The Things of the Kingdom and the Things of the Name

[Resource Manager]

So far as the Bible is concerned, Demons as idols are non-entities.

 

Mark 3:11

AND Unclean spirits, ¹when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying Thou ²art the son of God.

 

^1. Did the spirits fall down? No! the sick person fell down.

^2. And believed this was the Son of God and he could be healed Isaiah 61:1; 35:5-6.

 

 

Matthew 17:15

LORD, have mercy on my son: for he is ¹ lunatick, and sore ²vexed for oftentimes he falleth into the fire and oft into the water.

 

^1. “MOONSTRUCK” still used today but not as a literal meaning, it simply refers “diseases” of the mind and senses.

^2. Cp. Mark 9:14-27, Luke 9:37-49

EPILEPSY caused by brain disorder and not a demon or devil as it can be controlled by drugs.

 

 

Matthew 17:18

And ¹Jesus rebuked the devil: and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

 

^1. Other versions – rebuked HIM (i.e. the boy) and (he was cured).

[Resource Manager]

Reincarnation: The Bible Denies it!

 

The Suppositions underlying belief in Reincarnation:

 

1. Life is inherent in man and continues independent of the body after death
    
   
2. Man’s personality survives death
    
   
3. Man receives successive opportunities (by successive incarnations) to achieve perfection
    
   
4. Resurrection is not essential as the only means bu which man may survive death
    
   
5. The sacrifice of Christ was not necessary to secure life for man
    
   
6. The sacrifice of Christ was not sufficient to bring man to perfection.

 

THE BIBLE DENIES EACH OF THESE ERRORS AND WARNS OF THE MORTALITY OF MAN, THE BREVITY OF LIFE AND BOTH THE NEED AND SUFFICENTLY OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE AND RESURRECTION.

 

• ­ Man is mortal – Psalm 49:12, 19-20, his life brief and irrecoverable when lost – Isaiah 26:14; James 4:14; Psalm 103:14-16, his personality then non-existent – Ecclesiasties 9:4-6; Psalm 6:5; Isaiah 38:18; Psalm 146:3-4.
   
  
• ­ God gives but one lifetime to each of us – Psalm 78:39, and one death, and after this our judgment – Hebrews 9:27, meanwhile the dead in Christ “sleep” 1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:14.
   
  
• ­ Resurrection is the only way to life for the dead – 1 Cortinthians 15:16-18; Isaiah 26:19; John 5:28-29.
   
  
• ­ Only by Christ’s sacrificial death can men regain life – John 3:16; Hebrews 10:12; Acts 4:12.

­

[Resource Manager]

THE ATONEMENT

 

The Fall from Innocence – Part 1

 

Reading: Psalm 17

 

Isaiah 45:18 reveals God’s purpose in creation - that man should LIVE - “He formed it to be inhabited”. Death temporarily has changed this. But God’s plan of restoration will overcome this difficulty.

 

Another passage, Revelation 4:11, says that we were created “for God’s pleasure” - therefore sin and death must be removed that God may rejoice in His creation.

 

God made man in a condition that he need not have sinned. It must be our endeavour to give God the pleasure that Adam and Eve did not give him.

 

Genesis 1:26 expresses God’s intent in making man through his angels (the “us” and “our”) - that man should be in God’s image and like-ness; v27 tells us what was actually done.

 

Image - cp. Genesis 9:1-4 God reserves full control over life – we eat by God’s permission but not a right; v5 life is God’s alone to give and take; v6 the reason - it was never God’s intent that man’s life be lost - therefore God’s work is to restore the way of life that has been lost.

 

Colossians 3:1-4 contrast with vv5-9, the reason being stated in v10 that in Christ there is a restoration, a renewal - i.e. new conscience, or mind.

 

Returning to Genesis 1:26 “image and likeness” - man was in every respect created in God’s image and a likeness of that image was real. Cp. Ephesians 4:17-24 image is readily used of mental and moral matters. There is then to be a restoration to what was after the pattern of God.

 

Adam was a natural creature, “very good” (but not perfect). In the new creation there is a bringing back to what man once was. See Psalm 17:15 - only the pure in heart shall see God; they will be given a mind of righteousness (a mind fitted for righteousness a restoration of God’s likeness).

 

Consider James 1:12-13 God doesn’t tempt; He neither suffers temptation nor is the cause of it. How is this possible? Only if God did not make man with sinfully inclined lusts; vv14-16 an explanation of what is the experience of man; v17 What did man receive from God? GOOD GIFTS. Qualities that were completely formed without defect. What is light is that which comes from God; it is clear then that man was made without the qualities lustfulness that now characterises mankind. V18 tells us that what God achieves in us is what was intended for Adam.

 

James 3 contrasts what qualities have come from the earth verses 14-16,with God’s endowments verses 17-18.

 

The origin of the evil in man is from man; but that which in good is from God.

 

Passages to Consider:

 

Ecclesiastes 7:29 “devices” – inventions, word only used twice in the Bible, here and in 2 Chronicles 26:15 engines.

 

Peter 1:4; Romans 8:3; Genesis 3:1-11 the deceitfulness of sin; Genesis 2:23-25; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:13; 1 Corinthians 11:7-11; Romans 8:20-25; 1 Corinthians 15:49; Hebrews 10:22.

[Resource Manager]

The Fall from Innocence – Part 2

 

Two great forces are at work in the world: (1) God, and (2) His enemy – human nature. Even when we want to do right there are in us emotions that want to sin.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:25 Wisdom that finds out matters; v26 moral consequences involved why does she do this? V27 counted out examples one by one; v28 I looked to find people who could resist emotions. He says I found one man, but I didn’t find a woman. A woman is a softer, more emotional person than a man. All women are vulnerable to emotion and most men also are. V29 “this only I found” is better because he is describing an historical fact.

 

See Genesis 2:7 - 3 statements: (1) formed of ground, (2) breathed into nostrils, and (3) became a loving soul.

 

“The upright” of Ecclesiastes 7 therefore describes the mental make-up of Adam. A balanced mental and moral condition. They (i.e. Adam firstly and the human race since) have sought out ways that deviate from God. They have become bent because emotion has entered and taken control.

 

“Inventions” cp. “engines” 2 Chronicles 26:15 – catapults for war; for use against the enemy. Man uses them against God and fellow man. Why have all fallen into this trap? Remember God had no involvement in the spoiling of the human race. How then did it happen? Genesis 3.

 

The real marvel is not a talking snake - budgerigars.

 

Intelligence is not so strange. How many people are there? Man was made by God intelligent; therefore if God for a reason made an intelligent animal such as the snake is not so strange.

 

Genesis 3:1 “subtil” = cunning, observant. People suggest Satan may have used the snake. To know God does not leave room for a malevolent rebel. But additional to this, consider 2 Corinthians 11:3 - the serpent beguiled Eve through its shrewdness, its cunning. He warns of a model of a problem being duplicated. Eve’s simplicity contrasted the serpent’s cunning. The serpent was pitting his intelligence against Eve’s. The snake and Eve had the same set of facts before them. Eve’s interpretation was uncomplicated - what God said was true. The serpent juggled the facts. We don’t know how long their probationary period lasted.

 

It took a suggestion from outside before there could be any deceit - this could not come from within Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:1 cp. 2:16 - God speaks in generosity, the snake speaks negatively. V2 the woman states the positive - there’s only 1 tree forbidden. She is educating the snake, but unaware of his resources. Vv2-3 the tree at this stage had no appeal to Eve. V4 the serpent scoffs. V5 you’ll be as angels (Gods - Elohim). He has misinterpreted facts as the snake didn’t know how they had gotten immortality. V6 she now saw what she had never looked at before. “Pleasant” = “desire”; 2x in verse desire is used - she has begun to absorb the lie and she now has “awakened desire”. She took it because being deceived she believed she could get away with it. After she had taken the fruit she was alive with desire - this she took to Adam - he was not deceived. See 1 Timothy 2:11-14. Eve believed it would have good consequences; but not deceived, Adam still proceeded. Why?

 

2 Peter 1:4 Corruption introduced into the world by Adam. Compare Romans 5:12 Adam chose to have his wife rather than God. Emotion does not have same power over men as it does over women (1 Timothy 2:11-14).

 

Genesis 3:7 The serpent’s lie awakened Eve’s desires that became powerful in her. After transgression desire was aroused in realms not related to original desire. Their desire for each other was not out of control. Emotions in us are not only there but they are out of control. That’s where God’s enemy is - the uncontrolled emotions in us. Cp. Ephesians 4:22 - in us there are desires that deceive us into sinning. An exposition of this is found in Romans 7:8-11. Concupiscence = lust (same word v7). V11 lust deceives us and bring us into sin. Emotional power can rationalise (wrongly) the word of God. Hebrews 3:13 Lusts are called by the name of what they cause - “sin which is deceitful”. Adam and Eve themselves caused the bias that we now have.

 

Is God the cause of sin? No. Because God made man upright. Did Adam have to follow Eve? No. Genesis 2:21-22 a sign of death for his bride. Adam had to expect to sacrifice himself for his wife. Adam was to go to God and then to die for her and then be raised again. Adam would so have turned away the course of sin from the world, see 1 Corinthians 15:44-45; Romans 5:14 as happened in Christ. When Adam sinned he then spoiled the figure.

 

The enemy of God is here within us. Romans 8:5-8 mind = to think. But we thank God that through his word he will enlighten us, vv9-11 (see also Romans 7:22-25). The need was then for God to bring a “new man” to conquer sin.

[Resource Manager]

Why did Christ have to Die?

 

Reading: Romans 8:1-10

 

If you had a son the last thing on earth you would permit would be his death if it could be helped. Romans 8:31-32; 5:6-8 - God’s motivation was love – John 3:16 He loved us enough to want to save us. The necessity of Christ’s death was the destruction of God’s enemy by Christ dying. None, not even Christ himself, could come to life until the enemy was overcome.

 

Romans 8:4 - we are both a person, and a person with a body which has inclinations.

 

Verses 5-6 - the flesh causes people to think fleshly thoughts the emotional basis of sin. The consequences of natural thought processes is death; but if you think the way the Scriptures teach it leads to life.

 

Verse 7 - we automatically think in a way that is opposed to God. There is no way to make the thinking of the flesh subject to God’s law. Carnal thoughts must be fought. For this reason, although a sinner may turn and repudiate his sins - the flesh, the real culprit, must be destroyed. But here is a dilemma for us, for in killing the flesh the person dies also.

 

A man possessing our promptings but never yielding to sin and yet dying provides the answer to the dilemma, Romans 8:1-3. How the Truth is believed can free us from the inevitable consequence of sin which brings death. The weakness of the law was in breaking the linkage between sin and death - its weakness was in flesh’s inability to keep it; the emotions in us from time to time overthrow the law and bring sin.

 

God did it by sending His own son. How did he break the linkage? By being God’s son he was equipped by God to derive from the Bible to conquer sin; the same power, but a wider channel for operation, than exists for us. God sent His son in “a likeness of sin’s flesh” (the flesh in which sin operates). The idea is of sameness; cp. Romans 5:14 - same word in Greek, similitude. Likeness = identicalness.

 

Jesus lived a lifetime free from sin and yet died a special death that spoke of “a condemnation”. When put in a grave it seemed that the condemnation stuck. It implied to many that he was a sinner. But his resurrection showed that he personally was not condemned but flesh - the real culprit was condemned. When his body was changed from flesh to spirit the emotions which lead to sin were expunged from his being and he was given immortality (Romans 7:5, 18-20).

 

God prevented the processes of Jesus’ corruption for the three days in which the enemy of death would not triumph, 1 Corinthians 15:54-55.

 

Hebrews 2:14 – the children of Adam share human nature in the same war that Jesus did. The devil is “the law of sin and death” of Romans 8:3. The devil has the power of death, cp. Romans 5:12; 6:23. Human nature is the great transgressor and hence must be destroyed; that is, the force having the power of death can only possibly be destroyed by the death of the individual if it is part of the one dying. The devil is destroyed by death in each one of us.

[Resource Manager]

Where does the Mercy of God Come From?

 

Reading: Psalm 62

 

Romans 2:1 The sort Of Person God Most dislikes.

Romans 2:2 Judgment based upon what a man does.

 

People behave like that for 2 reasons:

 

vv 3-4

 

(a) Because they feel they can escape the judgment of God (cp. Psalm 62:11-12, a foundation from which Romans 2 is based);

or

 

 

(b) They despise God’s goodness.

 

v6 cites Psalm 62.

 

If God renders according to deeds then what place has repentance (v4)? The answer is in Psalm 62:12 (a universal and invariable rule i.e. a principle) - a “cause and effect” relationship. Because God gives according to a man’s deeds - God’s response is related to what we do, i.e. the merciful receives mercy cp. Matthew 6:12 (vv14-15 expound the principle). God’s mercy is an expression of His Justice.

 

James 2:12-13 mercy boasts against judgment not Justice.

 

Matthew 18:23-35 illustrates that God’s mercy is of greater proportion than the forgiveness that we are required to show upon others - it is a likeness of deed, not proportion.

 

Psalm 18:20-26 (froward = perverse)

 

Zechariah 1:3 Before we turn to God there is the overture of reconciliation - Thus says God (1); our response (2); God’s response (3).

 

(Romans 5:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - the reconciliation is not completed until we have responded vv20-21; 1 John 4:7-11 the man who follows God’s example receives from God that which he shows to others - love, mercy).

 

Proverbs 24:11-12 If you see someone on the way to death and do nothing about it - you will receive in kind. Jude vv21-23; Proverbs 24:17-18 If we don’t give compassion God might show mercy despite us.

 

Psalm 130:1-3 None would stand v4 forgiveness in order (a Psalm of Hezekiah - a Song of Degrees) that thou mayest be feared (cp. Isaiah 38:1-17 the history from which the Psalm is drawn vv1-5 God changed His purpose in response to Hezekiah’s deeds; v17 the gift showed that God put away his sins because of his way of life). God doesn’t forgive if we don’t, cp. 1 Kings 8:37-40. Romans 2:4 God is good, forebearing and longsuffering; v7 God bears long awaiting a response that He might show mercy. In seeking glory, honour and immortality we are seeking and following God.

[Resource Manager]

Christ’s Death, Our Ransom from Death

 

What we have seen is that unless God had intervened, as he has our behalf, after man had introduced sin, then our position would have been hopeless - bound to die and return to dust, and extinction. But God loved the world and “gave” Christ as a sacrifice to redeem us from death (John 3:14-16).

 

The reason we are bound to die is that we are mortal by inheritance from Adam and, as well, we also sin (Romans 5:12; 6:23), so God Himself sentences us to death.

 

The great marvel of God’s purpose to save us is that He has solved the dilemma our sins pose:

 

How

can

the Holy God, who Himself condemned us to death because of our sins, save us from death without condoning our sins, which He who is “of purer eyes than to behold iniquity” cannot do?

 

There are three possible alternatives, two of which the Bible makes plain are utterly unacceptable to God.

 

1. The first would require God to waive the sentence, and simply condone sins. He will not do this. To do so would be to abdicate from all authority over mankind and forfeit all honour and respect. He certainly did not choose this.
    
   
2. Secondly, a substitute could have been sought, who would die instead of sinners. This would require a man who was righteous, offering to die instead of those rightly guilty and would require God to accept the substitution.
    
   This contemptible expedient would present God in the light, of a vindictive enemy only, concerned with retribution, whose wrath must be placated by blood, with no concern for whose blood; because there is no justice in the death of the righteous so the guilty can go scot-free.
    
   Our God is just and has Himself sought our salvation because of His love for the world - so substitution is impossible. He did not choose this alternative.
    
   
3. God chose to save us by means of a representative sacrifice. Jesus Christ was crucified and died on our behalf (not instead of us) to bring about forgiveness of our sins.
    
   This is the only alternative in which God could Himself remain righteous, while saving us by making us righteous. (Romans 3:26)

[Resource Manager]

A Representative Sacrifice

 

God is a Great King over all His universe. Having decreed that men who sin must die, He will not lift that sentence. We who disobey are guilty and will die – but in His goodness God has established the means of rescuing us from death, the results of that sentence.

 

His chosen means is Christ Jesus, who died as a sacrificial representative of mankind to save all who believe in Him.

 

So that Jesus can be a fitting representative of us whom he came to save, he was born of our nature. He is the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5), who shared our nature in all respects – Hebrews 2:14:

 

“Forasmuch as (we) the children are partakers of the flesh and blood,

he also himself likewise

took part of the

same

…”

 

He experienced all the temptations to sin which our nature generates (yet he conquered them all and was sinless - Hebrews 4:15)

 

It is these facts that made Jesus the fit person he is to be both our representative and the sacrifice to save us.

 

The Source of Sin Condemned

 

Because he was a sinless man it was not Jesus, but sin, that was condemned when he died. (Romans 8:3) In the lusts to sin which he by nature experienced he was identical to us. These are the source of sin (Romans 7:5, 8, 11, 13) and were condemned and put to death in his death.

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ is therefore a representative to us of what God’s sentence is on sins, so we should see in him what is due to us because of our sins. God’s means of saving us centres round this recognition.

 

Since we who believe the gospel of Christ are baptised into Christ to acknowledge and confess to God our sins and accept God’s sentence on us because of them, God forgives us those sins.

 

It is because we accept the justice of God’s condemnation on our disobedience, as He has expressed it in Christ’s death, that He is prepared to forgive the offences and reckon us to be righteous - without sin. (Romans 5:15-19)

[Resource Manager]

In fact, on account of our faith and acceptance of His sentence, God reckons us to have died with Christ, so that the just punishment of our sins has been discharged. (Romans 6:1-7)

 

Consequently He counts us to be entitled to rise with Christ from death. (Romans 6:4-5) So Jesus represents us in his death and in his resurrection. Therefore, should we die before Christ returns (and have believed the Gospel), he will resurrect us from death at his coming. (John 11:25)

 

The Bible always exhibits Christ’s sacrifice of himself as representative of those he saves. (Colossians 1:19-22; 1 Peter 2:21-25)

 

Only by dying with Christ, as we do in baptism, can we be forgiven our sins, and be rescued from death:

 

“Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38)

 

There is no other way that God accepts:

 

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)

 

A New Way of Life

 

Christ loved us and gave his life for us. In baptism into his death we acknowledge that the way of sacrifice is the only way to life.

 

The rest of our life until we die or he comes, as he soon will, is to be a daily expression of that principle. We should put to death each day all the evil propensities of our bodies (Colossians 3:1-5).

 

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and

take up his cross

and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and

whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it

. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and

then he shall reward every man

according to his works.” (Matthew 16:24-27)

[Resource Manager]

Saving Sinners: The Solution from the Holy God

 

Since God is righteous and loves righteousness, Psalm 11:7, His chosen means of salvation is in keeping with this –

 

Humanly speaking, there are 3 possibilities:

 

1. To waive the sentence of death for sin – IMPOSSIBLE! Since by this God would abdicate all authority.
    
   
2. To substitute an innocent victim and allow the guilty sinner to go free – IMPOSSIBLE! Since by this God would become both unrighteous and vindictive.
    
   
3. To provide a sinless man who offers himself as a representative sacrifice – GOD’S CHOICE! Since by this God remains righteous, His sentence is upheld, while He forgives repentant sinners.

 

A Representative Sacrifice

 

• All men have sinned - Romans 3:23
   
  
• So, all condemned to die - Romans 6:23
   
  
• God, who is righteous, will not lift that sentence – Romans 6:7
   
  
• Hence, two Divine principles:
   
  - Only by death can we be saved from death
   
  - Only by sacrificing life can we gain life
   
  
• Although He will not lift the sentence, “death for sin”, God will rescue from death those who submit to that sentence in belief or the gospel and baptism
   
  
• The only acceptable means for us to submit to God’s sentence is by:
   
  A Representative Sacrifice in whom we die and revive

[Resource Manager]

The Qualification for the Representative

 

1. Of the nature of sinners - Hebrews 2:14
    
   
2. Tempted like sinners - Hebrews 4:15
    
   
3. Yet without sin, so in his death sin itself was condemned and cancelled - Romans 8:1-4
    
   A focus for us to identify with and acknowledge God’s sentence just - Romans 6:1-7
    
   
4. Resurrected, and rescued from death, so we can be rescued with him - Romans 6:5
    
   
5. And so, God is righteous while forgiving sinners - Romans 3:23-26

 

Why Temptation?

 

Because it is part of a process of trial to test our faith -

 

• Our faith is rendered valuable by the testing of our obedience - 1 Peter 1:7; James 1:2-3
   
  
• Two elements are necessary for this test:
   
  1. A law from God, defining and prohibiting sin Romans 7:7-11
   
  2. A prompting and inducement to disobey - Genesis 3:4-6; James 1:14
   
  
• We are victors when we recognise the prompting as evil in opposing God’s law, and reject it
   
  
• We become transgressors when we are deceived by the prompting into disobeying God’s law - Genesis 3:13; Ephesians 4:22

[Resource Manager]

The Source of Temptation

 

The First Temptation and its Results:

 

• When man was “very good” as created (Genesis 1:31), his desires not yet inflamed into lusts as a result of sin – so an external deceiver was necessary to prompt disobedience – Genesis 3:2-3
   
  
• By its lies, the serpent persuaded Eve that disobedience would not be punished (3:4) and the results of sin would be enlightening and elevating – 3:5
   
  
• Eve was deceived into desiring to disobey, believing all the results would be good – 3:6
   
  
• The consequence of this was that mild desires were inflamed into lusts – 3:7[/indent]
   
  
• These lusts are now the deceiver – Romans 7:7-8, 11, so that the source of temptation is now within us – James 1:14; Romans 8:7; 7:23; Ephesians 2:3

 

Lust of the Flesh the Source of Sin

 

Lusts, being now the deceiving and tempting agency, they perform the part taken at the first by the serpent; so lusts may be called “the serpent in the flesh” cf. Ephesians 4:22

 

• Lusts are part of the nature of flesh - Ephesians 2:3
   
  
• It is the flesh that lusts - Galatians 5:16-17
   
  
• And the lusts are what bring forth sin - James 1:15
   
  
• Hence sins come from the flesh - Colossians 2:11
   
  
• And lusts are a “law of sin” residing in our members - Romans 7:23
   
  
• Consequently, “the thinking of the flesh is enmity against God” - Romans 8:6-7

 

Figuratively, therefore, God calls sinners by the name of serpents - Matthew 23:33 and uses serpent as symbol of human nature, Numbers 21:4-9, and in particular, as symbol of human nature borne by his own sinless son - John 3:14-15.

 

This is to emphasise that flesh is so ineradicably sinful that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom” - 1 Corinthians 15:50

[Resource Manager]

Why was Sin Condemned in the Flesh

 

A governing and indispensable element in God’s scheme of atonement is that God “might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” - Romans 3:26.

 

God’s righteousness in the atonement could only be established by founding atonement on condemning sin.

 

However, condemning sin does not justify the sinner, but rather condemns him also, and necessitates that he must die.

 

There remains then this problem, that:

 

WHAT JUSTIFIES GOD CONDEMNS THE SINNER

 

And this intractable conflict remains for every sin and every sinner. In fact, this conflict holds true in every circumstance, except one. There is one possible circumstance in which:

 

WHAT JUSTIFIES GOD ALSO JUSTIFIES SINNERS

 

It is: Where SIN is condemned in THE FLESH.

 

Sin can be condemned in the flesh only in unique and special circumstances:

 

1. In the case of a righteous man –
   because in this case only will the condemnation fall on sin, NOT on the man.
    
   
2. By the death of the righteous man –
   because in this case only can sin actually be condemned IN flesh.
    
   
3. And by the resurrection of the righteous man –
   because only by the revival of the righteous man could it be demonstrated that his death was not a condemnation of him, but of sin - Romans 1:4; 3:25.

[Resource Manager]

What is Sin in the Flesh?

 

Being by definition lawlessness (1 John 3:4) unrighteousness (1 John 5:17) and failure to attain the glory of God’s character (Romans 3:23). SIN is necessarily an abstract term, an intangible.

 

Consequently SIN cannot have an independent, continuous existence anywhere, whether in the flesh or elsewhere -

 

This means that when the Bible uses the expression SIN IN THE FLESH it is using a figure of speech.

 

Since SIN is the product of:

 

the passions

in our members – Romans 7:5

the lusts

of our flesh – Ephesians 2:3

our

body of sin

– Romans 6:6; Colossians 2:11

 

Therefore God has branded those passions and lusts with the name of their evil product, so Scripture calls these “SIN” - Romans 7:8, 9, 11, 13, 17, 20, 23; 8:2, 3.

 

How was Sin Condemned in the Flesh

 

Romans 8:1-4 presents the most crucial statement in the Bible of how and why Christ’s atoning sacrifice brings forgiveness for us who are guilty of sins:

 

It’s main substance is contained in the contrast between v1 and 3

 

• “There is now therefore NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus..” (8:1)
   
  
• “For… God... CONDEMNED sin in the flesh” (8:3)

 

There are two great protagonists, whose work and results are contrasted:

 

• THE LAW, whose function was to condemn guilty sinners (2 Corinthians 3:9) (8:3)
   
  
• GOD, whose work was to condemn sin (8:3)

 

The law was imposed in order to condemn transgressions (Galatians 3:19; Romans 4:15); and this it did with great efficiency - condemning sin in sinners - Romans 3:19-20. In this it was IRRESISTIBLY STRONG!

[Resource Manager]

Since the law was given for the purpose of condemning sin, how is it that it could not condemn sin IN THE FLESH? (8:3)

 

• Notwithstanding that the law was irresistibly strong in condemning SIN in SINNERS,
   
  
• It was nonetheless too weak to condemn SIN IN THE FLESH because it had to operate through the flesh (8:3)
   
  
• Within which the PASSIONS OF SINS lever themselves into action by the very means of the law’s prohibition - Romans 7:5, 8, 11, 13
   
  Forcing the law always to condemn sin NOT IN THE FLESH, but instead, IN SINNERS
   
  
• So, salvation is impossible by the law!

 

What was needed was a man specially equipped to be a channel of strength from God (8:3) who would blot out the law with its entrenched antagonism to us – Colossians 2:14.

 

God provided His only begotten son, equipping him by means of his paternity to be THE CHANNEL OF STRENGTH FROM GOD required.

 

• God intervened to provide strength since the law was unable to do so (8:3)
   
  
• Sending His own son begotten by God from a virgin, to equip him by this means to be a channel of Divine strength equal to the task of total conquest of sin Romans 1:4; Psalm 80:15, 17
   
  
• The power provided was the word of God – Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18
   
  
• In a likeness (cf. Romans 5:14 – another individual of the same kind) of flesh of sin (so called because flesh originates sin Colossians 2:11; Romans 7:17-18, 20, 23; 8:7-8) so that Jesus’ experience of temptation was identical to ours Hebrews 4:15; as was his experience of human nature Hebrews 2:14, except for sins. The power of the word of God working in Christ held the working of the passions of sins down, confining them in the flesh (7:5) which is their source and home (Ephesians 2:3)
   
  
• So, in Christ’s case, SIN never emerged to appear in Christ’s conscience as the guilt of sins committed (John 8:46)
   
  
• Therefore, when Christ DIED, he died a righteous man, and, by God, UNCONDEMNED. Yet, DEATH is itself the supreme mark of CONDEMNATION (Romans 5:15-16)!
   
  
• Since he was uncondemned, his DEATH had the necessary consequence that it condemned sin - and condemned it not in his CONSCIENCE, but in his FLESH where it had been held imprisoned.

 

- BY THIS MEANS, SIN WAS CONDEMNED IN THE FLESH -

[Resource Manager]

Jesus Christ – Unique Channel of Divine Strength

 

In both the manner and effect of his begettal, Christ was unique - by it he was made the channel of Divine strength sufficient for the total conquest of sin.

 

Romans 1:4 - Son of God in power as to spirit of holiness

 

Romans 8:3 - What the law was powerless to do, God did, sending His own son to condemn sin in the flesh

 

Psalm 80:15, 17 - Visit this VINE… THE BRANCH Thou madest strong for Thyself … the man of Thy right hand… the son of man whom Thou madest strong for Thyself.

 

THE VINE is by nature fit for no work - Ezekiel 15:2-5 I am the vine - John 15:1, 5 I can of mine own self do nothing John 5:19, 30

 

2 Corinthians 13:4 - Jesus was crucified out of, by reason of, weakness; but lives out of, by reason of, power of God. God’s power was the reason he attained life, whereas human weakness was the reason he was crucified.

 

To Fill up the Sufferings of Christ

 

• We were reconciled in the body of his (Christ’s) flesh so that we should fill up what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in our flesh - Colossians 1:21-24
   
  
• That we may know Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death - Philippians 3:10
   
  
• As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ... as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the comfort 2 Corinthians 1:5,7
   
  
• Rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy – 1 Peter 4:13

[Resource Manager]

EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES

 

A SUMMARY

 

God’s Plan for Eternal Life

 

In these notes we will, in a brief way, come to grips with some of the vital teachings of the Bible. The notes have been designed only to provide you with an outline of some of the important aspects of these teachings and are in no way a comprehensive covering of all the Bible tells us of these.

 

We would ask you to read them carefully, to look up the scriptural quotations given and examine them for yourselves, like the Bereans did (Acts 17:11). Used in this way these notes will serve as a ‘key’ for your own efforts to understand God’s Word.

God’s Promise of Eternal Life

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)

 

“Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39)

• God’s promise is to those who know and understand Him and His son:
  

“THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM THOU HAST SENT” (John 17:3)

 

Only those who know God and Jesus can believe in them. It is by a searching of the Bible that one can know them and believe on them. Eternal life is the promise held out to WHOEVER will obey God’s Word.

 

"And being made perfect he (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them THAT OBEY HIM” (Hebrews 5:9)

• We must earnestly seek the promise God has made:
  

“To them who by patient continuance in well doing SEEK FOR glory honour and immortality, ETERNAL LIFE” will be given by God (Romans 2:7)

• Eternal life is a hope (Titus 3:7). Peter speaks of “EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES” which to know offers one the hope of “being a partaker of the Divine nature.”
  

Having seen the importance of knowing these promises, let us turn to the Scriptures that we may also know the substance of the hope that it contains.

[Resource Manager]

The Gospel of The Kingdom Preached by Christ and the Apostles

 

Luke 8:1 “preaching and showing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God”

 

Matthew 4:23 “preaching the gospel of the kingdom” (Same Greek word as Luke 8:1).

 

Genesis 13:14-17 A tract of land, Israel, promised to Abraham forever.

 

Romans 4:13 Indicates that in an extended form the promise will eventually embrace the earth, “heir of the world”

 

Genesis 13:15 Abraham’s descendants (seed) to share the blessing, counted on the basis of faith.

 

God’s Promises to Abraham - Genesis 13:14-17

Third promise

 

And Yahweh said unto Abraham

 

• Look from the place where thou art, NORTHWARD, SOUTHWARD, EASTWARD AND WESTWARD
   
  
• All the land which thou seest TO THEE will I give it and TO THY SEED forever
   
  
• I will make THY SEED as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust... then shall THY SEED also BE NUMBERED
   
  
• Arise, walk through THE LAND in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give IT unto thee.

 

What are the meanings and implications of a promise such as this of eternal possession of the hub of the globe by ABRAHAM AND AN INNUMBERABLE POSTERITY?

 

Interpretation

 

Look from the place where thou art northward... 13:14

 

Walk through the land in the length… breadth... 13:17

 

All the land which thou seest… I will give… 13:15

 

• Hebrews 11:9 - By faith he sojourned in the land of promise
   
  
• Acts 7:4-5 - This land wherein ye now dwell... He promised that He would give it to him.
   
  
• Romans 4:13 - The promise that he would be the heir of the world.
   
  
• Proverbs 11:31 - The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth
   
  
• Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
   
  
• Revelation 5:10 - We shall reign on the earth
   
  
• Psalm 37:22 - Those blessed of him shall inherit the earth.
   
  
• Psalm 37:29 - ...and dwell therein forever.

[Resource Manager]

Excursion into the Future

 

Isaiah 11:1-5 - The King equipped perfectly by God.

 

Isaiah 11:6-9 - The conditions of the Kingdom

 

Isaiah 11:12-14 - An eternal and beneficent Monarch (Psalm 72:1 - the King)

 

Psalm 72:15 - The attitude of his subjects

 

Isaiah 2:2-4 - Humanity’s direction in the future will be changed

 

God is offering us the Blessings of the Seed of Abraham

 

Galatians 3:6-9 - Faith is the key to our association with the promises.

 

Galatians 3:16, 26-29 - Association with Christ through faith and baptism into him establishes us as “seed” and therefore “heirs” of Abraham’s promise

 

Revelation 5:6-8 - The saints portrayed

 

Revelation 5:9-10 - Their song “kings and priests, we shall reign on the earth”

 

Acts 3:19-21 - “the times of refreshing... the restoration of all things which God has spoken through... prophets since the world began”

 

REPENT = TURN AROUND AND CHANGE YOUR DIRECTION AND WAY OF LIFE

 

Christ will bring refreshing to those who have prepared for it.

[Resource Manager]

Promises to David

 

About 1020 BC David came to the throne of Israel. David had a great desire to build a house of worship (or a temple) for God. God did not allow David to build this temple; this was left to Solomon, David’s son (2 Samuel 7:1-10)

 

Instead God sent the prophet Nathan to David telling him that God would build a house (household or family) for David. David was concerned with a physical dwelling in which God might be worshipped, but God was to do something far greater for David in establishing his family, and guaranteeing a king to rule over his house for ever (2 Samuel 7:11, 12-16)

 

The promise that God made to David is outlined in 2 Samuel 7:11-16.

 

Note the following points:

 

(i) God will make a household for David

 

(ii) the terms of this promise are

to apply after David is dead

(when thy days be fulfilled)

and buried

(thou shalt

sleep

with thy fathers)

 

(iii) David’s “

seed

”, i.e. a descendant, was spoken of

 

(iv) this

one

would build a

house

(temple) for God’s name

 

(v) because of this God would establish “

the throne of his kingdom forever

”

 

(vi) this

one

would be God’s son

 

(vii) most importantly, to David personally, he would

see the fulfilment

of these promises, which means

he must he resurrected from the dead

(see Acts 2:29-34).

 

David realised that a great deal of time was to elapse before this would be fulfilled (2 Samuel 7:19 – “thou hast spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come”)

[Resource Manager]

Fulfilled in Christ

 

“The book of the generations of

Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham

” so commences the New Testament (Matthew 1:1).

 

The New Testament closely relates the work of Jesus Christ to the promises God made to faithful Abraham and David:

 

“Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to

confirm the promises made unto the fathers

” (Romans 15:8). See also Luke 1:68-76.

 

Peter addressed the Jews of his day with these words:

 

“Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all kindreds of the earth be blessed” (Acts 3:25)

 

He explains in v.26 that the “blessing” relates to sins being forgiven by accepting Jesus Christ who was the “seed of Abraham” (the one the promise pointed to):

 

“Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”

 

Of all the passages of the New Testament Galatians 3 show clearly the relationship of these promises to Jesus Christ:

 

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen (nations) through faith, preached the gospel to Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed” (v.8)

 

“That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles

through Jesus Christ

; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (v14)

 

Although the promise referred to a multitude of descendants, it had particular reference to an individual “the son of Abraham”:

 

“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He (God) saith not, And to

seeds

(plural) as of many, but as of

one

(singular, an individual),

And to thy seed, which is Christ

”.

[Resource Manager]

The promise had a particular fulfilment in Jesus Christ, as the means by which others through faith would be heirs of the same promise (see v.26-29)

 

“For ye are all the

children of God by faith in Christ Jesus

” (v.26)

 

“For as many of you as have

been baptised into Christ have put on Christ

” (v27)

 

“And

if ye be Christ’s

, then are ye

Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise

” (v.29)

 

Before the Lord Jesus Christ was born Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 9:6-7):

 

“Unto us a son is born... of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,

upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom

, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever”.

 

This aspect of the promise to David was announced to Mary by the angel Gabriel:

 

“...thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and

bring forth a son

, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest (cp. 2 Samuel 7:14); and the Lord God

shall give unto him the throne of his father David

; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever” (Luke 1:31-33)

 

Clearly then both the promises to Abraham and David find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ.

[Resource Manager]

Fulfilled in the Kingdom of God

 

Summarising the promises, we see that the promises to Abraham relate to:

 

• a seed
   
  
• a land

 

whereas the promise to David spoke of a king.

 

The land of Israel was clearly spoken of and Abraham was told that he and his seed would inherit it forever. He died without receiving his inheritance (Acts 7:5; Hebrews 11:13). But we are told that those who are baptised into Christ become joint-heirs with Abraham and Christ (Galatians 3:27-29). In other words, they will inherit it at the same time as Abraham (see Hebrews 11:39-40).

 

Abraham is dead (Hebrews 11:13)! If he is to receive the promise he must be resurrected. Jesus taught that Abraham would be raised from the dead (Matthew 22:30-32). He said to others “Ye shall see Abraham... in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out” (Luke 13:28).

 

David is dead. If his throne is to be established before him (i.e. in his presence) David must also be resurrected.

 

Psalm 16:9-10 states

 

“...

My flesh also shall rest in hope

”.

 

The hope of resurrection - v.10

 

“For thou wilt not leave

my soul

in hell; neither wilt thou suffer

thine Holy One

to see corruption”.

 

Two resurrections are spoken of: Jesus (God’s Holy One) and David’s own resurrection.

 

When will the promises be completely fulfilled? Not until Jesus Christ reigns on earth as king on the throne of David.

 

This is referred to in the Scriptures as the restored kingdom of Israel (see Acts 1:6). Jesus will come again (Acts 1:11) to fulfill all the promises God has made (Acts 3:19-21).

[Resource Manager]

CHRIST IS COMING TO REIGN ON EARTH

 

Christ Will Return Literally and Visibly to the Earth

 

• Old Testament passages
   
  Psalm 110:1, Jeremiah 3:17; Zechariah 14:4; Job 19:25; Psalm 102:16
   
  
• New Testament passages
   
  Acts 1:11; Acts 3:20-21; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Timothy 4:1; Matthew 25:31; Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 4:15,16; 5:2, 23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 10;2:2.

 

Christ is Coming to Re-Establish God’s Kingdom On Earth

 

Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:4-11; Psalm 72; Daniel 2:44; Acts 1:6;15:16; Revelation 11:15

 

Christ Will Come as a Thief

 

1 Thessalonians 5:2 Christ comes as a thief

1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 Resurrection and gathering together to him.

2 Thessalonians 2:1

2 Thessalonians 1:10 Comes to be glorified in his saints.

 

Christ Comes as a Thief Before the Battle of Armageddon

 

Revelation 16:15-16

 

At the Battle of Armageddon Christ Will be Revealed to the World

 

Revelation 1:7; Zechariah 14:9

 

Details of His Revelation

 

Zechariah 14:2 Armageddon

:3 Divine intervention

:4 Great earthquake as Christ and saints come to Mount of Olives.

:9 The ultimate result.

 

Christ is Going to Establish World Government at Jerusalem

 

Micah 4:1 House of Prayer to be established at Jerusalem (Matthew 21:13)

:2 World government - one religion - Christ’s throne to be there

:3 World-wide government - peace on earth.

:4 Family life to be restored

 

Matthew 5:35 Jerusalem to become city of Great King.

[Resource Manager]

The Basis of the Establishment of this World-Wide Kingdom will be the Return of the Jews to the Land of Israel

 

Ezekiel 37:21 Regathering

:22 One nation

:23 Turn to God (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:26)

:24 Christ to be king (David means beloved)

:25 Dwell forever in land

:26 Have peace

:26, 27,28 Temple to be built.

 

World-Wide Pilgrimage of People to Worship at Temple

 

Isaiah 2:3-4; Jeremiah 3:17; Zechariah 8:20-23; Zechariah 14:16