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- December 25, 2024 - Romans 3:24,25 - God's Forbearance
Romans 3:24,25 "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Whenever you think of the word "forbearance," think of a debt owed. We owe a debt to a Holy God and this debt required God's forbearance. It required God to hold back judgment until such time as the debt could be paid, Yet, even in His forbearance, God was not simply looking the other way. In Romans 3, this truth is clearly addressed. Some may have criticized how God dealt with His people in the Old Testament saying, "Well, they had a debt." This was certainly Satan's accusation before the Lord regarding Job, "Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?" God was forbearing to Job, but Satan accused Him of being arbitrary—of merely overlooking sin. However, God is not arbitrary in how He deals with His people. As declared in Romans 3:25, God was indeed forbearing with the sins of those of the Old Testament. He withheld the payment of their debt. The phrase "through the forbearance of God," uses a word that means "to hold back from requiring what is due, for a time or a season, until such time as God would determine that it should be paid." God was forbearing until the time when Christ would pay their debt. Once the debt was paid, there was no further need for forbearance, as the debt has been paid in full. The debt went away once it was paid, and it was paid in full when Christ died. Verse 24 declares, "Being justified freely." If you belong to the LORD and He has paid your debt, you have been justified freely. No additional penalties or fees are required beyond what Christ has already paid. He paid it fully and freely. But notice the conditions—when, where, and how this justification occurred. "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Some today argue that the timing doesn't matter, only the method. But the two cannot be separated. When was your sin debt paid if you belong to the LORD? When was mine paid? It was when Christ paid the ransom through His redemption. The word “redemption” means a ransom has been paid. Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, the debt was satisfied. It says, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation." The word “ propitiation “ means satisfaction or reconciliation. If Christ has paid the sinner's debt, then nothing remains but righteousness to credit to their account because the debt has been paid. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation," connects back to verse 24, "Being justified freely through the redemption that is in Christ, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation." What role then does faith play? The text continues, "through faith in his blood, to declare His righteousness." By faith in His blood— in His effectual death—the Spirit enables the sinner, whom Christ has redeemed, to look to Him and declare His righteousness. Faith does not justify. It declares the righteousness of God, accomplished by Christ in His life and death, and affirms God’s justice in justifying sinners once He had laid down His life on the cross for them. Faith is a confession, a declaration—a setting forth of who God is and what Christ accomplished. "For the remission of sins that are past." That word "remission" literally means "overlooking,” or “passing over sins.” Christ's death now déclares God to be righteous in how all those years He passed over, looked over, was forbearing with His people before the cross. It says "through the forbearance of God." It was not that He was ignoring sin but that He was looking to the time when Christ would pay the debt. From eternity, it was always God's purpose that Christ would come and pay the debt. Through His sacrifice, all the sins of Old Testament believers and those since the cross were paid in one act of redemption, fully and completely satisfying the debt owed to God.
- December 24, 2024 - Galatians 3:21-24 - Law and Faith
Galatians 3:21 "If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law." The justification of sinners from beginning to end is by the free Grace of God through the obedient life, death and the one Righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, apart from any work, act of the will, or merit of the sinner, "Being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). “Freely” means wholly conditioned upon Christ alone. To make justification dependent in any way upon the sinner's willing, believing, or acting is to render the death of Christ vain. Justification is the legal act of God whereby He declares sinners just (perfectly righteous) because the LORD Jesus Christ honored and satisfied the law on their behalf—both in its precepts and its penalty. Having fully accomplished the work by His death, all the blessings of forgiveness and pardon were immediately applied to the spiritual account of the elect in time, by His Spirit and through the Gospel,. God causes all whom He has redeemed and justified in Christ to look to Christ alone as their only justification. Their believing is not the time of their justification but the evidence of it. Justification is in, by, and through the LORD Jesus alone, fully accomplished at the cross!: "...when He had by Himself purged our sins, [He] sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High” (Hebrews 1:3); "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross" (Colossians 2:14). All charges were satisfied in Christ's death—not just dropped, set aside, or suspended. Therefore, He fully accomplished forgiveness, redemption, and justification at that time. Faith does not complete Christ's work. Rather, it is by Faith that all the redeemed embrace and enjoy, in their experience, what Christ accomplished for them at the cross. Imagine if a man could not pay the mortgage on his house and another stepped in on his behalf and paid it all. The bank would be satisfied and hold no claim on the house. Even before the bank informs the homeowner of the satisfaction, the debt is fully settled. The same is true for the redeemed in Christ. Faith does not complete Christ's work because, "It is finished” (John 19:30).
- December 17, 2024 - 1 Timothy 3:16 - The Mystery of Godliness
1 Timothy 3:16 "And without controversy great is the Mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Stop and consider what it means for the infinite God to take on finiteness. Christ coming to this earth—in time. God in the flesh—is a mystery far beyond our finite mind’s ability to fully grasp. It is like trying to fit an entire ocean into a thimble. Yet, the Scriptures tell us that, like any human being, He grew tired, weary, and thirsty. He was acquainted with grief: a 'Man of Sorrows,’ as prophesied: "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows" (Isaiah 53:4). The shortest verse in the Bible, J ohn 11:35 , simply states, "Jesus wept." It reveals that He sorrowed in the flesh, just as we do. The point is to show us that, as our Substitute, He was not some 'Teflon man' gliding through life unaffected, as if acting in a play, or pretending in a role. Some claim that He never felt pain, or suffered, but this is false. No—His conception was real, His birth was real, His life was real, His suffering was real, and His obedient death was very real. As Philippians 2:8 declares, " And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." There was also a very real resurrection. Because of Who He is , it was impossible for His body or soul to see corruption, As Acts 2:31 testifies: " He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.” Similarly, Acts 13:37 affirms : “ But He, Whom God raised again, saw no corruption.” He did not see or know corruption because He was without sin. He was and is the Spotless Lamb—righteous in His obedient perfection, obedient even unto death. "Having made known unto us the Mystery of His Will, according to His Good Pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself” (Ephesians 1:9).
- December 23, 2024 - Psalm 40:2,3 - A New Song
Psalm 40:2,3 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, And shall trust in the LORD." Whatever pit David was speaking of here, we can see how the LORD heard him, brought him out of the miry clay, set him upon a rock, and established his goings. In David's experience, that Rock was Christ. In Christ's experience, that Rock was His Father. He is the one that He came to satisfy. The fact that God was pleased to bring Christ out of that miry clay—that His sufferings were but for a season and a time—reveals the greatness of His work. Once He had laid down His life, God raised Him up from the grave, setting His feet upon a Rock. That Rock was the very Promise of God to receive His Son, and He did! God received Him into glory, where He now lives to intercede on the behalf of those for whom He died. Therefore, His goings have been established. Just like David, that the Lord delivered out of a particular crisis and had his steps established, we see this fulfilled ultimately in the LORD Jesus Christ. Because of the satisfaction of His work, He, too, was delivered. Then we see the rejoicing. We see how this Bondservant patiently waited upon God, how He was brought through His sufferings to glory, and then how rejoicing followed. In verse three, we read, "He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God, many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the Lord." Yes, a new song. As we read the Psalms, we recognize that these songs were all written out of David's experience, bringing glory and honor to Christ alone. With regard to the Lord Jesus Christ, what is the new song that He sings, and sings with His people? The new song is the proclamation of His finished work. “Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It”—-redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. The new song sung throughout eternity as described in the book of Revelation is, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." Why is it called a new song? Because all these things had to be fulfilled in order for this song to be sung. In Scripture, you have the Old Testament and the New. The Old Testament provides the picture, type, and pattern. The New Testament is the fulfillment. Even here, though in the Old Testament, we see how this was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. For David, it was a new song, written after having suffered and being delivered. Perhaps it even reflects his own testimony—-how he was lost and then found. Through Christ and the Spirit of Christ being in him, David was directed in the writing of these songs that we now read. The book of Psalms is the hymn book of the church— H-I-M book. It's all about Him! This new song that God put in David's mouth describes how Christ Himself rejoices in singing over the very people that the Father has given Him. Having suffered, this new song is one of deliverance. That's why it says that many shall see it. It was not intended for everyone, but many shall see it and will trust in the LORD. Many shall witness Christ’s deliverance and the work that He accomplished as the Faithful Suffering Servant of God. The only way anyone trusts in the Lord is through the work of Grace given to those that Christ came to save. Therefore, they trust in Him.
- December 22, 2024 - 1 John 5:20 - He Hath Given Understanding
1 John 5:20 "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life ." “And we know that the Son of God is come.” He came, lived, died and rose again. All of that is summed up in the word “ come .” He ascended on High having fulfilled all righteousness on behalf of His people. And now “hath given us an understanding. ” This is not just a knowledge of understanding but a discerning understanding—a knowledge of the difference between truth and error. Before the LORD opened our eyes and taught us, we were dung. We were blind. We were lost. We couldn’t see. We fell easily into deception, and back into the works of the flesh. But now, it speaks of those that have been taught of the Spirit. “ ... that we may know Him that is true.” All true doctrine is founded on Him. To know Him and be found in Him is, as Paul said, “...not having mine own rtghteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the Faith of Christ, the Righteousness which is of God by Faith:” (Philippians 3:9). “And we are in Him that is true.” If we know Him that is true, it is because we are in Him that is true. “...even in His Son Jesus Christ.” “This is the true God, and eternal life.” " And this is life eternal, That they might know Thee the only True God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3). That is why we constantly return to the truth expressed in this hymn: "My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.” It is often when you are in the sweetest frame that your wandering has begun. You are asleep in the boat, and the current is taking you away. "We dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness."
- December 21, 2024 - Proverbs 11:1 - A Just Weight and Balance
Proverbs 11:1 "A false balance is abomination to the LORD: But a just weight is His delight." A false balance is one that tips the scale, usually making what is being weighed appear to be more than it is. It is a form of lying for personal gain. In our depravity we do this daily, both in worldly matters and in Spiritual ones. God's justice is always misrepresented by the false balance of our depravity. Wicked men always believe they are chosen and righteous in their flesh. It does not matter how they justify it—whether by 'good' deeds, keeping the law (as they perceive it), attending their places of worship, giving to charity, being born into a 'religious' family, making a profession of faith, or even, as some preach, being infused with righteousness by God. These are the works and lies used by fallen depraved sinners to attempt to 'tip' the scale of justice in their favor. Any false balance or weight is a sin to the LORD—an abomination. Paul tells us to lay aside the false notion that we carry ANY weight in righteousness, "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1). To think that we carry any measure of weight in opposition to God's Christ is an abomination, " Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights ” (Micah 6:10-11)? When you hear the word " delight, " what comes to mind? It brings to mind what the Father said of His Son while He was here on earth, " This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Where are we to find this Just Weight? We do not know until the Spirit teaches us that there is only one Just Weight and Balance, and that is the LORD Jesus Christ , "A Just Weight and Balance are the LORD's: all the Weights of the Bag are His work" (Proverbs 16:11). Christ is the One Who fulfilled every law and demand of God’s justice —every jot and tittle—-not just in word and deed but in thought. When He had laid down His life as the Just Weight, the Perfect Lamb without spot or blemish, there was nothing but righteousness left to impute to the account of those for whom He paid the debt. That is why it was all settled at the cross.
- December 20, 2024 - Acts 4:28 - Completed by the Word of God in Time
Acts 4:28 "For to do whatsoever Thy Hand and Thy Counsel determined before to be done." ALL things were ordained by God in eternity and carried out in time, just as the Father and the Son determined they would be. The choosing of the elect occurred in eternity. Some try to teach what they call “Eternal Justification,” claiming that since God's thoughts are eternal, all whom He chose to save were saved at the moment He thought it. However, that is not what we see throughout God’s Word. We see that there was a requirement for blood to be shed unto death. Yet, no blood was shed in eternity—no death occurred there. Deliverance had to be accomplished in time on this earth—the prison where His chosen were held captive, "He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;" (Isaiah 61:1). God's promise to His people did not actually take effect until Christ came and fulfilled it. It began in eternity by the Word of God and was completed by the Word of God in time. "And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13). Adam sinned against the LORD in the fall, and all his seed are born into sin, owing the wage of sin, which is death. " Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12) . To pay the wage of sin for His chosen, Christ gave His life, shedding His blood unto death. But to give life again to the dead, He had to earn righteousness on this earth. He did this through perfect obedience in His flesh, in time, then offering that obedient life as the Just Sacrifice and the Righteous Substitute. Christ was not slain in eternity. He had to come into the world, " Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me:" (Hebrews 10:5). "For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28). "Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
- December 19, 2024 - Romans 9:20 - Who Art Thou That Repliest Against God?
Romans 9:20 "Nay but, O man, who are thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus?" When God directs our lives differently than we think He should, whether we express it or not, the question "Why hast Thou made me thus?" arises in our hearts. This is the essence of rebellion. It resides in our nature, in our flesh. Consider a king's palace where there are vessels of gold placed on the table, used when the king invites guests to dine—these are the vessels of honor. There are also vessels made solely to carry out waste.—these are vessels of dishonor. Both types exist for the king’s honor. Understanding this in life, why would we find fault with God ordaining a similar arrangement spiritually? "Hath not the Potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" (Romans 9:21). God's attributes are these; He is Just, Holy, Truth, Mercy, Grace, and Love! How can these attributes each remain in force when saving wretched sinners worthy of His Wrath? How can His Justice be satisfied by accepting the payment of Blood shed unto death at the Hand of His Wrath for sins against Him? Grace bestowed on any sinner must accord with Holiness and Justice. God could not simply overlook sin to save sinners and ignore His Justice. Instead, He poured out that Wrath on His Son. He did not spare His only Son but gave Him up to freely give His chosen vessels of Mercy all that He is. " He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). Our LORD Jesus Christ willingly laid down His Perfectly Obedient Life to satisfy the Perfect Justice of God the Father. He shed His Righteous Blood in this dimension of time to satisfy God's Justice for helpless sinners chosen before time began. “Behold, what Manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us” (1 John 3:1).
- December 18, 2024 - Psalm 62:8 - Pour Out Your Heart Before Him
Psalm 62:8 "Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him:" To trust Him is to confide in, depend upon, and rest wholly in Who Christ is and in His promises. When you think of trust, you think about a person keeping their word. We know Him to be trustworthy, whatever the situation may be. Proverbs 14:26 says, "...fear of the LORD is strong confidence:" This is not a fear of torment but an awe in the knowledge that, if we are His children, nothing can come against us except what He ordains for His Glory, which is for our good in Christ. Whether it be an emergency or a peaceful day, we are to trust Him. So much religion is formality—going through the motions, "Wherefore the LORD said, Forasmuch as this people drew near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men" (Isaiah 29:13). This legalistic fear is taught by false religion. But the LORD calls us to, "pour out your heart before Him." There is a trust that causes us to pour out all we are before Him without pretense. We continually confess who we are as sinners before Him because we know Him as a Merciful God for Christ's sake. "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory, for Thy Mercy, and for Thy Truth's sake” (Psalm 115:1). The term, "pour out your heart," is significant because in the Old Testament, drink offerings were poured out before the LORD upon the alter. This prayer is identified as a “pouring out of the heart,” just like the drink offering. It is always connected to the offering—the Sacrifice. God cannot hear a sinner apart from The Sacrifice of His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ. This prayer and confession before the LORD, is a pouring out of the heart before God, laying it open before Him, because of Him and the Sacrifice unto death of His Son, having born the sin away at Calvary. Therefore, we are heard by the Holy God , sinful though we are, because of the Son’s redeeming, justifying death. Additionally, the Spirit of Christ is given to each elect, redeemed sinner to continue making intercession for each one: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).
- December 16, 2024 - Hebrews 8:12 - "What About My Sins?"
Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be Merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." We should never forget that our justification before God was wholly accomplished "...through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24) . When the justified, regenerated sinner's conscience cries out, "What about my sins?" the answer from the Word of God is, "They are no more!" Did the LORD Jesus Christ once and for all put away sin, or was sin merely passed over? Did Christ merely atone for (cover) sin? Is God ignoring sin? But isn't God just? Doesn't He demand absolute satisfaction? No, our sins were not merely passed over or simply covered. Scripture states that God forebore the sins of His elect from the fall to the cross, passing over their sin UNTIL Christ came and put it away, " Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation, through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:25). Christ did not merely atone for the sins of His people. In the Old Testament atonement was a temporary covering for sin through animal sacrifices only lasting until Christ came. His death did not simply atone for sin, or cover it up. His death TOOK SIN AWAY! "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) ; " And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5) . The sin question demanded an absolute answer and the matter was settled for God's elect in the doing and dying of the LORD Jesus Christ: "Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the Free Gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Romans 5:18) . The law demanded that sin be punished. The cross at Calvary is where redemption and justification were accomplished and applied upon completion of Christ's death. The 'sentimental theology' so prevalent today, which proclaims a god who overlooks human fault and sin, is contrary to the Word of God. Redemption means deliverance through a ransom—a release from God’s claim of justice through a satisfactory settlement of that claim. Righteousness was not imputed until the ransom was paid. Rather than overlooking sin, God sent His Son as the Substitute and punished Him in the place of His chosen sinners. What about my sins? If Christ died for you, they are no more!
- December 15, 2024 - John 1:29 - Behold the Lamb of God!
John 1:29 "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" Nothing is of greater importance to poor, wretched, awakened sinners of the world than that which truly could, would, and has taken away their sin. What is the effectual remedy? Only the Lamb of God! Why is the Lamb of God the only remedy? Christ Jesus the LORD, the Lamb of God, is the only remedy because He has taken away all the sin of His people by His sacrifice on the cross. But for John the Baptist this was yet to be accomplished, and yet He spoke with assurance that the Lamb was even then taking away sin. That's because in order for sin to be removed from the sinner, it had to be laid upon the Only Perfect Substitute as the Sin-Bearer. Even the Old Testament Passover lamb, as a type of Christ, was first to be observed and proven to be without spot or blemish. "Your lamb shall be without blemish" (Exodus 12:5) and " ...the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: " (1 Peter 1:19) . In His life, Christ Jesus the LORD was working out that perfect obedience that the justice of God His Father demanded. By His obedience, He was already answering the laws demands, wherein we, His chosen ones, had failed. He alone has thereby taken away that aspect of the curse of our sin. However, it would also require Him, not only obeying the precepts of the law, but to lay down His life to pay its penalty. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). So complete was Christ’s sacrifice that He is no longer the sin-Bearer because He bore it all away once for all for His chosen sinners! The eye of Faith beholds the Lamb as the only remedy. However, in order to behold the Lamb of God, it takes eyes to see. God alone must not only give the eyes to see, but the ability to look to Him. It is only when the Spirit opens the heart and reveals Christ that they can behold the LORD Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. Sin has been put away from God's sight for the LORD's redeemed, and when beholding the Lamb, it is put away from their sight. May the LORD grant us eyes to look only and always to the LAMB OF GOD !
- December 14, 2024 - Genesis 6:14 - Pitched Within and Without
Genesis 6:14 “Make thee an ark of gopher wood: rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch,” The word pitch appears only twice in the entire Bible, both times in the same verse: Genesis 6:14. The ark is a type of Christ, but what is the significance of the pitch, and why is it mentioned twice in the same verse? Interestingly, two different Hebrew words are translated as pitch. While they share the same root, they have distinctly different meanings. The first occurrence is the Hebrew verb kaphar, which means “to cover” or “to make atonement.” This in itself is a profound blessing. As a type, those in the ark were in Christ, and the application of the pitch symbolized making atonement for their sins. But what exactly be was this pitch that was to be applied? The second use of the word pitch is the Hebrew noun kopher , which means “the price of life” or “ransom.” The atonement was made with the blood of an unblemished animal sacrifice. However, this was only a temporary covering until the LORD Jesus Christ came to put away sin through the sacrifice of Himself, once for all. His death was not merely an atonement but a complete satisfaction of God’s law and justice, something the blood of animals could never accomplish ( Hebrews 10:4 ). Those on the ark were protected by this covering and were to look ahead to the day when our LORD Jesus Christ would make the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. By His death, He justified those whom His Father had given him ( Hebrews 10:10,14 ).