CHRIST'S PERSON
THE EXCLUSIVITY OF CHRIST
(Luke 14:25-35)
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he message of Christ is exclusive to all others. He exclusively came as Representative of the triune Godhead. He exclusively came as Representative of those chosen in eternity. He exclusively came in the flesh and was born under the Law. In behalf of those chosen, He exclusively established perfect righteousness by fulfilling every requirement of the Law in life and assuming to Himself every wrong in death. He exclusively put away their sin, clearing the way for God to forgive, justify, redeem, sanctify, reconcile, save and adopt.
Christ is the exclusive ground of the removal of guilt and the discharge of all sins and trespasses. The imputation of righteousness at the cross, where He completed His obedience and sin bearing, is exclusively the justification of the elect.
DAVID SIMPSON, Powell, Tennessee
CHRIST- OUR FOUNDATION, OUR ALL
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.” Isaiah 28:16-17
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hen we see a skyscraper do we say, “What a magnificent foundation this beautiful building must have?” Usually, since the foundation is hidden from view, we rarely give it a second thought. And yet, in the spiritual realm, we dare not think of Christ as merely our foundation and only as a portion of the rest of the structure. If so, we do dishonor Him Who is ALL! The foundation and the building are ONE and inseparable. To see the building is to know the strength of the foundation, and the strength of the foundation is the under girding of the building.
What then is this judgment and righteousness which the Lord laid to the foundation, as Isaiah’s inspired word declares? Is not Christ the whole of the building and the precious foundation stone? Is not His obedience unto death THE ONE STANDARD of judgment and righteousness? Is not the wood, hay & stubble of 1 Corinthians 3:12, anything which WE might add, even that which some might call ‘working out our salvation’ or ‘our sanctification’? Philippians 2:12.
Many would try to draw attention to the hidden inner work of the Spirit as the foundation of righteousness and right standing with God, as the ground of salvation or the applying of justification. But, is not the work of the Spirit more like unto the hidden foundation of the building, not seen, but all the while giving ALL THE GLORY TO CHRIST, John 16:13-14? The work of the Spirit in us is to honor the Head which is Christ. His work is not to make us more acceptable or better people through our cooperation, but rather to exalt Christ whereby all refuges of lies are swept away continually, these refuges being any thing or any idea that does not hold Christ to be the sum and the substance of our redemption. He must increase.
What is a refuge but where we find our comfort. Do we find our comfort in a work performed by Another, The Lord Jesus, completely outside ourselves and our experience? Or do we find just a little comfort in evidences that we may see in our walk or a profession we may have made? If we are indeed the work of the Lord, He will sweep away all our false refuges. Christ Alone will fill our view whereby we cry, “Lord, I believe help Thou mine unbelief.” At the same time we rejoice knowing the peace of God, that He indeed FINISHED the work, THE WHOLE OF THE WORK.
LAYNE DENTON, Huffman, TX