Why the Virgin Birth?

Exodus 13:2 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘣 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘴𝘳𝘢𝘦𝘭, 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵: 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦.

Luke 2:23 (𝘈𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘣 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘺.)

Luke 1:35 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦: 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥

Was the virgin birth a necessity to keep Jesus from being tainted by any connection to Adam? I would say no.

Mary needed to be virgin so that her firstborn could be conceived of God (a holy conception) as per Luke 1:35; and then as the firstborn son of Mary and the son of God he was also sanctified by law as per Luke 2:23.

Christ was a man child and we are told he "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15), therefore from the inspired record we see Jesus, although conceived of God, every bit a man, sanctified from the womb and 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 sinning.

Jesus was the perfect sinless lamb from birth.

THE WICKED PROSPER AND THE INNOCENT SUFFER... WHY?

 

This was written by my best friend.....

“THE WICKED PROSPER AND THE INNOCENT SUFFER, WHY DOES GOD LET THIS HAPPEN?”

 
For as long as man has been around, the above question has been asked.  As far back as the 7th century BC the prophet of God, Jeremiah, asked that question: “Righteous, art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee; yet let me talk with thee of thy judgements.  Why does the way of the wicked prosper?  Why are all they happy that deal very treacherously?”

 

Even three centuries before, in the 10th century BC, the Tabernacle musician and psalmist Asaph, admits: “I was envious when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  They aren’t troubled or plagued by other men, they wear violence like a garment, they are corrupt, callous, arrogant, and their evil knows no limit.  They scoff and say, ‘God?  Who is he?’  This is what the wicked are like.  They prosper and their wealth increases.  It seems to me,” Asaph remarked, “that I have been innocent and cleansed my heart in vain for I get plagued and chastened every day.  I find all this very oppressive and I don’t understand.”

 

In the 5^th century BC, the people of the prophet Malachi’s day asked a similar question and griped about it as well.  And the LORD through Malachi told them: “Your words have been very harsh against me and yet you say, ‘What have we said against you?’  This is what you have said, says the LORD, ‘It is futile to serve God; what profit is there?  It is the proud who are happy; yes, the wicked prosper and even those who challenge God get away with it.’  But,” the prophet Malachi told the people, “the LORD does hear those who fear Him, He listens and does take notice.  A book of remembrance was written in His presence for those who think about Him and Honour Him.  ‘They shall be mine, says the LORD Almighty, in that day when I make up my treasured possession; I will spare them, as a man spares his own son.’  When the LORD returns,” continued Malachi, “You shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those that serve God and those who do not.”

 

It is apparent, the Psalmist too discovered the answer to the seeming prosperity of the wicked.  “It oppressed me,” he said, “until I went into the sanctuary.  I didn’t understand until I went into the sanctuary and the presence of God: then I understood.  I understood their final destiny.  They are on very slippery ground and will be cast down into destruction and desolation in a moment and they will be utterly consumed with terror.  When I understood this, my soul was grieved and I was pricked in my heart.  So foolish was I, and ignorant.  I was a brute beast before Thee.  And yet I am continually with Thee, you hold me with your right hand.  You shall guide me with your counsel, and my final destiny is in glory with you.  Whom have I in heaven but Thee?  There is nothing on earth I desire but Thee.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  It is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all your works.”

 

Going back to Jeremiah’s query, the LORD answered the prophet and told him that it would come to pass that He would deal with evil, “For the sword will devour from one end of the land to the other; no flesh shall have peace.  They will sow wheat but reap thorns.  They have put themselves to great pains but will not profit.”

 

The whining continues today and God still gets the blame.

 

In considering this age-old question that is still asked in our day, let’s take note of a general principle, and that is that mankind throughout the ages has either turned their backs and are contemptuous of God, or, they accept His Word but then misconstrue and misapply it.  Whichever is the case the outcome is the same: society does not apply God’s given laws for a national entity; they do not apply God’s laws for government, or His laws for crime, or for morality.  Yet even though this is the case, the interesting thing is that it is still God’s fault when things go wrong.  God gets the blame for the fact that mankind as a whole, does not carry out His divine laws.  These laws are clearly defined in the Bible.  All the laws are there for the protection of the innocent.  For example: God has put the death penalty in place for rape.  Now we know that this law is not applied and yet somehow it is still God’s fault when it happens and the usual complaint goes something like, “A poor defenceless, innocent girl does not deserve to be raped. Why does God let this happen?”  The answer is very simple.  He doesn’t.  We do.  We let it happen.  And we are accountable for it. 

 

“Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?”

 

Nobody gets away with anything.  Every detail of every human life is noted, every action, every thought, every motive, and with minute accuracy. All human sin, past present future, was imputed to Christ while he was on the Cross and he paid the penalty – “It  is finished”.  All human good is another matter, and records have been kept. Everyone will give an account of himself before the judge of all the earth, and shall not He do right?  Of course He will.  And when your day of reckoning comes and you stand before Almighty God creator of heaven and earth, to give an account of yourself; when your life’s details are weighed in the balance, you are going to be found wanting.  You will be found wanting because your evaluation won’t be compared to a rapist; the evaluation of your life won’t be weighed against a child molester, your life’s good work will be weighed in the balance against the Holy, Impeccable, Perfect life of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And I think like Apostle Paul, you will have to admit, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me?”

 

Will you be like Paul who found his deliverer? Will you too choose a far better way before it’s too late? You can opt out of facing that terrible Judgment Day. You don’t have to face the Judge who sits on the Great White Throne. You can instead come face to face right now with your Saviour, Jesus Christ, who offers you His perfect life as a gift, and God will impute that perfect life to you the moment you turn from trusting yourself to trusting Jesus. His perfect life imputed to you makes you acceptable to perfect God. Why? Because Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God – The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world; who made His soul a sin offering unto death; the Kinsman Redeemer who purchased a fallen race so that all might walk free; who died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us.

 

But of course, you may decide to leave it for now and take the chance that at that White Throne Judgment your life and the scrutiny and evaluation of it will balance the scales; that maybe you’ve somehow been good enough to tip the scales in your favour and your righteousness will outweigh or at least equal that of the perfect Son of God.  Is there much chance of that do you think?

 

There are no other options.  Mankind, made in the image of God does not have the option or ability to choose oblivion upon physical death.  You will spend eternity somewhere and the choice of ‘where’ is only made in this life on earth.  It will be too late the very moment you pass from this life to the next.  Do you want to wait and take your chance at the Great White Throne Judgment or will you accept God’s gracious gift of deliverance from that Judgment? 

 

I had better point out here, warn you, that the only people who will stand before God at the Great White Throne are those whose names are not found in the Book of Life.  Their names have been ‘blotted out’ of the Book of Life.  When God gave you life at birth your name was recorded there but if you die without Christ your name is blotted out of the Book of Life, and it won’t be found in the ‘Lamb’s Book of Life’ either, since you have rejected or ignored Jesus the Lamb of God.  You will be summoned before the Great White Throne because you chose to stand on your own merit rather than accept the gift of ‘the perfect life’ God offered you, and you will be judged from the Books of Works, and as said previously, you will be found wanting.

 

Don’t remain blinded by the god of this world.  For that is part of the problem.  Human beings are blinded by the god of this world.  If you want a short answer to the question ‘Why do the wicked prosper’ it is because Satan is the god of this world.  Adam was until The Fall, and then dominion was rightfully claimed by Satan in The Garden.  Satan is doomed however and won’t be the god of this world for much longer.  His time is just about up and so is yours and you will be doomed too if you are fool enough to follow the losing side. 

 

Don’t listen to satanic deception which comes in various guises and will cater to whatever is your desire: perhaps to die peacefully floating off into oblivion.  The Devil, Satan, is a liar and has been from the beginning; he is full of hate and seeks only to destroy, and yet human beings blindly follow him.  There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death. That is, the second death, outer darkness, of which there is no end.  The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’. 

 

Reader, listen to the still, small voice within.  Deep down, everyone knows God is in heaven, no matter how hard one may try to banish Him from existence.  Respond to that still small voice, it is your creator seeking the lost sheep and entreating them to come home.  “I am the light of the world,” says Jesus; “he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”  Jesus came into the world “to open eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins.”

 

“This is God demonstrating His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me’.”

 

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

 

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”

 

Jeremiah 12:1,12,13; Psalm 73; Malachi 3:13-18; Genesis 18:25; Romans 14:11-12; Matthew 12:36; Daniel 5:27; Romans 7:24; Isaiah 53; Romans 8:34; Revelation 3:5, 20:11-15; Proverbs 14:12; Psalm 53:1; 1 Kings 19:12; John 8:12; Acts 26:18; Romans 5:8; John 14:6; Acts 4:12, 16:31.

 

JM HUGGETT July 2001

 

 

 

 

 

SALVATION

SALVATION

 

1. Salvation is the gift of God by grace through faith.

 2. We cannot work for salvation - we must receive it as a gift. (Ephesians 2:8, 9, Romans 4:4-5)

 3. The only means of salvation is by trusting that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead.  He therefore paid the penalty for sin, and conquered death.  (Acts 16:30-31, John 3:16, 14:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

 4. We are saved so that we can serve God. (Ephesians 2:8-10)  Our good works show that we have been saved.

5. Salvation includes many other doctrines such as Imputation, Justification, Redemption, Propitiation, Reconciliation and Sanctification.

 

SALVATION – SIN – MAN’S NEED FOR SALVATION

 1. Sin means to fall short (like an arrow falling short of the target) of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

 2. Therefore, anything which does not meet God's standard of righteousness and holiness is sin.

 3. It is clear to see, then, that mankind, in his own strength, cannot achieve the righteousness of God. (Romans 3:9-10)

 4. The sin of Adam

a) Sin entered the world with Adam. (Genesis 3:1-5, Romans 5:12)

b) The penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23)

i) spiritual death - separation from God in time (Genesis 3:8)

ii) physical death - separation of the soul from the body (Genesis 3:19, 5:5)

iii) eternal death - separation from God in the Lake of Fire Revelation 20:13-14)

c) The man, Adam, as head over the woman, was therefore held responsible for sin (Romans 5:12)

d) The penalty of sin is imputed to all people, and, apparently, passed down through the male in birth.

e) Because Jesus was born of a virgin, He did not inherit the sin nature from Adam.

f) As a sinless man, He was therefore qualified to offer Himself as a sacrifice to pay the penalty of sin (death - spiritual and physical).

g) Because Christ has paid the penalty for sin for us, those who trust in Him are no longer condemned (Romans 5:19, 8:1)

 5. All of creation is corrupted as a result of sin (Genesis 3:16-19, Romans 8:20-22)

 6. Three types of sin:-

a) Adam's sin is imputed to all mankind

b) As a result, we all inherit a sinful nature

c) As a result, we therefore commit personal sins

7. Sin manifests itself in three categories:

a) Sins of action/deed

i) Examples include murder, adultery, stealing

b) Sins of the tongue/spoken

i) Examples include lying, slander, gossip, blasphemy

ii) Out of the seven "worst" sins, three are sins of the tongue. (Proverbs 6:16-19)

iii) Can result in the sin unto death. (Psalm 12:3)

iv) God protects and blesses the believer who is victimised by the sins of the tongue. (Matthew 5:11-12)

v) Troublemakers are always characterised by sins of the tongue. (Psalm 52:2)

c) Sins of the mind

i) Examples include pride, coveting, jealousy, bitterness, hatred, vindictiveness.

 8. Recovery from sin

a) When a believer sins his fellowship with God is disrupted.   The Holy Spirit is grieved, and can no longer control your life.

b) Confess the known sin. (1 John 1:9, Psalm 66:18) God forgives these sins upon confession and cleanses from the unknown sins in the believer's life as well as known sins.

c) Examine your motivation - this involves full surrender to God. (Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 13:5)

d) Move on from the sin which you have confessed. Don't get tied up with guilt - this is another sin. (Philippians 3:13-14, Psalm 103:10-12)

e) Resume your active spiritual walk. Avoid areas where you might be tempted. (Hebrews 12:12-13)

f) Be reconciled to others once you have been reconciled to God. (James 5:16)

g) In human forgiveness we are told to forgive others even as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32).

 9. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples John 13:10

a) The body is clean - we were eternally forgiven once and for all at the cross. (Hebrews 10:1-12).

b) The feet need regular washing - we must confess our sins to the Father to restore fellowship (1 John 1:9)

10. Satan constantly accuses us of our sins before God (Revelation 12:10).  However, the Lord Jesus Christ is our Advocate/Lawyer in heaven (1 John 2:1).  He pleads for us by saying that the penalty for that sin has been paid in full.

11. Names for sin include:-

a) Unbelief - denial of the truth. (John 16:9, Hebrews 3:12)

b) Lawlessness - rejection of rules of life. (1 Timothy 1:9)

c) Iniquity - evil acts. (Acts 8:22, 23)

d) Trespass - encroachment on God's authority. (Ephesians 2:1)

e) Disobedience - refusal to obey. (Hebrews 2:2)

f) Transgression - violation of law. (Luke 15:29, Galatians 3:19)

12. The sin unto death is the physical death of a believer, due to habitual unconfessed sin or rebellion against God. (1 John 5:16, 17, 1 Corinthians 11:31, 32)  Examples

a) The Corinthian Pervert - (1 Corinthians 5)

b) The Corinthians who habitually came to the Lord's table in an unworthy manner. (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)

c) Moses (Deuteronomy 32:48-52)

d) Achan (Joshua 7:16-26)

e) Ananias and Sapphire (Acts 5:1 -11)

 13. There is only one sin which can't be forgiven - the unpardonable sin - rejection of Jesus Christ.

a) It is based upon rejection of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour. Genesis  6:3,  John 16:7-11,  Hebrews 10:29.

b) Synonyms for the unpardonable sin are: wilful sin  Hebrews 10:26-31, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit  Matthew  12:31,  resisting the Holy Spirit  Acts 7:51,  insulting the Holy Spirit  Hebrews 10:29

 14. The first recorded sin was that of Satan - pride (Isaiah 14:12-14)

 15. God is not the author of sin nor the author of temptation. It is incompatible with the nature of God for Him to create sin because of His divine character.  (James 1:13).

 16. Temptation comes from the world, the flesh (sin nature within man), or Satan.  If he entertains the sin, man then chooses to sin - sin is therefore a result of man's own free will. (James 1:14)

 

 

SALVATION – SIN – BARRIER BETWEEN MAN AND GOD

 

INTRODUCTION

 1. The Character of God:

a) God is sovereign, absolute righteousness, justice, love, eternal life, all powerful, all knowing everywhere, unchangeable and truth.

b) God is one in essence but three in personality:  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three personalities have the same essence.

c) God the Father is the planner of man's salvation; God the Son is the executor of the plan of salvation, and God the Holy Spirit is the revealer of this plan.

2. God's Divine Plan:

a) A conference was held in eternity past between God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Divine Planning) whereby it was made possible for man to have fellowship with God.

b) God's foreknowledge recognised a barrier would exist in time and that all people would be behind this barrier. (Romans 3:23)

c) Sin is a failure to measure up to God's perfect righteousness, a failure to possess "The perfect righteousness". Man cannot remove this barrier. God's Righteousness and Justice must be satisfied before His love can come to man.

d) God the Father is the author of a plan whereby He decided to treat the human race on the basis of Grace (all the Father does for us). Grace is receiving a gift. It is undeserved and unmerited, and contrary to all human concepts.

e) God the Son removed the barrier by His death on the cross. We receive Him as our personal Saviour, and perfect righteousness is credited to us. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

 

AN EXPLANATION OF THE BARRIER AND ITS REMOVAL

 1. Problem of Sin:

a) Sin exists in three categories:  imputed sin, (all sinned when Adam sinned) inherent sin (the sinful nature) personal sin (sins committed).

b) Man is a sinner because Adam sinned and passed down the sin nature to the human race. The penalty of sin is spiritual death (Romans 5:12, 6:23) Every member of the human race is a sinner as far as God is concerned. (Romans 3:23)

c) In John 8:31-32 Jesus Christ addressed the Jews who believed on Him and told them to go on in truth and use what He provided. Truth sets us free from the Mosaic Law to serve the Lord and operate in grace.

d) The unbelieving, religious Jews (v 33) said they were Abraham's seed and not in bondage. They were actually in bondage to the Roman Empire, their religious leaders, and the Mosaic Law. He told them about the bondage of sin.

e) They are all born in the slavery of sin, for no member of the human race can free himself or other members of the human race. Jesus Christ became true humanity to liberate the human race. He was born outside the slavery of sin by the virgin birth as the God-Man. He paid the price for freedom of the human race - this is redemption.

2. Solution to the Problem of Sin:  Redemption and Atonement:

a) The "son abides in the house forever" (John 8:35), for Jesus Christ is "the son". He is eternal life and holy and when man believes on Him man is free and enters into union with Jesus Christ. Christianity is a relationship to Jesus Christ, not a religion.

b) The purchase price of our redemption is His blood (1 Peter 1:18,19, Ephesians 1:7, Revelation 1:5, Hebrews 9:11-14, Galatians 3:13) , representing His death. Jesus Christ bore the sins of the whole world (past, present and future) on the cross.

c) God is absolute righteousness and justice; the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23, Colossians 2:14). Jesus Christ cancelled the "IOU" the human race owed God. The human race owes God perfect righteousness.

d) God is perfect righteousness and we cannot pay perfect righteousness. Jesus Christ died on the cross, paying the penalty of our sins. This is expiation (Romans 5:8)

e) The doctrines of Redemption and Expiation are found in Psalm 22:1-6. God the Father and Holy Spirit left the Son because He was bearing our sins on the cross. (Matthew 27:46)

 3. The Problem of the Penalty of Sin solved by Expiation (Colossians 2:14)(Romans 6:23)

a) Expiation and Propitiation are two sides of the same coin with propitiation being in relation to God while expiation looks at the problem from man’s side.

b) By expiation the offence which renders the person guilty in the sight of God is covered from the eyes of God by the effective dealing with the problem by propitiation.

4. The Problem of Physical Birth (John 3) and its Solution:  Regeneration:(John 3:1-15)

a) Nicodemus (v 1) was a Pharisee. He was a very religious man, attending church three times a day and praying seven times a day. He was sincere and was a product of "salvation by works".

b) He was also a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night because he was too busy during the day doing "good". (v 2)

c) He called Jesus Rabbi or "Doctor". He admitted more than most Pharisees for he said they knew Jesus came from God, for no one could keep doing the miracles He did except God was with Him. (v 2)

d) Jesus interrupted, knowing his problem. "Except a man be born again". Nicodemus needed to be born again. (v 3)

e) Why is the new birth necessary? Man is born in this world with a soul (ability to understand and categorize human phenomena), a conscience (standard by which we judge right or wrong), and a sin nature (the source of all personal sins). The human spirit is inactivated. We are born physically alive and capable of having fellowship with members of the human race, but we are spiritually dead and cannot have fellowship with God (Ephesians 2:1). We need to be born again.

f) Nicodemus' response (v 4). He cannot think in terms of spiritual things for he has no human spirit. He asked if he could be born again physically.

g) The new birth is a spiritual birth (v 5), so Jesus Christ uses spiritual language, - water.

i) The context determines the meaning of "water" (1) Salvation - (Isaiah 55:1, Revelation 22:17) (2) God the Holy Spirit - (John 7:37-39) (3) God's Word - (1 Peter 1:23, Ephesians 5:26, James 1:18)

ii) Here "water" is used symbolically for God's Word. The new birth is a spiritual birth. The Kingdom of God is the kingdom of eternal relationship with God.

h) Contrast of two births (v 6). "That which is born of the flesh is flesh (physical birth). That which is born of the Spirit is spirit (spiritual birth)." Nicodemus should not be surprised (v 7). He needed to be born again.

i) The illustration (v 8) the wind. It can be heard but not seen. The new birth is not visible. Nicodemus still does not understand (v 9).

j) Jesus Christ used sarcasm (v 10,11) to shock Nicodemus. He is a doctor of divinity and does not understand. The Trinity ("we") knows what they speak (all knowing). Nicodemus does not have an open mind.

k) No member of the human race (v 13) ever ascended, but Jesus Christ who came from heaven (as the God Man). As God He is everywhere, and as God and Man, Jesus Christ is on earth at the same time.

l) How to be born again (v 14,15). Jesus Christ refers to (Numbers 21:4-9) the incident of the brazen serpent which was raised on a pole. This pictures Jesus Christ hanging on the cross bearing the sins of the world. (Colossians 2:14,15)

m) The result (v 15). Whoever believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish but have eternal life. The problem of physical birth is removed by the new birth. We are born spiritually by regeneration or the new birth.

 5. Problem of Human Righteousness and Its Solution:  Justification and Imputation:

a) Man has no righteousness in himself as far as God's viewpoint is concerned although he may be more righteous than other members of the human race when he compares himself with them. (Isaiah 64:6)

b) God is absolute righteousness and He cannot have fellowship with us when we have human righteousness. Good deeds put us more in debt to God. (Romans 4:1-4)

c) Perfect or absolute righteousness is credited or imputed to us at the moment of salvation. (2 Corinthians 5:21) -imputation.

d) We are justified or made righteous on the basis of the absolute righteousness which God gives us.

6. Problem of the Character of God and Its Solution:  Propitiation and Reconciliation.

a) Propitiation is an act of God whereby He is satisfied with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus Christ satisfied the righteousness and justice of God.

b) Reconciliation looks at the cross from man's viewpoint. Man is reconciled to God. God is never said to be reconciled. Propitiation looks at the cross from God's viewpoint.

 7. Problem of Position in Adam and Its Solution:  Positional in Christ

a) At the moment of salvation we enter into union with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:38,39, 2 Corinthians 5:17). This is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13)

b) By our first birth we are "in Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:22). By the new birth we share Christ's eternal life, His righteousness, His destiny, His sonship, His priesthood. etc. Everything He is, we are-, and all He has, we have.

c) Christianity is a relationship to Jesus Christ that cannot change. The barrier between God and man has been removed by Jesus Christ on the cross.

d) The issue now is the person of Jesus Christ. He has solved the problem of sin in the human race.

 

SUMMARY OF THE BARRIER AND ITS REMOVAL

 

BARRIER                               WORK OF CHRIST

 SIN

(Romans 3:23)                                     Redemption (1 Corinthians 1:29-30, Colossians 1:14)

                                                                Atonement (1 John 2:2, 2 Peter 2:1)

PENALTY                                              Expiation (Colossians 2:14)

(Romans 6:23)

 BIRTH                                                    Regeneration (John 3:3, Galatians 3:26, John 1:11-12)

(John 3:6)

 CHARACTER OF GOD                       Propitiation (1 John 2:2, Romans 3:25)

(Romans 3:23)

 RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MAN             Justification (Romans 3:24, Romans 5:1)

(Isaiah 64:6)                                         Imputation (Romans 3:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

 LIFE                                                        Position in Christ (1 John 5:11-12)

(1 Corinthians 15:22)

 

SALVATION – ATONEMENT – UNLIMITED ATONEMENT

 

1.. Definition:

a) The totally effective work of Christ on the cross to pay the penalty of sin on behalf of mankind.

b) Atonement as a noun means reconciliation after enmity and includes reparation made for wrong or injury.

c) The verb has several related meanings such as to be at one, to be in accordance, to make reparation or amends, to make up for errors or deficiencies, to reconcile.

d) In the Old Testament, the true meaning of atonement is related to the Hebrew verb "to pass over, to cover" - it is also the word for 'pitch' used to seal Noah's Ark.

2. In Old Testament times, animal sacrifices were used to cover sin.

a) God forgave and restored where sin was covered by the blood of animal sacrifices.

b) However, the true basis for atonement was not found in these animal sacrifices.  This is why the sacrifices needed to be repeated time and time again.

c) Animal sacrifices were used as a cover for sin until the true sacrifice, Jesus Christ, could be offered on the cross.

 d) Atonement in the Old Testament refers to the use of animal sacrifices to picture the saving work of Christ.

e) The two concepts of atonement (Old and New Testament) are brought together in Romans 3:23-26)

 3. Atonement is unlimited

a) When Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for sins he paid for the sins of the entire human race, not just the elect. (Romans 5:6, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 1 Timothy 2:6, 4:10, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:2)

b) "Limited Atonement", the concept that Christ died for believers only is incorrect.

 4. Unlimited Atonement eliminates sin in the unbelievers' indictment at the Last Judgement.

a) When Christ died on the cross, He was judged for all sins of the human race.

b) Therefore the issue in salvation is not sin, but faith in Christ.  People choose either to accept the work of Christ (John 3:18,36), or their own "good" works to gain the approval of God.

c) Therefore, human good will be the basis of the unbelievers' indictment at the Last Judgement. (Revelation 20:12)

  

 

SALVATION – EXPIATION AND PROPITIATION

 1. Expiation and Propitiation are two sides of the same coin with propitiation being in relation to God while expiation looks at the problem from man’s side.

 2. By expiation the offence which renders the person guilty in the sight of God is covered from the eyes of God by the effective dealing with the problem by propitiation.

3. The Mercy Seat (the top of the Ark of the Covenant) in the Tabernacle was the place of propitiation.

 4. The concept of the Mercy Seat must be understood in the light of the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-22, 37:1-9).

 5. The Ark of the Covenant was a wooden box (45" x 27" x 27") constructed of acacia wood (the humanity of Christ) overlaid with gold (the Deity of Christ).

 6. Contents of the Ark: the golden pot of manna, the tablets of stone and Aaron's rod that budded (Hebrews 9:4). The tablets of stone represented man's transgressions against God's perfect standard, the rod that budded stood for man's rebellion against established authority, the pot of manna showed man's rejection of divine provision.

 7. The content of the Ark is a picture of Christ bearing our sins in His body on the tree (2 Corinthians 5:21).

8. The Mercy Seat was a solid gold lid which fitted over the ark and bore two golden cherubs, one on each end representing God's holiness (Hebrews 9:5).

 9. Once every year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered twice into the Holy of Holies with a bowl of blood (once for his own sins and once for the sins of the people) (Hebrews 9:7). He sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat. God's righteousness and justice were satisfied.

 10. Because of propitiation, or satisfaction of His holy character, God is free to love the believer.

 11. The Mercy Seat represented propitiation with emphasis on the person of Jesus Christ, our own great High Priest.

12. "Mercy Seat" in Hebrews 9:5 has the same concept as the word propitiation (Gk. hilasterion) in Romans 3:25.

 13. Propitiation is used to express the true and perfect love of God for all believers regardless of their status (1John 4:10).

 14. Propitiation is used to relate the person of Christ and the "covering" of God's character (Romans 3:25).

 

SALVATION – IMPUTATION

 1. Abraham is the pattern of imputation of divine righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

 2. Divine righteousness is imputed only on the basis of faith in Christ. (Romans 3:22)

3. Many Gentiles of Old Testament times found God's righteousness by believing in Christ while many Jews, relying on the Law, missed imputation. (Romans 9:30-33)

 4. Imputation is the basis of Justification. (Romans 4:22, 5:1)

 5. Imputation encourages faith in Christ. (Romans 4:24, 25)

 6. Imputation is based on the work of Christ on the Cross. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

  

SALVATION – JUSTIFICATION

 1. Justification means "vindication", therefore it is the judicial act of God whereby he imputes His righteousness to the new believer at the point of salvation, thereby justifying him. (2 Corinthians 5:21

 2. Salvation justification occurs at the moment of faith in Christ. (Romans 3:28, 5:1, Galatians 3:24)

 3. Salvation justification is based on the principle of grace. (Romans 3:24, Titus 3:7)

 4. Therefore salvation justification does not occur through the Mosaic Law. (Romans 3:20, 28, Galatians 2:16)

5. Salvation justification is the imputation of divine righteousness to the one believing in Christ. (Genesis 15:6, Romans 3:22, 4:4, 5, 16, 8:30-32)

 6. The work of justification was accomplished by Christ on the cross. (Romans 5:8, 9)

7. Because the work for our justification was accomplished on the cross, Christ was resurrected to relate justification to victory. (Romans 4:25)

8. Post salvation or Christian life justification is the production of maturity. (James 2:21-25)

  

SALVATION – RECONCILIATION

 1. Reconciliation is the removal of the barrier between God and man, or peace between God and man. While redemption is sinward and propitiation is Godward, reconciliation is manward. (2 Corinthians 5:18, Ephesians 2:16, Colossians 1:20, 21)

 2. Reconciliation and the blood of Christ.

a) The blood of Christ is a synonym for the saving work of Christ on the Cross and the basis for reconciliation. (Colossians 1:20)

b) Hence the work of the Cross is associated with reconciliation. (Ephesians 2:16)

 3. Reconciliation and Mankind: mankind is regarded as the enemy of God, and needs to be reconciled to God  (Romans 5:10, Colossians 1:2 1)

4. Peace, a synonym for reconciliation, reconciliation finds man the enemy of God, but the saving work of Christ on the Cross gives peace between God and man. (Ephesians 2:14 cf. 2:16 cf. Colossians 1:20)

 

5. Reconciliation portrayed in the Levitical Offerings:  the peace offering of Leviticus 3 depicts reconciliation or Christ's removing the barrier between God and man. (Leviticus 7:11-38, 8:15)

6. Application of reconciliation to the Church Age believer:  every member of the Body of Christ is an ambassador representing Christ on earth. Therefore each member of the Body of Christ has the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

 7. The prophecy of reconciliation. (Isaiah 57:19)

8. The means of reconciliation - the removal of the barrier:

a) Sin removed by unlimited atonement. (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15, 18, 1 Timothy 2:6, 4:10, Titus 2:11, Hebrews 2:9, 1 John 2:2)

b) Penalty of Sin removed by expiation. (Psalm 22:1-6, Colossians 2:14)

c) Problem of physical birth removed by regeneration. (John 3:1-18, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:23)

d) Relative righteousness removed by imputation. (Romans 3:22, 9:30, 10:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9, Hebrews 10:14) and justification (Romans 4:1-5, 4:25, 5:1, 8:29, 30, Galatians 2:16, Titus 3:7)

9. The barrier of God's perfect character removed by propitiation. (Romans 3:22-26, 1 John 2:1, 2)

 10. Problem of position in Adam removed by positional sanctification. (1 Corinthians 15:22, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1:3-6)

 

SALVATION – REDEMPTION

1. Redemption is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ towards sin. The implications of the Greek words (lutron, lutrosis, apolutrosis, antilutrosis) is ransom, redeem, pay money to set a slave free, pay a price, or (exagorazo) purchase from the slave market (of sin).

2. The principle of redemption is found in (John 8:31-36).

 3. The Lord paid the price for us, redeeming us from the slave market of sin by his perfect sacrifice for sin on the cross. Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14.

 4. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only qualified redeemer. Through His virgin birth he has no inherited Old Sin Nature, by His perfect life He had no acquired sin or sin nature, and through His hypostatic union He is equal with both parties: God and man. Isaiah 53:9, John 8:46, 19:4, 2Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 1:3,4:15,7:25,28, 1 Timothy 3:16.

 5. In the Old Testament redemption was taught by means of the shed blood of an animal sacrifice. Hebrews 9:22, Job 5:19,25,26.

 6. Blood was the purchase price for redemption. Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, 1 Peter 1:18,19. The blood of Christ relates this work of redemption to that which was pictured in these Old Testament sacrifices. 2 Corinthians 5:21.

 7. The soul of the believer not the body is redeemed. Psalm 34:22, Matthew 8:17.

8. Redemption removes the demands of the Old Testament Law. Galatians 3:13,10, 4:4-6.

 9. Redemption is a doctrine which the believer can apply in times of pressure and catastrophe (Job 19:25,26), thereby finding both blessing and happiness.

10. Redemption results in adoption (Gal 4:4-6).

 11. Redemption provides the basis for the believer's eternal inheritance (Heb 9:15).

12. The blood of Christ is the ransom money or the purchase price of redemption (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; 1 Peter 1:13,19; 1 John 1:7).

 13. Redemption includes forgiveness of sin (Heb 9:22).

 14. Redemption provides the basis of justification and immediate cleansing at salvation (Rom 3:24).

15. Redemption is the basis of our cleansing from sin during our Christian walk. (Lev 4:5; 6:1-6; 1 John 1:7,9).

 

 

SALVATION – REGENERATION:  BORN AGAIN

 1. General Scripture - (John 3:5-8) 'Ye must be born again [born from above]  (v7). You are born of the Spirit. (v8) We then become new creatures in Christ.

 2. Natural man cannot understand spiritual phenomenon (1 Corinthians 2:14). He lacks the ability to enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:5). They are unable to please God. (Romans 8:7, 8)

 3. New birth is a creation of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10, 4:24). Through the Holy Spirit we become aware that we are joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:16, 17)

 4. The requirement for the new birth is belief on Christ, that He is crucified and risen. (John 1:12, 3:16-18,36). New birth occurs at the instant of belief.

 5. Through new birth (Regeneration) the believer lives in Christ, and Christ in the believer. (Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:10, 4:24, 1 Peter 1:23-25, 1 John 5:10-12).

 6. Once you are born you cannot be unborn.

  

SALVATION – SAINTS

 1. Definition - a saint is a sanctified one - a person made holy - they are not sinless perfection or absolutely holy. They are sanctified in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:2)

 2. At the point of salvation a believer is sanctified positionally, (see topic sanctification) (Hebrews 10:14) Christians therefore, become saints at the point of salvation.

 3. Our Christian walk in the power of the Spirit allows us to live "as becometh Saints." (Romans 16:2; 1 Corinthians 1-2) This is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Be ye perfect as God is perfect.

 4. We are called Saints of God (Romans 1:1-7) not by man or because of our works. God only is able to make saints, leaders of denominations cannot.

  

SALVATION – SANCTIFICATION

1. Sanctification means to be made holy - to be set apart unto God.  One who is sanctified is called a saint.

 2. We are sanctified (made holy) in Christ Jesus (1Corinthians 1:2).

 3. Sanctification is in three stages:

a) Stage 1:  At salvation - union with Christ - positional sanctification (1Corinthians 12:13, Romans 1:1-7).

b) Stage 2:  Christian way of life - filling of the Holy Spirit - spirituality (Romans 16:2; 1Corinthians 1-2).

c) Stage 3:  Resurrection body - In heaven - Ultimate sanctification (1John 3:2).

 4. Our position in Christ entitles us to share Christ's righteousness.  It therefore:

a) protects us from divine judgement (Romans 8:1)

b) qualifies us to live with God forever

c) makes us a new creature in Christ (2Corinthians 5:17)

d) guarantees eternal security for every believer (Romans 8:38, 39).

 5.  However, because we still have the old sin nature, we will still sin during this life (Romans 7:21).  When controlled by his carnal nature however, the believer is positionally sanctified but experientially carnal.

 6.  When we receive the resurrection body, we no longer sin - our sanctification will be complete (1Corinthians 15:56, Philippians 3:21, 1Thessalonians 5:23).