The Tenor of our Lives reveals our Master

The person who suggests that, since we are not under the law but under grace, we should therefore give vent to the flesh and sin reveals his total ignorance of the grace of God and the work of Christ. BEFORE a man is regenerated, he does love evil and himself and he hates God and holiness; but, AFTER regeneration, he loves God, holiness, and others. We are not looking for an excuse to sin; we are looking for strength to avoid it.

This is a good way to determine if we have been saved. We should know that if sin masters us, if we delight to do evil, if we enjoy evil companions, if we walk in darkness, then Christ is not our Master. The tenor of our lives reveals our master.

What do you really enjoy? In what direction are you really going? Who is really your Lord?

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (Bulletin 1989)

How That Christ Died For Our Sins

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures" (1Cor. 15:3).

The gospel is not just that Christ died. The gospel is how that He died for us according to God's eternal and immutable decree, "the scriptures" (Acts 2:23: Rev. 13:8).

The scriptures declare that His death was appointed (Gen. 3:15; 22:8; Psa.22; Psa. 69; Matt. 16:21; Gal. 4:4).

The scriptures declare that His death was voluntary, He willingly laid down His life for us (Isa. 53:7; John 10:17-18).

The scriptures declare that His death was subtitutionary (Isa. 53:4-6; 2Cor.5:21; 1 Pet.3:18 ).

The scriptures declare that His death was to accomplish definite atonement for His people (Isa.53:8; Matt. 1:21; John 10:15; Heb. 2:17).

The scriptures declare that His death satisfied all the demands of God's holy Law (Isa. 42:21; 53:10-12; Dan. 9:24).

The scriptures declare that His death was most effectual to put away all the sin of the covenant people (Psa. 103:12; Isa. 38;17; Micah 7:18-20; Heb.9:26; 10:17; 1John 1:7).

Every pledge of salvation has its accomplishment in the Lord Jesus Christ, "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us (2Cor. 1:21). All that God has promised concerning salvation in Christ is certain and sure, "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Rom. 4:21).

Our Lord said, "But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" "But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." (Matt. 26:54, 56), "It is finished" (John 19:30).

The apostle Paul said, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Christ" (Gal. 6:14).

THE WAY OF SALVATION BY GRACE

In Isaiah 44:22, the Lord commands His covenant sheep and His elect people to return to Him because He has put away their sin. “I have blotted out thy transgressions and thy sins, return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” What greater motive can any sinner have than to seek mercy where it is found, in Christ? What great motive can any sinner have than to seek forgiveness of sin because Christ made full payment for all the sin of His people (Heb. 9:26)?

Notice carefully, the Lord does not say, “return to me and I will forgive you and redeem you.” No, forgiveness of our sin is not based upon our doing but rather upon His doing and dying. This lost, religious world has turned the gospel of Christ upside down and inside out. They have made salvation based upon our performance and obedience not upon the Lord’s performance and obedience alone (Psalm 57:2; Phil. 2:8). They have made faith and repentance a meritorious and accomplishing work instead of the gift of God that looks to Christ alone for all salvation (Isa. 45:21; Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 5:31; Heb.12:2).

When the Lord Jesus Christ had mercy upon the woman caught in adultery (John 8:10-11), He did not say to her, “go and sin no more and I will not condemn thee,” that would not have been good news, (for there are none that do not sin). No, just the opposite He said, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” There is no condemnation in Christ (Rom. 8:1, 31-35).

When Peter preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost he told the crowd about the glorious victories of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for His people through His satisfying atonement for sin and then told them to repent, not to put away sin, but rather, because the Lord had already put away sin (Acts 2:36-38).