Tuesday January 16
Christ, the Redeemer
Debt is not a principle of heaven. But Adam and Eve sinned, and a broken law meant death. Thus, humanity became debtors to divine justice. We were bankrupt, spiritually insolvent from a debt that we could never repay.
Amen. Worse than that, the sin which caused death, continued on. Man had no power to resist sin apart from God. Sinful man, Adam and his posterity, were and are aligned with sin and Satan. What hope is there even if forgiven, we continue to sin? The wages of one known sin is death. O wretched are we, what can save us from our wicked bodies of sin? That is not the correct question. It ought to be "who can save us from our sinful flesh?" See Romans 7:24.
Of course Saul (Paul) thought he was already keeping the commandments and saved in God's kingdom. But, we know that the good Pharisee that he was, he was only a "whited sepulcher," shiny white and clean on the outside, but putrid and rotting on the inside. He was a Laodicean. He thought he was rich and increased with goods because he was a Pharisee of Pharisees, a leader in Israel, God's chosen people, entrusted with the sacred oracles of God. But, he knew not that he was miserable, wretched, poor, blind, and naked. When he discovered he was sin itself, he attempted to do what was right, but in and of himself, he came to understand he could not do that which he ought to do, and did that which he ought not do. He discovered a law working in his flesh, warring against the law of his mind, which wanted to do good, bringing him into captivity to the law of sin which is in his flesh. See Romans 7:23.
So, the debt we owe for past sins continues on and on and on, unless we quit sinning. O what a problem!! What can I do? I am evil by nature and captive to sin in my flesh. I am in bondage to sin. Even if I repent, I will sin again and will be condemned again. O wretched man that I am. Who can save me, Who can deliver me from my evil body of flesh?
God’s love for us set in motion the plan of redemption. Jesus became a “surety” for us (Heb. 7:22). It is Christ’s identity as the Redeemer that reveals the most important transaction ever made. Only the sacrifice of His life could accomplish the required payment of divine justice. Jesus paid the debt of sin that we owed as justice and mercy embraced at the cross. The universe had never seen or witnessed the display of such wealth as was used in the payment for the redemption of humankind (Eph. 5:2).
“By pouring the whole treasury of heaven into this world, by giving us in Christ all heaven, God has purchased the will, the affections, the mind, the soul, of every human being.” - Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 326.
Read each text and list what Christ has saved us from: Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Pet. 1:18; Heb. 2:14, 15; Gal. 3:13; Rev. 1:5.
1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;
2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:
1:5 And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
The Greek word tetelestai in John 19:30 has been called the most important word ever spoken. It means “It is finished,” and is the last utterance Jesus made on the cross. His final declaration meant that His mission was accomplished and our debt was “paid in full.” He did not utter it as one with no hope but as one who succeeded in the redemption of a lost world. Looking at the cross of redemption reveals a past event with a present effect and a future hope. Jesus gave His life to destroy sin, death, and the works of the devil once and for all. This means that although undeserving, we are redeemed (Eph. 1:7). To glimpse the wonders of salvation is to tread holy ground.
Christ as the Redeemer is the most sublime image of God. His supreme interest is to redeem us. This reveals His perspective toward humanity and especially how He values a relationship with us. With justice satisfied, Christ turns His attention to our response to His sacrifice.
Think about it: Christ paid the debt, fully and completely, for all the evil you have ever done. What must your response be? (See Job 42:5, 6.)
42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
42:6 Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes.
I like these two verses in todays lesson. But, we have two problems in the church in making a correct application with them.
First, we read and hear for years that Job never sinned. If he never sinned after Satan touched his flesh, then why repent? If self righteousness is not sin, then we who believe this are in deep trouble.
Secondly, even if Job did repent, what do we understand repentance to be? What is true repentance? Is there a radical transformation in the life when one truly repents? Or does the repentant sinner go on sinning?
The author of our lesson is going to have to overcome years of false gospels being taught in the church if he wants church members to be unselfish and put their money where their hearts are supposed to be. Many do not know they have not given the whole heart to Christ. They believe they are rich and increased with goods, but know not they are condemned by having not repented of their last sin. Or if they have repented, as many believe, their repentance often has to be repented of. That is to say there are two repentances. "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." 2 Cor. 7:9,10.
How can we tell the difference? What caused the repentance is probably the best way. Was the motive because you hurt Jesus? Was it godly sorrow over having crucified Him afresh? If not, then you need to repent of a false repentance. Another way to tell, is if you continue to sin the same sin. True repentance brings forth a reformation in the life. It does not mean we never repeat the sin, but that when we maintain our surrender of the whole heart to Christ, we do not sin. Just after true conversion, it can be very rocky, since many know not that they need to continue their faith in Jesus. If we let the mind wander away from Jesus, we end up in the water just as Peter did when he took his eyes off of Jesus. We cannot resist the smallest temptation to sin if we are not vitally connected with Christ, any more than a light can shine when disconnected from the power supply.
If we are truly forgiven, because we are truly repentant, then the heart has been cleansed also. Then the repentant sinner will live for Christ, not for self, as long as that full heart surrender is maintained.
If the author is attempting to get us to be good stewards, then he is going to have to preach the gospel of grace. For it is only grace that can transform a sinner into a saint (one who puts his money in heaven). The heart must first be purified (converted) if all of the Christian's possessions are going to be placed on the altar. A Laodicean is not going to sacrifice everything for God.
Then, it is incumbent upon the teacher to reveal how it is that the Laodicean can come to the point of full surrender. Since it is the message Jesus has for our church, we ought to know it. In that message we are told what we must do in order to saved.
And, we might mention that in the message to the Laodiceans (Rev. 3:14-22) Jesus tells us as a people to "repent".
