For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering Thou hast not desired, But a body Thou hast prepared for Me; 6 In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast taken no pleasure. 7 “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come  (In the roll of the book it is written of Me)To do Thy will, O God.‘” NASB

Because of God’s inviolable holiness and perfection, in order to be accepted by Him a person must be holy and righteous. Because all mankind have sinned, they cannot therefore be accepted by God without a justification brought about by God Himself. He must be “the justifier,” and this justification must be of such quality that it actually provides and infinitely perfect righteousness for the person being justified. This can only be provided by a vicarious substitute, since mankind can in no way become this. This is why the redemption in Christ is absolutely necessary.

Romans 3:25-26 – 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. NASB

Further, this atonement is absolutely necessary to be the supreme display of the love of God and the costly value of it. It is the greatest demonstration of the love of God and this love could not have been displayed apart from the infinitely valuable price of the death of His perfect Son. 

1 John 4:10 – 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. NASB

If there could have been any other way than the sacrifice of Jesus to save sinners, surely God would have answered Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane!

Mark 14:35-36 – 35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground, and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. 36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for Thee; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what Thou wilt.”  NASB

Of all of the reasons why it is absolutely necessary that Christ’s Cross be the only means of propitiation for sinners, it is because God, in His infinite wisdom and omniscience, has set forth in the divine decree that it should be so. In other words, God has decreed that salvation be wrought by this means, and this makes it absolutely necessary because God does not deliberate in moments of time in His consideration of decrees, but rather in perfect omniscience decrees that which is perfect in one simple and eternal act.

1 Peter 1:20 – 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you NASB

Praise God, the sacrifice of Christ is sufficient to meet all of these demands of God’s holiness, and the Cross does provide for us a righteousness before God.

Hebrews 9:13-14 – 13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? NASB

The demands of divine justice have been satisfied by Christ, and sin has been put away.

Hebrews 9:26 – 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. NASB

Let us therefore see and affirm that it was absolutely necessary for Jesus to die in our place, and for us, and this to be a propitiation for our sins. In light of this, let us consider the infinite value of His death, and may His blood be to us what it truly is, “precious blood!”

 

 

 

 

The Cross – The Work of Jesus Christ

The Atonement – What is it?

1 John 4:10

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and

sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. NASB

 

Defining the Atonement

The Atonement has become a term with many theological implications. It is not just merely a biblical word with a single idea, but has become a term which describes “the whole scope of Christ’s saving work.” It is a word describing the salvific or redemptive results arising from Jesus death. Atonement puts forth the idea of reconciliation between God and mankind, and this accomplished solely by the work of God in Christ’s sacrifice. Many have used the description of “at-one-ment” to describe the result of atonement brought about between God and mankind. It therefore has emphasis on the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. It is an English word used by translators in both an Old and New Testaments. The two Old Testament Hebrew words commonly translated as “atonement,” [kippur 3725], and [kaphar 3722] carry with them  the idea of “expiation” (to remove offense or guilt) or to “cover over.” 

·         3725 – kippur – ; expiation, -atonement.

·         3722 – kaphar – ; to cover, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel:– appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile(-liation).

The New Testament word normally translated as “propitiation” is the Greek [hilasterion 2435] and also carries with it the idea of “expiation” (to remove offense or guilt) or to “cover over.”  In fact, the Greek term actually holds a more personal meaning to the means of expiation, namely that of “an atoning victim” or the actual sacrifice of atonement.

·         2435 – hilasterion – ; an expiatory (place or thing), an atoning victim, or (specially) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple):–mercy seat, propitiation.

In summary of the use of the biblical words, we can say that although the meaning of the words themselves is rather clear, the idea or concept of the atonement has taken on a theological meaning used to refer to the “the whole scope of Christ’s saving work.” In this scope of meaning, there are words which are frequently used to describe the nature, quality and character of the atonement. This is because Christ’s work is so profound, that the Bible uses many terms to describe it. These would be but are not limited to words like;

·         Substitutionary – in the place of, “Christ died in our place.”

·         Vicarious – in our place, for us, substitution implied personally, “Christ died for us.”

·         Propitiatory – appeasement or satisfaction of God’s wrath toward sin, “Christ satisfied God’s divine justice and paid the actual debt of our sin.”

·         Expiatory – the remove of guilt, “Christ cancelled out or released us from the debt of sin.”

·         Justification – a legal declaration of righteousness, “Christ justified us before God’s court on the basis of His own merit.”

·         Sacrifice – the personal cost to Christ was death in our place, “Christ was the actual victim of divine justice, he was the sacrifice that died for us.”

·         Reconciliation – the restoration of relationship of mankind to God, “Christ reconciled us to God and repaired the alienation we once had with Him.”

·         Redemption – to buy back, to pay the redemption price, “Christ paid the price demanded by divine justice for our sins.”

·         Salvific – of salvation or according to salvation, saving quality, “Christ saved us.”

All of these terms deal with and relate to the alienation that has taken place between God and man because of sin. Sin has brought about the desperate need of mankind to be reconciled to God, lest they be destroyed forever away from the presence of God. The Bible plainly sets forth the doctrine that man as a sinner is guilty of breaking the law of God, of violating His righteousness. God has, therefore, judicially delivered man over to his own will so that

corruption has entered in, whereby he has lost all desire to serve God.

Romans 5:12 – 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned NASB

This means that man has no ability to save himself, for he does not realize his need nor has he the righteousness to provide atonement for his sin.

1 Corinthians 2:14 – 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. NASB

The atonement is what God has done to reconcile us, and to deal with God’s alienation from us on account of our sin. God, by taking away sin, removes the ground of this alienation, and peace with God is the effect.

Romans 6:23 – 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NASB

God was not obligated to save us, redeem us or do anything on our behalf. He was the offended party, and we were and are worthy of eternal wrath because of sin. But God because of His great love and mercy, freely chose to redeem us from that which we could not redeem ourselves. Grace is favor that God gives, that is unmerited by the recipient, and God is in now way obligated to give it but is free to do as He pleases.

Ephesians 2:4-5 – 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), NASB

It must be understood that this saving work of God in the atonement is in fact wholly God’s work. The Scripture plainly declares that God reconciled us to Himself, it was His doing.

2 Corinthians5:18 – 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, NASB

People cannot save themselves from the desperate plight of sin, because this would cost them the ultimate payment of eternal separation from God. Therefore, if God does not act to save us, we will be hopelessly lost. The atonement is what God has done to save us. It is the historical events and objective facts of the actual sacrifice that God made on our behalf. The sacrifice of Jesus was the payment of our sin debt and did in fact redeem us and purify us by the removal of our guilt.

Titus 2:14 – 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. NASB

We were, by this atonement sanctified or cleansed from the corruption of sin so that we could be received into the holy presence of the infinitely pure God of Heaven.

Hebrews 10:10, 14 – 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all….. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. NASB

Now then let us marvel together at the great things God has done! Let us see the desperate plight from which we have been snatched by the life and death of God Himself! What amazing love is this, that God would come and die in our place.   

1 John 4:10 – 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. NASB

It is this amazing love of God that has motivated Him to such actions! And by these things He has in fact worked all of these great works of salvation and reconciliation for us. Consider how Scripture describes these things. They are very profound!

Romans 5:8-10 – 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. NASB

Let us respond in an appropriate manner with thanksgiving and praise! Let us rejoice in what God has done for us through Christ Jesus, and give Him the glory due Him!

 

 

 

The Cross – The Work of Jesus Christ

The Atonement – Salvation Accomplished

 

Acts 2:23

this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. NASB

 

The Cross – What Happened There?

In the beginning of our lesson on The Savoir, The Person of Jesus Christ, we discussed the fact that God had created the world to display His glory through His work of Providence in and through History. Further that the Bible is a “unified whole” narrative recording for us the history of God’s work of redemption in the world. This unified whole we refer to as “redemptive history.” That is, the History of Redemption, which is the primary purpose of God in the creation of the world and mankind. Since this Redemption is the main theme of the narrative of the Bible, we find the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and His person, who is the Savior of the world, to be the focal point of all of human history.

Galatians 4:4-5 – 4 But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. NASB

Jesus Christ is the focus of the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments. He is the Savoir of the world, and His saving work was accomplished at the Cross of Calvary. Consider then, that in the course of history, God’s purpose to redeem fallen mankind from their sin by sending His Son Jesus Christ into the world to give His life as a “sacrifice” and be raised from the dead, is primary among all the things which God has purposed to do. This is God’s Plan of Redemption!

 

This Plan of Redemption opens up a whole new understanding for us then concerning God’s activity in directing the events of History. We see then and therefore that Jesus Christ and His atoning work at the Cross become the very focal point of history, and thus the key event in the history of the world, and this by the eternal plans of God Himself. God planned to crucify Jesus on the Cross from before the creation of the world.

Acts 2:22-23 – 22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know, 23 this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. NASB

So when we think about the Cross of Jesus Christ the Savior, we must understand that He is not just some Galilean peasant in history who did some good things and had some wise teachings, but rather He is God very God, incarnate as a man, accomplishing the primary work of the eternal plans of God which were made before the creation of the world.

1 Peter 1:18-20 – 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you NASB

Therefore when we consider the Cross of Christ, we must realize that there the perfect plans of the perfect God, plans to save mankind from sin, have found their fulfillment. More than this, that Jesus the Christ is that God Himself, come to earth for this great purpose, to save His people from their sins. And that is exactly what He has done!

Matthew 1:21 – 21 And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” NASB   

2 Timothy 1:8-10 – 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, NASB

Because the Cross is the fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption, it is absolutely sufficient to accomplish the ends for which God planned it. The redemption that was obtained by God in Christ at the Cross was altogether sublime and magnanimous, it was a display of divine wisdom and love beyond wonder and filled with amazement! The Cross was, as some have said, the blazing center of the Glory of God! It was there that all of the attributes of God become crystal clear for all to see, and that they reach red hot intensity! O Sovereign Love, Oh blessed mercy!

At the Cross divine justice was met and heavenly goodness was poured out like a river! At the Cross God’s wrath has been satisfied and sinners have been cleansed, washed and restored to loving fellowship with God once again! The Cross richly affords all the blessing of God for whom He intended it, and they shall be the recipients of it, for God will see to it.

Titus 3:4-7 – 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. NASB

In summary, what happened at the Cross was the main event of God’s redemptive plan was completed. It is an historical event, an objective fact, a reality of paramount importance. At the Cross, Christ died for sinners, in their place, to redeem them from sin. At the Cross, God’s wrath for sin was satisfied by Christ’s sacrifice and this reconciled mankind back to God from whom they had been estranged, for all who will embrace it by faith.

Colossians 1:22 -22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach NASB

 

 

 

 

 

The Savior – The Person of Jesus Christ

Learning to Love Christ Supremely   

 

1 Corinthians 16:22

If anyone does not love the Lord — a curse be on him. Come, O Lord! NASB

 

Jesus is Supremely Valuable

As we have stated above, Jesus Christ is supreme in all things. He is Lord over the entire Creation, being not only the Creator Himself, but also the sustainer of everything in existence.

Acts 17:24-25 – 24 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things; NASB

He is the very Lord of History, directing all things to fulfill the purposes for which He made them. Everything was made by Him and for Him, and therefore exists for His own purposes, pleasure and satisfaction.

Proverbs 16:4 – 4 The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. NASB

Does not reason therefore demand that we understand Jesus Christ to be the most valuable being in existence? If He is the source of all other things, then He is infinitely more valuable than everything He has created! What thing in existence could it be said is of greater worth than the One who created it? The very thought is ridiculous. If Christ created the mountains and the valleys, are they of greater worth than He? If He made the most majestic, beautiful and powerful angels in Heaven, are they more beautiful than Him? If He made man and woman, the very pinnacles of His creative acts, and endowed them with splendor and beauty, intelligence and emotions and creative minds, are they more splendid or beautiful, more joyful and wise than the One who spoke them into existence? Of course the obvious answer is by all means NO! In Scripture the Psalmist wonders how God can be so gracious to mankind as to endow him with such gifts, and sees God the Creator as infinitely higher and exalted above mankind the creature.

Psalm 8:3-5 – 3 when I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him? 5 Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, And dost crown him with glory and majesty! NASB

The fact of the matter is, Jesus Christ is infinitely more valuable than everything He has created. When we see the creature, we should see in it just a glimmer of the infinite majesty of the One who created it. The earth and the heavens, in all their glorious beauty, only show us a small portion of the infinite beauty of Christ their Creator! When we look at mankind, and see the virtues in us, lovely things which are valuable, we see only a dim reflection of the infinite virtue of Jesus Christ, the very source of all virtue and goodness in the creation. In Jesus is the fullness of every grace, goodness and virtue! He is altogether lovely! He is glorious in His perfections! He is infinitely wise and powerful and loving and righteous! He is supremely valuable! This is why the greatest commandment in all the Scripture is to…..

Matthew 22:37-38 – 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.‘  38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. NASB

This loving of our Lord is expressed briefly by the great Puritan Pastor Thomas Brooks…. “There is not only fulness, but an overflowing of fulness in Jesus Christ. All wisdom, all knowledge, all light, all life, all love, all goodness, all sweetness, all blessedness, all joys, all delights, all pleasures, all beauties, all beatitudes, all excellencies, all glories are in Christ. The true lovers of Christ know that Christ loves as a head, as a king, as a father, as a husband, as a brother, as a kinsman, as a friend. The love of all relations meets in the love of Christ; and this raises up a believer to love Christ with a transcendent love. They know that Christ loves them more than they love themselves; yea, that he loves them above his very life. And magnes amoris amor, love is the magnet of love. Christ is amiable and lovely; he is famous and conspicuous; he is spotless and matchless in his names, in his natures, in his offices, in his graces, in his gifts, in his revelations, in his appearances, in his ordinances. He is full of gravity, majesty, mercy, and glory. “He is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.” His mouth is sweetness; yea, all of him is desires, or all of him is delights, Song 5:10-16. Christ is wholly delectable; he is altogether desirable from top to toe; he is amiable and lovely, he is glorious and excellent. Christ is lovely, Christ is very lovely, Christ is most lovely, Christ is always lovely, Christ is altogether lovely. He is “the express image of God;” he is “the brightness of his Father’s glory.” If the soul can but discover him, it shall find in him all high perfections and supereminent excellencies. And upon these and such like considerations the saints are led forth to love Jesus Christ with a most transcendent love.” Now if these things be true, and they are, then our value system, the principles by which we value things, must come into conformity with what is truly valuable. Therefore if our affections are to be properly placed, they must be placed upon Him.

 

 

 

 

 

The Savior – The Person of Jesus Christ

The Supremacy of Christ in All Things  

 

Colossians 2:9-10

For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been

made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; NASB

 

Jesus is LORD in Authority

As the Scriptures speak of Jesus Christ there is no mistaking the clear portrait that it paints of His person. He is “Lord!” Without apology He is lifted up and proclaimed as the “Lord of all.”

Acts 2:36 – 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ —  this Jesus whom you crucified.” NASB

Romans 10:12 – 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; NASB

Revelation 17:14 – 14 “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” NASB

The word “lord” implies His authority. He is the supreme authority. Christ claims to have ALL authority in Heaven and on earth.

Matthew 28:18 – 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. NASB

This authority is described in no uncertain terms in the New Testament. The authority of Jesus Christ is the highest authority and He is in fact the Sovereign, the supreme authority in the universe. He is described as “the head over all rule and authority.”

Colossians 2:9-10 – 9 For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; NASB

 

Jesus is the Lord of Mankind and Angels

The fact that Jesus is the Lord over all intelligent beings in creation is clearly seen in Scripture. Jesus is held forth as possessing all authority and judgment for the express purpose that all mankind may honor Him.

John 5:22-23 – 22 “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. NASB

He is clearly seen in the New Testament as having power over every angel, authority and dominion forever.

1 Peter 3:22 – Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him. NASB

Ephesians 1:21-22 – 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 22 and He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, NASB

Scripture makes emphatic statements about His authority over all things even going so far as to say that the eternal destiny of mankind, whether they have life after death, or perish in under God’s wrath forever, all hinge on their obedience to Him.

John 3:35-36 – 35 “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” NASB

The New Testament describes the fact that eventually all created intelligent beings will one Day give allegiance to Christ and verbally confess His Lordship over them.

Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NASB

The fact of the matter is, Jesus is Lord whether one recognizes it or not. Just because one has not submitted their life to Him, does not mean that one is not accountable to Him. For He will come to judge every person for the deeds done in the body, as the gospel declares. And He alone possesses the authority to determine one’s eternal destiny. Ultimately, every person that has ever lived will bow their knee before Jesus Christ and acknowledge Him as the Lord. That day will either be a day of glorious celebration for the faithful, or day of shocking terror for the wicked and unbelieving.

2 Timothy 4:1 – I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: NASB

Matthew 16:26-27 – 26 “For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds.  NASB

Dear reader, if you have never acknowledged Jesus as the Lord of your life, today is the day! You are not guaranteed tomorrow, and there will be no second chances on the other side of the grave. Turn from your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus, and He will give you eternal life! Reject Him and pay the wages of your sin, which is death, eternal separation from God and everything that is good.

John 3:18 – 18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. NASB

Matthew 13:41-43 – 41″The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. NASB

The door of God’s free grace and mercy is now wide open awaiting for you to walk through and be forgiven! Come to Christ in repentance and faith and be saved!

 

Jesus is the Lord of Providence and History

Because Jesus has existed eternally as God the Son in Heavenly Glory, and because His nature has not changed since the incarnation (He simply took on the additional nature as a man), He still possesses the full attributes of Deity, including all incommunicable attributes of God such as Omnipotence, Omniscience and Omnipresence. He is in fact the very agent of the Godhead in Creation and the Providential control of the universe. The Scripture plainly declares that Jesus Christ is the Creator of everything that exists, including everything that is visible and invisible which is to include “all things” in existence. These statements in Scripture are emphatic, exhaustive and comprehensive.

Colossians 1:15-16 – 15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things have been created by Him and for Him. NASB

Hebrews 1:2-3 – 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. NASB

John 1:3 – 3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. NASB

But notice that the primary reason for this stated in Colossians 1:18 is so that He might come to have “first place in everything.”

Colossians 1:17-18 – 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. NASB

That is that He might be the pre-eminent One, or that He would have Supremacy in All Things. This means that Jesus is the very Lord of History and that, because all things were created by Him and “for” Him, that all things exist for the “end” or “purpose” for which He made them, He being the proprietor and executor of His own works. Jesus is supreme in His person and being because He is the eternal God, the One Creator of all that exists, the man who is this God incarnated in human flesh, the focal point of human history, and the One for whom all things exist for His own purposes, to magnify and exalt His fame, beauty and power.

Charles Hodge comments….. “The person to whom they are to bow the knee is Jesus, not the Logos, but the God-man. And the acknowledgment which they are to make is, that He is Lord, i.e., their Lord, their absolute proprietor and Sovereign. It is in this sense also, that the Apostle says (Heb. i. 2), that God hath appointed the Son heir of all things. It is in virtue of this dominion over the universe that Christ is called Lord of lords and King of kings, i.e. the Sovereign over all other sovereigns in heaven and on earth. This universal authority is exercised in a providential control, and for the benefit of his Church. He employs the angels as ministering spirits, to minister to the heirs of salvation. He controls and restrains the principalities, powers, world-rulers, and spirits of wickedness. (Eph. vi. 12.) He overrules all the affairs of nations and of individuals to the same end. He directs all events concerning his people severally and his Church collectively. Paul constantly recognized this providential control of Christ as directing all his steps. Under the present dispensation, therefore, Christ is the God of providence. It is in and through and by Him that the universe is governed. This dominion or kingdom is to last until its object is accomplished, i.e., until all his enemies, all forms of evil, and even death itself is subdued. Then this kingdom, this mediatorial government of the universe, is to be given up.”

The fact that Jesus is the agent of God in Providence is clearly seen in Scripture. He literally “upholds all things by the word of His power” and “in Him all things hold together.” This means that all the molecules of the physical and non-physical universe are governed by Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:3 – 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; NASB

Colossians 1:17 – 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. NASB

He is directing History to accomplish His purposes and is bringing it to an expected end, the end for which He planned and decreed that it should all exist, from before the ages began. The Scripture plainly declares that everything that happens is happening ultimately under the Sovereign Authority of God as He directs them so that in the end His purposes are fulfilled.

Paul affirms that God works “all things after the counsel of His will” and to His “ends.”

Ephesians 1:11-12 – 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. NASB

Romans 8:28 – 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. NASB

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 – 3 Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent? 14 In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider- God has made the one as well as the other So that man may not discover anything that will be after him. NASB

Daniel 4:34-35 – For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 “And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What hast Thou done?’ NASB

Psalms 135:5-6 – 5 For I know that the LORD is great, And that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. NASB

When Christ has accomplished His purposes, and the end of the ages arrives, His enemies will be dashed under His feet and Peace will reign forever.

1 Corinthians 15:22-28 – 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all. NASB