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for christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the sent me not to baptize but to preach the gospel gospel not with wisdom of words lest the cross not with wisdom of words lest the cross of christ should be made of non-effect of christ should be made of non-effect for the preaching of the cross is to for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness them that perish foolishness unto us which are saved unto us which are saved it is the power of god my dear and beloved brother and sisters these words present to us a positive these words present to us a positive and an objective truth and an objective truth a message a message clearly based upon the cross of christ clearly based upon the cross of christ a reminder to us both now and for all a reminder to us both now and for all time time of the centrality of the cross of the centrality of the cross in the beginning was the word in the beginning was the word and the word was with god and the word was with god and the word was god and the word was god the same was in the beginning with god the same was in the beginning with god and the word became flesh and dwelt and the word became flesh and dwelt among us among us we beheld his glory we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace father full of grace and truth i'd like to begin with a challenge with a challenge and the challenge is this and the challenge is this that none of us that none of us can be satisfied for long can be satisfied for long with an observation of the cross with an observation of the cross with an interpretation of the cross with an interpretation of the cross for the theory of the cross for the theory of the cross that is merely subjective that is merely subjective that is to say that is to say a concentration only upon the a concentration only upon the personal appeal personal appeal of the cross of jesus of the cross of jesus and i if i be lifted up and i if i be lifted up will draw all men will draw all men unto me unto me for again for again god so loved the world god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that he gave his only begotten son or again or again the captain of our salvation the captain of our salvation was made perfect was made perfect through suffering through suffering and by subjective and by subjective i mean i mean these things only these things only these things these things considered an isolation considered an isolation from all the other great scriptural from all the other great scriptural truths about god and his purpose truths about god and his purpose centered in jesus christ centered in jesus christ true true these teachings are these teachings are indeed indeed and that importance and that importance and their relevance and their relevance must never be minimized must never be minimized or under emphasized or under emphasized that they are not the whole truth that they are not the whole truth when they are considered alone when they are considered alone or considered in isolation or considered in isolation and here i think in first corinthians and here i think in first corinthians chapter one we have a demonstration of chapter one we have a demonstration of the truth of this point in the genesis the truth of this point in the genesis as it were of the first century as it were of the first century preaching preaching for the apostle paul for the apostle paul the atonement the atonement is purposeful is purposeful and powerful and powerful it is preordained it is preordained and proclamatory and proclamatory it is dynamic it is dynamic and it is definitive and it is definitive and we know very well do we not that the and we know very well do we not that the preaching in the name of the preaching in the name of the resurrection of the lord jesus christ as resurrection of the lord jesus christ as recorded particularly in the book of recorded particularly in the book of acts was revolutionary in its content acts was revolutionary in its content and in its impact and in its impact it turned the world it turned the world upside down upside down it reversed all ideas of human greatness it reversed all ideas of human greatness it gave a new dimension to life it gave a new dimension to life it brought new perspective it brought new perspective to the world to the world he gave hope of eternal life he gave hope of eternal life through salvation's destiny through salvation's destiny and the consummation of all things in and the consummation of all things in the lord jesus christ the lord jesus christ it is i think against this broad canvas it is i think against this broad canvas and this wide perspective and this wide perspective that we must consider that we must consider the necessary details of the work of the necessary details of the work of christ without as it were losing christ without as it were losing this broad vision this broad vision that scripture sets before us now there are many detailed points of exposition in connection with the death exposition in connection with the death of christ of christ when we use the term or the phrase the when we use the term or the phrase the death of christ death of christ in this series of addresses in this series of addresses more often than not more often than not we shall be implying not only the once we shall be implying not only the once for all sacrifice upon the cross for all sacrifice upon the cross but also for example the visitation of but also for example the visitation of god god in his son in his son his faithfulness his faithfulness even unto death even unto death the close cooperation of the son the close cooperation of the son with the father with the father my father worketh hitherto and i work is my father worketh hitherto and i work is a line of continuum that reaches right a line of continuum that reaches right back to the book of genesis and goes back to the book of genesis and goes beyond the book of revelation beyond the book of revelation the sequel accomplished the sequel accomplished in jesus himself in jesus himself his victorious resurrection his victorious resurrection his exaltation his exaltation and his ascension and his ascension and who of us my dear brothers and and who of us my dear brothers and sisters would presume sisters would presume to draw a line of demarcation to draw a line of demarcation between the possibility between the possibility of the life of jesus of the life of jesus and the inevitability and the inevitability of his death and to say that of his death and to say that after that line after that line we are considering all those elements we are considering all those elements that are relevant and important to an that are relevant and important to an understanding understanding of his cross of his cross you cannot draw the line can you you cannot draw the line can you so in excre and inextricably interwoven so in excre and inextricably interwoven are the themes and the strands of the are the themes and the strands of the purpose of god centered in him purpose of god centered in him and of course we can give much attention and of course we can give much attention to all the details associated with the to all the details associated with the death of jesus which will do do so to a death of jesus which will do do so to a certain extent certain extent in these addresses in these addresses because of course the text of scripture because of course the text of scripture that describes to us these details that describes to us these details is of necessity the basis for our is of necessity the basis for our exposition and our analysis exposition and our analysis we could think for example of all the we could think for example of all the events events surrounding his crucifixion surrounding his crucifixion the conduct of the lord's three the conduct of the lord's three adjudicators adjudicators caiaphas pilate and herod caiaphas pilate and herod the indignities the indignities inflicted upon our lord inflicted upon our lord the tragic procession between the the tragic procession between the judgment hall and golgotha judgment hall and golgotha the attitude of the crucified thieves the attitude of the crucified thieves the behavior of the crowds the behavior of the crowds the extremity of our savior the extremity of our savior in his suffering in his suffering in the victorious sequel in the victorious sequel in the resurrection in the resurrection from the dead from the dead his exaltation his exaltation his elevation his elevation and his promised return and his promised return and of course and of course many valuable many valuable moral moral spiritual and eternal lessons spiritual and eternal lessons arise out of all these incidents arise out of all these incidents but everything that the scripture but everything that the scripture presents to us presents to us owes its vital and enduring value and owes its vital and enduring value and significance significance to the momentous truths which these to the momentous truths which these divine realities divine realities reveal reveal represent represent and embody to us and embody to us or to put it another way or to put it another way it is the teaching it is the teaching and it is the doctrine and it is the doctrine which matter in the end which matter in the end what gives all these events what gives all these events associated with the cross of christ and associated with the cross of christ and all their many and varied foreshadowings all their many and varied foreshadowings in the old testament scripture in the old testament scripture what gives them their importance what gives them their importance is not only the fact that they occurred is not only the fact that they occurred but that they are associated with but that they are associated with eternal issues eternal issues and fundamental truths and fundamental truths what matters for us my dear brother and what matters for us my dear brother and sisters sisters is that we are related is that we are related to these things to these things that we are reconciled to god that we are reconciled to god by the death of his son by the death of his son this is the goal this is the goal this is the destination this is the destination this is as it were where the subjective this is as it were where the subjective element rightly understood element rightly understood must come into our subject must come into our subject not in our interpretation not in our interpretation but in our association our invocation but in our association our invocation and our appropriation i sound this note of warning this note of challenge this note of challenge for this reason for this reason we all have a capacity for religion we all have a capacity for religion to a greater or lesser extent to a greater or lesser extent the aspiration for something more than the aspiration for something more than the frustrations of ordinary life the frustrations of ordinary life we admire we admire humanly speaking the courageousness of humanly speaking the courageousness of self-sacrifice self-sacrifice and all these things may find in the and all these things may find in the lord jesus christ lord jesus christ and in his passion and in his passion solely aesthetic fulfillment or solely aesthetic fulfillment or emotional satisfaction it feels a human emotional satisfaction it feels a human need a human aspiration need a human aspiration a human desire a human desire but it fulfills it but it fulfills it in human terms in human terms there are many illustrations of this there are many illustrations of this throughout history throughout history examples of it can be seen with in those examples of it can be seen with in those with great literary gifts with great literary gifts with acute sensibility with acute sensibility and powerful imagination and powerful imagination georgina elliot for example georgina elliot for example describes how she was greatly moved describes how she was greatly moved before a magnificent picture of the before a magnificent picture of the elevated cross elevated cross she said that the face of jesus was she said that the face of jesus was sublime sublime in it in its experience of agony in it in its experience of agony agony agony and yet complete trust and yet complete trust in the divine in the divine it was the finest it was the finest and the noblest conception of the and the noblest conception of the suffering christ that she had ever seen suffering christ that she had ever seen and she could say of the picture and she could say of the picture that it haunted her that it haunted her like the remembrance of a friend's like the remembrance of a friend's deathbed deathbed fixed in the mind fixed in the mind unalterable unalterable and unchanging and unchanging and from that moment on and from that moment on that vision that vision became became conjoined with all subsequent conjoined with all subsequent experiences experiences in her life in her life she was never the same again she was never the same again in a sense my dear brother and sisters in a sense my dear brother and sisters this is poetry isn't it this is poetry isn't it it's the poetry it's the poetry of religion of religion many have said many have said that her observation in a sense was that her observation in a sense was manifestly in the spirit of detachment manifestly in the spirit of detachment stooping to look down even stooping to look down even the attitude of the art critic the attitude of the art critic the inquiring the inquiring and the investigating analyst and the investigating analyst it is not necessarily it is not necessarily that of humility that of humility and faith this kind of objectivity this sort of objective detachment is not this sort of objective detachment is not for us for us our age is noted for its objectivity is our age is noted for its objectivity is it not it not perhaps at the same time rather perhaps at the same time rather paradoxically it's vagueness of many of paradoxically it's vagueness of many of the great doctrines of scripture the great doctrines of scripture and the rapidly weakening sense of the and the rapidly weakening sense of the importance and the relevance of history importance and the relevance of history it is no concern it is no concern for the impending consummation for the impending consummation just as for example the men of noah's just as for example the men of noah's day day had no concern for the imminent had no concern for the imminent judgments of god judgments of god and to our age and to our age a merely aesthetic a merely aesthetic or emotional appreciation of the cross or emotional appreciation of the cross its suffering and its death its suffering and its death is always possible how many of those for is always possible how many of those for example example who listen devoutly who listen devoutly and reverently and reverently to barks matthew passion to barks matthew passion or to hamilt's messiah or to hamilt's messiah and are captivated entirely by the words and are captivated entirely by the words and the music and the music are in fact listening with a deep sense are in fact listening with a deep sense of conviction of conviction that they are in fact called upon to that they are in fact called upon to enter into the anguish of the redeemer enter into the anguish of the redeemer to die with him to die with him that his life might be manifested to that his life might be manifested to others others to live out in their own painful to live out in their own painful experience experience the truth of what it really means the truth of what it really means to take up our cross to take up our cross and follow him now it is very clear my dear brothers and sisters that this emotional and sisters that this emotional and this subjective experience of the and this subjective experience of the cross cross has its place what i'm saying to you really is that is that it only has its place it only has its place if it is first confirmed and validated if it is first confirmed and validated by the preceding knowledge and by the preceding knowledge and understanding understanding of the doctrinal significance of the doctrinal significance of the covering for sin of the covering for sin and the reconciliation that god has and the reconciliation that god has brought brought through his son through his son when these are appreciated when these are appreciated when these are put into practice when these are put into practice then meditations on the details of the then meditations on the details of the passion passion will be appropriate will be appropriate since they will now be set since they will now be set in the proper context of a larger in the proper context of a larger framework may i anticipate at the outset a plea for simplicity at the outset a plea for simplicity you might want to say to me for example you might want to say to me for example many of us simply believe many of us simply believe in the fact in the fact that the death and resurrection of jesus that the death and resurrection of jesus christ has accomplished the once for all christ has accomplished the once for all sacrifice necessary for salvation sacrifice necessary for salvation we have not attempted to explain the we have not attempted to explain the detailed reasons why detailed reasons why or how or how christ's death christ's death has affected that reconciliation has affected that reconciliation we are concerned with goals and we are concerned with goals and objectives objectives rather than procedures and mechanisms rather than procedures and mechanisms theories and explanations and that's a valid observation my dear brother sisters brother sisters especially when you look retrospectively especially when you look retrospectively how many people how many people how many sincere bible students how many sincere bible students have got into deep water have got into deep water by trying to go further by trying to go further than perhaps scripture itself than perhaps scripture itself allows us to go allows us to go this is a relevant this is a relevant observation we know that it is possible observation we know that it is possible to have an accurate theory of redemption to have an accurate theory of redemption without necessarily personally being without necessarily personally being involved in it involved in it we know that the converse is true also we know that the converse is true also that it is possible to have involvement that it is possible to have involvement in redemption in redemption without understanding all the depths and without understanding all the depths and all the fine detail which are implied by all the fine detail which are implied by true experience of it people brethren sisters brethren sisters and doctrine and doctrine are separable are separable are they not are they not since scripture since scripture is separable is separable from ourselves from ourselves and it stands in its objectivity and it stands in its objectivity over against over against and for and for the condition of man but in another sense it is inescapably related to man related to man in that it shines the light of hope and in that it shines the light of hope and salvation to that condition salvation to that condition this word of revelation my dear brother this word of revelation my dear brother and sisters has in the end to become an and sisters has in the end to become an integral part integral part of our own experience of our own experience of life of hope of life of hope of faith of faith it has to be for us in the end it has to be for us in the end as it was for the lord jesus as it was for the lord jesus his meat and drink his meat and drink the word made flesh the word made flesh and so a plea for simplicity and so a plea for simplicity need not be at variance need not be at variance with a search for fuller understanding with a search for fuller understanding indeed perhaps our inquiring age indeed perhaps our inquiring age with its certain critical mindedness with its certain critical mindedness needs a reason a reasonable needs a reason a reasonable and intelligible faith and intelligible faith in order to account for the atonement but of course we must always be aware of the limitations of the finite human mind the limitations of the finite human mind especially when it seeks to understand especially when it seeks to understand things that are closely related things that are closely related to the infinite guard to the infinite guard and there are certainly problems and and there are certainly problems and difficulties difficulties in the reconciliation of man to guard in the reconciliation of man to guard which no doubt will remain insoluble which no doubt will remain insoluble for the time being for the time being it is clear it is clear we all have heads we all have heads as well as hearts as well as hearts and the intention of god is surely that and the intention of god is surely that we should use both we should use both in order to obtain that reason in order to obtain that reason and reasonable faith and reasonable faith the apostles tell us do they not the apostles tell us do they not that if we cannot see everything that if we cannot see everything we can certainly see much we can certainly see much and it was the purpose of their and it was the purpose of their revelation revelation to enable us to enable us in humility and with reverence to see in humility and with reverence to see and to understand and to understand the message that they brought as it seems to me my dear brother and sisters sisters no satisfactory theory of the atonement no satisfactory theory of the atonement has ever really been formulated has ever really been formulated or even discovered or even discovered to explain the precise working of to explain the precise working of redemption the mechanics if you like of redemption the mechanics if you like of our salvation our salvation or even the indispensable necessity or even the indispensable necessity for the cross for the cross each successive generation has each successive generation has repudiated repudiated the analogies and the analyses the analogies and the analyses which satisfied its parents and its which satisfied its parents and its grandparents grandparents sometimes despairing at their crudity sometimes despairing at their crudity and inadequacy and inadequacy and the extent to which certain phrases and the extent to which certain phrases in scripture in both old testament and in scripture in both old testament and new testament have been pressed too far new testament have been pressed too far out of all proportion out of all proportion to other parallel to other parallel and complementary truths and complementary truths interpretations have been advanced for interpretations have been advanced for example against the background of the example against the background of the law court the feudal system or the law court the feudal system or the marketplace marketplace they have attempted to view the they have attempted to view the atonement in any one of a number of atonement in any one of a number of categories categories the judicial the judicial the penal the penal the ethical the ethical the moral the moral even even very up-to-date the psychological very up-to-date the psychological and i submit to you my dear brother and and i submit to you my dear brother and sisters sisters that they all that they all without exception without exception have their limitations one writer has the atonement the atonement was wrought in darkness was wrought in darkness because its full meaning because its full meaning could not in the end be comprehended could not in the end be comprehended by the finite mind all the forces of sin by the finite mind all the forces of sin disintegration disintegration decay decay disorientation which we are all part disorientation which we are all part are surely indicated in that period of are surely indicated in that period of darkness from the sixth darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour to the ninth hour and the purpose of god and the purpose of god a veil is drawn over the horrors of the a veil is drawn over the horrors of the dying lord dying lord so that enquiring eyes so that enquiring eyes human eyes human eyes shall not see what it is inappropriate shall not see what it is inappropriate for them to see for them to see another writer has said another writer has said how or in what particular way how or in what particular way christ's death was efficacious christ's death was efficacious there are not wanting persons who have there are not wanting persons who have endeavoured to explain it endeavoured to explain it but i do not find that scripture but i do not find that scripture hath fully hath fully explained it explained it so my dear brother and sisters so my dear brother and sisters we may have our problems with our we may have our problems with our theories and our mechanisms theories and our mechanisms but we have no problems but we have no problems with facts with facts the foreshadowing of the cross the foreshadowing of the cross is a fact the lamb slain from the is a fact the lamb slain from the foundation of the world the law was a foundation of the world the law was a school master to bring us to christ he school master to bring us to christ he was oppressed and afflicted yet he was oppressed and afflicted yet he opened not his mouth opened not his mouth he made his grave with the wicked and he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich with the rich in his death in his death the realization of the cross the realization of the cross is also a fact is also a fact he suffered under pontius pilate he suffered under pontius pilate christ jesus who before pontius pilate christ jesus who before pontius pilate witnessed a good confession witnessed a good confession jesus also jesus also suffered without the gate suffered without the gate the proclamation of the cross the proclamation of the cross is a fact is a fact unto us which are saved unto us which are saved it is the power of god it is the power of god go ye therefore and teach go ye therefore and teach all nations all nations baptizing them in the name of the father baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit and of the son and of the holy spirit they ceased not they ceased not to teach to teach and to preach and to preach jesus jesus christ christ it presents a life to be known it presents a life to be known ye are they which have continued with me ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations in my temptations ye shall know that i am in the father ye shall know that i am in the father and ye in me and i knew and ye in me and i knew that ye may know and believe that ye may know and believe that the father is in me that the father is in me and i in him and i in him these things are written these things are written that believing that believing he might have life he might have life through his day through his day and it presents also and it presents also a person a person to be loved to be loved if god were your father if god were your father you would love me you would love me if you loved me you would rejoice if you loved me you would rejoice because i said i go unto the father because i said i go unto the father if you love me if you love me keep keep my my commandment commandment not just not just abstract distant abstract distant coerced love coerced love but close but close tender tender gracious love gracious love conscious of men's weakness conscious of men's weakness simon son of jonas simon son of jonas love astound me love astound me feed my sheep the purpose of this series of addresses my dear brother and sisters my dear brother and sisters is to be is to be expositional expositional analytical analytical devotional and excitational in such a devotional and excitational in such a way as to bring out way as to bring out the fullness of meaning the fullness of meaning of our subject of our subject and seek to capture and seek to capture some of those vital elements of our some of those vital elements of our theme the truth and the value theme the truth and the value the depth and the importance the the depth and the importance the relevance and the implications of relevance and the implications of christ's sacrifice christ's sacrifice all these talks have as it were an all these talks have as it were an expositional basis to their content expositional basis to their content from a supplementary handouts from a supplementary handouts will come out as it were before each will come out as it were before each talk talk will give an outline of the general will give an outline of the general framework work which we are following framework work which we are following this first address this first address is by way of introduction is by way of introduction to consider some key principles in our to consider some key principles in our interpretation interpretation and some introductory points and some introductory points the second address will consider in more the second address will consider in more detail the cross of christ detail the cross of christ the once for all offering for our sins the once for all offering for our sins the third address will consider the third address will consider man's appropriation man's appropriation and try to answer the question and try to answer the question how is the atonement available to man how is the atonement available to man and what is its effect upon us and what is its effect upon us and the fourth and final address and the fourth and final address salvation salvation and human destiny and human destiny how does what we have considered how does what we have considered in this series relate us to the future in this series relate us to the future in the purpose of god in the purpose of god how do we get from here to there how do we get from here to there from oxford in 1983 from oxford in 1983 to the return of the lord jesus christ to the return of the lord jesus christ the consummation of all things the consummation of all things in him in him the first and third addresses are mainly the first and third addresses are mainly analytical analytical and expository in nature and expository in nature the second and fourth addresses the second and fourth addresses are principally excitational and are principally excitational and devotional and i hope very much my dear devotional and i hope very much my dear brother and sisters that this will brother and sisters that this will present to you present to you the right balance the right balance for a subject of this nature for a subject of this nature that it will be helpful to you in laying that it will be helpful to you in laying the foundations in guiding our the foundations in guiding our understanding understanding preparing our minds and hearts preparing our minds and hearts for fuller service with him for fuller service with him to enable us to fulfill to enable us to fulfill the conditions and demands of the conditions and demands of discipleship discipleship to attend to the personal discipline of to attend to the personal discipline of the cross the cross and to improve our vision and to improve our vision of the lord who came and died of the lord who came and died and rose again and rose again what we wish to do at all costs what we wish to do at all costs is to avoid that kind of barren is to avoid that kind of barren forensic analysis forensic analysis which seeks to dissect the suffering which seeks to dissect the suffering savior savior and his accomplishments and his accomplishments in order to arrive at truth in order to arrive at truth such an approach may well be objective such an approach may well be objective but it has no lie but it has no lie in a sense i suppose my dear brother in a sense i suppose my dear brother says it is presumptuous says it is presumptuous it is not reverential it is not reverential or fearful or fearful it is the theologian it is the theologian or the surgeon or the surgeon it is not the disciple let us consider some of the key principles principles in our interpretation in our interpretation of the atonement of the atonement first of all first of all the atonement is right at the heart the atonement is right at the heart of god's purpose of god's purpose the old testament the old testament look to its fulfillment look to its fulfillment in the savior in the savior and the new testament and the new testament and the records of the preaching of the and the records of the preaching of the apostles flowed out from that central apostles flowed out from that central point point in the purpose of god and the purpose of in the purpose of god and the purpose of god god and so it is of necessity first and and so it is of necessity first and foremost a doctrine a teaching foremost a doctrine a teaching associated with god his purpose his associated with god his purpose his character his self-expression character his self-expression his love his condescension his grace his his love his condescension his grace his mercy mercy his long suffering his justice his his long suffering his justice his holiness and his righteousness his knowledge of man right into the heart of each one of us right into the heart of each one of us and his being known of us and his being known of us through his self-revelation in his word through his self-revelation in his word and in his son and in his son god wills that all men god wills that all men shall be saved shall be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth and come unto the knowledge of the truth he is not willing that any should perish he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance but that all should come to repentance and this revelation of god this purpose and this revelation of god this purpose of god this declaration of god of god this declaration of god looks for the response from us looks for the response from us described by the lord jesus christ described by the lord jesus christ himself himself if any man willeth to do his will if any man willeth to do his will he shall know of the doctrine so each and every interpretation of the atonement interpretation of the atonement is closely associated with some aspect is closely associated with some aspect of the essential meaning of our faith of the essential meaning of our faith and particularly and particularly and importantly and importantly it reflects our understanding it reflects our understanding of the divine nature of the divine nature it is in our understanding of god it is in our understanding of god that our understanding of the atonement that our understanding of the atonement has its ultimate ground and basis has its ultimate ground and basis or to put it another way or to put it another way the atonement my dear brother and the atonement my dear brother and sisters is not simply an understanding sisters is not simply an understanding of the cross of the cross attempt to so restrict its scope attempt to so restrict its scope will always result in misunderstanding will always result in misunderstanding we do not explain or interpret atonement we do not explain or interpret atonement by the cross by the cross but rather the cross but rather the cross by atonement and so no discussion of the cross can be adequate can be adequate which rests which rests upon an inadequate conception of the upon an inadequate conception of the high and holy god high and holy god his power and his almightiness his power and his almightiness his sovereignty over all his sovereignty over all whether recognized or not whether recognized or not and his fatherhood of the son similarly in the same way no investigation no analysis no study of no investigation no analysis no study of the sacrifice of christ the sacrifice of christ is complete if it seeks to is complete if it seeks to separate god's visiting his people in the sun his humble origins his humble origins his birth his birth from his sacrifice upon the cross on the from his sacrifice upon the cross on the one hand one hand and and the resurrection and exaltation and the resurrection and exaltation and return return from his sacrifice on the cross from his sacrifice on the cross on the other hand on the other hand all are essential components all are essential components to a full understanding to a full understanding of this subject earlier studies in god manifestation in our history of the community are i in our history of the community are i think helpful think helpful in drawing attention to this most in drawing attention to this most important point important point that we that we must have as our basis an adequate must have as our basis an adequate and a full understanding and a full understanding of the nature of the nature and purpose of god and purpose of god that it is in him that it is in him that we understand the ultimate origins that we understand the ultimate origins the purpose the purpose the revelation the revelation and the motivation and the motivation for all these things secondly the atonement incorporates and reveals the atonement incorporates and reveals in all its fullness the nature of man in all its fullness the nature of man the light of the ministry of the lord the light of the ministry of the lord jesus christ reveals very starkly and jesus christ reveals very starkly and very clearly the darkness very clearly the darkness of the world in which he moved the of the world in which he moved the darkness darkness of men without god of men without god and of men and of men without the word of god without the word of god the condition of man the condition of man is clearly revealed to us in the word of is clearly revealed to us in the word of god and it is to and for that condition god and it is to and for that condition that this revelation of god comes man is capable of inflicting pain and suffering and death willful and and suffering and death willful and skillful disobedience skillful disobedience human nature at the cross of christ was human nature at the cross of christ was revealed for all to see in all its revealed for all to see in all its strange folly and immoral grandeur strange folly and immoral grandeur the terrible prerogative and the terrible prerogative and unseemliness unseemliness of seeking to withstand the lord of all of seeking to withstand the lord of all the woeful recalcitrance reparation and the woeful recalcitrance reparation and shame man and man alone wants and seeks the good wants and seeks the good and then forsakes it and then forsakes it and denies it almost in the same breath and denies it almost in the same breath he forsakes and he promotes the evil he forsakes and he promotes the evil in his being there is from time to time in his being there is from time to time the coexistence of the highest and the the coexistence of the highest and the best and the basest and the worst best and the basest and the worst this juxtaposition of good and evil this juxtaposition of good and evil self-denial self-denial and self-assertion and self-assertion stand alongside the very cross of christ stand alongside the very cross of christ don't they in the two thieves don't they in the two thieves the one who railed on him the one who railed on him and the one in and the one in one who in humility one who in humility sought to be with him sought to be with him perhaps there we have a representation perhaps there we have a representation of the whole human race of the whole human race capable of being divided into two capable of being divided into two solely on this basis solely on this basis perhaps revealing also that such a perhaps revealing also that such a division division is in each of us is in each of us in each of our minds in each of our minds and in each of our hearts that terrible and in each of our hearts that terrible duplicity duplicity caused by sin caused by sin and the temptations to sin and the temptations to sin seeking to be with him at one moment seeking to be with him at one moment and railing on him for all the woes of and railing on him for all the woes of sin sin in the next in the next in the final wretchedness and despair in the final wretchedness and despair of putting to death of putting to death the only righteous man the only righteous man we will not have this man we will not have this man to reign over us to reign over us anticipated by the lord jesus christ anticipated by the lord jesus christ he that he that eateth bread with me eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel hath lifted up his heel against me against me i might have thought that with this i might have thought that with this lesson from history lesson from history the error would be avoided but not so the error would be avoided but not so subsequently we learn of those whose subsequently we learn of those whose tragic destiny tragic destiny was still to tread underfoot was still to tread underfoot the son of god the son of god and to put him to an open shame so my dear brother and sisters the nature character and purpose of god nature character and purpose of god and the nature of man and the nature of man are the two essential prerequisites in are the two essential prerequisites in our understanding our understanding of the basis for atonement let us consider next some introductory points to set the wider context of what points to set the wider context of what we have to say later on in this series we have to say later on in this series we might describe this as it were as a we might describe this as it were as a long view long view to give us the distant vision to give us the distant vision so that subsequent details may be seen so that subsequent details may be seen in perspective rather like beholding a in perspective rather like beholding a bridge bridge from a distance from a distance so that later on when we come to look at so that later on when we come to look at the bricks and the mortar the bricks and the mortar the components of the bridge the components of the bridge we're not in danger of losing sight we're not in danger of losing sight of losing understanding of losing understanding of what the bridge is of what the bridge is or what the bridge is for as it seems to me central to the cross of christ are central to the cross of christ are firstly the forgiveness of sins firstly the forgiveness of sins was this not an important aspect of the was this not an important aspect of the first century preaching first century preaching repent and be baptized every one of you repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of jesus christ in the name of jesus christ for the remission of sins for the remission of sins repent ye therefore and be converted repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the lord shall come from the presence of the lord and the lord jesus christ throughout his and the lord jesus christ throughout his ministry ministry emphasized the terrible reality emphasized the terrible reality of sin of sin and its true source and its true source it came it came from within the very heart of from within the very heart of man defiling man defiling degrading degrading deceiving deceiving and debilitating and debilitating and over against this predicament and over against this predicament jesus proclaims the gracious forgiveness jesus proclaims the gracious forgiveness of god of god the woman taken in adultery the woman taken in adultery the prodigal son the prodigal son the man sick of the palsy and many the man sick of the palsy and many others the list others the list is legion isn't it is legion isn't it forgiveness centered in the lord jesus forgiveness centered in the lord jesus christ christ but only at great cost but only at great cost firstly to the redeemer himself firstly to the redeemer himself and then subsequently to man also and then subsequently to man also but just as jesus jesus had to count the but just as jesus jesus had to count the cost of going to the cross cost of going to the cross so man also had to count the cost of so man also had to count the cost of taking up the cross personally taking up the cross personally individually and corporately to count individually and corporately to count the cost of forgiveness the cost of forgiveness in a renewed and in a transformed life in a renewed and in a transformed life show your show your repentance by the fruit it bears repentance by the fruit it bears was the message that came out of the was the message that came out of the wilderness wilderness for the attention of the scribes and for the attention of the scribes and pharisees pharisees in the days of john the baptist in the days of john the baptist the lord jesus christ the lord jesus christ taught men to practice forgiveness taught men to practice forgiveness not as it were as a temporary theory but not as it were as a temporary theory but as a continual practice as a continual practice indefinitely indefinitely no limited number of wrongs no limited number of wrongs makes the practice of forgiveness makes the practice of forgiveness perfect to quantify it perfect to quantify it to measure it to measure it to seek to delimit it was to to seek to delimit it was to misunderstand it misunderstand it to miss the point to miss the point to nail it down to nail it down was to nail him to the tree father forgive them for they know not what they do if ye forgive men your trespass their your trespass their trespasses your heavenly father will trespasses your heavenly father will also forgive you also forgive you but if you forgive not men their but if you forgive not men their trespasses trespasses neither will your father neither will your father forgive forgive your trespasses your trespasses our world my dear brothers and sisters our world my dear brothers and sisters seeks easy easy ways out of this seeks easy easy ways out of this challenge of jesus challenge of jesus and perhaps even we do too and perhaps even we do too diminish sin and wrong diminish sin and wrong make light of the deadly deed make light of the deadly deed and even joke and even joke over unseemly behavior after that in the wisdom of god the world by wisdom knew not god it pleased world by wisdom knew not god it pleased god by the foolishness of preaching god by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe to save them that believe for the jews require a sign for the jews require a sign and the greeks seek after wisdom and the greeks seek after wisdom but we preach christ crucified but we preach christ crucified unto the jews a stumbling block and unto unto the jews a stumbling block and unto the greeks foolishness the greeks foolishness but unto them which are called both jews but unto them which are called both jews and greeks christ the power of god and greeks christ the power of god and the wisdom of god and the wisdom of god we speak we speak the wisdom of god the wisdom of god in a mystery in a mystery man's weakness my dear brethren sisters man's weakness my dear brethren sisters is revealed in a paradox is revealed in a paradox in the very heart of human strength in the very heart of human strength for both jew and gentile for both jew and gentile the jew held that god had revealed the jew held that god had revealed himself himself in history in history and so it was naturally easy and so it was naturally easy to presume to know to presume to know how he would reveal himself in the how he would reveal himself in the future future a temptation to seek to calculate god's a temptation to seek to calculate god's favor favor or his disapproval or his disapproval by outward signs by outward signs so it was that many jews believed so it was that many jews believed that when their great deliverer came that when their great deliverer came he would bear himself in the anticipated he would bear himself in the anticipated way way and accomplish and accomplish the goals that they looked for similarly if you were a greek and had developed the power of abstract and had developed the power of abstract thought thought you were led to suppose that nothing you were led to suppose that nothing could be true or real could be true or real which disturbed the balance and which disturbed the balance and completeness completeness of that thought of that thought intellectual satisfaction intellectual satisfaction brought about brought about by the exercise of true reason the greeks came to see jesus sir sir we would see jesus they said we would see jesus they said they were sent away with the most they were sent away with the most disturbing message disturbing message verily verily i say unto you verily verily i say unto you except a corner of wheat fall into the except a corner of wheat fall into the ground and die ground and die it abideth alone it abideth alone but if it die bringeth forth much fruit but if it die bringeth forth much fruit he that loveth his life shall lose it he that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this and he that hateth his life in this world world shall keep it shall keep it unto life eternal unto life eternal the fundamental error of both jew and the fundamental error of both jew and greek was to suppose that man's theory greek was to suppose that man's theory of life was complete and of life was complete and satisfying that you could use a human satisfying that you could use a human yardstick yardstick to measure out god's ways to measure out god's ways in relation to man how is it possible for us my dear brother and sisters brother and sisters to avoid these dangers to avoid these dangers how is it possible for us to see more how is it possible for us to see more fully the crucified christ as the power fully the crucified christ as the power and as the wisdom of god and as the wisdom of god by what steps or by what stages by what steps or by what stages may this mystery be made known unto us may this mystery be made known unto us and fully revealed and fully revealed well i think it's elaborated well i think it's elaborated in first corinthians chapters one and in first corinthians chapters one and two two where we began and the pathway i think is firstly humility is firstly humility secondly faith secondly faith and thirdly and thirdly putting on putting on the mind of christ the mind of christ the first prerequisite is humility the first prerequisite is humility because that was what jesus demanded because that was what jesus demanded of the greeks of the greeks and in a sense that's the whole context and in a sense that's the whole context isn't it of the opening chapters of isn't it of the opening chapters of corinthians corinthians that humility of mind is an essential that humility of mind is an essential prerequisite prerequisite for life in the ecclesia not for life in the ecclesia not self-exaltation self-exaltation but self-rebasement but self-rebasement and faith is also necessary and faith is also necessary chapter 2 chapter 2 and verse 4. and verse 4. my speech and my preaching was not with my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power of power that your faith should not stand in the that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man wisdom of man but in the power of god but in the power of god and thirdly and thirdly we have to put on we have to put on the mind of christ verse 16 the mind of christ verse 16 who hath known the mind of the lord that who hath known the mind of the lord that he may instruct him that we he may instruct him that we have the mind have the mind of christ and the fourth key element is to understand is to understand obedience obedience and suffering and suffering not in isolation not in isolation in soul connection with the sacrifice of in soul connection with the sacrifice of christ christ but to understand its place and its part but to understand its place and its part in the purpose of god in the purpose of god it came to its focus it came to its focus in the lord jesus christ in the lord jesus christ he learned obedience he learned obedience by the things which he suffered by the things which he suffered many of those old testament prophecies many of those old testament prophecies foretold of the foretold of the suffering suffering the precise nature of that suffering the precise nature of that suffering that he would endure why is suffering my dear brother and sisters sisters such an integral part such an integral part of god's purpose of god's purpose and the lives that we are called upon to and the lives that we are called upon to play play in that purpose in that purpose we shall consider that we shall consider that in our later addresses in our later addresses but once again it's an invitation for us but once again it's an invitation for us to go back where we should really be to go back where we should really be on the basis of our subject on the basis of our subject to consider the divine originator to consider the divine originator his sovereignty his sovereignty over all over all it cannot be questioned it cannot be questioned shall not the judge of all the earth shall not the judge of all the earth do right if we do not understand it my dear brother and sisters brother and sisters in humility we must accept it in humility we must accept it the final inscrutability of god the final inscrutability of god where man cannot go where man cannot go and where in the end and where in the end he has no right he has no right to inquire to inquire all our desolating and painful all our desolating and painful experiences rightly viewed in humility experiences rightly viewed in humility of mind of mind can under can under god's good hand can under can under god's good hand lead lead to spiritual growth to spiritual growth faith is never abandoned faith is never abandoned but rather enabled but rather enabled through suffering through suffering think of the apostle paul think of the apostle paul i will show him i will show him how great things how great things he must suffer he must suffer for my name's for my name's sake and it was in one of his later sake and it was in one of his later epistles epistles that paul still spoke of a name that was that paul still spoke of a name that was not yet achieved an aspiration that was not yet achieved an aspiration that was still not realized still not realized to know the fellowship of christ's to know the fellowship of christ's sufferings sufferings through the continual process through the continual process of becoming conformed of becoming conformed to his death to his death and remember too and remember too what the lord jesus said of peter what the lord jesus said of peter when i was young thou gerdest self when i was young thou gerdest self and walk us where thou would us and walk us where thou would us but when thou shalt be old i shall but when thou shalt be old i shall stretch forth thine hands stretch forth thine hands and another shall gird thee and another shall gird thee and carry thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not to be fully obedient my dear brothers and sisters and sisters is to share with christ in his death is to share with christ in his death to truly fellowship his sufferings to truly fellowship his sufferings to have a sense of participation in his to have a sense of participation in his cross cross that the new man in christ that the new man in christ might be revealed might be revealed and might give honor and might give honor and glory and glory and majesty and majesty to the creator to the creator and the lord of all so we come to our conclusions from this first address from this first address the conclusions are threefold the conclusions are threefold firstly the cross of christ and the preaching of the cross and the preaching of the cross and an understanding of the cross and an understanding of the cross is a positive is a positive and an objective message and an objective message it is the power of god it is the power of god unto salvation unto salvation it begins with god it begins with god and is primarily concerned with goals and is primarily concerned with goals with objectives with objectives and with destinations secondly all procedures and mechanisms theories all procedures and mechanisms theories and explanations and explanations are attempts from man's viewpoint are attempts from man's viewpoint and man's viewpoint alone and man's viewpoint alone to understand the mechanics of our to understand the mechanics of our salvation salvation they all have their limitations they all have their limitations because of necessity because of necessity the full reasons the full reasons and the full details and the full details are known only to god are known only to god what we can understand what we can understand are the foreshadowing of the cross its are the foreshadowing of the cross its promise and its expectation promise and its expectation the realization of the cross the the realization of the cross the proclamation of the cross proclamation of the cross the observation of the cross and the the observation of the cross and the portrayal of the cross portrayal of the cross what we can understand what we can understand are the spiritual practical are the spiritual practical and excitational and excitational principles of the cross its value its principles of the cross its value its importance its meaning its blessings importance its meaning its blessings its privileges its privileges and its responsibilities and its responsibilities thirdly thirdly in order to understand the atoning work in order to understand the atoning work of christ of christ in order to understand the principle of in order to understand the principle of atonement atonement we must first understand we must first understand the primacy of god the primacy of god and his self-revelation in his son and his self-revelation in his son we need to understand the nature of man we need to understand the nature of man the principle of forgiveness the principle of forgiveness and the need for obedience and the need for obedience and sacrifice

Transcript

and when they were come to the place which is called calvary which is called calvary there they crucified him and the male there they crucified him and the male factors one on the right hand and the factors one on the right hand and the other on the left other on the left then said jesus then said jesus father forgive them for they know not father forgive them for they know not what they do what they do and they parted his raiment and cast and they parted his raiment and cast lots lots and the people stood beholding and the people stood beholding and the rulers also with him derided and the rulers also with him derided with them derided him saying he saved with them derided him saying he saved others others let him save himself if you be christ let him save himself if you be christ the chosen of god the chosen of god and the soldiers also mocked him coming and the soldiers also mocked him coming to him and offering him vinegar to him and offering him vinegar and saying if thou be the king of the and saying if thou be the king of the jews jews save thyself save thyself the superscription also has written over the superscription also has written over him him letters of greek and latin and hebrew letters of greek and latin and hebrew this is the king of the jews my dear beloved brothers and sisters in the distance upon the horizon in the distance upon the horizon he could see he could see the hill of calvary the hill of calvary three crosses three crosses on the hillside on the hillside three crosses three crosses bearing three dead men bearing three dead men the two on the outside were those whose the two on the outside were those whose lives would drain away lives would drain away but the one on the inside but the one on the inside was the one who was to become was the one who was to become the true life-giver the true life-giver and that cross of the lord jesus and that cross of the lord jesus cast a shadow cast a shadow over all that preceded it over all that preceded it it cast a shadow it cast a shadow [Music] [Music] across his ministry across his ministry the son of man goeth as it is written of the son of man goeth as it is written of him him and i if i be lifted up and i if i be lifted up will draw all men will draw all men unto me unto me words spoken by the lord jesus words spoken by the lord jesus in those immediate circumstances in those immediate circumstances before the cross before the cross so that shadow of the cross reached even so that shadow of the cross reached even earlier didn't it earlier didn't it to that turning point in his ministry to that turning point in his ministry at caesarea philippi at caesarea philippi from that time forth from that time forth began jesus to show unto his disciples began jesus to show unto his disciples how that he must go unto jerusalem how that he must go unto jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again and be raised again the third day the third day [Music] [Music] that shadow reached even earlier that shadow reached even earlier to better borrow behold the lamb of god to better borrow behold the lamb of god which taketh away the sin of the world which taketh away the sin of the world even earlier still even earlier still to his gracious birth this child shall be set for the falling and rising again and rising again of many in israel of many in israel yea yea the sword shall pierce through thy known the sword shall pierce through thy known soul soul also and even further back the shadow was cast cast over all the preparatory work in the over all the preparatory work in the purpose of god purpose of god before the revelation of his son before the revelation of his son the prophet jeremiah behold the days the prophet jeremiah behold the days come saith the lord come saith the lord that i will make a new covenant with the that i will make a new covenant with the house of israel and the house of judah house of israel and the house of judah the prophet isaiah the prophet isaiah foretold one who was despised and foretold one who was despised and rejected of men rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief grief the psalmist the psalmist anticipated what was to come anticipated what was to come [Music] [Music] lo lo i come in the volume of the book it is i come in the volume of the book it is written of me written of me the assembly of the wicked have enclosed the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me me they pierced they pierced my hands my hands and my feet and my feet and even further back your father and even further back your father abraham rejoiced to see my day abraham rejoiced to see my day and saw it in his glass and even further back because in the beginning was the word because in the beginning was the word the thought conceived the purpose the thought conceived the purpose planned planned the destiny delineated in the mind of the destiny delineated in the mind of god from the very beginning god from the very beginning and surely it is in this sense and surely it is in this sense that we may begin to understand the word the lamb slain from the foundation of the world from the foundation of the world and the word of jesus and the word of jesus in his prayer to his father in the in his prayer to his father in the shadow of the cross shadow of the cross thou lovered me thou lovered me before the foundation of the world and so this crossed upon calvary catholic dark shadow catholic dark shadow throughout all the preceding history throughout all the preceding history and on the other side and on the other side it cast a light of hope it cast a light of hope and of glory and of glory into the future into the future for the joy that was set before him for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross he endured the cross despising the shame despising the shame and he sat down at the right hand of the and he sat down at the right hand of the majesty majesty on high on high i go unto the father i go unto the father jesus said to his disciples jesus said to his disciples that was the underlying theme wasn't it that was the underlying theme wasn't it of that of those chapters 14 to 17 of that of those chapters 14 to 17 of john's gospel of john's gospel the way the way to the father to the father the way to ultimately be a partaker the way to ultimately be a partaker of the divine nature of the divine nature and that brings to our minds and that brings to our minds something in our first talk that without something in our first talk that without an understanding of god an understanding of god and his nature and his nature this cross of christ this cross of christ stands in isolation stands in isolation it stands open to misunderstanding it stands open to misunderstanding and misrepresentation and misrepresentation you must always see the beginning you you must always see the beginning you must always see the destination must always see the destination and that was the way to the father and that was the way to the father for the lord jesus christ for the lord jesus christ i have finished the work i have finished the work which though gave us me to do which though gave us me to do i have glorified the honor i have glorified the honor i have manifested thy name i have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gave us me unto the men which thou gave us me out of the world it was a manifestation out of the world it was a manifestation of god of god and the characteristics of god and the characteristics of god and the purpose of god that was the as and the purpose of god that was the as it were so preoccupation it were so preoccupation of the lord jesus christ and so the lord destiny was calvary's hill on occasions it was an overt an overt destiny destiny a decision of the mind a decision of the mind a conscious decision of the a conscious decision of the will but at other times because it were will but at other times because it were unconsciously revealed to us unconsciously revealed to us that this was where the lord jesus that this was where the lord jesus christ was going christ was going it came to pass we read in luke's gospel it came to pass we read in luke's gospel as he went to jerusalem as he went to jerusalem that he passed through the midst of that he passed through the midst of samaria samaria and galilee almost as it were and galilee almost as it were incidentally incidentally but we know my dear brother and sister but we know my dear brother and sister that there is a fuller meaning that there is a fuller meaning to those words there is a an undertone to those words there is a an undertone a sobering consciousness a sobering consciousness that there his destiny that there his destiny would ultimately be fulfilled would ultimately be fulfilled and on the way to jerusalem and on the way to jerusalem he passes through galilee he passes through galilee the place of activity the place of activity the place of interest in the message the place of interest in the message which he brought which he brought the place where the fishermen were the place where the fishermen were as we have just considered in our last as we have just considered in our last session session i went out of fame of him to all the i went out of fame of him to all the region round about and he taught in that region round about and he taught in that synagogue synagogue being glorified being glorified of all of all if we may choose one passage out of all if we may choose one passage out of all the many passages which as it were the many passages which as it were epitomized epitomized the work of jesus the work of jesus on the way to the cross perhaps matthew on the way to the cross perhaps matthew chapter 15 chapter 15 is a good example is a good example matthew 15 matthew 15 and verse 29 jesus departed from thence and came down to the sea of galilee and came down to the sea of galilee and went up into a mountain and went up into a mountain and sat down there and sat down there and great multitudes came unto him and great multitudes came unto him having with them those which are lame having with them those which are lame blind domed and many others blind domed and many others and cast them down at jesus feet and he and cast them down at jesus feet and he healed them healed them in so much that the multitude wondered in so much that the multitude wondered when they saw the dumb to speak the when they saw the dumb to speak the maimed to behold the lame to walk and maimed to behold the lame to walk and the blind to see the blind to see and they and they glorified the god of israel glorified the god of israel that's it isn't it that's it isn't it the glorification the glorification of the god of israel that inseparable link with the past god's purpose as it has so far been god's purpose as it has so far been revealed revealed in the glorification of his name in the glorification of his name in the earth and so he passed through galilee on the way to jerusalem on the way to jerusalem bethlehem nazareth cana capernaum bethlehem nazareth cana capernaum judea samaria tyre sidon judea samaria tyre sidon bethsaida bethsaida all on the lord's journey all on the lord's journey to the to the cross and so just across itself cross and so just across itself we have to understand we have to understand the way to the crop the way to the crop that the quality of his sacrifice that the quality of his sacrifice and the extent of that sacrifice and the extent of that sacrifice was revealed in all those preceding was revealed in all those preceding events events that led up towards it and so the lord jesus christ steadfastly sets his face steadfastly sets his face to go to go towards towards jerusalem when you read his entrance for example in the gospel of john in the gospel of john and the 12th chapter john 12 and verse 12 on the next day much people that were on the next day much people that were come to the feast come to the feast when they heard that jesus was coming to when they heard that jesus was coming to jerusalem jerusalem took branches of palm trees and went took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet him and cried forth to meet him and cried hosanna hosanna blessed is the king of israel that blessed is the king of israel that cometh in the name of the lord cometh in the name of the lord jesus when he had found a young ass sat jesus when he had found a young ass sat there on as it is written there on as it is written theo daughter of zion theo daughter of zion behold thy king cometh behold thy king cometh sitting on an attacker's cove sitting on an attacker's cove these things understood not his these things understood not his disciples at the first disciples at the first but when jesus was glorified then but when jesus was glorified then remembered they that these things were remembered they that these things were written of him written of him that they had done these things unto him that they had done these things unto him the people therefore that was with him the people therefore that was with him when he called lazarus out of his grave when he called lazarus out of his grave and raised him from the dead and raised him from the dead their record and so from the baptism of the lord jesus jesus his temptations in the wilderness his temptations in the wilderness he now comes he now comes to jerusalem to jerusalem he comes to do he comes to do the will of god and what a welcome he received he received as he enters into jerusalem as he enters into jerusalem the city of destiny the city of destiny he would know all the associations he would know all the associations of this place of this place that it was the place that it was the place where melchizedek had stood where melchizedek had stood and met abraham returning from the and met abraham returning from the slaughter of the king slaughter of the king it was the place it was the place where isaac had lain upon the altar where isaac had lain upon the altar it was the place where abraham had it was the place where abraham had worshipped worshipped in the mount of the lord in the mount of the lord it shall be seen it shall be seen it was the place also it was the place also where david had wept where david had wept over the child that was soon to die at over the child that was soon to die at the hand of the lord the hand of the lord bathsheba's child bathsheba's child and it was the place and it was the place where our lord was destined to be where our lord was destined to be crucified crucified o jerusalem o jerusalem jerusalem jerusalem thou that killest the prophets and stone thou that killest the prophets and stone us them which are sent unto thee us them which are sent unto thee behold your house is left unto you behold your house is left unto you deathless the city of destiny in the purpose of god the preoccupation of the father in his purpose in his purpose the holy city the holy city have proved itself to be have proved itself to be time and time again time and time again the unholy city the unholy city taking the people of the lord taking the people of the lord murdering them murdering them putting them to death putting them to death casting them out if there has known the things which belong unto thy peace belong unto thy peace but now they are hid but now they are hid from thine eye from thine eye jerusalem jerusalem a place that throughout all its history a place that throughout all its history had known joy and sorrow had known joy and sorrow and it's seen all the wisdom and the and it's seen all the wisdom and the folly folly the king the king the princes the princes of human nature in all its form of human nature in all its form it's very interesting to notice my dear it's very interesting to notice my dear brothers and sisters brothers and sisters god's preoccupation god's preoccupation his place his place and time and time now that repeatedly and his purpose now that repeatedly and his purpose become as it were back become as it were back to the same place to the same place but at a different time but at a different time that his purpose might be furthered that his purpose might be furthered and build upon all the events and build upon all the events that have previously been associated that have previously been associated with this place with this place does he not do the same thing today does he not do the same thing today in our lives of discipleship in our lives of discipleship not only concerned with time not only concerned with time in the purpose of our lives that they in the purpose of our lives that they might do his will might do his will but also place but also place that we might be in the right place that we might be in the right place at the right time at the right time to serve him in that place to serve him in that place and perhaps to build on and perhaps to build on upon all the work that god has done upon all the work that god has done before before in that same place surely we should all in that same place surely we should all have that consciousness have that consciousness that we are called to cooperate with the that we are called to cooperate with the lord god lord god in time in time and pray and pray just as the lord jesus christ so just as the lord jesus christ so graciously did graciously did this particular point in history so the lord jesus christ comes comes to jerusalem to jerusalem but it might be fulfilled of him as the but it might be fulfilled of him as the apostle paul later declared apostle paul later declared this is a faithful saying and worthy of this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation all acceptation that christ jesus came into the world that christ jesus came into the world to save sinners and as jesus goes into the city he knows what he knows what lies ahead of him lies ahead of him he could look behind him he could look behind him and see all the way that he had and see all the way that he had come bethenny the home of martha and come bethenny the home of martha and mary mary that oasis that oasis along the final road to the cross the place of sucker and of help to our lord and of help to our lord in his final journey in his final journey he could look back further and see he could look back further and see jericho jericho the city of the palm trees the city of the palm trees the city of benjamin the city of benjamin the passage of samaria and the hills of the passage of samaria and the hills of galilee and the shimmering lakes galilee and the shimmering lakes are all but a memory now the places where the multitudes glorified the god of israel glorified the god of israel when they saw the gracious healing power when they saw the gracious healing power of god of god revealed in his revealed in his son small beginning perhaps son small beginning perhaps insignificant beginnings in the ministry insignificant beginnings in the ministry of jesus of jesus far reaching conclusion far reaching conclusion as he comes to jerusalem and these hosannas that were sounded in his ears that were sounded in his ears as he entered into the city as he entered into the city soon die away soon die away and the lord jesus christ is to be found and the lord jesus christ is to be found in a garden in a garden a small garden the garden of gethsemane a small garden the garden of gethsemane and they brought him from this garden and they brought him from this garden into the sleeping city into the sleeping city into the palace of california the lord's three adjudicators adjudicators all involved all involved in that terrible miscarriage of justice in that terrible miscarriage of justice what a revelation my dear brother what a revelation my dear brother sisters this must be to each one of us a revelation for all time for all to see that man's justice that man's justice will always miscarry will always miscarry because it reflects his own human nature because it reflects his own human nature to a greater or lesser extent the lord jesus christ is on his own there's another multitude now with him with him or alongside him or alongside him the gracious feeding of the four the gracious feeding of the four thousand thousand or the five thousand or the five thousand are all history now they've all are all history now they've all disappeared disappeared or the lame who could now walk or the lame who could now walk or the blind who could now see or the blind who could now see or the death who could now hear or the death who could now hear or even the dead who had been raised or even the dead who had been raised they're not with him perhaps there's a lesson here my dear brother and sisters brother and sisters for each one of us that perhaps for each one of us that perhaps in the end in the end your best friends your best friends your closest companions your closest companions may tend to leave you alone may tend to leave you alone [Music] [Music] if you have to choose between pleasing if you have to choose between pleasing them them [Music] [Music] and enjoying the cross and enjoying the cross of discipleship of the lord jesus christ how was it precisely that that glad expectation that that glad expectation the hosannas of what came to be known the hosannas of what came to be known later as palm sunday later as palm sunday turned into the cruel nails turned into the cruel nails of good friday surely a testimony here of good friday surely a testimony here that circumstances may change that circumstances may change that human nature never changes that human nature never changes that's the other part of our two-fold that's the other part of our two-fold foundation isn't it foundation isn't it that we mentioned in the first address that we mentioned in the first address the nature of god the nature of god and the nature of man and the nature of man alongside the cross of christ alongside the cross of christ and the preceding events and the preceding events the true nature of man the true nature of man is revealed fully for all to see is revealed fully for all to see they were given a choice they were given a choice between jesus between jesus and and the rabbit the rabbit what did they say what did they say not this man not this man that blabber that blabber that was their choice that was their choice an incomprehensible choice an incomprehensible choice if you were to view it as it were in the if you were to view it as it were in the sober light of day sober light of day a man who had led a rebellion a man who had led a rebellion a murderer a murderer a man who was already destined for a man who was already destined for crucifixion but pilate had a dilemma didn't he had to get himself out of that tight had to get himself out of that tight spot spot between between this inescapably just man he must have this inescapably just man he must have known it known it on the one hand on the one hand and the envy of the jews on the other and the envy of the jews on the other how could he extricate himself how could he extricate himself give them a choice no one is going to choose the rabbit but he was wrong what might have thought my dear brothers and sisters that and sisters that our world would have learnt from this our world would have learnt from this mistake and that things might have moved in a better direction that human nature never changes you would have thought similarly you would have thought similarly that no one in our world would ever that no one in our world would ever choose choose a man such as hitler a man such as hitler but they did but they did and they still do today and they still do today and that's the reason isn't it and that's the reason isn't it why they chose the rabbit why they chose the rabbit rather than jesus rather than jesus i think of the atrocities i think of the atrocities that hitler perpetrated that hitler perpetrated there's a museum on the outskirts of there's a museum on the outskirts of jerusalem which i'm sure jerusalem which i'm sure some of you have seen and visited some of you have seen and visited the abbasid monument in memory of the holocaust and the murder of six million jews and the murder of six million jews the hands of nazi germany the hands of nazi germany in that museum in that museum are all the evidences are all the evidences of the terrible atrocities that were of the terrible atrocities that were committed committed and it's hard to go through that museum and it's hard to go through that museum it's hard to remain unmoved it's hard to remain unmoved in the face of such desolation in the face of such desolation such suffering such suffering from such death from such death six million jews and what's not six million jews and what's not so often appreciated so often appreciated one and a half million children one and a half million children in a little coat in a little coat in their tiny shoes in their tiny shoes can be seen there can be seen there with a testimony with a testimony and a memory and a memory to those dark days at the exit to the museum there's a placard there's a placard on the wall and it bears the word on the wall and it bears the word forgetfulness leads to exile forgetfulness leads to exile remembrance remembrance is salvation is salvation and those are words my dear brothers and and those are words my dear brothers and sisters that we can remember today sisters that we can remember today it's words perhaps that the children of it's words perhaps that the children of israel throughout all their history israel throughout all their history failed to fully remember failed to fully remember but it's words that we can see with but it's words that we can see with their fuller meaning their fuller meaning in the cross of christ in the cross of christ in our memory of him in our memory of him week by week week by week in bread and wine forgetfulness in bread and wine forgetfulness leads to exile leads to exile remembrance remembrance is and salvation perhaps we've all chosen something other than jesus something other than jesus from time to time and our lord is to be from time to time and our lord is to be found alone found alone in the judgment hall in the judgment hall we've all been the rabbit's friends we've all been the rabbit's friends and deserted our lord and deserted our lord in the hour of his greatest need in the hour of his greatest need all alone and yet of course all alone and yet of course paradoxically not alone paradoxically not alone because the father was with him because the father was with him and that's something that we must and that's something that we must remember remember as we strive to follow him jesus goes to the cross and the rabbit and the rabbit is a free man just through force of is a free man just through force of circumstances circumstances in the presence of our lord and his in the presence of our lord and his destiny destiny the rabbis gains his freedom the rabbis gains his freedom and surely on a in a larger sense and and surely on a in a larger sense and with a wider perspective with a wider perspective if it were not for the lord jesus christ if it were not for the lord jesus christ we would all be bound we would all be bound to the chains of sin to the chains of sin that he brings us freedom that he brings us freedom and new life and new life in his name so as we have read in our opening reading reading they will come to the place which is they will come to the place which is called called calvary calvary there they crucified him in the there they crucified him in the malefactors one on the right hand malefactors one on the right hand and the other and the other [Music] [Music] on the left golgotha the place of the skull perhaps there was the place of the skull perhaps there was a rock or a cliff or a crag there that a rock or a cliff or a crag there that as it were in gigantic outline against as it were in gigantic outline against the sky the sky took the ominous and dreadful form took the ominous and dreadful form of a human skull there is such a crag of a human skull there is such a crag outside jerusalem today outside jerusalem today and something that may well have been and something that may well have been the place the place sandwiched between the walls of sandwiched between the walls of jerusalem and the bus station going back jerusalem and the bus station going back to the time of the british monday to the time of the british monday but there's something deeper i think in but there's something deeper i think in these words these words calling to mind our early remarks about calling to mind our early remarks about the preoccupation of god his time and the preoccupation of god his time and place place and the furtherance of his purpose and the furtherance of his purpose was not this the place where david had buried the head of goliath goliath when david when david killed this great giant of the killed this great giant of the philistines jerusalem didn't belong to philistines jerusalem didn't belong to him then him then but it did later but it did later and there they brought and there they brought this head of goliath this head of goliath as a symbol of victory as a symbol of victory the victory the victory of the tiny stone of david of the tiny stone of david over this great giant over this great giant the enemy the philistine the enemy the philistine and now as it were to continue the and now as it were to continue the purpose of god purpose of god there is another stone of david there is another stone of david the stone which the builders rejected the stone which the builders rejected about to accomplish a victory about to accomplish a victory over the great giant of sin over the great giant of sin and an even greater giant and an even greater giant just behind just behind the last enemy of death there is that simple description of the crucifixion of the crucifixion in the gospel narrative in the gospel narrative and they crucified him and they crucified him just four words no great narrative detail of all the suffering and pain that he had to endure suffering and pain that he had to endure i think perhaps we'd have to go to the i think perhaps we'd have to go to the old testament for that old testament for that as it were fill out our understanding as it were fill out our understanding perhaps we could do that now perhaps we could do that now psalm 22 psalm 22 and verse 14 and verse 14 and hear the psalmist through the and hear the psalmist through the pain of his own experience pain of his own experience looking forward in anticipation looking forward in anticipation to an even greater fulfillment to an even greater fulfillment of these words of these words psalm 22 psalm 22 and verse 19. verse 14 rather i am poured out like water and all my i am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joints bones are out of joints my heart is like wax it is melted in the my heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels midst of my bowels my strength is dried up like a pot shirt my strength is dried up like a pot shirt and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws and and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws and that has brought me into the dust of that has brought me into the dust of death for dogs have compassed me death for dogs have compassed me the assembly of the wicked have enclosed the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me me they pierced my hands and my feet they pierced my hands and my feet i may tell all my bones they look and i may tell all my bones they look and stare upon me stare upon me they part my garments among them they part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture and cast lots upon my vesture [Music] [Music] but be not thou far from me o lord but be not thou far from me o lord and my strength and my strength hasty hasty to help me alone to help me alone and yet not alone and yet not alone [Music] [Music] because the lord god was with his son because the lord god was with his son to sustain him to sustain him in the hour of his greatest need in the hour of his greatest need for again isaiah chapter 53 for again isaiah chapter 53 a well-known word of the prophet isaiah 53 and verse 3 is despised and rejected of men is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief grief and we hid it where our face is from him and we hid it where our face is from him he was despised and we esteemed him not he was despised and we esteemed him not verse 6 all we like sheep have gone verse 6 all we like sheep have gone astray we have turned everyone to his astray we have turned everyone to his own way own way and the lord hath laid on him the and the lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all he was oppressed and iniquity of us all he was oppressed and he was afflicted he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth yet he opened not his mouth he has broughted a lamb to the slaughter he has broughted a lamb to the slaughter and the sheep before her shears is done and the sheep before her shears is done so he openeth not so he openeth not his mouth his mouth and and they they crucified him crucified him and the malefactor and the malefactor so the scripture was fulfilled so the scripture was fulfilled he was numbered he was numbered with the transgressor and the attitude of mind of the lord jesus jesus that his crucifixion i think is very that his crucifixion i think is very revealing to those who railed upon him jesus said jesus said father father forgive them forgive them [Music] [Music] for they know not for they know not what they do what they do it is parallel and complementary to it is parallel and complementary to those earlier words that he spoke those earlier words that he spoke at the beginning of his ministry at the beginning of his ministry in what we might call his manifesto in what we might call his manifesto [Music] [Music] for the people of israel in the sermon for the people of israel in the sermon on the mount on the mount i say unto you i say unto you love your enemies bless them that curse love your enemies bless them that curse you you do good to them that hate you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use and pray for them which despitefully use you you and persecute you and persecute you that you may be the children of your that you may be the children of your father father which is in which is in heaven so our lord my dear brothers and heaven so our lord my dear brothers and sisters was no clinical theory sisters was no clinical theory giving advice giving advice and excitation and excitation in isolation in isolation he fulfilled the truth of those words to he fulfilled the truth of those words to the greatest extent the greatest extent in his own life in his own life the greatest mirror the greatest mirror and example of that principle and example of that principle for all to see for all to see love your enemies love your enemies do good to them that hate you do good to them that hate you father forgive them father forgive them for they know not what they do for they know not what they do so he was not only son of god by birth so he was not only son of god by birth he also proved to be son of god by he also proved to be son of god by submission submission to his father's will to his father's will that ye may be the children of your that ye may be the children of your father father which is in heaven which is in heaven and as our example my dear brothers and and as our example my dear brothers and sisters he calls each one of us sisters he calls each one of us to bear out in our lives to bear out in our lives the same principle the same principle that we may truly be sons and daughters that we may truly be sons and daughters of god they came to watch him die sitting down they watched hinder sitting down they watched hinder the chief priest with the scribes and the chief priest with the scribes and elders mocked him elders mocked him they that passed by they that passed by reviled him reviled him what a tragedy it was what a revelation what a tragedy it was what a revelation of the depths of sin of the depths of sin in human nature in human nature to come before the son of god in his to come before the son of god in his agony agony upon his cross upon his cross and revile him he saved others take that take that let him save himself let him save himself if he be the christ if he be the christ the chosen of god the chosen of god very interesting those were don't they very interesting those were don't they reveals first of all that reveals first of all that they didn't really understand the they didn't really understand the significance of what was being significance of what was being accomplished that there was never any possibility of him saving others of him saving others by saving himself it was the other way by saving himself it was the other way around around he could only save others he could only save others by dying himself but at the same time there is truth in those words from their point of view those words from their point of view in the very in the very on the very lips of the enemies of the on the very lips of the enemies of the lord jesus lord jesus there is the supreme confession of truth there is the supreme confession of truth about him about him he saved he saved others they said it was all true others they said it was all true they are bearing testimony they are bearing testimony to the truth to the truth of all the events in his ministry of all the events in his ministry the blind to see the death to here and the blind to see the death to here and the lane to walk and even the dead have the lane to walk and even the dead have been raised they did it on another occasion didn't they they inadvertently inadvertently reveal the truth about him reveal the truth about him in an accusatory way in an accusatory way you receive us sinners you receive us sinners and eat us with them and eat us with them each of us here today each of us here today can be eternally grateful that he did can be eternally grateful that he did just that just that receive sinners receive sinners such as ourselves such as ourselves and eat with them if you were to have any doubt my dear brothers and sisters brothers and sisters about this man and the central place of his cross and the power of the gospel of salvation those doubts should go i think those doubts should go i think in the light of this testimony in the light of this testimony for those who would count themselves the for those who would count themselves the enemies of jesus that even they had to enemies of jesus that even they had to confess confess the truth about him and upon his cross there was the title written jesus of there was the title written jesus of nazareth nazareth the king of the jew the king of the jew they wanted it changing didn't they they wanted it changing didn't they so he said he was the king of the jews so he said he was the king of the jews but pilate takes a stand on this what i but pilate takes a stand on this what i have written i have written pilate in a sense was a weak man wasn't he he there must have been a greater power there must have been a greater power than pilate behind the writing of these than pilate behind the writing of these words words it was the power of the lord god himself jesus of nazareth the king of the jew and then we come to the two thieves the one on the right hand the one on the right hand and the other on the left and the other on the left luke chapter luke chapter 23 verse 39 one of the malefactors which were hanged one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him saying if thou be christ railed on him saying if thou be christ save thyself and uh save thyself and uh but the other answering rebuked him but the other answering rebuked him saying does not thou fear god seeing no saying does not thou fear god seeing no art in the same condemnation art in the same condemnation and we indeed justly and we indeed justly for we receive the jew reward of our for we receive the jew reward of our deeds deeds that this man hath done nothing of me that this man hath done nothing of me and he said unto jesus and he said unto jesus lord remember me when thou cometh lord remember me when thou cometh into thy kingdom into thy kingdom and jesus said unto him and jesus said unto him verily i say unto thee verily i say unto thee today today shalt thou be with me shalt thou be with me in paradise in paradise difficult words my dear brothers and difficult words my dear brothers and sisters sisters easy to pass by easy to pass by but perhaps we ought to say something but perhaps we ought to say something about them about them first of all all discussions as to first of all all discussions as to whether the thief on the cross whether the thief on the cross was baptized or not was baptized or not should surely pale into insignificance should surely pale into insignificance when we realize what is being when we realize what is being accomplished here accomplished here the lord upon his cross and the thief upon his cross also also being literally crucified being literally crucified with the lord jesus christ with the lord jesus christ fulfilling in reality fulfilling in reality what we through the waters of baptism what we through the waters of baptism may with the blessing of god may with the blessing of god replicate in symbol replicate in symbol we are crucified we are crucified with christ and rise to newness of life with christ and rise to newness of life in his name in his name this thief my dear brothers and sisters this thief my dear brothers and sisters had to endure had to endure what you and i in the mercy and grace of what you and i in the mercy and grace of god god have been fair such a consideration as to whether he was baptized or not is as to whether he was baptized or not is in a sense in a sense to miss the point isn't it to miss the point isn't it at the fullness of meaning of what at the fullness of meaning of what baptism represents so perhaps we can understand that in faith that in faith and in submission to god and in submission to god and acceptance of the lord jesus christ and acceptance of the lord jesus christ upon the cross upon the cross the once for all sacrifice the once for all sacrifice here was the basis here was the basis for his salvation so perhaps we can understand that in faith that in faith and in submission to god and acceptance and in submission to god and acceptance of the lord jesus christ upon the cross of the lord jesus christ upon the cross the once for all sacrifice the once for all sacrifice here was the basis here was the basis for his salvation for his salvation but what did jesus mean by but what did jesus mean by today today shall they be with me shall they be with me in paradise in paradise well perhaps well perhaps a comma can be put in the right place a comma can be put in the right place or you can give it a certain mobility or you can give it a certain mobility and move it to whichever place you think and move it to whichever place you think is most appropriate is most appropriate but is there not a deeper meaning but is there not a deeper meaning in these words here thinking once again how god was so preoccupied preoccupied with time with time and place and place and the furtherance of his purpose and the furtherance of his purpose to go back to previous places in their to go back to previous places in their association and bring them forward in time for further fulfillment for further fulfillment it is yet to be consummated in the it is yet to be consummated in the future so think of the garden of eden the tree of knowledge of good and evil adam and eve were put out of the garden the disobedience the disobedience to the divine will to the divine will and the caribbean were placed at the and the caribbean were placed at the entrance entrance to guard and to preserve to guard and to preserve the way to the tree of the way to the tree of life and now there has just been another life and now there has just been another garden garden the garden of gethsemane the garden of gethsemane and jesus has come out of that garden and jesus has come out of that garden to do the father's will so in essence he's not the lord jesus christ christ reopening the way reopening the way to the tree of life so that what was to the tree of life so that what was lost by the first adam lost by the first adam harmony in relationship to god in the harmony in relationship to god in the garden of eden garden of eden is now to be regained by the last adder is now to be regained by the last adder that paradise that was lost that paradise that was lost is now to be regained is now to be regained by his sacrifice upon the cross so that eventually it might be fulfilled as described in it might be fulfilled as described in the book of revelation the book of revelation to him that overcometh will i give to to him that overcometh will i give to eat of the tree of life eat of the tree of life which is in the midst which is in the midst of the paradise of god of the paradise of god so in these words my dear brothers and so in these words my dear brothers and sisters sisters i think we have as it were i think we have as it were the microcosmic significance the microcosmic significance of the purpose of god of the purpose of god that d-day has now been fulfilled that d-day has now been fulfilled in jesus sacrifice upon the cross in jesus sacrifice upon the cross all the ingredients are there all the ingredients are there for the consummation for the consummation at veda at veda his return his return in the establishment of the kingdom of in the establishment of the kingdom of god as good as fulfilled fulfilled because of his faithfulness because of his faithfulness even unto death verse 46 and when jesus had cried with a loud voice and said loud voice and said father into thy hands i commend my father into thy hands i commend my spirit spirit and having said that he gave up the spirit this was a supreme pattern this was a supreme pattern for obedience and commitment to god for obedience and commitment to god a full revelation of his trust a full revelation of his trust and his loyalty and his loyalty and just as this was the pattern and just as this was the pattern for the closing words of stephen's for the closing words of stephen's prayer prayer so my dear brothers and sisters may not so my dear brothers and sisters may not be be the closing words the closing words of our prayer of our prayer when our course is done when our course is done to follow faithfully to follow faithfully in the footsteps of the lord jesus in the footsteps of the lord jesus christ himself now no consideration of the cross of jesus and his death jesus and his death is complete is complete without a brief mention of his without a brief mention of his resurrection they came to the tomb we read we read and i suppose to go to a graveyard and i suppose to go to a graveyard to a cemetery at any time to a cemetery at any time is a sobering experience is a sobering experience you see the graves that are overgrown those perhaps who died long ago [Music] [Music] memories of them are forgotten memories of them are forgotten and there are other grey and there are other grey with a fresh flower with a fresh flower an indication that the memory of them is an indication that the memory of them is still alive still alive someone remembers that someone remembers that so it was i think with the so it was i think with the tomb of the lord jesus and the women coming to that too springing as it were in spirit springing as it were in spirit a fresh flower a fresh flower in memory of the lord jesus and as they were afraid and bowed down their faces to the earth their faces to the earth the angel said unto them the angel said unto them why seek ye the living why seek ye the living among the dead jesus had said after i am among the dead jesus had said after i am risen again i will go before you into risen again i will go before you into galilee galilee there shall ye see me there shall ye see me they were looking in the place of death they were looking in the place of death they should have been looking in the they should have been looking in the place of life place of life how appropriate it was that it should be how appropriate it was that it should be galilee galilee not the mountaintop not the mountaintop the place of prayer the place of prayer not gethsemane not gethsemane the place of conflict the place of conflict and suffering and suffering and obedience to the father's will and obedience to the father's will but the place of galilee but the place of galilee the place of daily activity and daily the place of daily activity and daily worth worth where there had been that earlier where there had been that earlier interest interest and acceptance in the message that he and acceptance in the message that he brought in ordinary things are now going brought in ordinary things are now going to be transformed by the presence of the to be transformed by the presence of the risen law risen law a breakfast upon the seashore those a breakfast upon the seashore those disciples who disciples who ate with the lord jesus would never be ate with the lord jesus would never be the same again would the same again would [Music] [Music] after that incident it would live with after that incident it would live with them in their minds them in their minds for the rest of their lives but one man thomas that sturdy-minded empiricist did thomas that sturdy-minded empiricist did not initially believe not initially believe except i shall see in his hands the except i shall see in his hands the print of the nail print of the nail i will not believe i will not believe then came jesus then came jesus the doors being shut the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said and stood in the midst and said peace peace be unto you what is john telling us my be unto you what is john telling us my dear brothers and sisters dear brothers and sisters in this record he's surely telling us in this record he's surely telling us that there are greater things for faith that there are greater things for faith to see to see than merely the marks of the past than merely the marks of the past because in the end they only led you to because in the end they only led you to the foot of the cross the foot of the cross and he was now beyond all that and he was now beyond all that he was raised from the dead he was raised from the dead and alive forevermore and alive forevermore jesus said thomas jesus said thomas because thou hast seen me they have because thou hast seen me they have believed believed blessed are they that have not seen blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed think for a moment sisters sisters of the women of the women who companied with the lord jesus who companied with the lord jesus who stood before his cross who stood before his cross he came to his two they could surely enter into his suffering suffering in a way which the lord's brethren could in a way which the lord's brethren could not not stay surely above all others stay surely above all others knew what it meant knew what it meant to lose a friend and gain a savior they lost him for a time and perhaps even today some of our sisters know what it is some of our sisters know what it is have to lose a friend have to lose a friend to retain the savior to retain the savior they know what it is they know what it is to enter into the pain and anguish of to enter into the pain and anguish of loyalty to him loyalty to him to sacrifice all in this world to sacrifice all in this world in order to be with their lord at the in order to be with their lord at the last they have that capacity to enter into the pain to enter into the pain and anguish and anguish and suffering of our lord and because of and suffering of our lord and because of that that we're able to minister to him we're able to minister to him to help him to help him and to sustain him all his disciples forsook him and fled and fled no endurance at the first sign of hardship and suffering suffering they went away but for the women there was that constancy constancy consistency consistency and faithfulness and faithfulness great lesson there my dear sisters great lesson there my dear sisters a great encouragement a great encouragement and a great inspiration and so our lord was identified with us identified with us was made like unto his brethren was made like unto his brethren he was in all points he was in all points tempted like as we are tempted like as we are he was made of a woman he was made of a woman he was made under the law he was made under the law he's made unto us wisdom righteousness he's made unto us wisdom righteousness sanctification sanctification and redemption and redemption so that we might be in him christ in you so that we might be in him christ in you the apostle paul said the apostle paul said the hope of glory so by way of conclusion what are we to say say to these things i think we can say three things firstly my dear brother and sisters firstly my dear brother and sisters we ought to be deeply thankful we ought to be deeply thankful for the salvation that has been revealed for the salvation that has been revealed to us to us the way to the cross for the lord jesus the way to the cross for the lord jesus led through death led through death to life again to life again [Music] [Music] galilee galilee to golgotha to golgotha and back to galilee and back to galilee and to remember and to remember that if we be dead with him that if we be dead with him we shall also live with him we shall also live with him we are either on the right side of the we are either on the right side of the cross of jesus cross of jesus in humility in humility and in faith and in self-abasement and in faith and in self-abasement lord remember me when now cometh lord remember me when now cometh into thy kingdom or on the other side railing upon him railing upon him for all the woes of sin for all the woes of sin it's one or the other it's one or the other in the end and secondly ordinary things for us can be ordinary things for us can be transformed transformed by an awareness of the resurrection of by an awareness of the resurrection of the lord jesus christ the lord jesus christ that in him there is new life new hope that in him there is new life new hope new prospects new prospects new joy new joy a new significance the daily task may never should never may never should never be seen be seen as a dead end as a dead end as a drudgery as a drudgery to be endured to be endured because of our calling because of our calling they are never fruitless my dear they are never fruitless my dear brothers and sisters they are never brothers and sisters they are never empty empty they are never worthless they are never worthless because they are all capable of being because they are all capable of being transformed transformed by this vision of hope by this vision of hope which the resurrection of the lord jesus which the resurrection of the lord jesus christ gives to each one of us that was christ gives to each one of us that was the conclusion wasn't it of his great the conclusion wasn't it of his great exhortation in coincidence for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain is not in vain in the law in the law and thirdly and thirdly what happened on calvary's hill what happened on calvary's hill has a perpetual and an eternal has a perpetual and an eternal significance significance considered earlier the shadow of the considered earlier the shadow of the cross cross going right back going right back to the very beginning of things and we to the very beginning of things and we saw saw the light on the other side the light on the other side going forward to the confirmation of the going forward to the confirmation of the purpose of god and so it is purpose of god and so it is that the book of revelation looks to the that the book of revelation looks to the future future in these terms the lamb of god slain in these terms the lamb of god slain from the foundation of the world from the foundation of the world i looked and lo a lamb stood on mount i looked and lo a lamb stood on mount zion zion the lamb of god the lamb of god which taketh away which taketh away the sin of the world and so the work of christ should be for us comprehended should be for us comprehended in all these terms that the writers of the epistles used to bring out the fullness of used to bring out the fullness of meaning meaning associated with his death associated with his death that the death of christ that the death of christ is as generous a gift is as generous a gift as the ransom of slaves could be as the ransom of slaves could be that it saves us from our sins that it saves us from our sins and can therefore be said to provide and can therefore be said to provide what we ourselves are absolutely what we ourselves are absolutely incapable incapable of providing of providing it offers us a way of deliverance it offers us a way of deliverance and so resembles the willingness and so resembles the willingness the loyalty the loyalty the self-sacrifice the self-sacrifice of a shepherd of a shepherd who's prepared to give his life for the who's prepared to give his life for the flock it provides for righteousness and holiness because our sins are inerraicable it's left to themselves it's left to themselves and it can be understood as a sprinkling and it can be understood as a sprinkling and a washing and a washing associated with the lord jesus associated with the lord jesus and his sacrifice are all the things and his sacrifice are all the things of the new covenant the better hope of the new covenant the better hope better promises better sacrifices better promises better sacrifices a more enduring substance and even a more enduring substance and even a better resurrection a better resurrection behold the lamb of god behold the lamb of god which taketh away the sin of the world which taketh away the sin of the world to truly behold him to truly behold him is to seek to be identified with him they told me he was risen so i left my quiet house and climbed the so i left my quiet house and climbed the hill hill i found the garden as they said i found the garden as they said beset with trees beset with trees and there the empty two and there the empty two the stone was rolled away just as they the stone was rolled away just as they told me told me i looked within and saw the folded cove i looked within and saw the folded cove but there was nothing more but there was nothing more no broken body no broken body no risen lord no risen lord and so i came away and so i came away [Music] [Music] back to my quiet house whom do you seek sir at my silent door at my silent door what does that require of me

Transcript

today my dear beloved brother and sisters sisters we come as it were to the most difficult we come as it were to the most difficult part part of our subject of our subject and i hope that in the analysis we are and i hope that in the analysis we are to pursue to pursue we don't lose sight of some of the we don't lose sight of some of the simplicities simplicities of our faith of our faith and i think perhaps the last verse and i think perhaps the last verse in the hymn that we have just sung in the hymn that we have just sung presents the simplicity in the end presents the simplicity in the end of our appropriation of the work of of our appropriation of the work of christ christ then to life i turn again learning all then to life i turn again learning all the worth of pain the worth of pain learning all the might that lies in a learning all the might that lies in a full full self-sacrifice self-sacrifice and i'm sure each of us my dear brothers and i'm sure each of us my dear brothers and sisters when we sang those words and sisters when we sang those words appreciated that there was more than appreciated that there was more than just head knowledge just head knowledge in the understanding of the term in the understanding of the term learning learning it's not just the analysis is it of the it's not just the analysis is it of the word of god word of god in the end in the end it's our appropriation of these things it's our appropriation of these things are entering into the experience of the are entering into the experience of the lord jesus our application of these lord jesus our application of these principles in our own lives principles in our own lives today i'd like to look today i'd like to look at our relationship at our relationship to the atoning work of christ to the atoning work of christ in terms of the appropriation in terms of the appropriation and seek to analyze and seek to analyze how that work comes to us how that work comes to us and then secondly and then secondly by application so there are really two by application so there are really two parts parts understanding the theory understanding the theory the mechanism if you like the mechanism if you like and secondly understanding and secondly understanding the practice the practice and you probably have already got that and you probably have already got that message from the synopsis in front of message from the synopsis in front of you you as it seems to me theory and practice as it seems to me theory and practice must go hand in hand must go hand in hand although of course the theory the although of course the theory the expositional basis must be the expositional basis must be the foundation foundation for our life in christ now there are a number of passages in the new testament in particular in the new testament in particular which i think focus our minds which i think focus our minds on the means by which the sacrifice of on the means by which the sacrifice of christ christ is available to us is available to us if perhaps i might just select three of if perhaps i might just select three of them don't turn to them just yet them don't turn to them just yet romans chapter 3 romans chapter 3 and verse 25 and verse 25 galatians 3 and verse 13 and 2 galatians 3 and verse 13 and 2 corinthians 5 corinthians 5 21 i'll just read these to you 21 i'll just read these to you you don't need to turn to them just yet you don't need to turn to them just yet whom god hath set forth to be a whom god hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of god through the forbearance of god galatians 3 and verse 13 galatians 3 and verse 13 christ hath redeemed us from the curse christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law of the law being made a curse for us being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is everyone for it is written cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree that hangeth on a tree that the blessing of abraham might come that the blessing of abraham might come on the gentiles through jesus christ on the gentiles through jesus christ and 2 corinthians 5 21 and 2 corinthians 5 21 for he hath made him to be sin for us for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness that we might be made the righteousness of god of god in him in him now these are three passages my dear now these are three passages my dear brothers and sisters which as it seems brothers and sisters which as it seems to me to me focus our attention upon the very heart focus our attention upon the very heart of our subject as far as the of our subject as far as the expositional basis is concerned expositional basis is concerned and i think perhaps although there are and i think perhaps although there are difficulties in romans chapter three difficulties in romans chapter three that's the easiest of all the three that's the easiest of all the three passages passages and i think perhaps our understanding of and i think perhaps our understanding of the term to be a propitiation the term to be a propitiation through faith in his blood is best through faith in his blood is best understood in terms of the old testament understood in terms of the old testament preparation through the laws and preparation through the laws and ordinances that were there prescribed ordinances that were there prescribed those old testament ordinances fill out those old testament ordinances fill out our understanding of what paul meant our understanding of what paul meant he's directing our attention is he not he's directing our attention is he not to the mercy seat to the mercy seat there it was where god met with men and there it was where god met with men and so it is with the lord jesus christ so it is with the lord jesus christ so with your permission i'd like to so with your permission i'd like to concentrate on the second two of our concentrate on the second two of our three passages three passages these i think are perhaps the most these i think are perhaps the most difficult of all the passages in the new difficult of all the passages in the new testament which speak of the atoning testament which speak of the atoning work of the lord jesus christ work of the lord jesus christ and so if we go perhaps where the and so if we go perhaps where the difficulties are greatest if we can difficulties are greatest if we can solve those solve those we may find the greatest hell now those last two passages i just read present the following picture that present the following picture that christ became a curse christ became a curse in order to that a blessing might come in order to that a blessing might come to others to others christ was made sin christ was made sin in order that we might become the in order that we might become the righteousness of god righteousness of god in him in him now immediately my dear belonging now immediately my dear belonging sisters we're face to face sisters we're face to face with difficult principles for example with difficult principles for example are these words to be understood are these words to be understood literally literally or are they to be understood figured or are they to be understood figured figuratively figuratively surely paul cannot mean surely paul cannot mean christ became a curse christ became a curse the noun there must be taken as an the noun there must be taken as an adjective adjective and the statement then means christ came and the statement then means christ came under a curse under a curse as perhaps the septuagint of deuteronomy as perhaps the septuagint of deuteronomy 21 verse 23 suggests 21 verse 23 suggests that that is to say the curse of god that that is to say the curse of god rather than an insult to god but even this consideration this observation does not really help us with observation does not really help us with the third passage the third passage we cannot replace noun with adjective we cannot replace noun with adjective here here because if we do we get christ was made because if we do we get christ was made sinful sinful and which of us and which of us would say that that was true it's would say that that was true it's clearly untenable clearly untenable so we then ask the question does the so we then ask the question does the term there does the term sin there term there does the term sin there convey the association of sin offering convey the association of sin offering well there are two places in leviticus well there are two places in leviticus where the term does have this sense and where the term does have this sense and i need to turn them up leviticus 4 25 i need to turn them up leviticus 4 25 and 5 12. and 5 12. but nowhere else in the new testament is but nowhere else in the new testament is the word used in this sense we have to the word used in this sense we have to ask ourselves the question would paul ask ourselves the question would paul have used have used one word the word sin one word the word sin twice in the same sentence as he does in twice in the same sentence as he does in two corinthians five with different two corinthians five with different meanings meanings or different associations it seems or different associations it seems difficult to think so difficult to think so it's very clear though isn't it it's very clear though isn't it that the term that the term to be sin stands in opposition to be sin stands in opposition to the terms become the righteousness to the terms become the righteousness of god of god so that's just a brief introduction so that's just a brief introduction to those two passages to those two passages i'd like now to look at each of them i'd like now to look at each of them in more detail so let's first look at in more detail so let's first look at galatians chapter 3 and verse 13. i suppose to understand the fullness of i suppose to understand the fullness of meaning meaning in any of these critical passages in any of these critical passages we must pay due attention to the context we must pay due attention to the context the context here as we all know well the context here as we all know well is paul's message to the circumcisers is paul's message to the circumcisers who have failed to comprehend the who have failed to comprehend the significance of the cross significance of the cross or if not directly to the circumcisers or if not directly to the circumcisers to the influence that they were having to the influence that they were having in the ecclesias of galatia in the ecclesias of galatia we know during the development of the we know during the development of the first century clears there was that first century clears there was that tendency to retreat back to the tendency to retreat back to the synagogue to go back to the familiar synagogue to go back to the familiar things the traditional things to be things the traditional things to be circumcised and to keep the law of moses circumcised and to keep the law of moses but although but although god's once for all sacrifice had been god's once for all sacrifice had been revealed in the lord jesus christ revealed in the lord jesus christ there had been that tragic tendency there had been that tragic tendency to lose to lose the importance of that the importance of that and to retreat and to retreat to the former things to the former things now paul on a number of occasions has to now paul on a number of occasions has to remind his brethren sisters about the remind his brethren sisters about the decisive nature of god's revelation in decisive nature of god's revelation in christ christ and how and how a proper understanding a full a proper understanding a full understanding of god's work throughout understanding of god's work throughout history can only be understood in the history can only be understood in the light of this supreme revelation light of this supreme revelation as well as letter to the galatians as well as letter to the galatians that's another good example i think in that's another good example i think in perhaps rather different context in a perhaps rather different context in a letter to the romans letter to the romans chapter 4 i think presents the picture chapter 4 i think presents the picture of the argument where paul says in of the argument where paul says in effect effect if you're going to have a watershed in if you're going to have a watershed in history history you have to go further back you have to go further back than than the laws of god revealed at sinai eye the laws of god revealed at sinai eye because that of course was the always because that of course was the always the focal point to which the jew's the focal point to which the jew's attention returned attention returned paul said you have to go further back paul said you have to go further back than that than that you have to go back to the promises you have to go back to the promises given to abraham given to abraham they were potentially universal were they were potentially universal were they not they not given even before he was circumcised given even before he was circumcised so there was a priority there asserted so there was a priority there asserted by the apostle paul that faith by the apostle paul that faith came before law and those promises were supremely revealed and fulfilled in were supremely revealed and fulfilled in the lord jesus christ the lord jesus christ so if there were two priorities then the so if there were two priorities then the lesser priority had to give way to the lesser priority had to give way to the greater and so it was with law greater and so it was with law and grace and grace and paul's argument in galatians chapter and paul's argument in galatians chapter 3 is of a very similar nature 3 is of a very similar nature here there were those who had failed to here there were those who had failed to comprehend the full significance of the comprehend the full significance of the cross cross paul asserts that the true sons of paul asserts that the true sons of abraham abraham are not those who accept the are not those who accept the circumcision of the flesh and keep the circumcision of the flesh and keep the law but rather those who share abraham's law but rather those who share abraham's faith verse 8 faith verse 8 in thee in thee shall all nations shall all nations be blessed and those who fail to keep the law cursed is every one that continueth not cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the in all things which are written in the book of the law book of the law to do them to do them verse 10 verse 10 for that no man is justified by the law for that no man is justified by the law in the sight of god it is evident for in the sight of god it is evident for the just shall live by faith and that's the just shall live by faith and that's another strand isn't it another strand isn't it that's taken up from the old testament that's taken up from the old testament that as it were was of a greater that as it were was of a greater priority than the law through moses priority than the law through moses the words of habakkuk the words of habakkuk prophet habakkuk the just shall live by prophet habakkuk the just shall live by faith taken up i think three times in faith taken up i think three times in the new testament in a rather different the new testament in a rather different situation each time it would situation each time it would take too much time to explore the take too much time to explore the subtleties of meaning there but subtleties of meaning there but i think the essential primary meaning is i think the essential primary meaning is quite evident quite evident it is righteousness by faith which paul it is righteousness by faith which paul is setting before that now the result of all this is rather a paradox it is fulfillment paradox it is fulfillment on the one hand god's purpose moving to on the one hand god's purpose moving to its focus in the lord jesus christ its its focus in the lord jesus christ its fulfillment and it is annulment fulfillment and it is annulment fulfillment of the blessing to the fulfillment of the blessing to the gentiles and annulment of the curse on gentiles and annulment of the curse on the jew under the law the jew under the law there is now neither jew there is now neither jew nor greek and this is represented in the cross the cross demonstrates that christ the cross demonstrates that christ himself has now come under the curse himself has now come under the curse from which the jews have been set free from which the jews have been set free christ christ is identified is identified with the condition of man with the condition of man now we know that the exposure of a now we know that the exposure of a criminal's body on the stake under the criminal's body on the stake under the law was the public display law was the public display of one on whom the curse of god of one on whom the curse of god already rested already rested because of his failure because of his failure to keep to keep that law our next question i think is well exactly how are the jews set free exactly how are the jews set free how does the blessing come to the how does the blessing come to the gentiles what is gentiles what is the mechanism i think the closest we can the mechanism i think the closest we can get to answering this question get to answering this question are the well-known words towards the end are the well-known words towards the end of the chapter of the chapter verse 25 verse 25 after that faith is come we are no after that faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster longer under a schoolmaster we are all the children of god by faith we are all the children of god by faith in christ jesus in christ jesus for as many of you as have been baptized for as many of you as have been baptized into christ have put on christ there is into christ have put on christ there is neither jew nor greek there is neither neither jew nor greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor bond nor free there is neither male nor female we are all one in christ jesus female we are all one in christ jesus and if you be christ then are you and if you be christ then are you abraham's seed and heirs according to abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise the promise now we use these words my dear brother now we use these words my dear brother and sisters in our public lectures and sisters in our public lectures to assert the importance of baptism and to assert the importance of baptism and the way this relates us to the promises the way this relates us to the promises through the sacrifice of christ through the sacrifice of christ and that is true and that is important and that is true and that is important but what i'm suggesting to you here is but what i'm suggesting to you here is as as it were a further dimension of as as it were a further dimension of meaning to those words when understood meaning to those words when understood fully in the light of the previous fully in the light of the previous verses verses from a curse the early part of the from a curse the early part of the chapter has now come blessing chapter has now come blessing there has been the annulment of the there has been the annulment of the curse curse and there has now been the fulfillment and there has now been the fulfillment of the blessing in christ jesus of the blessing in christ jesus now the number of parallels to this kind now the number of parallels to this kind of idea in the gospels of idea in the gospels for example jesus touches those or is for example jesus touches those or is touched by others who according to touched by others who according to jewish law were unclean jewish law were unclean theoretically he should have been made theoretically he should have been made unclean also unclean also but instead but instead it is abundantly clear it is abundantly clear that he overcomes the power of that he overcomes the power of defilement defilement and makes those whom he touches free and makes those whom he touches free from all from all uncleanness uncleanness i'm not going to look at any examples of i'm not going to look at any examples of that but i'll just give you one that but i'll just give you one reference mark chapter 1 verses 40 reference mark chapter 1 verses 40 to 45. a similar contrast a similar picture a similar picture occurs in first corinthians chapter one occurs in first corinthians chapter one which we've already looked at which we've already looked at i'm just reminding you of it i'm just reminding you of it paul there is arguing paul there is arguing against those whose understanding of the against those whose understanding of the cross is emptying it of its true cross is emptying it of its true significance significance the crucified christ the crucified christ is is a folly which is wiser than human is is a folly which is wiser than human wisdom wisdom and a weakness which is stronger than and a weakness which is stronger than human strength human strength the preaching of the cross is to them the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us that perish foolishness but unto us which are saved it is the power of god which are saved it is the power of god the jews require a sign and the greeks the jews require a sign and the greeks seek after wisdom but we preach christ seek after wisdom but we preach christ crucified unto the jews a stumbling crucified unto the jews a stumbling block and unto the greeks foolishness block and unto the greeks foolishness but unto them which are called both jews but unto them which are called both jews and greeks christ the power of god and and greeks christ the power of god and the wisdom of god the wisdom of god then later on then later on he reveals to us that fundamental he reveals to us that fundamental principle principle by which by which christ and the qualities of christ are christ and the qualities of christ are revealed to us revealed to us christ jesus who of god is made unto us christ jesus who of god is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and wisdom and righteousness and sanctification sanctification and redemption so in a sense in both corinthians and galatians galatians paul points out the offence of the cross paul points out the offence of the cross but in neither place but in neither place at least in the context of the immediate at least in the context of the immediate chapters does he mention chapters does he mention the resurrection the resurrection and i think the reason is that it was so and i think the reason is that it was so obvious obvious how folly and weakness had been changed how folly and weakness had been changed into wisdom and strength into wisdom and strength both figuratively both figuratively and literally and literally it was in the offering of his body it was in the offering of his body on the tree and so the prime result of the cross is the opportunity for a sharing is the opportunity for a sharing in the sacrifice of christ in the sacrifice of christ galatians chapter 2 galatians chapter 2 and verse and verse 20 20 i am crucified with christ nevertheless i am crucified with christ nevertheless i live i live yet not i but christ liveth in me yet not i but christ liveth in me and the life which i now live in the and the life which i now live in the flesh i live by the faith of the son of flesh i live by the faith of the son of god who loved me god who loved me and gave himself and gave himself for me and the means by which we enter into this life of christ is by baptism into this life of christ is by baptism into him that's the verse we've already read him that's the verse we've already read at the end of chapter three at the end of chapter three and so the process of putting on christ and so the process of putting on christ of being one man in christ jesus of being one man in christ jesus by that process we are able to inherit by that process we are able to inherit the promise first made the promise first made to to abraham or to put it another way abraham or to put it another way galatians chapter 3 galatians chapter 3 and verse 13 and verse 13 is according to this understanding is according to this understanding not a simple exchange not a simple exchange jesus does not take what was due to us jesus does not take what was due to us and we receive what should have been due and we receive what should have been due to him to him for his obedience during life and for his obedience during life and faithfulness even unto death faithfulness even unto death rather rather the picture is that he entered into our the picture is that he entered into our experience experience so that so that through his sacrifice through his sacrifice we might be able to enter into his we might be able to enter into his by sharing in his resurrection by sharing in his resurrection that i think is the implications of the that i think is the implications of the words in galatians 2 verse 20 words in galatians 2 verse 20 when carried to their logical conclusion when carried to their logical conclusion it's not just a dead christ in the end it's not just a dead christ in the end with which the apostle paul is with which the apostle paul is associated it's the risen christ isn't associated it's the risen christ isn't it who is head of the body the ecclesia it who is head of the body the ecclesia so the lord jesus christ entered fully so the lord jesus christ entered fully into our situation into our experiences into our situation into our experiences god sent forth his son made of a woman god sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law made under the law with what results with what results chapter 4 and verse 5 chapter 4 and verse 5 to redeem them that were under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive that we might receive the adoption of sons the adoption of sons and because you are sons god hath sent and because you are sons god hath sent forth the spirit of his son forth the spirit of his son into your hearts into your hearts so there's a certain so there's a certain parallelism of idea there parallelism of idea there in verses four to five in verses four to five of galatians four of galatians four and i think this parallelism is similar and i think this parallelism is similar to that in galatians 3. to that in galatians 3. jesus shares our experience in order jesus shares our experience in order that we may share his that we may share his he came under the law he came under the law to set free those that were then under to set free those that were then under the law the law and the result and the result is sonship is sonship not of abraham as perhaps you might have not of abraham as perhaps you might have expected expected but rather of god himself but rather of god himself the son of god was born of a woman in the son of god was born of a woman in order that those who are born of woman order that those who are born of woman might become might become true sons of god true sons of god jesus shares our state in order that we jesus shares our state in order that we might share his might share his but once again it's not a simple but once again it's not a simple exchange is it exchange is it the end point of the roles of jesus and the end point of the roles of jesus and of ourselves is not exchanged of ourselves is not exchanged christ does not cease to be son of god christ does not cease to be son of god and we receive the salvation and we receive the salvation wrought wrought by the sun by the sun it's interesting to notice how that in it's interesting to notice how that in some of the epistles the lord jesus some of the epistles the lord jesus christ even then christ even then resurrected ascended elevated his resurrected ascended elevated his father's right hand father's right hand is still regarded as being subordinate is still regarded as being subordinate to the father to the father the god and father the god and father of our lord jesus christ so christ does of our lord jesus christ so christ does not cease to be son of god not cease to be son of god after his atoning work the second passage 2 corinthians 5 and verse and verse 21 perhaps by way of introduction we could start at verse 14. we could start at verse 14. words to which we have already referred words to which we have already referred the love of christ constrainteth us the love of christ constrainteth us because we thus judge that if one died because we thus judge that if one died for all then we're all dead for all then we're all dead and that he died for all that they which and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto live should not henceforth live unto themselves themselves but unto him which died but unto him which died for them and rose again for them and rose again whence whence wherefore henceforth know we no man wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh after the flesh yea though we have known christ after yea though we have known christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him the flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more no more therefore if any man be in christ he is therefore if any man be in christ he is a new creature a new creature all things are passed away all things are passed away behold all things are become new behold all things are become new and all things are of god who hath and all things are of god who hath reconciled us to himself by jesus christ reconciled us to himself by jesus christ have given to us the ministry of have given to us the ministry of reconciliation reconciliation verse 21 for he hath made him to be sin verse 21 for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness that we might be made the righteousness of god of god in him in him once again the context is a discussion once again the context is a discussion of the significance of the work of the of the significance of the work of the cross cross there's a certain emphasis towards there's a certain emphasis towards the application in the area of witness the application in the area of witness of preaching of preaching ambassadors for christ verse 20 but it's ambassadors for christ verse 20 but it's still the essential context of the work still the essential context of the work of christ of christ the point of issue i think is its the point of issue i think is its relationship relationship to practical behavior and the work of to practical behavior and the work of the apostles the apostles perhaps certainly in corinth had been perhaps certainly in corinth had been embarrassed embarrassed by the apostle paul by the apostle paul his apparent lack of dignity his apparent lack of dignity and so paul has to assert that the only and so paul has to assert that the only basis of life basis of life is the dying and rising again is the dying and rising again of the lord jesus of the lord jesus one has died for all and therefore all one has died for all and therefore all have died have died and he died for all so that those who and he died for all so that those who live should not live to themselves live should not live to themselves but to him who died and rose again but to him who died and rose again this ministry of reconciliation has been this ministry of reconciliation has been entrusted to the apostles entrusted to the apostles the basis of the reconciliation is the the basis of the reconciliation is the fact that the one who knew no sin was fact that the one who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf made sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness that we might become the righteousness of god in him and once again this as it were interchange of experience the death of interchange of experience the death of christ being repeated in pattern in his christ being repeated in pattern in his apostles and in his followers is not a apostles and in his followers is not a simple exchange simple exchange for we become the righteousness of god for we become the righteousness of god in him in him if christ has been made sin if christ has been made sin he has also been made our righteousness now those are the two i think most difficult passages difficult passages galatians 3 galatians 3 and 2 corinthians 5 and 2 corinthians 5 but there are a number of others which but there are a number of others which i'm not going to ask you to turn to i'm not going to ask you to turn to which i think present a very similar which i think present a very similar picture you know the grace of our lord jesus christ that though he was rich yet for christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty that ye through his poverty might be rich once again it's not a might be rich once again it's not a simple exchange simple exchange if riches have come to us if riches have come to us through the poverty of christ through the poverty of christ it is presumably also because riches are it is presumably also because riches are now christ's also he does not forego the now christ's also he does not forego the riches forever in order that they might riches forever in order that they might come to us come to us it is an interchange it is an interchange rather than an exchange he died rather than an exchange he died and rose again and rose again that was 2 corinthians 8 and verse 9 of that was 2 corinthians 8 and verse 9 of course what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh in that it was weak through the flesh god sending his own son in the likeness god sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the law might that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh the flesh but after the spirit but after the spirit romans 8 verses 3 and 4. romans 8 verses 3 and 4. the purpose this time the purpose this time is that the requirement of the law might is that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us be fulfilled in us and although this happens because we are and although this happens because we are now now in christ in christ it is not the quite the same kind of it is not the quite the same kind of interchange interchange it is more a progression of change it is more a progression of change culminating in what paul says later on culminating in what paul says later on in the chapter you have not received the in the chapter you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the spirit of but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry abba adoption whereby we cry abba father father i reckon that the sufferings of this i reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us revealed in us for the earnest expectation of the for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of god of the sons of god interchange and then interchange and then progression of change progression of change towards the culmination and consummation towards the culmination and consummation of god's purpose i think the very of god's purpose i think the very similar ideas there in romans 8 15 to 19 similar ideas there in romans 8 15 to 19 with those in the galatians 4 passage to with those in the galatians 4 passage to which we've already which we've already referred referred of course the close identification with of course the close identification with the lord jesus christ is stated later on the lord jesus christ is stated later on in the chapter in the chapter romans 8 verses 29 romans 8 verses 29 and 30. two other passages which i'll just refer to one mention the other to one mention the other romans 5 verses 12 to 21 romans 5 verses 12 to 21 is i think relevant is i think relevant the second adam took the form of the the second adam took the form of the first adam that we can be conformed to first adam that we can be conformed to his likeness in a new creation in the his likeness in a new creation in the image of his son image of his son and then the final passage in and then the final passage in philippians 2 which presents a picture philippians 2 which presents a picture of what christ became of what christ became without in that particular context without in that particular context referring explicitly to what we become referring explicitly to what we become in him in him just a statement about the just a statement about the manner manner of the revelation of the lord jesus of the revelation of the lord jesus christ christ his humiliation his humility used as an his humiliation his humility used as an exhortation to the brother and sisters exhortation to the brother and sisters of philip high of philip high it's interesting to notice and perhaps it's interesting to notice and perhaps you might like to turn to this you might like to turn to this philippians chapter 3 philippians chapter 3 that paul returns to that paul returns to this theme to which i am referring this theme to which i am referring later on in the epistle philippians 2 i think presents something of the background and the context let of the background and the context let this mind be in you philippians 2 verse this mind be in you philippians 2 verse 5 which was also in christ jesus for 5 which was also in christ jesus for being in the form of god thought it not being in the form of god thought it not robbery to be equal with god but made robbery to be equal with god but made himself of no reputation himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and was made in the likeness of men being found in fashion as a man he being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross death even the death of the cross now after those words now after those words paul does not explicitly refer to what paul does not explicitly refer to what we become in him we become in him it's the main thrust it's the main thrust excitation and lesson is the humility excitation and lesson is the humility and self-abasement that we should have and self-abasement that we should have in the face of god's revelation in jesus in the face of god's revelation in jesus christ christ but at the name of jesus every knee but at the name of jesus every knee should bow should bow verse 10 that every tongue should verse 10 that every tongue should confess that jesus christ is lord confess that jesus christ is lord verse 12 wherefore my beloved verse 12 wherefore my beloved as you have always obeyed not as in my as you have always obeyed not as in my presence only but now much more in my presence only but now much more in my absence work out your own salvation with absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling and so the main fear and trembling and so the main thrust of his excitation is that the thrust of his excitation is that the disciples there might repeat in their disciples there might repeat in their own experience this self-abasement of own experience this self-abasement of the lord jesus christ that all strifes the lord jesus christ that all strifes and divisions and self-exaltations and divisions and self-exaltations might be done away might be done away later on in the epistle i think we come later on in the epistle i think we come back to the way in which we are back to the way in which we are incorporated into this sacrifice of incorporated into this sacrifice of christ for example christ for example philippians 3 and verse 9. philippians 3 and verse 9. that latter part of verse 8 for that latter part of verse 8 for connection that i may win christ and be connection that i may win christ and be found in him not having mine own found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of that which is through the faith of christ the righteousness which is of god christ the righteousness which is of god by faith that i may know him and the by faith that i may know him and the power of his resurrection and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death conformable unto his death if by any means i might attain if by any means i might attain unto the resurrection of the dead this unto the resurrection of the dead this is linked in verses 20 and 21 with the is linked in verses 20 and 21 with the return of the lord jesus christ the return of the lord jesus christ the expectation expectation of all disciples and their true hope in of all disciples and their true hope in the resurrection of the body the resurrection of the body so our body of humiliation is to be so our body of humiliation is to be fashioned by the lord fashioned by the lord who himself had humbled himself and who himself had humbled himself and became obedient unto death became obedient unto death we too can in the end be conformed we too can in the end be conformed unto the body of his glory unto the body of his glory so the picture we have here brethren so the picture we have here brethren sisters is that christ humbled himself sisters is that christ humbled himself in order that in him in order that in him and by him and by him we might become glorious we might become glorious in him well i hope this analysis has not been too much to take too much to take but just in case it has but just in case it has may i summarize may i summarize what we've established so far firstly christ identified himself with us christ identified himself with us in order that we might identify in order that we might identify ourselves with him ourselves with him in terms of law in terms of law sonship wisdom righteousness sonship wisdom righteousness sanctification redemption resurrection sanctification redemption resurrection and glory secondly i think it follows naturally from what i think it follows naturally from what we've already said we've already said that it must be as man's representative that it must be as man's representative rather than as his substitute rather than as his substitute that christ suffered and died that christ suffered and died it's only as son of man it's only as son of man the title as it were of supreme the title as it were of supreme elevation elevation of the lord jesus as i think we've of the lord jesus as i think we've already considered this week already considered this week that he is able to lift men into an that he is able to lift men into an obedient relationship with god obedient relationship with god and he can do this and he can do this by being first lifted up himself in by being first lifted up himself in obedience upon the tree obedience upon the tree and so it is not and so it is not an exchange of judgments and rewards an exchange of judgments and rewards but rather an interchange but rather an interchange in christ we may become in christ we may become what god intended us to be what god intended us to be in christ there is now a new creation so in christ there is now a new creation so that men may now truly bear his image thirdly if christ identified himself with us in if christ identified himself with us in order that we might be identified with order that we might be identified with him him then those things which governed and then those things which governed and characterized the old life in adam characterized the old life in adam are being done away are being done away the old man says paul in romans 6 6 the old man says paul in romans 6 6 is crucified with christ is crucified with christ and the new man and the new man rises rises from the dead with christ from the dead with christ he is now dead to sin he is now dead to sin and dead and dead to the law to the law romans 6 11 and 7 romans 6 11 and 7 4. but we know that that the characteristics of the adamic life the characteristics of the adamic life still continue still continue sin and suffering and death and it's sin and suffering and death and it's very interesting to notice how that in very interesting to notice how that in the letters of paul we are presented the letters of paul we are presented with a new dimension of meaning a new with a new dimension of meaning a new understanding understanding in the light of the work of christ in the light of the work of christ of the sin and the suffering and the of the sin and the suffering and the death death that we still endure that we still endure despite the fact of being in christ i despite the fact of being in christ i think all these things for the apostle think all these things for the apostle paul are now regarded as being paul are now regarded as being an integral part an integral part of being in christ of being in christ rather than as it were just to carry rather than as it were just to carry over over of the things that were formerly in of the things that were formerly in adult adult i think this should come to us as being i think this should come to us as being a very strange thing a very strange thing because you might have thought that it because you might have thought that it was really part of the adamic existence was really part of the adamic existence that we were subject to suffering that we were subject to suffering and and to death to death and there are a number of passages which and there are a number of passages which i think i think appear to suggest this kind of appear to suggest this kind of understanding let me just read one to understanding let me just read one to you you i reckon that the sufferings of this i reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us that could be construed revealed in us that could be construed as a picture of the adamic existence as a picture of the adamic existence as over against contrasted with as over against contrasted with the glory that is our destiny in the the glory that is our destiny in the lord jesus christ lord jesus christ there's a contrast there isn't there there's a contrast there isn't there between present between present being linked to the past and our origins being linked to the past and our origins and the future and the future but you just go back one verse but you just go back one verse to romans 8 verse 17 to romans 8 verse 17 if children then as as of god and joined if children then as as of god and joined as with christ if so be that we suffer as with christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him that we may also be glorified together together so i'm suggesting brother and sisters so i'm suggesting brother and sisters that verse 18 must be understood in the that verse 18 must be understood in the context of this key phrase in verse 17 context of this key phrase in verse 17 suffer with him suffer with him that's the new dimension i think that that's the new dimension i think that the sacrifice of christ has brought the sacrifice of christ has brought to the life of disciples now it is no doubt true that much of the apostolic suffering and that much of the apostolic suffering and tribulation was directly due tribulation was directly due to the gospel to the gospel and and their active involvement in its their active involvement in its proclamation imprisonments beatings proclamation imprisonments beatings hunger hunger and shipwrecks it's very clear also that and shipwrecks it's very clear also that all those things could be viewed as a all those things could be viewed as a suffering for the lord jesus christ suffering for the lord jesus christ yet i put it to you yet i put it to you isn't it very doubtful whether isn't it very doubtful whether the apostle paul would have drawn a line the apostle paul would have drawn a line of demarcation between of demarcation between apostolic suffering the suffering apostolic suffering the suffering brought about directly as a result of brought about directly as a result of preaching the gospel preaching the gospel and other kinds of suffering personal and other kinds of suffering personal suffering the symptoms of mortality if suffering the symptoms of mortality if you like you like those things which are evidence in our those things which are evidence in our flesh flesh of the inheritance which we bear of the inheritance which we bear i submitted is very doubtful whether i submitted is very doubtful whether paul in the end would have tried to draw paul in the end would have tried to draw a line of demarcation between the two a line of demarcation between the two and say well this is the suffering in and say well this is the suffering in christ and this is the suffering in adam the thorn in the flesh and the decline of physical strength and the decline of physical strength could have been thought out of as being could have been thought out of as being in adam in adam yet paul clearly treats them as part and yet paul clearly treats them as part and parcel of being in christ parcel of being in christ man is renewed in christ man is renewed in christ but he is not yet free from physical but he is not yet free from physical limitations limitations yet because christ was truly son of god yet because christ was truly son of god and son of man and son of man these can now be understood in terms of these can now be understood in terms of the life the life in christ 2 corinthians chapter 12 in christ 2 corinthians chapter 12 and verse 9 i think makes this point and verse 9 i think makes this point very clear indeed very clear indeed 2 corinthians 12 he said unto me my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness most gladly therefore will i in weakness most gladly therefore will i rather glory in my rather glory in my infirmities that the power of christ may infirmities that the power of christ may rest upon me rest upon me therefore i take pleasure in infirmities therefore i take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for christ's persecutions in distresses for christ's sake sake for when i am weak for when i am weak then i am strong and so i think all then i am strong and so i think all aspects of the new life in christ aspects of the new life in christ whether directly attributable to the whether directly attributable to the preaching of the gospel and the hardship preaching of the gospel and the hardship caused thereby caused thereby or whether it's personal suffering or whether it's personal suffering personal distress personal distress personal injury they are all part personal injury they are all part of the life of christ fourthly this interchange brought about by the this interchange brought about by the representative sacrifice of the lord representative sacrifice of the lord jesus jesus overflows into the lives of others overflows into the lives of others we turn back a few pages to 2 we turn back a few pages to 2 corinthians 4 corinthians 4 and verse 5 and verse 5 we preach not ourselves we preach not ourselves but christ jesus the lord and ourselves but christ jesus the lord and ourselves your servants for jesus sake your servants for jesus sake verse 10 always bearing about in the verse 10 always bearing about in the body the dying of the lord jesus body the dying of the lord jesus that the life also of jesus might be that the life also of jesus might be made manifest made manifest in our body for we which live are always in our body for we which live are always delivered unto death for jesus sake delivered unto death for jesus sake that the life also of jesus might be that the life also of jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh so it's a witness isn't it it's not just developing developing the mind and character of christ in the mind and character of christ in isolation isolation it is that development with a purpose it is that development with a purpose so that as paul says we do not preach so that as paul says we do not preach ourselves but rather christ jesus ourselves but rather christ jesus the lord so it's a witness isn't it it's not just developing the mind and character of developing the mind and character of christ in isolation christ in isolation it is that development with a purpose so it is that development with a purpose so that as paul says we do not preach that as paul says we do not preach ourselves but rather christ jesus ourselves but rather christ jesus the lord and fifthly i think it is in the light of this introduction of this introduction lengthy though it's been lengthy though it's been that we must seek to understand those that we must seek to understand those apparently apparently substitutionary passages in isaiah 53 substitutionary passages in isaiah 53 and verse 6 and first peter 2 and verse and verse 6 and first peter 2 and verse 24. so what i'm saying my dear brother 24. so what i'm saying my dear brother and sisters and sisters is that they're only one half of this is that they're only one half of this full of truth full of truth which i've been presenting to you that which i've been presenting to you that he was identified with us that we might he was identified with us that we might be identified with him that's just a be identified with him that's just a part view in those two verses of this part view in those two verses of this wider wider understanding of the work of christ it understanding of the work of christ it is i think in the end is i think in the end to narrow a basis for a full to narrow a basis for a full understanding of the work of christ to understanding of the work of christ to regard it as just a substitutionary regard it as just a substitutionary sacrifice for ourselves let's move on very quickly to the more practical side of our subject i just like to create a link between the theory and the practice by between the theory and the practice by reminding you of those words of jesus in reminding you of those words of jesus in john chapter 5 and verse john chapter 5 and verse 24 where he say links very clearly 24 where he say links very clearly the hour is the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of god hear the voice of the son of god and live and live there's going to be a real waiting at there's going to be a real waiting at the last day the last day and there's going to be a spiritual and there's going to be a spiritual reawakening even now just as the reawakening even now just as the literally dead will be literally raised literally dead will be literally raised the physically dead will be physically the physically dead will be physically raised so even today the spiritually raised so even today the spiritually dead can be spiritually raised the old dead can be spiritually raised the old way of life in adam can become way of life in adam can become the newness of life in christ jesus a the newness of life in christ jesus a life with life with a new dimension new characteristics new a new dimension new characteristics new qualities new perspectives new qualities new perspectives new affections and new goals affections and new goals those two tenses is coming and now is those two tenses is coming and now is in john chapter five i think a reminder in john chapter five i think a reminder of the importance of this truth the practical effects directly related directly related to the atonement to the atonement i've listed these i've listed these in as completely in as completely in complete away as i can on the in complete away as i can on the synopsis and we're not going to have synopsis and we're not going to have time to look at all of these i think time to look at all of these i think it's very useful you're going to be able it's very useful you're going to be able to take away to take away the full list all these characteristics and qualities that are presented here my dear brothers that are presented here my dear brothers and sisters and sisters are the practical effects are the practical effects in the life of the disciple that are in the life of the disciple that are directly attributable to the atonement i directly attributable to the atonement i know perhaps you would want to say to me know perhaps you would want to say to me well surely there is no aspect of our well surely there is no aspect of our life of our character of our work and of life of our character of our work and of our service that is in the end not our service that is in the end not related to god's work in christ and of related to god's work in christ and of course that's true course that's true to a greater or lesser extent all the to a greater or lesser extent all the teaching in the new testament and all teaching in the new testament and all the preparative teaching in the old the preparative teaching in the old testament testament is touching on is touching on the truth of this the truth of this even if it's only by way of implication even if it's only by way of implication what i've listed here what i've listed here are those aspects and those qualities are those aspects and those qualities and those characteristics which just and those characteristics which just through the close association of the through the close association of the context in which the excitation is set context in which the excitation is set forward make it abundantly clear that forward make it abundantly clear that they are directly related to the they are directly related to the sacrifice of christ sacrifice of christ and perhaps just to add to the notes on and perhaps just to add to the notes on the synopsis the synopsis i could just i could just list for you what are the verses where list for you what are the verses where the atoning work of god in christ are the atoning work of god in christ are referred to in these particular referred to in these particular situations situations we are bought with a price we are bought with a price therefore glorify god in your body therefore glorify god in your body be not ye the servants of men be not ye the servants of men walk in newness of life now the walk in newness of life now the atonement verses atonement verses where the work of christ is set forth where the work of christ is set forth our first corinthians 6 20 our first corinthians 6 20 and 7 and 7 23 the cleansing power brought about by the sacrifice of christ in the purging of sacrifice of christ in the purging of our consciences our consciences hebrews chapter 9 hebrews chapter 9 verses 11 and 12. perhaps we could look verses 11 and 12. perhaps we could look at that at that very briefly hebrews 9 11 christ being come and high priest of christ being come and high priest of good things to come by greater and more good things to come by greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands perfect tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building that is to say not of this building neither by the blood of goats and of neither by the blood of goats and of calves but by his own blood he entered calves but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption having obtained eternal redemption for us for us if the blood of bulls and of goats and if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies to the purifying of unclean sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood the flesh how much more shall the blood of christ who through the eternal spirit of christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to god offered himself without spot to god purge your conscience from dead works to purge your conscience from dead works to serve serve the living god the living god so it's the sacrifice of christ this is so it's the sacrifice of christ this is atoning work atoning work with the intended direct result with the intended direct result presented by the writer here to purge presented by the writer here to purge our conscience from dead works to serve our conscience from dead works to serve the living god it would be interesting the living god it would be interesting to explore the way in which this must to explore the way in which this must work itself out in practical experience work itself out in practical experience how that i think conscience how that i think conscience is related to consciousness is related to consciousness our conscience with regard to sin is our conscience with regard to sin is related to our consciousness of sin related to our consciousness of sin the love of christ constraineth us the love of christ constraineth us we must realize the price we must realize the price that has been paid that has been paid we must cultivate a good conscience we must cultivate a good conscience that is void of offense and all this is that is void of offense and all this is part and parcel of the practical part and parcel of the practical outworking thirdly outworking thirdly christ's sacrifice is directly linked to christ's sacrifice is directly linked to the expectation of his return that's in the expectation of his return that's in the same chapter isn't it those the same chapter isn't it those well-known words verse 28 so christ was well-known words verse 28 so christ was once offered to bear the sins of many once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto appear the second time without sin unto salvation so an understanding of the salvation so an understanding of the work of christ must have at its work of christ must have at its counterpart the expectation of his counterpart the expectation of his return return while we're in hebrews i might as well while we're in hebrews i might as well go straight over into number four go straight over into number four hebrews chapter 10 hebrews chapter 10 that threefold that threefold exhortation that threefold exhortation that threefold practical conclusion verse 19 having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of jesus the blood of jesus by a new and living way which he has by a new and living way which he has consecrated for us through the veil consecrated for us through the veil three practical lessons follow verse 22 three practical lessons follow verse 22 let us draw near let us draw near verse 23 let us hold fast verse 23 let us hold fast verse 24 verse 24 let us consider one another to provoke let us consider one another to provoke and to love and to love and to good works and to good works and so the blood of christ and so the blood of christ is inescapably related to all these is inescapably related to all these ordinary practical things ordinary practical things fifthly sin has been covered by his fifthly sin has been covered by his sacrifice sacrifice and yet and yet perhaps rather paradoxically it has also perhaps rather paradoxically it has also to be set aside to be set aside may i list for you may i list for you the verses which present the work of the verses which present the work of christ christ as the setting and basis for this as the setting and basis for this exhortation i'm not going to look at exhortation i'm not going to look at them hebrews 12 2 them hebrews 12 2 romans 5 verses 18 and 21 in first peter romans 5 verses 18 and 21 in first peter four four and verse one and verse one now this excitation i think my dear now this excitation i think my dear brother and sister is a very powerful brother and sister is a very powerful one one sin has been covered by christ sin has been covered by christ but that does not mean that we should but that does not mean that we should have an indifferent attitude towards sin have an indifferent attitude towards sin from now on from now on it places us as it were in the position it places us as it were in the position of greater responsibility to reject of greater responsibility to reject those things that formerly encourage sin those things that formerly encourage sin to cultivate good habits rather than bad to cultivate good habits rather than bad habits habits make a definite attempt to avoid the make a definite attempt to avoid the occasion of temptation occasion of temptation for being in the wrong places of being for being in the wrong places of being under the wrong influences under the wrong influences shall we continue in sin shall we continue in sin that grace may abound that grace may abound god forbid god forbid by no means by no means so as you know well so as you know well the argument that would wish to further the argument that would wish to further the grace of god by giving it greater the grace of god by giving it greater opportunity to operate through the opportunity to operate through the sacrifice of christ by providing more sacrifice of christ by providing more sins to be covered is a specious sins to be covered is a specious argument it was an argument that paul argument it was an argument that paul had to refute had to refute it was an argument that we should refute it was an argument that we should refute today also sixthly do good and communicate communicate communication there of course being not communication there of course being not just verbal but being linked to those just verbal but being linked to those practical expressions of fellowship practical expressions of fellowship in our service one with another and in our service one with another and supremely in the breaking of bread the supremely in the breaking of bread the central passage there central passage there calling attention to the work of christ calling attention to the work of christ is hebrews 13 and verse 12. is hebrews 13 and verse 12. seventhly generosity to all perhaps we seventhly generosity to all perhaps we could look at this one could look at this one as it's related to something that as it's related to something that normally we would regard as being normally we would regard as being quite ordinary quite ordinary very mundane very mundane very practical very practical a necessity a necessity taking a collection taking a collection isn't it amazing how in 2 corinthians 8 isn't it amazing how in 2 corinthians 8 paul lifts it to such a high level paul lifts it to such a high level a collection is no longer an ordinary a collection is no longer an ordinary thing for brethren and sisters in the thing for brethren and sisters in the lord jesus christ it must be regarded as lord jesus christ it must be regarded as a very spiritual thing a very spiritual thing because we have to first consider the because we have to first consider the extent of the self-giving of jesus extent of the self-giving of jesus himself himself you know the grace verse 9 2 corinthians you know the grace verse 9 2 corinthians 8 of our lord jesus christ that though 8 of our lord jesus christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty poor that ye through his poverty might be rich and herein i give my might be rich and herein i give my advice advice verse 11 now therefore perform the doing verse 11 now therefore perform the doing of it and as there was a readiness to of it and as there was a readiness to will will so there may be a performance also of so there may be a performance also of that which ye have so he told them about that which ye have so he told them about the collection for the poor saints in the collection for the poor saints in jerusalem jerusalem they had the intention to give they had the intention to give he's now encouraging them to put that he's now encouraging them to put that into the fullest practical expression into the fullest practical expression possible possible because of this because of this central teaching and doctrine of the central teaching and doctrine of the work of the lord jesus christ work of the lord jesus christ but a wonderful thing it is my dear but a wonderful thing it is my dear brother and sister that the highest and brother and sister that the highest and the holiest things in the end are the holiest things in the end are related related to the most mundane and practical things to the most mundane and practical things or so we would have thought or so we would have thought rather than bringing down the sacrifice rather than bringing down the sacrifice of christ to that level it surely lifts of christ to that level it surely lifts the things at this level right up to the the things at this level right up to the sacrifice of christ this is how we sacrifice of christ this is how we should regard them should regard them this should be the motivating spirit this should be the motivating spirit in our giving for others in our giving for others so 2 corinthians 8 verse 9 is the so 2 corinthians 8 verse 9 is the atonement passage in that connection next the well-known area of human relationships wives area of human relationships wives husbands children fathers servants husbands children fathers servants masters and brethren i'm sure my dear masters and brethren i'm sure my dear brother says i don't need to remind you brother says i don't need to remind you of the great spiritual pattern of the great spiritual pattern that is set before is in this connection that is set before is in this connection even as christ loved the church even as christ loved the church and gave himself for it and gave himself for it this should be our perspective this should be our perspective whether we be a husband or a wife whether we be a husband or a wife or a child or a father a servant or a or a child or a father a servant or a master master or a brother or a brother all our relationships should be governed all our relationships should be governed by this perspective brought upon us by by this perspective brought upon us by an understanding of the work of christ and the next one forgiveness of others to forgive to forgive one another one another even as god for christ's sake even as god for christ's sake hath forgiven us and that's the central hath forgiven us and that's the central place isn't it of the sacrifice of place isn't it of the sacrifice of christ as we mentioned earlier in our christ as we mentioned earlier in our first address first address so the passage there is as stated so the passage there is as stated ephesians 4 and verse 32. ephesians 4 and verse 32. enthusiasm for good works this is enthusiasm for good works this is another very good illustration of the another very good illustration of the point that i'm trying to make point that i'm trying to make titus chapter 2 if you'd like to turn to titus chapter 2 if you'd like to turn to it and verse it and verse 10. verse 11 the grace of god that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men salvation has appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust we should live soberly worldly lust we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present righteously and godly in this present world world looking for that blessed hope and the looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great god and glorious appearing of the great god and our savior jesus christ who gave himself our savior jesus christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works peculiar people zealous of good works where we've already considered this where we've already considered this haven't we the peculiar people the haven't we the peculiar people the special people special people and this is to be the motivating and this is to be the motivating and driving force and driving force in our good works and the last three humility the the passage there we're not going to turn to passage there we're not going to turn to any more passages now philippians any more passages now philippians chapter 2 verses 7 and 8 suffering for chapter 2 verses 7 and 8 suffering for christ first peter 2 verses 23 and 24 christ first peter 2 verses 23 and 24 and a basis for an active and continuing and a basis for an active and continuing faith galatians chapter 2 and verse 20 faith galatians chapter 2 and verse 20 and really i suppose to precede romans and really i suppose to precede romans chapter 12 and the excitation there chapter 12 and the excitation there romans chapters 1 to 11 presenting the romans chapters 1 to 11 presenting the work of christ in terms of justification work of christ in terms of justification by faith so perhaps to summarize what we've tried to say this morning we are called upon to identify with the lord jesus christ perhaps we could just lord jesus christ perhaps we could just select out three things because it will select out three things because it will provide the threefold basis for our provide the threefold basis for our understanding there must firstly be understanding there must firstly be faith and baptism into jesus faith and baptism into jesus there must be remembrance there must be remembrance of him in the breaking of bread and of him in the breaking of bread and there must be the selfless and there must be the selfless and sacrificial life sacrificial life that should be the demonstration that should be the demonstration and the realization and the realization of our appreciation of the sacrifice of of our appreciation of the sacrifice of christ christ for for us and so the work of christ us and so the work of christ is really so great that it cannot be is really so great that it cannot be accomplished by man but in the end it is accomplished by man but in the end it is not totally external to us not totally external to us if it were we would be led in the if it were we would be led in the direction of a substitutionary theory to direction of a substitutionary theory to understand his work understand his work but we are called upon to participate in but we are called upon to participate in it so if in our first talk we began with it so if in our first talk we began with an objective salvation as the foundation an objective salvation as the foundation on which to build our understanding we on which to build our understanding we are led to an appreciation of the work are led to an appreciation of the work of christ into an association of of christ into an association of ourselves ourselves with him with him and to develop his characteristics and to develop his characteristics we are called upon we are called upon to full participation in these things perhaps to bring our thoughts to a focus have you got a short poem i'd to a focus have you got a short poem i'd like to read to you by way of conclusion like to read to you by way of conclusion that i think presents the essence of our that i think presents the essence of our appropriation of christ's sacrifice appropriation of christ's sacrifice i asked the lord that i might grow i asked the lord that i might grow in faith and love and every grace in faith and love and every grace might more of his salvation know might more of his salvation know and seek more earnestly his face and seek more earnestly his face i thought that in some favored hour at i thought that in some favored hour at once he'd answer my request once he'd answer my request and by his love's constraining power and by his love's constraining power subdue my sins and give me rest subdue my sins and give me rest instead of this he made me feel the instead of this he made me feel the hidden evils of my heart hidden evils of my heart and let the angry powers within and let the angry powers within assault my being in every part assault my being in every part lord why is this lord why is this i trembling cried i trembling cried will thou pursue me to the death will thou pursue me to the death it is in this way the lord replied i it is in this way the lord replied i answer prayer for grace answer prayer for grace and faith and faith these inward trials i employ these inward trials i employ from self and pride to set thee free from self and pride to set thee free and break thy schemes of earthly joy and break thy schemes of earthly joy that thou mayest seek thy all that thou mayest seek thy all in me in me just bow our heads in prayer

Transcript

he could see them coming out on a night errand out on a night errand away from the sleeping city away from the sleeping city and down its eastern hillside and down its eastern hillside their torches and their lanterns their torches and their lanterns glittering in the darkness glittering in the darkness a great multitude with swords and staves a great multitude with swords and staves coming to put out coming to put out [Music] [Music] the light of the world the light of the world jesus had said jesus had said yet a little while is the light with you yet a little while is the light with you walk while you have the light walk while you have the light lest darkness come upon you lest darkness come upon you for he that walketh in darkness for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth knoweth not whither he goeth while you have light while you have light believe in the light believe in the light that you may be the children of light that you may be the children of light these things spake jesus and departed these things spake jesus and departed and he'd hide himself and he'd hide himself from them from them beyond the brookhedron beyond the brookhedron there was a garden there was a garden into which the lord jesus christ had into which the lord jesus christ had entered entered the hour the hour had come had come jesus had said had he not jesus had said had he not verily verily i say unto you verily verily i say unto you except a corner of wheat fall into the except a corner of wheat fall into the ground and die ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit it bringeth forth much fruit or again he that loveth his life shall or again he that loveth his life shall lose it lose it and he that hateth his life in this and he that hateth his life in this world world shall keep it unto life eternal shall keep it unto life eternal or again if any man serve me or again if any man serve me let him follow me let him follow me and where i am there shall also my and where i am there shall also my servant be servant be if any man serve me if any man serve me him will my father on earth him will my father on earth now is my soul troubled now is my soul troubled and what shall i say and what shall i say father save me from this hour father save me from this hour nevertheless for this cause nevertheless for this cause came i took this hour came i took this hour my dream beloved brother and sisters if my dream beloved brother and sisters if you were an impartial observer you were an impartial observer on the hillside that faith that fateful on the hillside that faith that fateful night night and saw this group of people on their and saw this group of people on their midnight mission what would you have midnight mission what would you have thought thought they are enforcing the law they are enforcing the law it is inevitable no more than that it is it is inevitable no more than that it is necessary necessary to avoid lawlessness to avoid lawlessness insurrections insurrections uprisings uprisings we have seen many of them and no doubt we have seen many of them and no doubt there will be many more there will be many more you have to be so careful a passerby would have seen a strange thing thing a collection of people a collection of people from the so-called so-called holy city from the so-called so-called holy city going outside its walls on a most unholy going outside its walls on a most unholy assignment assignment how could they possibly justify it you might have thought they were honoring and upholding the law they were honoring and upholding the law the one they sought the one they sought was guilty was guilty but in actual fact but in actual fact he honored and upheld the law he honored and upheld the law and they were guilty and they were guilty it's a strange thing isn't it it's a strange thing isn't it that the truth about the situation that the truth about the situation was the very opposite to what you might was the very opposite to what you might have expected the casual observer might have said the will of the people is being done or the will of the people is being done or at least at least the will of their elders the will of their elders that jesus said that jesus said thy will thy will be done be done they could have said time has run out they could have said time has run out for him for him destiny has run its course destiny has run its course jesus said jesus said this is their hour this is their hour and the power of darkness and the power of darkness they came in the dark they came in the dark they returned in the dark they returned in the dark and they continued in the dark and they continued in the dark but he was in the light but he was in the light and he was strengthened by an angel and he was strengthened by an angel to continue faithfully to continue faithfully in that light they had a mission to in that light they had a mission to accomplish to put an end to their doubts accomplish to put an end to their doubts and fears about this man and fears about this man he too had a mission to accomplish he too had a mission to accomplish and it was exactly the same mission and it was exactly the same mission if they could but see it if they could but see it to put an end to put an end to their doubts and their fears looked at from man's viewpoint you saw one thing you saw one thing human destiny human destiny the destiny of man the destiny of man but looked at from god's viewpoint but looked at from god's viewpoint you saw something completely different you saw something completely different this my dear brother and sisters are the this my dear brother and sisters are the challenge challenge of our subject today of our subject today taking man's taking man's viewpoint is an earthly viewpoint viewpoint is an earthly viewpoint taking god's viewpoint taking god's viewpoint is the spiritual viewpoint is the spiritual viewpoint the long-sighted viewpoint to be with the lord jesus christ in gethsemane is no guarantee in gethsemane is no guarantee that we will see the eternal things that we will see the eternal things it needs effort it needs diligence it needs effort it needs diligence it needs understanding so easy isn't it it needs understanding so easy isn't it to to try to resist the world try to resist the world using the world's methods using the world's methods in order to accomplish in order to accomplish our destiny our destiny as for example peter did as for example peter did and to think that you were on the side and to think that you were on the side of jesus but this act of peter this act of violence violence required the intervention of the lord required the intervention of the lord jesus jesus and so it could be for us so it was the last hour father if thou be willing father if thou be willing remove this cup from me remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will nevertheless not my will but thine be done he surrendered completely to his father's will and this brethren sisters is surely the central issue the central issue the fundamental principle the fundamental principle to seek to seek above all costs the will of god above all costs the will of god and in faithfulness and in faithfulness to carry it out to carry it out come what made this was the way for the lord jesus for the lord jesus this is the way for us this is the way for us this is the way to salvation this is the way to salvation this is the way to fulfill our true this is the way to fulfill our true destiny destiny our human destiny our human destiny is the wages of sin is the wages of sin salvation's destiny salvation's destiny is to the glory of god is to the glory of god and to be a partaker and to be a partaker of the divine nature and so as we are now with the lord jesus are now with the lord jesus in his surrendering to the father's will in his surrendering to the father's will let us think of ourselves let us think of ourselves in relationship in relationship to that redemption that he wrought that the more fully the will of god might become our will the will of god might become our will just as it did for the lord jesus he was and is the redeemer god hath visited and the redeemer god hath visited and redeemed his people redeemed his people we were not redeemed with corruptable we were not redeemed with corruptable things such as silver and gold but with things such as silver and gold but with the precious the precious blood of christ blood of christ think of the cost think of the cost my dear brothers and sisters that is my dear brothers and sisters that is implied in those words implied in those words the precious the precious blood blood of christ of christ the cost of our sins the cost of our sins the cost of our waywardness the cost of our waywardness the cost of our denial for those who today know what it is like who today know what it is like to be alone perhaps to leave this place to be alone perhaps to leave this place and to go to your home and to go to your home where you will be alone where you will be alone you may remember that the lord jesus you may remember that the lord jesus was alone was alone alone in childhood alone in childhood alone in the temple alone in the temple alone by the sea of galilee no luggage alone by the sea of galilee no luggage no money no money no prospects in this world no prospects in this world perhaps without the very three things perhaps without the very three things that we as tourists that we as tourists take to israel take to israel we strive after all three we strive after all three wealth wealth fame fame possessions possessions spend a lifetime perhaps spend a lifetime perhaps only to discover that true happiness only to discover that true happiness that true destiny that true destiny does not lie down this road does not lie down this road he was alone in the mount on the he was alone in the mount on the mountaintop mountaintop he was alone in gethsemane he was alone in gethsemane yet he was not alone yet he was not alone because the father was with him and the wisdom which comes down from above above proclaims that in his resurrection proclaims that in his resurrection is the victory over this world is the victory over this world the victory over all the forces that the victory over all the forces that would corrupt and mar would corrupt and mar and finally destroy it and finally destroy it this is the victory this is the victory proclaims the apostle john that proclaims the apostle john that overcometh the world overcometh the world even our faith for those who are in difficulty who are in difficulty or in trouble or in trouble who can see that in their own lives of who can see that in their own lives of discipleship discipleship there are sure to be there are sure to be stormy seas ahead stormy seas ahead and perhaps an increasing storm and perhaps an increasing storm as time goes by as time goes by you remember you may remember that he is you remember you may remember that he is the lord of all life that during his the lord of all life that during his ministry he was able to calm the ministry he was able to calm the troubled seas troubled seas just with a few words just with a few words peace peace it is i it is i so just as those disciples so just as those disciples found calm and peace and security found calm and peace and security in the boat with the lord jesus in the boat with the lord jesus so too may we in the ark of salvation so too may we in the ark of salvation with him there is always calm with him there is always calm and assurance in the end for those who have borne the burden and heat of the day heat of the day who have labored over many years who have labored over many years to serve the lord to serve the lord in true faithfulness in true faithfulness and sincerity and sincerity who have worked who have worked and served and served diligently diligently and faithfully and faithfully you may remember you may remember the kingdom that he has promised the kingdom that he has promised so that whether we so that whether we continue awake continue awake or whether we sleep or whether we sleep we may rejoice together with him and despair at the problems of our world but we my dear brother and sisters may but we my dear brother and sisters may have hope have hope and have and have confidence because we have that anchor confidence because we have that anchor of the soul of the soul in the lord god through his son for those who are brokenhearted for those who have lost a loved one for those who have lost a loved one whether in life or in death whether in life or in death know that there is no turning back know that there is no turning back you may remember that he is able to save you may remember that he is able to save to the uttermost to the uttermost he is the lord who is able to heal he is the lord who is able to heal and to restore our hopes and to renew and to restore our hopes and to renew our vision our vision the son of righteousness shall arise the son of righteousness shall arise with healing with healing in his wings in his wings the government shall be upon his the government shall be upon his shoulder shoulder all remorse and regret all remorse and regret and sorrow and tears and sorrow and tears will one day be put away forever will one day be put away forever jesus said jesus said almost right at the beginning of his almost right at the beginning of his ministry ministry blessed are they that blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted mourn for they shall be comforted spoken by the calm of the sea of galilee spoken by the calm of the sea of galilee true then true then and still true today for those who are in sorrow or affliction affliction distress or tribulation distress or tribulation you can observe this man you can observe this man and see if there be any sorrow and see if there be any sorrow like unto his sorrow like unto his sorrow the suffering and the agony the suffering and the agony and the extremity that he had to endure and the extremity that he had to endure he learned obedience he learned obedience by the things which he suffered by the things which he suffered and i suppose my dear brother and and i suppose my dear brother and sisters sisters that's the only way that's the only way in the end in which we can learn in the end in which we can learn true obedience true obedience just as jesus did just as jesus did the captain of our salvation the captain of our salvation was made perfect was made perfect through suffering shall not the judge of through suffering shall not the judge of all the earth all the earth do right for those who feel the pressures of our world of our world bearing down upon them bearing down upon them feeling the weights feeling the weights that seem to drag them down that seem to drag them down you may remember the words of jesus when you may remember the words of jesus when he said he said come unto me come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden all ye that labor and are heavy laden and i will give you rest and i will give you rest with him there is joy and companionship with him there is joy and companionship consolation and fellowship consolation and fellowship without him there is nothing without him there is nothing but with him there is everything but with him there is everything both in this world and that which has both in this world and that which has yet to come for those who feel their faith growing dim dim feel that somehow feel that somehow they have lost the certainty they have lost the certainty and the insurance the assurance and the and the insurance the assurance and the enthusiasm enthusiasm that they once had that they once had holding on to the faith holding on to the faith but perhaps only just but perhaps only just like a man clutching her to break water like a man clutching her to break water about to be swept away about to be swept away you can remember you can remember the absolute certainties the absolute certainties that are centered in him that are centered in him the creation of which we are part the creation of which we are part demands a certain existence of a creator demands a certain existence of a creator such glory and such beauty such glory and such beauty must have been divinely created must have been divinely created and ordained and ordained and the certainty of the birth and life and the certainty of the birth and life of jesus himself of jesus himself they went out a decree they went out a decree from caesar augustus from caesar augustus in the 15th year of tiberius caesar in the 15th year of tiberius caesar and he suffered and he suffered under pontius pilate under pontius pilate the word was made flesh the word was made flesh my dear brother and sister my dear brother and sister with unquestionable certainty and in that intervention of the lord god in history in history we have the assurance we have the assurance of his intervention again in the future of his intervention again in the future the resurrection of the lord jesus the resurrection of the lord jesus christ from the dead is proclaimed by christ from the dead is proclaimed by the apostle paul as but the beginning the apostle paul as but the beginning the first fruits the first fruits and the later fruits and the later fruits will just as surely follow will just as surely follow things of the kingdom things of the kingdom and the things of the name therefore and the things of the name therefore being based upon this unshakable being based upon this unshakable foundation foundation have to be our foundation the foundation for faith for hope for hope for confidence for confidence and for our assurance for those today who are afraid there are perhaps many things that we there are perhaps many things that we fear fear as from time to time we lie awake at as from time to time we lie awake at night and night and wonder perhaps just what the will of the wonder perhaps just what the will of the lord lord might be for us might be for us that perhaps the very things we treasure that perhaps the very things we treasure most most might have to be taken from us might have to be taken from us that we might be able to enter into his that we might be able to enter into his kingdom kingdom our health our health our happiness our happiness our homes our homes our children our children even life itself even life itself think of how many of the faithful think of how many of the faithful had to lay had to lay many or all of these things down many or all of these things down the lord jesus christ the lord jesus christ john the baptist john the baptist stephen stephen the apostle peter the apostle peter the apostle paul the list is endless for those of us who fear the judgment and the separation it will bring and the separation it will bring perhaps even from those today whom we perhaps even from those today whom we learn fear too of death not so much of death itself but of the sequel sequel for we know that the resurrection for we know that the resurrection will bring the judgment will bring the judgment we know that at that time we know that at that time the opportunities are over the opportunities are over there will no longer be any time there will no longer be any time to right any wrongs to right any wrongs to heal any of those breaches to heal any of those breaches to show compassion to show compassion to those who are sorrowing to those who are sorrowing no longer any time no longer any time to seek any reconciliation to seek any reconciliation or forgive those of our brothers and or forgive those of our brothers and sisters sisters who today are unforgiven who today are unforgiven we always have the best of intentions we always have the best of intentions our very presence here this morning our very presence here this morning guarantees guarantees that our intentions are in the right that our intentions are in the right direction direction what have we accomplished what have we accomplished my dear brethren sisters my dear brethren sisters in these eternal things fears too for our marriage in today's evil and uncertain world in today's evil and uncertain world a world where promises are conditional a world where promises are conditional where words are empty of real meaning where words are empty of real meaning where faithfulness is old-fashioned where faithfulness is old-fashioned a world where care and consideration and a world where care and consideration and constancy constancy are rapidly becoming dead words are rapidly becoming dead words when the going gets rough when the going gets rough people take what they can and run people take what they can and run a world where loyalty a world where loyalty law and life law and life are not respected are not respected and are treated as trivial things and are treated as trivial things a world where patients a world where patients perseverance perseverance and precept and precept are forgotten are forgotten in the headline rush for in the headline rush for self-satisfaction self-satisfaction and self-fulfillment we have to be exceptions my dear brother and sister just as the lord jesus christ and sister just as the lord jesus christ was was otherwise we are doomed otherwise we are doomed the dark world will rub off onto us the dark world will rub off onto us we will bring it into the occlusion we will bring it into the occlusion and spread its darkness and spread its darkness around to others around to others self first self first and god last and god last is surely the story is surely the story of every broken home of every broken home and every divided ecclesia and every divided ecclesia we need to put into practice we need to put into practice just as jesus did just as jesus did patience perseverance patience perseverance and steadfastness and steadfastness our world encourages self-expression our world encourages self-expression and self-assertion we are in the business to encourage self-effacement self-effacement and self-denial and self-denial to consider first of all to consider first of all the glory to god the glory to god to consider next the service of the lord to consider next the service of the lord jesus jesus to consider next to consider next the greater good of our brethren sisters the greater good of our brethren sisters and the ecclesia to which we all belong and the ecclesia to which we all belong his priceless his priceless possession fears two for our children we pray that they might be preserved we pray that they might be preserved to an age when they might be able to to an age when they might be able to accept the truth accept the truth and fears perhaps that even then and fears perhaps that even then they might not they might not we know that the spirit of our age is we know that the spirit of our age is unfriendly unfriendly to a firm reliance upon the word of god to a firm reliance upon the word of god and this is the world in which our and this is the world in which our children move children move in school in school and in college but while there is life my dear brothers and sisters and sisters there is hope there is hope and we must always be prayerful and we must always be prayerful and optimistic and optimistic about the future about the future fears two for our younger children fears two for our younger children innocent and innocent and defenseless and sometimes overtaken by defenseless and sometimes overtaken by tragedy for islip collier whom some members of my clegia my clegia know well know well and remember him and remember him with love and affection a quiet with love and affection a quiet and unassuming man and unassuming man and they tell me that one day and they tell me that one day this child of 11 this child of 11 was playing in the drive was playing in the drive ventured into the road ventured into the road it was run down by a lorry it was run down by a lorry sudden sudden unexpected unexpected and final and final not an ordinary child not an ordinary child a child previously crippled a child previously crippled by polio and on the tomb of the little child brother i slip put the following words brother i slip put the following words referring to our next meeting with the referring to our next meeting with the lord lord in that day in that day you will ask me no question jesus said be not faithless be not faithless but believing but believing wherefore understanding wherefore understanding what the will of the lord what the will of the lord is give thanks always for all things is give thanks always for all things unto god and the father unto god and the father in the name of our lord jesus christ in the name of our lord jesus christ all things my dear brethren sisters all things my dear brethren sisters even our sorrows even our sorrows and we know that it is hard and we know that it is hard that it is his will for us that it is his will for us he that doeth the will of god he that doeth the will of god abideth forever these are the central principles of life of life and salvation and salvation fear him fear him and give him glory and give him glory the lord is in his holy temple the lord is in his holy temple at all the earth keeps silence before at all the earth keeps silence before him him how unsearchable are his judgments how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out with humility and with fear and with fear we seek his guidance and his blessing we seek his guidance and his blessing that his will that his will might become our will might become our will his will his will will surely be done the scripture gives us the promise that this is so this is so but will but will his will be done in us will we have so submitted ourselves to his sovereignty his sovereignty and humbled ourselves under his mighty and humbled ourselves under his mighty hand hand will our will will our will be found to have been aligned with his be found to have been aligned with his will will in that day when all is revealed in that day when all is revealed this is as it seems to me this is as it seems to me the central axis the central axis upon which our destiny upon which our destiny will be decided i'd like to bring you for the final part of this meditation of this meditation for the words of jesus for the words of jesus in matthew 16. in matthew 16. to consider the challenge of these words to consider the challenge of these words in the light of the in the light of the experience of the lord jesus christ experience of the lord jesus christ himself the lord jesus christ has set his face to go to jerusalem has set his face to go to jerusalem he has told his disciples he has told his disciples how that he must suffer many things of how that he must suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be killed and be raised again the third day matthew 16 and verse 24 then said jesus unto his disciples then said jesus unto his disciples if any man will come after me if any man will come after me let him deny himself let him deny himself and take up his cross and take up his cross and follow me and follow me surely surely one of the most one of the most important and cardinal principles important and cardinal principles in the teaching of jesus in the teaching of jesus every attempt every attempt to consolidate our existence in this to consolidate our existence in this present life present life every self-oriented endeavor every every self-oriented endeavor every selfishness selfishness is finally and utterly is finally and utterly self-defeating a self-indulgent life self-defeating a self-indulgent life is a pointless life is a pointless life only to the extent only to the extent that we deny ourselves and take upon that we deny ourselves and take upon ourselves his life ourselves his life do we find true fulfillment do we find true fulfillment and we find that fulfillment and we find that fulfillment in him and in finding that fulfillment in him and in finding that fulfillment we find our true selves we find our true selves in a sense it is in a sense it is the paradox of the cross the paradox of the cross the true life is incomplete the true life is incomplete and wasted and wasted unless it takes the form unless it takes the form of his life of his life this is the way my dear brother and this is the way my dear brother and sisters sisters to the destiny that god has promised for to the destiny that god has promised for us us to give him glory to give him glory and to be a partaker and to be a partaker of his nature verse 25 he that willeth to save his life 25 he that willeth to save his life shall lose it shall lose it that he that shall lose his life for my that he that shall lose his life for my sake sake and the gospels and the gospels shall save it shall save it this is the lord's method this is the lord's method for self-expression for self-development for self-expression for self-development for self-advancement for self-advancement notice notice that it is a deliberate aim that it is a deliberate aim it is an act of the will because if we wish to save our lives in this life this life to secure personal achievement success to secure personal achievement success or ambition or ambition that is of necessity that is of necessity an act of the will an act of the will to make a decision to make a decision that is what we are going to do that is what we are going to do and to search jesus says and to search jesus says the goal may indeed be reached the goal may indeed be reached but you will lose the secret of true but you will lose the secret of true fulfillment fulfillment of true happiness of true happiness and of true greatness but on the other hand he that shall lose his life he that shall lose his life there's i think a slight difference there's i think a slight difference between the opening phrase between the opening phrase and this one that begins a second part and this one that begins a second part not not wills to lose his life wills to lose his life but just simply but just simply lose lose unthinking self-abandonment unthinking self-abandonment for the sake of the lord jesus for the sake of the lord jesus not calculating the expected benefits not calculating the expected benefits or the return or the return this leads to great self-development this leads to great self-development and enrichment of character and enrichment of character the christ-like character the christ-like character it has to go through the cross before it it has to go through the cross before it can share the crown can share the crown and just as was revealed for the lord and just as was revealed for the lord jesus jesus this needs faith this needs faith it needs courage it needs courage and it needs commitment who can doubt my dear brother and sisters sisters that these words spoken by the lord that these words spoken by the lord jesus christ jesus christ in the context of he's going to in the context of he's going to jerusalem jerusalem to suffer and to die to suffer and to die and to be raised again and to be raised again are a picture for us are a picture for us of what the life of discipleship of what the life of discipleship is to be for each one of us is to be for each one of us association with the cross of christ association with the cross of christ is the only way is the only way hard that it may prove to be hard that it may prove to be but out of it but out of it will always come the highest will always come the highest and the best the hours of pain have yielded good have yielded good which prosperous days refused which prosperous days refused as herbs though scentless when entire as herbs though scentless when entire perfume the air perfume the air when bruised when bruised out of suffering out of suffering out of sorrow out of sorrow that of tribulation that of tribulation the will of god the will of god may be revealed so the cross and the carrying of the cross and the carrying of the cross are the way to salvation it is through personal faith as experienced in life experienced in life and increasingly apprehended and increasingly apprehended in all life's testing in all life's testing and trials and trials the forgiveness of the lord jesus christ the forgiveness of the lord jesus christ is available to us through his sacrifice is available to us through his sacrifice as we've been considering this week as we've been considering this week in a sense we still have to bear in a sense we still have to bear consequences of our past sins consequences of our past sins what's done cannot be undone what's done cannot be undone the wrong has been committed the wrong has been committed and in a sense its implication and in a sense its implication still stands still stands but i think nevertheless but i think nevertheless through the sacrifice of jesus through the sacrifice of jesus passed wrong passed wrong can even yet be given a new direction can even yet be given a new direction repentance will lead to humility repentance will lead to humility and humility and humility is the root of all spiritual progress is the root of all spiritual progress that sinful act now forgiven that sinful act now forgiven through repentance through repentance and confession of sin and confession of sin may lead to a patient bearing of its may lead to a patient bearing of its results results to a more watchful self-discipline to a more watchful self-discipline to a kindlier attitude towards other to a kindlier attitude towards other sinners sinners and to a greater desire and to a greater desire to help those who are sinners to help those who are sinners like ourselves like ourselves this is the way this is the way to the christ-like man to develop those to the christ-like man to develop those qualities qualities that are pleasing to god that are pleasing to god and in this sense i think and in this sense i think all cruel wrongs all unremitting all cruel wrongs all unremitting suffering suffering all desolating isolation and hardship all desolating isolation and hardship can be turned can be turned to spiritual gain to spiritual gain with the eye of faith with the eye of faith we can see them in the context of a we can see them in the context of a richer richer and a better world it is yet to be and a better world it is yet to be against all human expectation against all human expectation we will surely find that in the end we will surely find that in the end all things have worked together all things have worked together for good for good for each one of us and so tribulation and suffering and affliction and affliction may be looked upon as an integral part may be looked upon as an integral part of the pathway of experience of the pathway of experience each of us is called upon to tread each of us is called upon to tread and it will surely lead to patience and it will surely lead to patience humility humility sympathy sympathy endurance endurance steadfastness steadfastness maturity maturity and finally in the mercy of god and finally in the mercy of god to share in his glory the lord jesus christ gave himself for us us and for the ecclesia and for the ecclesia with his own blood with his own blood he bought her he bought her and for her life and for her life he died so today we look for the consummation we look for the consummation of all things of all things for the time when we will receive the for the time when we will receive the end of our faith end of our faith even the salvation even the salvation of our souls of our souls for the completion of god's purpose for the completion of god's purpose of redemption of redemption we get a picture of this we get a picture of this in revelation chapter 19 in revelation chapter 19 and the marriage of the lamb is come and the marriage of the lamb is come and the bride and the bride hath made herself ready revelation 19 and verse 5 and verse 5 and a voice came out of the throne and a voice came out of the throne saying saying praise our god all ye his servants and praise our god all ye his servants and ye that fear him ye that fear him both small and great both small and great and i heard as it were the voice of a and i heard as it were the voice of a great multitude great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thunderings and as the voice of mighty thunderings saying hallelujah saying hallelujah for the lord god omnipotent rainer for the lord god omnipotent rainer let us be glad and rejoice let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him and give honor to him for the marriage of the lamb has come for the marriage of the lamb has come and his wife have made herself and his wife have made herself ready and to her was granted that she ready and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen clean should be arrayed in fine linen clean and white and white for the fine linen is the righteousness for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints of saints and he saith unto me right and he saith unto me right blessed are they which are called unto blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the lamb the marriage supper of the lamb and he saith unto me and he saith unto me these are the true sayings these are the true sayings of god of god the end of our faith the end of our faith the salvation of our the salvation of our soul the day for which we wait soul the day for which we wait and pray and pray in faith so my dear brothers and sisters to come to the end to come to the end of our series of addresses of our series of addresses we have as it were we have as it were been from genesis been from genesis to revelation haven't we to revelation haven't we which i suppose is what you would expect which i suppose is what you would expect in a subject of so comprehensive the in a subject of so comprehensive the scope scope as the work of god as the work of god in redeeming us in redeeming us from sin from sin and reconciling us to himself by way of a postscript i'd like to read to you postscript i'd like to read to you two two very short letters very short letters as an illustration in our own time as an illustration in our own time of the spirit of christ of the spirit of christ the spirit of taking up the cross that i the spirit of taking up the cross that i think each of us are called upon think each of us are called upon to participate in these two letters are written by brother albert maths and he lived during the last war in nazi germany in nazi germany he was baptized at 23 years of age he was baptized at 23 years of age and he was formerly a catholic and he was formerly a catholic and he refused to be conscripted and he refused to be conscripted into the german army as relative his refusal he was put into a concentration camp he was put into a concentration camp for two years for two years punished and tortured punished and tortured and maltreated and maltreated for his faith and he was one of a small number of brethren sisters brethren sisters in germany at that time in germany at that time and he wrote and he wrote two letters two letters to his fellow brethren sisters in this to his fellow brethren sisters in this small ecclesia there i'd like to read small ecclesia there i'd like to read these these two letters to you two letters to you by way of conclusion military prison berlin 23rd of february 1941. 23rd of february 1941. to all my dear brethren sisters to all my dear brethren sisters it is hard for me to write to you today it is hard for me to write to you today not on my own account not on my own account but because i know this letter will but because i know this letter will cause you grief cause you grief so i beg you so i beg you not to take it too hard not to take it too hard you all know my beliefs and my hope you all know my beliefs and my hope for me to live is christ and to die is for me to live is christ and to die is gain gain so do not weep over me so do not weep over me even if the supreme punishment comes even if the supreme punishment comes upon me upon me but rather be strong and of good courage but rather be strong and of good courage as i have been condemned to death as i have been condemned to death and to be executed and to be executed the life which within me took a visible the life which within me took a visible form form we return to its source we return to its source then at the appointed time will again then at the appointed time will again take on this form take on this form if my time is now at an end and i must if my time is now at an end and i must die die then remember it is appointed unto men then remember it is appointed unto men once to die once to die and after this the judgment and after this the judgment tomorrow tomorrow i will submit a petition for mercy i will submit a petition for mercy perhaps the court will yet show mercy perhaps the court will yet show mercy towards me towards me even if not even if not i hope to be allowed to write to you i hope to be allowed to write to you once more once more think of me in your prayers and now i think of me in your prayers and now i will close in confidence in god will close in confidence in god and his kingdom and his kingdom and greet you with all my heart and greet you with all my heart yours yours albert and now i will close in confidence in god god and his kingdom and his kingdom and greet you with all my heart and greet you with all my heart yours yours albert his plea for mercy was turned down was turned down [Music] [Music] the night before the execution the night before the execution he wrote this letter he wrote this letter third of april third of april 1941 1941 [Music] [Music] to all my dear brothers and sisters to all my dear brothers and sisters i should like to employ my last hours in i should like to employ my last hours in writing to you once more writing to you once more but at the same time asking you not to but at the same time asking you not to take it too hard take it too hard for it is god's will for it is god's will john 19 verse 7 john 19 verse 7 romans 14 verse 7 romans 8 romans 14 verse 7 romans 8 isaiah 59 isaiah 59 at 5 30 a.m on friday morning at 5 30 a.m on friday morning 4th of april 4th of april my course is finished my course is finished and so my struggle is at an end and so my struggle is at an end my last wish is that you may live in my last wish is that you may live in peace peace and take care that none may be lost and take care that none may be lost oh my dear ones if only i could write oh my dear ones if only i could write down down all the thousands of things i have said all the thousands of things i have said to you to you in silent conversation in silent conversation and that i am still saying and that i am still saying you can learn much from holy scripture you can learn much from holy scripture especially from the letters of the especially from the letters of the apostles apostles from the words of jesus before his death from the words of jesus before his death recorded in john recorded in john and i hope that i shall see you all and i hope that i shall see you all again again after my awakening after my awakening so i will close now so i will close now and you will understand why i have not and you will understand why i have not written more written more it would be too much it would be too much i send you my sincere greetings i send you my sincere greetings albert albert greek greetings also greek greetings also to all the brethren sisters and to all to all the brethren sisters and to all my friends my friends the grace of the lord jesus christ be the grace of the lord jesus christ be with you all with you all whatever you may be whatever you may be be that completely be that completely not only the bright blossom but also the not only the bright blossom but also the simple leaf simple leaf is important is important in the wreath precious in the sight of the lord is the death of his saints is the death of his saints true then true then for our brother albert true for all our brothers and sisters whom we have known whom we have known and who now rest in sleep true today and who now rest in sleep true today for our beloved brother charles for our beloved brother charles and true forevermore and true forevermore until the trump of god be heard until the trump of god be heard until the ancient graves be stirred and until the ancient graves be stirred and with the great commanding word with the great commanding word our lord our lord shall come