Teaching Resources International

“And you He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as were the others.”

Ephesians 2:1-3

No other chapter in the Bible describes our salvation as completely as does Ephesians 2. In this chapter, Paul reminds us what we have been saved from (vv. 1-3), how we have been saved (vv. 4-9), and why we have been saved (vv. 10-22). It is important to remember that Paul is not speaking here to non-believers but to Christians. His words serve as a constant reminder to all believers that salvation is completely a work of God. There is nothing in us that would make us choose Him. Indeed, Paul emphasizes that we are unable to make such a choice.

It is essential that we understand this doctrine of total depravity. To lessen our sinfulness is to lessen God’s glory in providing salvation. To suggest that we have an ability to choose God is to make man a partner with God in justification—something the Scriptures do not permit.

This doctrine is all essential to understanding salvation. Our understanding of it not only affects our view of salvation, but also every aspect of the Christian life. D. Martin Lloyd-Jones once stated the same: “I am convinced that our failure to properly understand all God has done in salvation greatly affects our lives as believers in every way.”

How so? Consider three examples. First, our understanding of our sinfulness affects our service for the Lord. Those who recognize the greatness of the debt from which God has released them stand continually ready to do whatever He desires. Those who see their sin as less are often tempted to question why God does not do more for them since they have served Him so much or so long. Consider, for example, the comparison that Jesus makes between Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman in Luke 7:36-50. Jesus makes it clear to Simon that the woman loves Him more because she was forgiven more (vs. 47). Those who recognize the depths of their sin have a deeper love for the Lord than those who do not recognize how much Jesus has forgiven them.

In the passage at hand, Paul provides for us a three-fold description of the sinner. We might summarize and analyze his description with three words—we were dead, disobedient, and doomed. Let’s look at each.

Dead

In verse 1, Paul provides his description of our condition spiritually. This description differs radically from the way most evangelicals today describe man. Rather than speaking of man as sick or dying, Paul bluntly asserts that man in sin is “dead.” It is essential that we understand man’s condition properly—a wrong diagnosis of the problem only results in inadequate cures. The common diagnosis today of man as sick or dying fails acknowledge the seriousness, indeed the hopelessness, of man’ condition apart from a sovereign work of God. To minimize the seriousness of our situation is to minimize the glory of God in salvation.

Consider for a moment the common description of salvation—Man is sick even unto death. There is only one medicine that will cure the man if he would but take it. The medicine is in the bottle; it will cure him forever. But…all depends on the man. Will he take the medicine and live or will he fail to take it and die? Such is the man-centered approach to evangelism. A better illustration is that the man has died. The disease has taken his life-breath away. All hope is lost. Then, into the room of the dead man, walks Jesus. With one touch, the man is restored to life! Here the focus is on what Jesus has done, not on what man has done.

Likewise, consider another commonly used illustration—a man is drowning in the ocean. He is going down for the “third time.” At just that moment, a boat arrives and a life preserver is tossed to the drowning man. He can be saved…if only he would reach out and take hold of the preserver. Again, notice who is ultimately responsible for salvation—it is the man who makes the decision that determines his salvation. Instead, consider a more biblical illustration—the body of a man is washed up onto the shore. People rush to his side, but quickly they realize that he is dead. A few futile attempts are made to revive him, but all are in vain—he is dead; nothing more can be done for him. Then a man named Jesus comes walking down the beach. He walks over to the man, takes his hand, and says, “Arise.” To the amazement of all around, the man rises. Again, the focus is on Jesus and what He has done.

But why have I taken so long to describe these pictures? Because these two illustrations sound so right, but they do not provide a biblical picture of man’s predicament. People without Christ are not just lost and in need of someone to show them the right direction, confused and in need of understand, or unhappy and in need of cheering. If so, then education and persuasion would be sufficient. But if man is truly dead in sins and trespasses, then only a work of God can bring him back to life. This is why salvation must be of God alone—man can do nothing to earn his salvation, not even to “assist” God or even cooperate with Him. Dead men cannot do anything for themselves! Only once we understand how seriously desperate man’s condition is will we recognize how much salvation is a work of God alone.

But what does it mean for man to be dead? When we speak of man as dead spiritually, we are referring to his inability to respond to spiritual things. Just as a physically dead man does not respond to physical stimuli, so a spiritually dead man does not respond to spiritual stimuli. This is why the things of God do not move the natural man—he is spiritually dead. He does not need instruction, persuasion, or even a good example to follow. He needs life which God alone can give.

Finally, we must recognize that although all are dead spiritually, all are “not in the same state of decay.” Some are outwardly more sinful than others. In short, some corpses stink more than others, but they are all dead. Thus it is with man. He is not sick or drowning and in need of help. He is dead in sins and trespasses and in need of life. That is why the apostle reminds us, “But God…even while we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Eph. 2:4-5). He has raised us. He has given us life. He has saved us. To God alone be the glory for the salvation He has given us!

Disobedient

While the word “dead” describes man’s condition, the word “disobedience” describes the evidences and effects of that condition. Three words in particular describe that condition.

First, Paul uses the word “trespasses” in verses one and five. This word indicates the illegal crossing of a boundary. It also contains the idea of going down a forbidden path or even the wrong road. Thus, Proverbs 14:12 reminds us: “There is a way that seems right to man, but the end thereof is death.” One evidence of man’s spiritual death is that he travels down the wrong road—he chooses the broad way that leads unto destruction rather than the narrow way that leads unto life. Not only this, but he continually crosses the boundary line of God’s law.

Second, the apostle also speaks of “sins” as evidence of man’s spiritual death. The word “sins” indicates a “missing the mark.” What is that mark? Romans 3:23 tells us, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God’s glory, his perfections, and His holiness are that mark. Most men do not consider themselves sinners because they change the “mark” and lower the crossbar to the standards of men rather than measuring themselves by the standards of God. Compared to other men, they consider their moral lifestyle to be quite good. But compared to the measure of God’s holiness, they completely miss the mark. They fall far short of God’s righteous standard.

Third, in verse 3, Paul speaks of conducting ourselves according to the “lusts and desires” of the flesh. Another evidence of man’s spiritual death is that his God-given desires are out of control rather than under the control of God. There is nothing sinful about desires for food, sleep, or even sexual relations—provided the under the control of our Creator and within the bounds of His law. For example, a desire for food is not sinful, but gluttony is. Neither is the desire for sleep—but sloth and laziness are. Thus we see that our desires are out of control and are according to the desires of the flesh rather than according to what pleases God.

Additionally, these two words remind us that sin is not merely the outward act, but also the inward “lusting.” Thus, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5 that lustful and murderous thoughts are judged as sinful just as are the actual deeds. The Evidence of our sinfulness is not only in our actions but also in the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Many who do not consider themselves as “sinners” because they live basically moral lives have failed to consider that God’s definition of sin extends to the heart attitude. The evidence of our spiritual deadness is found, not only in what we do, but also in our lusts and desires that are clearly contrary to the will of God.

Doomed

“Dead in trespasses and sins” shows us what our condition is. Our “disobedience” provides the evidence that we are indeed dead spiritually. The word “doomed” indicates our destiny apart from the work of God in salvation. Paul calls us “by nature, children of wrath.” By this, he emphasizes the hopeless condition into which each of us is born. Unless God in His mercy intervenes, we are all doomed to an eternal hell.

Most today want to avoid the idea of God’s wrath. Yet the Bible is replete with references to the wrath of God. In the Old Testament, God’s wrath is mentioned over 600 times. It continues to be a dominant theme in the New Testament. Through Christ, we are “saved from the wrath to come.” In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked that “this cup” would pass from Him. The cup that He referred to was the cup of God’s wrath spoken of in the Old Testament. Jesus knew that, on the cross, He would drink that cup that was rightly deserved by all mankind.

We must be especially careful here. Today many attempt to place the focus on God’s love and ignore God’s wrath. But whenever we “waterdown” the reality of the wrath of God, we “waterdown” the love of God. God’s love is greatly magnified when we see the greatness of the wrath from which He has saved us. Salvation is deliverance from that wrath. Jesus, on the cross, satisfied the wrath of God and drank the cup completely for us. But apart from that deliverance, we remain in spiritual death, living according to the disobedient desires of our flesh, doomed under the wrath of God which will one day be poured out upon us.

What God Did

“But God….” Verse 4 begins Paul’s emphasis on a God-centered, rather than a man-centered salvation. What God did made the difference, not what man does! He made us alive; He raised us up; He caused us to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. And He did so, not because of anything in us, but because of His “great love wherein He loved us,” because He is “rich in mercy,” because He wanted to show “the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness in Christ Jesus” for all ages. Salvation is a work of God alone who alone deserves to be praised.

To have an adequate view of salvation, we must understand our condition—we must realize the hopelessness and impossibility of our doing anything to save ourselves. We were dead—He made us alive!

Yet this does not rule out any call for repentance. The same apostle who wrote Ephesians told the Athenians that God “commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). We must do the same. But we must remember that, when people respond to Christ, they cannot claim any credit for their new life—dead men cannot bring themselves back to life…. But God can!

Jesus’ healing of the man with the withered hand forms an interesting parallel to salvation. Jesus says to him, “Stretch forth thine hand.” But he can’t—but he must—and, as he does, his hand is made whole. Such is the mystery of salvation and evangelism—we must call dead men to repent. They can’t—they must—and, as they do, they are made whole. Perhaps the best illustration is Lazarus dead in the tomb. Jesus calls, “Lazarus, come forth.” He can’t—he must—he does. Could Lazarus claim any credit for coming forth? Would he tell listeners years later that he heard Jesus and his choice to get up and walk out made the difference? Never—throughout all eternity, he would proclaim, “He did it all, all to Him I owe, Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”

Copyright Jim Ehrhard, 1999. You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that: (1) you credit the author; (2) any modifications are clearly marked; (3) you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction; and (4) you do not make more than 100 copies without permission. If you would like to post this material to your web site or make any use other than as defined above, please contact Teaching Resources International

Read Full Post »

One of the mysteries of life for believers is God’s use of Satan’s activities to accomplish His will. Often we are tempted to become discouraged when it appears that Satan has triumphed. But in reality, God’s will is never thwarted by any evil activity. He is sovereign over every situation and circumstance. He knows every event before it ever occurs. And He often allows and permits evil, but He always uses it for “good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It is essential that believers understand this doctrine. Without it, we may believe that Satan is winning the day. Without it, the death of martyrs appears to confirm the victory of evil over good. But with it, we recognize what Joseph proclaimed, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” While we will not always see the reason, we can be confident that our Sovereign Lord allows nothing in our lives except what is for His ultimate glory and our ultimate good.

Such an understanding is essential if we are to be victorious in spiritual warfare. Much of spiritual warfare is a battle for our minds. This is why Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 that we do not war with carnal weapons, but that our weapons are for “casting down arguments” and “bringing every thought captive to Christ.” Our ability to “stand firm” (Ephesians 6) is, in large measure dependent on our standing firm in the faith no matter what seems to be happening around us, know that God is indeed working all things together for good.

Before we examine this teaching in the Scriptures, it may be helpful to review four general principles:

First, God controls all things for His own glory. Not just the good, but also the evil. Like Job, nothing Satan does can touch us without God’s permission.

Second, God never does evil nor can He ever be blamed for it. James 1:13 reminds us of this truth. In all evil acts, God is never the immediate cause. He never has to force anyone to sin. In fact, His restraining grace prevents all of us from doing all the evil we think about doing. When God removes His restraint on Satan or on sinful men, then, and only then, does evil occur. God never does evil, nor does He need to force anyone to do it.

Third, God judges all evil. Some might object that, if God allows evil, then the person committing it cannot be held responsible for it. Consider Luke 22:20: “The Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He has been betrayed.” In another passage, we find that Satan “entered into” Judas to continue to move him along toward that betrayal. Yet Judas is held accountable for his sin. While it was determined beforehand, God does not need to force Judas to sin; He allows him to exercise his unrestrained will.

Finally, we cannot use God’s sovereignty as an excuse for evil in our own lives. In Romans 3:5-8 and Romans 6:1-2, Paul anticipates such an argument and strongly answers, “God forbid! How shall we who have died to sin live any longer in it?” We may sin and God will use it for good, but we will experience His hand of discipline in our lives.

But how does God use Satan (and evil) in His sovereign plan?

First, He uses Satan and evil to accomplish His purposes. The example of Joseph in Genesis 50:20 demonstrates this. The evil act of Joseph’s brothers resulted in God using Joseph to preserve Israel during a famine. They clearly meant it for evil; but God meant it for good—to accomplish His purpose and plan for Israel. How many times might God be using the evil motives and actions of others to put us in a place when we can be used as instruments for accomplishing His purposes?

Second, God uses Satan and evil to demonstrate His glory. In Romans 9:17, this is why God raised up Pharaoh—that His glory might be known (also see Exodus 14:2-4, 15-18). In John 11, Jesus allows Lazarus to die so that his disciples might see “the glory of God” (vs. 4). God often allows the apparent triumph of evil that His glory might be displayed.

Third, God also uses Satan to strengthen our faith. In Luke 22, Jesus tells Peter, “I have prayed for you that your faith fail not.” In 1 Peter 1:6-9, Peter reminds suffering believers that the “trial” of their faith will result in it being made more precious than gold refined in the fire. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul speaks about God sending “a messenger from Satan” to buffet him. But he does not see this as a defeat, but rather one way that God will keep him humble and remind him that God’s grace was sufficient for all things. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, Paul notes that he had the sentence of death on him that he should not trust in himself “but in God who raises the dead.” In all these situations, God allows Satan to afflict His own that their faith in Him might be strengthened.

Fourth, God uses Satan to discipline believers. 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 is a good example of this. Here Paul tells the church he has “handed this one over to Satan” in the act of church discipline. We see a similar situation in 1 Timothy 1:19-20. Paul “delivered [them] unto Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme.” One part of God’s discipline on believers is to remove His hand of protection and allow Satan to have his way with them. This is also frequently seen in the OT when God hands Israel over to pagan nations as an act of His discipline.

Fifth, God uses Satan and evil that the gospel might be spread. In Acts 8, we learn that the persecution of the church “forced” the believers to flee Jerusalem. And the disciples went everywhere spreading the gospel. God allowed Satan to even put believers to death, but the result was the spread of the gospel. In Philippians 1:12, the apostle Paul reminds believers that even his being in prison has resulted in the further spread of the gospel. Such has been the case throughout the history of the church—the blood of the martyrs has been the “seedbed” of the church. What may appear as a victory for Satan in the execution of a dynamic Christian missionary is really God working all things together for good.

This teaching is essential. We must understand the power of our evil foe. But we must never forget that he cannot harm us or upset any plan without the permission of a sovereign God who uses all things, even Satan and evil, for His own purposes and for His own glory.

Copyright Jim Ehrhard, 1999. You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that: (1) you credit the author; (2) any modifications are clearly marked; (3) you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction; and (4) you do not make more than 100 copies without permission. If you would like to post this material to your web site or make any use other than as defined above, please contact Teaching Resources International

Read Full Post »

Of all the weapons mentioned in Ephesians 6, only one is offensive; the rest are defensive. As such, it is the one weapon that we dare not be without in spiritual warfare. When Christian met Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation (in Pilgrim’s Progress), he was able to do battle with the dragon until he lost his sword. As Apollyon stood over him ready to destroy him, a passage of Scripture came to Christian’s mind. As he quoted the verse, the sword leapt into his hand and he dealt the dragon a mortal blow.

Martin Luther also experienced the awesome power of the Word of God in spiritual warfare. Tradition has it that Luther once threw an inkwell at an apparition of the devil that had appeared to him. Actually, such a story may be apocryphal. Luther does state, “I fought the devil with my inkwell,” but he most likely referred to his translation of the New Testament into German as the means through which he fought Satan. He understood that “though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God has willed, His truth to triumph through us … one little Word shall fell him.”

God’s Word is given to us as a sword with which we can be victorious in spiritual battle.

Why is it called the Sword of the Spirit by the apostle?

It is called the Sword of the Spirit because it is a weapon of divine origin. a weapon of divine origin. 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21 remind us that the Bible is God’s Word not man’s. The words we have contained in it are not the composition of men’s efforts. They come with the authority of God. This is why the apostle Paul reminds believers in 2 Corinthians 10 that “our weapons are not carnal.” They are of divine origin; it is God’s Word.

It is called the Sword of the Spirit because it is a weapon of divine choice. In other words, the Bible is “regulation issue” for every believer. We are not left to our choice to determine what weapons we are to use. God has determined that the Bible only shall be the basis for our authority.

Finally, it is called the Sword of the Spirit because it is a weapon of divine power. Paul states that he is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because “it is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). Peter reminds us that we have been born again through the Word of God (1 Peter 2:23-25). “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). The Word even has power to change and transform the lives of believers (see 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and Romans 12:1-2). Everything in the Scripture tells us that the Word of God has power, because it’s power is of divine origin.

Why is the Word compared to a Sword?

It is compared to a sword for many reasons. A sword in the ancient world was not only a weapon for battle; it was also a symbol of authority. This is why defeated generals would give their swords to the victors as a symbol of relinquishing their authority to another. As such, the Bible is clearly our authority. It is one we must never relinquish in battle.

But most of all, the sword was a symbol of power. As such, the Word of God is a sword which has the power to do many things. First, it has the power to wound the heart. We see this most of all in terms of salvation when one previously disinterested in spiritual things hears the Word and is cut to the heart by it. This happened on the day of Pentecost when the people heard Peter preaching and “were cut to the heart and cried out, ‘What shall we do?'”

Second, it has the power to penetrate the heart. The Bible speaks of the unconverted as having a heart of stone and hardened, but it speaks of the Word as able to cut through any hardness. We see this in Acts 16:14. As Paul preached the Word to Lydia and the others, God used the Word to “open her heart” and she was converted. Hebrews 4:12 makes this aspect of the Word clear when it describes the Word as “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow.”

Third, it has the power to heal the heart. The amazing thing about this sword is that it both cuts and heals. It both convicts and comforts. Thus God says of His Word through the prophet Isaiah, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). God’s Word is a sword because it is powerful—wounding, penetrating, and healing the human heart.

Why is this weapon so important?

Because without it, you are not fully equipped. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful … “that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped and fitted for every good work.”

Because without it, you cannot withstand for long. The major emphasis of Ephesians 6 and spiritual warfare is that the believer must stand and withstand the attacks of the enemy. This is why the majority of the weapons listed are defensive. The victory is our as we stand firm in spiritual warfare. The boxer who only blocks punches will not stand for long! The Word has been given to us to use against the enemy and our offensive thrusts with the Word cause the attacker to flee.

Because without it, you cannot win the battle. With the other weapons, you may be able to stave off defeat, but without the sword you cannot have victory. Without the sword, how will you “tear down strongholds?” Shields and helmets are excellent for defense, but useless for tearing down strongholds. Without the sword, we will not prevail against “the gates of hell” (Matthew 16:18).

How should we “take the Sword of the Spirit?”

Be thankful for it. The Psalmists frequently express praise and thanksgiving for the treasure of the Word of God. They spoke of it as more precious than gold and more desirable than the sweetest honeycomb.

Study it regularly. The Sword was not given to us as an emblem to hang on the wall or display on the coffee table. It is given to be used in spiritual battle. As such it must not grow rusty from disuse, but the study of the Word should be our regular practice (2 Timothy 2:15).

Hide it in your heart. Christian’s victory over Apollyon came because he had the Word hidden in his heart. Jesus used the memorized Word to defeat Satan in the temptation in the wilderness. Psalm 119:9, 11 reminds us that our protection from temptation comes as we “hide” the Word in our hearts.

Obey it always. James 1:22-25 reminds us that the Word heard does not benefit us unless it becomes the Word applied to our lives.

What a treasure God has given us in His Word! It strengthens, it protects, it comforts, and it heals. It provides guidance in life and victory over temptation. No wonder the psalmist proclaimed: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

Read Full Post »

Life is full of surprises. Once, while checking out with just one bottle of coke, a man was surprised when a lady with a cart full of groceries pushed ahead of him. He waited patiently while the lady checked out holding up the checker a number of times to inquire about prices and even to run back to the aisles to get items she had forgotten. After she had finished and paid, the man handed his bottle of coke to the checker. He received an even bigger surprise when the checker said, “Don’t worry about it.” When the man asked why, the lady responded, “The lady before you was so rude, I just added it to her account!” Few surprises are that good. I can remember a number of times when I reserved a non-smoking room only to find that the hotel had failed to hold one for me. One of these motel chains even had “No Surprises” as its advertising slogan!

But there is coming an event which should surprise no one–the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the scriptures, God has spoken of that event over 500 times. Though many will be surprised, there will be no surprises. Another event that should surprise no one is the judgment. God’s judgment is also spoke of repeatedly in the Bible. Finally, death should surprise no one. One verse in Hebrews mentions all of these events–Hebrews 9:27. It says: “For it is appointed unto every man to die once, and then comes the judgment.” In this verse, and the one that follows, God reminds everyone of three reservations for which there will be no surprises.

1. A Reservation for Death.

It is appointed unto to every man to die once. Every one of us has an appointment for death. There will be no surprises. Benjamin Franklin said that the only two things that are certain are death and taxes. While one may avoid taxes, no one will avoid death. This passage also reminds us that there is only one death for each person. There are no reincarnations; no second chances. It is appointed unto every man to die once.

2. A Reservation for Judgment.

. . . . and then comes the judgment. Death itself should not be the greatest fear. Today, some look on death as an escape from the troubles and trials of this world. But, for those who die apart from Christ, death is not an escape from pain but an entrance into judgment and eternal punishment. Everyone has an appointment with death, and after that, an appointment with judgment. On the cross, Jesus endured the judgment of God on behalf of His people. Their judgment is settled. Their penalty has been paid.

But for those who have not trusted Christ, judgment awaits. According to Revelation 20:11-13, the books will be opened and everyone will be judged according to his deeds.

3. A Reservation for Eternal Life.

. . . . so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Notice what Jesus will not come to do at His second coming. He will not come to bear sin. He has already done that. There will be no second chances. Each person’s destiny will be determined by what he or she has done with Jesus in this life. He came the first time to make atonement for sin. When He comes again, He will come to receive those who have trusted Him. He will not give any second chances.

Everyone faces a reservation for death–there will be no surprises. Everyone faces a reservation for judgment–death is not the end. But only some have a reservation for heaven. Jesus came to bear the sins of many. For those who have trusted Him, there will be no surprises. Heaven is reserved for those who have believed. Hebrews 10 continues to emphasize this certainty. Consider verse 10: “By that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Also ponder verse 14: “For by one offering, He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” For those who have been covered by the blood of Jesus, there will be no surprises–a reservation has been laid up in heaven for them.

As you consider the new year ahead, you may be assured that it will contain many surprises. Some will be good; others may be quite unusual. But there is no need to be surprised about three reservations: death, judgment, and eternal life. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has removed our penalty and provided an eternal reservation based on His sacrifice. One day He will return, not to offer any second chances. Not to provide another payment for sin (His first payment is totally sufficient–nothing else is needed; nothing else is acceptable to God). He will come again to receive His own unto Himself. Forever. No Surprises.

Copyright Jim Ehrhard, 1999. You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that: (1) you credit the author; (2) any modifications are clearly marked; (3) you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction; and (4) you do not make more than 100 copies without permission. If you would like to post this material to your web site or make any use other than as defined above, please contact Teaching Resources International

Read Full Post »

“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus?” Years ago, songs about the blood of Jesus, its power, its efficacy, were sung with much conviction. Today, the blood of Jesus is rarely sung about. Many today are repulsed by such songs and would prefer to keep the focus on the love of God rather than speak about the blood required by a just and angry God.

But the blood of Jesus as a sufficient sacrifice for sin cannot be ignored in the gospel message. Indeed, it is the gospel message. “What can wash away my sin?” the song inquires. “Nothing but the blood of Jesus,” the Scripture responds. Notice that I said, the Scripture responds. Everything in the Scripture points to the importance of the blood sacrifice. The writer of Hebrews (9:22) reminds us that, apart from the shedding of blood, “there is no remission of sin.” In Galatians 2:21, Paul reminds us that if one could be made righteous by keeping the law, then Christ died needlessly. Revelation 7 speaks of believers having been “washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.” The shedding of blood as payment for sin is a crucial doctrine that begins in the Old Testament in Genesis and culminates on the cross with the death of Jesus. Everything in the New Testament points back to that death as the reason that man has forgiveness. That’s why Peter speaks of the “precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19).”

Why is something so repulsive as the blood of an innocent man so precious? In Hebrews 9, the writer of Hebrews gives us at least three reasons why this precious blood is so essential for our salvation. Let’s examine them each briefly.

1. It Alone Cleanses from a Nagging Conscience.

Does your conscience make you feel guilty? Have you done some things that even your own mind refuses to let go of? A young boy once defined conscience as “the voice in my head that makes me feel bad even when what I do feels good.” How can one get rid of such feelings? Such feelings will persist until a sufficient payment is made for the wrongs done. That’s why the blood of Jesus alone can cleanse you from a guilty conscience. That’s why Peter said that believing in Jesus “cleanses you from all the things that could not be forgiven through keeping the law.” Unless something is done that is sufficient to cover what you have done, then you will never have a clean conscience.

Such was the case with the nation of Israel. In Hebrews 10:1-3, the writer reminds them that the blood of animals never solved the problem of a guilty conscience. If it had, then the sacrifices would have stopped. But instead, the sacrifices became a painful reminder that no animal atonement was sufficient to satisfy God’s righteous demands. For that reason, the sacrifices had to continue year after year. Instead of soothing a nagging conscience, the sacrifices served as a poignant reminder of their sins. They continued to know that what they did, although it might continue to allow them to have a relationship with God, it was not sufficient to pay for sins. They needed a perfect Lamb of God who would “take away the sins of the world” and in doing so, cleanse a nagging conscience.

2. It Alone Demonstrates God’s Feeling About Sin.

In Hebrews 9:9, the writer speaks of the blood sacrifices as a “symbol.” They were designed by God to be a constant object lesson of how much God hates sin. Few things are more repulsive to man than the sight of blood being shed. While some become insensitive to the shedding of blood, this is not a normal reaction. The initial reaction of man to the shedding of blood, especially innocent blood, is very repulsive.

Some of you might recall an incident in the 1980s when an American cameraman was filmed being shot in the head by a Nicaraguan revolutionary. To see a man pleading for his life have a gun put to his head and have the trigger pulled was bad enough. To watch as his blood splattered everywhere disgusted even the more seasoned reporters of war. Nothing is more repulsive to us than the shedding of blood.

For this reason, God chose the blood sacrifice as a continual reminder to us of how serious our sin is. Nothing is more disgusting in God’s sight than our sin. While we tend to excuse our sin and make excuses and minimize its seriousness, God demonstrates to us, through the blood sacrifice that sin, every sin we commit, is repulsive in His sight and every sin requires the ultimate penalty–payment by blood alone. That’s why the Scripture says, “The soul that sins, it shall die” (Ezk. 18:4), and “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). God has chosen the blood sacrifice to remind us always of how much He hates sin.

3. It Alone Bestows Eternal Blessing.

The blood of Christ is precious because it alone cleanses a nagging conscience and it alone reminds us how God feels about sin. But, more importantly, the blood of Jesus alone can bestow eternal blessing. In Hebrews 9:16-17, we are reminded that a testament only takes affect once the testator has died. In other words, a “last will and testament” has no power as long as that person remains alive. In the same way, all the blessings of a relationship to Jesus are tied to His death. In Hebrews 9:15, by means of His death, we now receive an eternal inheritance. Without the shedding of the blood of Jesus, none of this would be ours today.

Imagine yourself under a mountain of debts that you are unable to pay. Then one day a letter arrives informing you that a rich uncle has died and left you a great inheritance. Once you were poor–now you are rich! But it was his death that made you rich. Not anything you did or anything you deserved. His death made the difference. That’s why the apostle Paul says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you, through his poverty might be made rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). The death of Jesus provided an eternal inheritance for you. Not one that can waste away and used up and then the inheritor will be poor again; His blood made you the inheritor of an inheritance that will last throughout all eternity.

One last thing needs to be understood. In Hebrews 9:27-28, we read: “And as it is appointed for men to die once and after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” This Jesus who came once to shed His blood will return again, not to die again (His death was sufficient to cover all sin), but to come for those who have given their lives to Him. On the day that John D. Rockefeller died, two tramps were sitting on a New York city street corner. One tramp inquired: “Why are you crying? You weren’t related to him.” “That’s why I’m crying!” was the reply. If you are related to Jesus through His death, then you have a great inheritance. But if not, then you too have reason to cry. For it is appointed unto every man to die once, and then comes the judgment. If the blood of Jesus is not covering your sin, then you will be accountable to God for all your own sin. And the Bible reminds us that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus shed His blood to pay for sin. Apart from the shedding of His blood, there is no remission of sin. Apart from the blood of Jesus, there is no new covenant in His blood. Apart from His blood, there is no gospel to proclaim. That’s why His blood is so precious to them who believe.

Copyright Jim Ehrhard, 1999. You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that: (1) you credit the author; (2) any modifications are clearly marked; (3) you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction; and (4) you do not make more than 100 copies without permission. If you would like to post this material to your web site or make any use other than as defined above, please contact Teaching Resources International

Read Full Post »