Of First Importance

                                                      
          Today we remember those who gave their lives defending their country,
     and helping to keep all Americans free.

          Many have died in the service of the United States, and we are forever
     indebted to them for the sacrifices made.  We must never forget what they
     have done for us.


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          While these deaths are significantly important for our country, nothing
     can compare to the ultimate sacrifice the Son of God made for His people.

          About 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ gave His life to save everyone who
      would ever believe in His name.


                                              "For I delivered to you as of first importance
                                               what I received:  that Christ died for our sins
                                               in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was
                                               buried, that He was raised on the third day in
                                               accordance with the Scriptures, and that He
                                               appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve."
                                                                                     1 Corinthians 15:3-5


          Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Corinth, telling them the message he had
     received from God, that Jesus had died for them, and all believers everywhere.
    


                                              "To the church of God that is in Corinth,
                                                to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called
                                                to be saints together with all those who
                                                in every place call upon the name of our
                                                Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours ..."
                                                                                     1 Corinthians 1:2


          Paul's words clearly show that while his letter is meant for the church in
     Corinth
                                              ("To the church of God that is in Corinth,
                                               to those sanctified in Christ Jesus,
                                               called to be saints  ..."),

          he includes all believers around the world as being entitled to the same
     privilege to call upon the Lord Jesus Christ

                                              ("... together with all those who in every place
                                               call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ").


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         Christ's death sets free from the curse of the law, everyone who would ever
     believe in Him.


                                             "For freedom Christ has set us free;
                                              stand firm therefore, and do not
                                              submit again to a yoke of slavery."
                                                                               Galatians 5:1


          The only people who are truly free, are those who have stopped striving
     to achieve their own righteousness, and embraced Jesus Christ, by His grace,
     through faith in Him.


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          Jesus' death was an effectual atonement for all who would ever believe.
     He died as a substitute for His people.

                                   "The manner in which God laid our iniquity on Him
                                     was that God treated Him as if He had committed
                                     every sin ever committed by every person who would
                                     ever believe, though He was perfectly innocent of any sin.

                                     God did so to Him, so that wrath being spent and justice
                                     satisfied, God could then give to the account of sinners
                                     who believe, the righteousness of Christ, treating them as
                                     if they had done only the righteous acts of Christ.

                                     In both cases, this is substitution."
                                                                                          John MacArthur


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          Of course, after His death, Jesus arose from the grave and ascended to the right
     hand of God the Father in heaven, to be a mediator for His people.

          Jesus intercedes for everyone for whom He died. 


                                                         "Yet it was the will of the LORD
                                                           to crush Him; He has put Him to
                                                           grief; when His soul makes an
                                                           offering for guilt, He shall see
                                                           His offspring;  He shall prolong
                                                           His days;

                                                          The will of the LORD shall prosper
                                                           in His hand.  Out of the anguish of
                                                           His soul He shall see and be satisfied;
                                                           by His knowledge shall the righteous
                                                           one, my servant, make many to be
                                                           accounted righteous, and He shall
                                                           bear their iniquities.

                                                           Therefore I will divide Him a portion
                                                           with the many, and He shall divide the
                                                           spoil with the strong, because He poured
                                                           out His soul to death and was numbered
                                                           with the transgressors;

                                                           yet He bore the sin of many,
                                                           and makes intercession for the transgressors."
                                                                                               Isaiah 53:10-12

           He bore the sins of His people, and is
           interceding with the Father for every one of them.


                                                          "Therefore He is the mediator of a new
                                                            covenant, so that those who are called
                                                            may receive the promised eternal in-
                                                            heritance, since a death has occurred
                                                            that redeems them from the transgressions
                                                            committed under the first covenant."
                                                                                          Hebrews 9:15

                                                               


          Everyone who has been called and chosen unto salvation, has been redeemed
     by the death of Jesus Christ.

                                               
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          May we, who have been redeemed, never forget what Jesus has done, and STILL
     does for us, His children!  This is of first importance!