Psalm 5:4-7

Five Important Questions

“Christ died for the ungodly”(Romans 5:6)

This is the sum and substance of our gospel and is the great article of faith.

WHO DIED? Christ – the only begotten, well-beloved Son of God in human flesh (John 1:14).

HOW DID HE DIE? A death of shame under the wrath of God, bearing our sins (1 Peter 3:18).

WHY DID HE DIE? He died for, in the stead of, and as the substitute for all of God’s elect in order that God might be just and the justifier of those who believe in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).

FOR WHOM DID HE DIE? “For the ungodly” – not for righteous men, nor religious men, nor deserving men, but for those who are ungodly in nature and practice (Matt. 9:9-13).

WHEN DID HE DIE? When we were without strength to obey Him or to keep His law and without ability to help ourselves. He died “in due time,” at the time appointed by the Father (Gal. 4:4).

WHAT GOOD NEWS! Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1991).

LIVING IN SIN

“Living in sin” is used to describe people who are openly living in immoral behavior. Sin in any form is never acceptable, admissible, or o.k. But the phrase “Living in sin” implies there are some who do live in sin and some who do not live in sin. My question is; when are you not living in sin? John tells us that if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and if we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar! (I John 1:8-10). That kind of language is incongruent to one who believes himself to be a sinner in the present tense! Paul said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (I Tim 1:15). Not of whom I was chief, but of whom I AM chief. Pastor Todd Nibert

SIN WHICH IS NOT SEEN

How can God, who sees all things, no longer see sin in believers? The Lord Jesus Christ is the answer. The Messiah (Hebrew word for Christ), of whom Daniel wrote, was, "To finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness” (Daniel 9:24). To make an end of sins! The Lord Jesus Christ has so effectually redeemed His people, so perfectly reconciled His people, so absolutely propitiated God, so thoroughly removed the sins of His people – that God declares – the God who cannot change – “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17). “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm103:12). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). In Christ, He sees us in Christ, in the Beloved, “In whom He is well pleased.”

Pastor David Pledger

CALEB AND JOSHUA

“For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun” (Numbers 26:65).

Caleb and Joshua were among the twelve men who went into the land of Canaan to spy out the land and people and bring the report to Moses (Num. 13:17). Ten men brought an evil and unbelieving report, they said, "We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we (Num. 13:31). God gave the nation forty years in the wilderness for their unbelief (Num.14:28-35).

Caleb and Joshua believed God and said, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it" (Num.13: 30). None that were numbered among the men from age twenty and older entered into the promise land with exception of Caleb (the faithful dog) and Joshua (the faithful Saviour). This is another glorious picture of the gospel of Christ. None will enter into glory but the Saviour and those sinners (dogs) for whom He died (Rom. 5:5-9). Christ the forerunner has entered in for us and every believer will enter upon His merits alone (Heb. 6:18-20).

However, there is another picture of the gospel here. The scripture says of both Caleb and Joshua that they had another spirit (Num. 14:24; 27:18). It was not the spirit and attitude of unbelief, but that of spirit of faith that honors and glorifies God. It is said of Abraham, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Rom. 4:20-21). Something else is also said of Caleb and Joshua, "they have wholly followed the LORD" (Num. 32:12). Faith and conduct cannot be separated. One preacher of the past said, "Faith is the mother of obedience." Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ puts another spirit and attitude in the sinner, that spirit of love, obedience, devotion, hope and confidence in the Lord (Gal.5: 22; Phil.1: 6; 2:13; 3:3).