Soli Deo Gloria » Atonement

Christ’s Perfect Righteousness

Jay — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 02:49:06 +0000

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:30

“Has Christ perfected and completely finished all His work for us? How sweet a relief is this to them that believe in Him against the defects and imperfections of all our services. There is nothing finished that we do: all our duties are imperfect. Oh there is much sin and vanity in the best of our duties; but here is the grand relief, and that which answers to all our doubts and fears upon that account: Jesus Christ has finished all His work, though we can finish none of ours; and so, though we be defective, poor, imperfect creatures in ourselves, yet we are complete in Him. (Col. 2:9-10) Though we cannot perfectly obey, or fulfill one command of the law, yet is “the righteousness of the law fulfilled in us that believe.” (Rom. 8:4) Christ’s complete obedience makes us complete, and without fault before God. It is true, we ought to be humbled for our defects, and troubled for every failing in obedience; but we should not be discouraged, though multitudes of weaknesses be upon us, and many infirmities compass us about in every duty: though we have no righteousness of our own, yet, of God, Christ “is made unto us righteousness;” and that righteousness is infinitely better than ours: instead of our own, we have His. Oh, blessed be God for Christ’s perfect righteousness!” – John Flavel (from the Fountain of Life, pg. 429)

Oh the Depth of the Evil of Sin!

Jay — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:42:22 +0000

If the death of Christ was that which satisfied God for our sins, there is infinite evil in sin, since it could be not expiated but by an infinite satisfaction. Fools make a mock at sin, and there are few in the world who are duly sensible of its evil; but certainly, if God should exact of thee the full penalty, thy eternal sufferings could not satisfy for the evil there is in one vain thought. You may think it severe, that God should subject His creatures to everlasting sufferings for sin, and never be satisfied with them any more; bit when you have well considered that the Being against whom you sin is the infinitely blessed God, and how God dealt with the angels that fell, you will change your mind.

Oh the depth of the evil of sin! If ever you wish to see how great and horrible an evil sin is, measure it in your thoughts, either by the infinite holiness and excellency of God, who is wronged by it, or by the infinite sufferings of Christ, who died to satisfy for it; and then you will have deeper apprehensions of its enormity.

- John Flavel (1628-1691)

The Centrality of Christ

Jay — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:47:29 +0000

In this excellent sermon, Paul Washer gives great insight into the importance of the difference between a love for Christ and a love for the benefits of Christ. Far too many come to Christ for His benefits which amounts to nothing less than idolatry while there is little or no love for Christ Himself. I agree with Washer that we’ve reduced the gospel down to a series of questions and a signature on a card and forgotten the great and awesome truths of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. May we repent and return to the full proclamation of the full counsel of God’s Word and marvel at the glorious truth that “He made Him who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf so that we might have the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21)

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The Cross Saves Completely

Jay — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:57:08 +0000

“For the cross saves completely, or not at all. Our faith does not divide the work of salvation between itself and the cross. It is the acknowledgement that the cross alone saves, and it saves alone. Faith adds nothing to the cross nor to its healing virtue. It owns the fullness and the sufficiency and the suitableness of the work done there and bids the toiling spirit cease from its labours and enter into rest. Faith does not come to Calvary to do anything. It comes to see the glorious spectacle of all things done and to accept this completion without misgiving as to its efficacy. It listens to the “It is finished” of the sin-bearer and says “Amen!” Where faith begins, there labour ends–labour, I mean, for life and for pardon. Faith is rest, not toil. It is the giving up of all the former weary efforts.”

- Horatius Bonar from The Everlasting Righteousness

The Unfathomable Transaction

Jay — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:00:11 +0000

“Christ endured our hell so that we might be set free to enter His heaven.” – Philip E. Hughes

Just a Drop of Water

Jay — Sun, 31 May 2009 01:55:12 +0000

I was reading a book a while back called “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross” and one of the contributors really made a connection to our Lord that I had never seen. If you remember, Jesus told a parable concerning a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus in Luke chapter 16. The rich man in torment, still unrepentant and concerned for himself begs Lazarus to give him just a single drop of cool water. The rich man being in hell is in torment and longs for just a single drop of cool water – something unavailable to him. In essence, “he thirsts”.

Now flash forward to our Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary. Not once do we ever hear our Lord complain of physical pain. It is only in the statement, “I thirst” in John 19 that we get a glimpse of what appears to be a physical need – simple thirst. But is there more to our Lord’s request for water?

My Jesus experienced the hell I will never endure as He became my sin on my behalf so that I may obtain forgiveness and His perfect righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He experienced a level of hell I will never see and like the rich man in the parable, He thirsted and longed for the water. While Lazarus could not cross over because of the impassable gulf, our Lord Jesus Christ did what we could not do and incredibly changed places becoming the rich man for us. Oh how this should cause us to pause and reflect humbly on our Lord’s sacrifice for His elect. I deserve absolutely nothing but wrath and hell for my rebellion, sin and outright hatred for God and His children and yet while we were yet sinners our Lord humbled Himself to become a man and endured a hell that is beyond description or imagination. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) My God suffered, thirsted and died in my place. And even more, our forgiveness and perfect righteousness in Christ is coupled with a new life, a new heart that longs to live and be like Him through the power of the Spirit of Christ by His grace. This my friends is amazing grace. As Michael Horton so eloquently wrote, “let us put amazing back into grace!”

Soli Deo Gloria!

Before the Throne of God Above

Jay — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:54:26 +0000

Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea. A great high Priest whose Name is Love Who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, My name is written on His heart. I know that while in Heaven He stands No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair And tells me of my guilt within, Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died My sinful soul is counted free. For God the just is satisfied To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb, My perfect spotless righteousness, The great unchangeable I AM, The King of glory and of grace, One in Himself I cannot die. My soul is purchased by His blood, My life is hid with Christ on high, With Christ my Savior and my God!

“Before the Throne of God Above” by Charitie L. Bancroft, 1863.

The Name of Jesus

Jay — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:24:22 +0000

ALL-SEARCHING GOD,
Thou readest the heart, viewest principles and motives of actions, seest more defilement in my duties than I ever saw in any of my sins. The heavens are not clean in Thy sight, and Thou chargest the angels with folly; I am ready to flee from myself because of my abominations; yet Thou dost not abhor me but hast devised means for my return to Thee, and that, by Thy Son who died to give me life.

Thine honour is secured and displayed even in my escape from my threats, and that, by means of Jesus in whom mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other.

In Him the enslaved fine redemption, the guilty pardon, the unholy renovation; in Him are everlasting strength for the weak, unsearchable riches for the needy, treasures of wisdom and knowledge for the ignorant, fullness for the empty.

At Thy gracious call I hear, take, come, apply, receive His grace, not only submit to His mercy but acquiesce in it, not only in the cross but in Him crucified and slain, not only joy in forgiveness but in the One through whom atonement comes.

Thy blessings are as secure as they are glorious; Thou hast provided for my safety and my prosperity, and hast promised that I shall stand firm and grow stronger. O Lord God, without Thy pardon of my sin I cannot rest satisfied without the renovation of my nature by grace I can never rest easy, without the hopes of heaven I can never be at peace.

All this I have in Thy Son Jesus Christ; blessed be His Name!

- From Valley of Vision, a Collection of Puritan Prayers

In Him …

Jay — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:15:28 +0000

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Ephesians 1:3-14 (NAS) Emphasis mine

Just…

Jay — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:05:10 +0000

There has been a trend in American Christianity lately to focus on the confession of sin. If this was a focus that was Biblical I would be rejoicing but what we are seeing is a trend that focuses on confession of sin outside of the only basis for that confession – the cross of Christ. Do a cursory search on the internet for online confessionals and you’ll find that most if not all are encourage people to confess their sins, often anonymously, in an effort to help the sinner feel better – all without ever mentioning the only way forgiveness of sins is offered… through the substitionary atonement of Christ on the cross.

One such site boasts in bold print 1 John 1:8-9. Here is that beautiful verse of Holy Scripture…

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ESV)

This verse, used out of context alone on a web site that allows people to confess their sins by posting them on a site, one may easily believe that since they have openly confessed their sins that God will forgive them. There is one problem – God is not obligated to forgive your sins. In fact, God cannot just forgive you of your sins by your confessing them. A satisfaction must be made to God for our sin against our Holy God. The doctrine of penal substitution as the Bible clearly teaches concerning Christ’s sacrifice on the cross continues to be attacked being labeled blasphemously as “cosmic child abuse”.

In today’s American church there is so little of the full Gospel preached that it is no wonder that we have millions of professing believers with no saving faith. The cross has been all but completely removed from most Christian churches today. With that being said, taking a verse like 1 John 1:9 (out of context) we could easily conclude that all we must do is confess our sins to God and He will magically forgive us. An understanding of the Gospel allows us to see the beauty of the cross in this verse.

Let me give you a real world example. I was out evangelizing several weeks ago and ran across a couple sitting on a bench at a park in our town. I approached them and using one of the Way of the Master million dollar bill tracts began a conversation with them. I asked them if they were to die today would they be sure they would to go heaven? They emphatically said, “yes”. After probing further I inquired, “how can you be sure?” They responded that they confess their sins to God every day, attend church regularly and do good things. Not one of those things can or will save a soul. Not one. In fact, it is an insult to God to trust in these things. Instead of trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ they trusted in their own works thinking they will be able to stand before God and boast in those things. The cross of Christ was no where in their vocabulary. It had no place in their “religion”. This breaks my heart and is why I have such a passion for evangelizing to the church visible.

Let’s get back to our verse in 1 John 1:9. There is a small, four letter word in that verse that I want to draw your attention to. It’s the word just. You see, Scripture makes it clear that in forgiving our sins God is just in doing so. How is that so?

First and foremost, we must point out that the book of 1 John was written to Christians. It is addressed to those who have put their faith and trust in Christ alone for their salvation and have repented of their sin. So this ability to confess our sins is only available to Christians on the basis of Christ’s finished work.

John writes that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. He is just in doing so because in order to forgive sins a price must be paid. Many people believe that God can just overlook our sin and forgive us if we simply ask Him to. If this were the case why the cross? Further, if God were to forgive us our sins without a propitiation being made through a substitute, He would be breaking His own Word in Scripture. Let’s take a look at Proverbs 17:15…

“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.” (NAS)

So how can God, who is just and righteous just overlook sin? How can He just forgive iniquity? It is against His character and would violate His own Word! A price must be paid. A propitiation must be laid down. The word propitiation, used several times in Scripture, means satisfaction. God’s holy wrath against sin must be satisfied.

Christ Jesus died on the cross to make atonement and propitiation for the sins of the elect. God’s wrath was poured out on Him instead of those who through faith and repentance put their faith and trust in Christ alone for their salvation. God’s righteous wrath was satisfied in His Son on that cross. This is the beauty and grace of substitutionary atonement. Our glorious Creator became our merciful Redeemer. This is amazing grace. This is the glorious doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement and it is the heart of the Gospel of God.

So when we come to the verse in 1 John 1:9 we need to pause and reflect on that little word just. God is faithful and just to forgive the sins of saints who confess their sins (agree with God on the severity of their sin and have a desire to turn from them) solely on the basis that His Son, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ bore the penalty due to all those who are chosen in Him so that when the saints cry out to God confessing their sins He is truly just in forgiving them on the basis of Christ’s atoning work on the cross.

So if you’re reading this post and all along you’ve been putting your trust in baptism, going to church, doing good works, and even confessing your sins to God, you’re here for a reason. Today is the day for salvation. I pray the Lord will grant you faith and repentance. Faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ who took the punishment you so deserve on that cross, died on that cross and three days later God raised Him from the dead who now stands at the right hand of God making intercession for His elect. You must understand that you have broken God’s Law, there is nothing you can do to save yourself. All world religions say “do”. Christianity says done! Repent of your sins – which means to agree with God that you are a sinner and have a desire to turn from them and put your faith and trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37)

My pastor once told me to take time to meditate on and study each word of Scripture. Take time today to reflect on the justness of God and the incomprehensible love and grace of God through the substitutionary atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

May we glory in the cross of Christ and boast only in Christ Jesus and Him crucified. May we glory in His resurrection and glory in the fact that “He is able to save perfectly those who draw near to God through Him for He lives forever to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

Solus Christus!

To Him be Glory and Power for Ever and Ever

Jay — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:42:37 +0000

“To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father – to Him be the glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” – Revelation 1:5-6