John 12:24
We have been stressing the biblical truth that Christ had to die. He came to die. He came to die for His bride, the church. The church is not the building, but those whom Christ saves. "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him," John 17:2. All whom the Lord saves becomes part of the church. Last week we looked at the plan, now let us pick up with the purpose.
2). The Purpose.
"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons," Galatians 4:4-5. Christ came to pay the sin debt for all who have been and will be saved. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it," Ephesians 5:25. We are all born sinners in need of the Saviour. All sin is against God. Remember that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. This means we have a debt with God; a sin debt. This debt requires sinlessness, and blood; perfect blood. "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission," Hebrews 9:22. When we do a quick examination of ourselves we find that we fall way short. We carry a debt owed to God, and this is a debt that we cannot pay. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," Romans 6:23. Because of our sins we have earned and we deserve death; eternal separation from God in the torments of hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and where the fire is never quenched and the worm dieth not. Left to ourselves we are in a terrible condition headed for an eternity of hell. "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day," Psalm 7:11. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him," John 3:36. All of God's fury and wrath are pointed towards the sinner. We are in desperate need of protection from God Himself! "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power," II Thessalonians 1:7-9.
God's wrath is real. The penalty of sin is real. Listen folks; God's way of salvation is also real! "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," Romans 5:8. God purposed that we could not save ourselves, and He also provided the only way to be saved. Christ is our propitiation. He is our peace with God. He bore our sin debt upon the cross. Remember that God requires perfection and blood. Only God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, fits this description. "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," II Corinthians 5:21. This is the great exchange. The Word of God points us to Jesus Christ. Our failures and our sins point us to Jesus Christ. Our guilty consciences point us to Jesus Christ. Our doubt points us to Jesus Christ. This is God's plan and purpose that we would look off ourselves and anything else and look to Jesus Christ and trust Him to save us.
3). Paid in full.
When Jesus Christ saves us we receive full and immediate pardon. Once forgiven, you shall be forgiven forever, and none of the consequences of sin shall be visited upon you. You shall be forgiven wholly and eternally so that when this earth burns and melts with a fervent heat and the heavens are dissolved and the great white throne is set up and the last judgment is held, you may be able to stand in Christ knowing that you have been forgiven; for when God forgives He never brings it up again, nor will He revoke His forgiveness. "Blessed is he whose transgressions is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile," Psalm 32:1-2. This is seeable. "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love," I John 4:17-18.
When God forgives us we are truly forgiven. With joy we can face life and death. This joy doesn't come through feelings or experiences, but from knowledge of what the Word of God says. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God," I John 5:13. The Bible tells us that we can know now, today, that we have been saved and that all of our sins have been forgiven.
How many of you are scared to die? When you think about being dead you get nervous. How many of you are not scared to die? When you think about being dead you get excited. The difference is Jesus Christ.
Aren't you thankful for God's plan, purpose, and for Jesus Christ paying our sin debt in full? In closing, do you know that according to the Scriptures you are saved? Does your life show it? Examine yourself according to the Word of God.
Jesus Christ came to die. From His life, death, burial, and resurrection we have life. The Death of Jesus Christ was necessary, and the effect is eternal. To God be the glory.
