Thursday, August 22, 2013

Adam Brought Death, Jesus Brings Life


               "Christ is much more powerful to save than Adam was to destroy."
                                                                                 John Calvin


                                                                      *************
                                       "Therefore just as sin came into the world
                                         through one man (Adam), and death through
                                         sin, and so death spread to all men because
                                         all sinned -- for sin indeed was in the world
                                         before the law was given, but sin is not counted
                                         where there is no law.

                                         Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even
                                          over those whose sinning was not like the
                                          transgression of Adam, who was a type of the
                                          one (Jesus) who was to come."
                                                                                Romans 5:12-14


                                                          

          From John MacArthur's (J.M.) ESV Commentary:


                                               EVERYONE HAS A SINFUL NATURE

                            "Adam passed to all his descendants the inherent sinful nature
                              he possessed because of his disobedience.

                              That nature is present from the moment of conception,
                              making it impossible for man to live in a way that pleases God.

                                                     'Behold I was brought forth in iniquity,
                                                      and in sin did my mother conceive me.'
                                                                                  Psalm 51:5


                              When Adam sinned, all mankind sinned in his loins.
                              Since his sin transformed his inner nature and brought
                              spiritual death and depravity, that sinful nature would be
                              passed on seminally to his posterity as well.

                              Adam was not originally subject to death, but through his
                              sin it became a grim certainty for him and his posterity.

                              Death has three distinct manifestations:

                                   1. Spiritual death and separation from God

                                        'And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
                                        in which you once walked ...'
                                                                Ephesians 2:1-2a

                                   2. Physical death

                                        'And just as it is appointed for man to die once ...'
                                                                 Hebrews 9:27

                                   3. Eternal death (also called the second death), which
                                       includes not only eternal separation from God, but
                                       eternal torment in the lake of fire.

                                          'And if anyone's name was not found written
                                          in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.'
                                                                   Revelation 20:15


                               Because all humanity existed in the loins of Adam,
                               and have through procreation inherited his fallenness
                               and depravity, it can be said that all sinned in him.

                               Therefore, humans are not sinners because they sin,
                               but rather they sin because they are sinners.'


                                 SIN WAS NOT COUNTED WHERE THERE WAS NO LAW


                               'Though all were regarded as sinners, because there was no
                                explicit list of commands, there was no strict accounting of
                                their specific points of violation. 

                                The phrase 'where there is no law' refers to the period from
                                Adam to Moses, when God had not yet given the Mosaic law.

                                 But even without the law, death was universal.  All men from
                                 Adam to Moses were subject to death, not because of their
                                 sinful acts against the Mosaic law (which they did not yet have),
                                 but because of their own inherited sinful nature.

                                 Both Adam and Christ were similar in that their acts affected many
                                 others." (J.M.)


                                                           ***************


                                         'But the free gift is not like the trespass.
                                           For if many died through one man's
                                           trespass, much more have the grace of
                                           God and the free gift by the grace of that
                                           one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

                                           And the free gift is not like the result of that
                                           one man's sin.  For the judgment following
                                           one trespass brought condemnation, but the
                                           free gift following many trespasses brought
                                           justification.

                                           For if, because of one man's trespass, death
                                           reigned through that one man, much more
                                           will those who receive the abundance of grace
                                           and the free gift of righteousness reign in life
                                           through the one man Jesus Christ.'
                                                                           Romans 5:15-17


                                        CONDEMNATION AND JUSTIFICATION


                         J.M. continues:

                                  'Paul used the word 'many' with two distinct meanings.
                                  He has already established that all men, without exception,
                                  bear the guilt of sin and are therefore subject to death.

                                  So the 'many' who die must refer to all Adam's descendants.
                                  The words 'much more' refers to the fact that Christ's one act
                                  of redemption was immeasurably greater than Adam's one act
                                  of condemnation.

                                  Adam brought upon all men the condemnation for only one
                                  offense -- his sinful act of disobedience.

                                  Christ, however, delivers the elect from the condemnation of
                                  many offenses.

                                   Adam's sin brought universal death, while Christ's sacrifice
                                   brought salvation to those who believe.

                                   Unlike Adam's act, Christ's act has - and will - accomplish
                                   exactly what He intended, i.e. spiritual life.'

                                              
                                                      'And I am sure of this, that He who began
                                                       a good work in you will bring it to completion
                                                       at the day of Jesus Christ.'
                                                                                       Philippians 1:6

                                                      'But God, being rich in mercy, because of
                                                      the great love with which He loved us,
                                                      even when we were dead in our trespasses,
                                                      made us alive together with Christ - by grace
                                                      you have saved ... through faith, and this is
                                                      not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
                                                      not a result of works, so that no one can boast.
                                                                                         Ephesians 2:4-5,8-9
                                                                                       

                                        RIGHTEOUSNESS ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST


                                                     'Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation
                                                      for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to
                                                      justification and life for all men.

                                                      For as by the one man's disobedience the many
                                                      were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience
                                                      the many will be made righteous.

                                                      Now the law came in to increase the trespass,
                                                      but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
                                                      so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might
                                                      reign though righteousness leading to eternal life
                                                      through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
                                                                                            Romans 5:18-21


                                  J.M. continues:

                                            'The phrase 'one act of righteousness' is not a reference to a
                                             single event, but generally to Christ's obedience, culminating
                                             in the greatest demonstration of that obedience, death on a cross.

                                                                   'And being found in human form,
                                                                    He humbled Himself by becoming
                                                                    obedient to the point of death,
                                                                    even death on a cross.'
                                                                                               Philippians 2:8

                                              'The phrase, 'justification and life for all men,' cannot mean
                                               that all men will be saved; salvation is only for those who
                                               exercise faith in Jesus Christ.

                                                                    'But now the righteousness of God
                                                                     has been manifested apart from the law,
                                                                     although the Law and Prophets bear
                                                                     witness to it -- the righteousness of God
                                                                     through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.'
                                                                                                    Romans 3:21-22

                                               Rather, like the word 'many' in verse 15, Paul is using 'all'
                                               with two different meanings for the sake of parallelism,
                                               a common practice in the Hebrew Old Testament.'


                             (As in the earlier passage, the word 'many' has two meanings,
                             that Adam's sin brought death for all who aren't in Jesus Christ,
                             and Christ's obedience brought life for all who ARE in Him.

                             So also, the word, 'all' here (Romans 5:18) has two meanings.
                             The one trespass of Adam brought condemnation for all who
                             aren't in Jesus Christ, Christ's act of obedience brings life for
                             all who ARE in Him).

                             'Although the Mosaic law is not flawed,

                                                ('So the law is holy, and the commandment
                                                  is holy and righteous and good.' Romans 7:12),

                              its presence caused man's sin to increase.  Thus it made men more
                              aware of their own sinfulness and inability to keep God's perfect
                              standard, and it served as a tutor to drive them to Christ.'

                                                 'So then, the law was our guardian until Christ
                                                  came, in order that we might be justified by faith.'
                                                                                  Galatians 3:24


                                                       ******************


                               Adam's transgression brought condemnation and death for all
          who are not in Christ, while Jesus' act of obedient sacrifice brought justification
          and life for all who believe.


                                        'God the Father entered into an eternal covenant with God
                                         the Son; He made Christ the head, the representative of the
                                         elect, as Adam was the head, the representative of all his seed.

                                         For these, Jesus Christ, died a painful, cursed, ignominious death;
                                         and by His obedience, and by His death, wrought out an ever-
                                         lasting righteousness for them.'
                                                                                             George Whitefield


                                                         
            
                                         




                                                    
                


                           

Monday, August 19, 2013

Beware False Teachers

                                 "They (false prophets) are the judgment of God
                                   upon a wicked, defiled people, who although
                                   they have a knowledge of God, they do not want
                                   Him.

                                   And so God sends them the teachers that they
                                   themselves desire."
                                                                             Paul Washer


                                                          ***********

                                                      FALSE TEACHERS


          Seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, we can turn on the TV and see preachers
     delivering false teaching to their congregations and viewers.  It's a shame, but it
     seems there are more television evangelists who preach unbiblical gospels such
     as the "prosperity gospel," or the "word faith movement," or "health and wealth"
     teachings, than there are preachers who faithfully deliver God's word.

          Their message rarely if ever includes mention of sin, or repentance, or God's
     wrath and forgiveness, or substitutionary atonement.  They preach a "what can God
     do for me?" kind of gospel, instead of the true gospel of Jesus Christ; that Jesus died for
     sinners, and rose from the dead, and gives eternal life to everyone who repents
     and trusts in Him for salvation.

          We, as believers, need to show discernment and test these preachers
     we allow into our homes via our televisions and radios, and the internet.  Are
     they preaching the true gospel, or are they bringing a message that people
     want to hear, one that is pleasant and positive, but not necessarily biblical?

           One that says that God will bless us with good health and prosperity if
     we just have enough faith; a faith that often requires a donation to the ministry,
     for the blessing to come.  And somehow, most of these evangelists seem to be
     "very blessed," because they have big houses and plenty of money (that comes
     from those who donate, so they themselves will receive God's mercy).

           
                                                        *************

                                 DON'T SUPPORT THEM, BUT PRAY FOR THEM

          If the preacher is teaching any of these man made doctrines that are unbiblical,
     we need to turn off the TV, and stop supporting these ministries.  It saddens me to
     see so many people sitting there in the audience saying "amen," and affirming what
     is being said by these men and women who do not have their best interests in mind.

          We should pray that God would open their eyes to the truth, and that these false
     teachers would be granted repentance, and that they would stop preaching their
     unbiblical messages, and embrace the true gospel of the Bible.
    

                                                       **************

                                     TESTIFY AND SUFFER, IF NECESSARY

          Paul, languishing in a cold dungeon, wrote to his "son," Timothy, encouraging
     him to continue preaching the gospel, and to persevere in the faith he had been
     granted by God.

                                         
                                              "So do not be ashamed to testify about
                                               our Lord, or ashamed of me His prisoner.
                                              
                                               But join with me in suffering for the gospel,
                                               by the power of God, who has saved us and
                                               called us to a holy life - not because of any-
                                               thing we have done but because of His own
                                               purpose and grace.

                                               This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before
                                               the beginning of time, but it has now been
                                               revealed through the appearing of our Savior,
                                               Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has
                                               brought life and immortality to light through
                                               the gospel."
                                                                               2 Timothy 1:8-10


                                                       **************

                            DEPEND ON THE SCRIPTURE WHICH IS GOD-BREATHED


          Paul urged Timothy to continue in what he had learned and become convinced of,
     the gospel, even through persecution and suffering, and the fact that many would try to
     deceive people through false teachings.

                                               "In fact, everyone who wants to live a
                                                godly life in Christ Jesus will be
                                                persecuted, while evil men and impostors
                                                will go from bad to worse, deceiving
                                                and being deceived.

                                                But as for you, continue in what you have
                                                learned and have become convinced of,
                                                because you know those from whom you
                                                have learned it, and how from infancy you
                                                have known the holy Scriptures, which are
                                                able to make you wise for salvation through
                                                faith in Christ Jesus.

                                                All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
                                                teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in
                                                righteousness, so that the man of God may be
                                                thoroughly equipped for every good work."
                                                                                          2 Timothy 3:12-17


                                                        ***************

                                                        PREACH THE WORD


             Paul charged Timothy to continue to preach the gospel, even though many
     would turn away from it and embrace false doctrines and myths, that satisfied
     their "itching ears."  They would rather hear the message of deceivers, than
     hear the true message from the word of God.

                                                "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
                                                 who will judge the living and the dead,
                                                 and in view of His appearing and His
                                                 kingdom, I give you this charge:

                                                     Preach the Word; be prepared in season
                                                     and out of season; correct, rebuke, and
                                                     encourage - with great patience and
                                                     careful instruction.

                                                     For the time will come when men will not
                                                     put up with sound doctrine.  Instead to suit
                                                     their own desires, they will gather around
                                                     them a great number of teachers to say what
                                                     their itching ears want to hear.

                                                     They will turn their ears away from the truth
                                                     and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your
                                                     head in all situations, endure hardship, do the
                                                     work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties
                                                     of your ministry."
                                                                                    2 Timothy 4:1-5





                                       
    


                        

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Christ's Life Saves

                                          "We must see that the righteousness of Christ
                                            that is transferred to us is the righteousness
                                            He achieved by living under the Law for
                                            thirty-three years without once sinning.

                                           Jesus had to live a life of obedience before
                                           His death could mean anything.  He had to
                                           acquire, if you will, merit at the bar of justice.

                                           Without His life of sinless obedience, Jesus'
                                           atonement would have had no value at all.
                                           We need to see the crucial significance of
                                           this truth; we need to see that not only did
                                           Jesus die for us, He lived for us."
                                                                              R. C. Sproul


                                                               *************


          The Bible makes it clear that Jesus committed no sin, and His sinless life
     qualified Him to be the perfect sacrifice to save His people.  He lived a flawless
     life, one without any transgressions against God.


                                                "For you know that it was not with perishable
                                                 things such as silver or gold that you were
                                                 redeemed from the empty way of life handed
                                                 down to you from your forefathers, but with the
                                                 precious blood of Christ, a lamb, without
                                                 blemish or defect."
                                                                                  1 Peter 1:18-19


                                                "For we do not have a high priest who is unable
                                                 to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have
                                                 one who has been tempted in every way, just as
                                                 we are, yet was without sin."
                                                                                    Hebrews 4:15

                                                 "Such a high priest meets our need - one who is holy,
                                                  blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above
                                                  the heavens."
                                                                                     Hebrews 7:26

                                                 "But you know that He appeared so that He might
                                                  take away our sins. And in Him is no sin."
                                                                                     1 John 3:5


                                                                     *************

          Jesus totally submitted to His Father's will that He suffer and die for the sins
     of His people.  He is the only way to the Father and eternal life.


                                                [Jesus said],

                                                        "For I have come down from heaven not
                                                          to do my will but to do the will of Him
                                                          who sent me.

                                                          And this is the will of Him who sent me,
                                                          that I shall lose none of those He has
                                                          given me, but raise them up at the last day.

                                                          For my Father's will is that everyone who
                                                          looks to the Son and believe in Him shall
                                                          have eternal life, and I will raise him up
                                                          at the last day."
                                                                                        John 6:38-40


                                                               **************


                                                "During the days of Jesus' life on earth,
                                                 He offered up prayers and petitions with
                                                 loud cries and tears to the one who could
                                                 save Him from death, and He was heard
                                                 because of his reverent submission."

                                                 Although He was a son, he learned obedience
                                                 from what He suffered and, once made
                                                 perfect, He became the source of eternal
                                                 salvation for all who obey Him and was
                                                designated by God to be high priest in the
                                                order of Melchizedek."
                                                                                    Hebrews 5:7-10


                 John MacArthur writes:

                            "Christ did not need to suffer in order to conquer or correct any
     disobedience.  In His deity, as the Son of God, He understood obedience completely.

                             As the incarnate Lord, He humbled Himself to learn.

                                   ('And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature
                                     and in favor with God and man'   Luke 2:52).

                             He learned obedience for the same reasons He bore temptation;
     to confirm His humanity and experience its sufferings to the fullest.

                                   ('And being found in human form, He humbled
                                     Himself by becoming obedient to the point of
                                     death, even death on a cross'  Philippians 2:8).

                                    ('In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that
                                     God, for whom and through whom everything exists,
                                     should make the author of their salvation perfect
                                     through suffering'  Hebrews 2:10).

                             Christ's obedience was also necessary so that He could fulfill all
    righteousness.

                                   ('Jesus answered him,

                                                     'Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting
                                                      for us to fulfill all righteousness'  Matthew 3:15).


                               Jesus was identifying Himself with sinners.  He will ultimately
    bear their sins; His perfect righteousness will be imputed to them.

                                   ('For our sake He made Him to be sin, who knew
                                      no sin, so that in Him we might become the
                                      righteousness of God'  2 Corinthians 5:21).

                                [He] thus proved [through His obedience] to be the perfect
    sacrifice to take the place of sinners.

                                    ('For Christ also suffered once for sins,
                                      the righteous for the unrighteous,
                                      that He might bring us to God ...'  1 Peter 3:18).


                                                      

                                 In His divine nature, Christ was already perfect.
    However, His human nature was perfected through obedience, including suffering
    in order that He might be an understanding high priest, and example for believers,
    and establish the perfect righteousness imputed to believers."


                                                             *************

                         Jesus saves His people not only by His suffering and sacrifice,
    and resurrection, but also His life, and He sustains us by His living power.

                                              "For if while we were enemies we were
                                                reconciled to God by the death of His Son,
                                                much more, now that we are reconciled,
                                                shall we be saved by His life."
                                                                               Romans 5:10