“THROUGH DEATH”

It is no wonder that the apostle Paul determined to know nothing among those he preached to but “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” When Christ came, He came to “destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:14,15) There is only one way He could accomplish this deliverance, “through death.” He could have done everything else from heaven except the one thing necessary to save us and satisfy the righteous justice of God which was to die! “The soul that sins shall surely die.” “the wages of sin is death” He came into this world as the Word made flesh, taking a body through which He could die! “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,” (Heb. 2:14) The peace and reconciliation He made toward God on behalf of His people could come only one way: “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” (Col 1:20-22) The obedience He rendered to God in order to save us from our sins was death. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Php 2:8) The meritorious cause of our justification is the suffering and dying of our Substitute! “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Ro 5:19) By the one act of the man Adam’s disobedience the many were made sinners, likewise by the one righteous act of Christ the many were made righteous. That one righteous act (or as it is “one righteousness”) has always been the one ground upon which a just God can be a Savior to sinners like us! Believers never discover anything greater than this glorious truth: “It is Christ that died” and we were “made the righteousness of God in Him.” His death is the righteousness of God! God was right to punish His Son when He laid on Him the transgressions of His people; and He is right to save them and bless them on the basis of what He has made them in Christ. God has seen the blood and by His Spirit and gospel I have too! “O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow, No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

Gary Shepard

In Colossians 1:18, we read, "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." When Christians fight each other, reject the counsel of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and interpret spiritual truth so as to make it a lie to fit their ego and personal opinions, Christ does not have the preeminence! He is shamed and dishonored!

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Cain, Esau, Saul, Ahab, and Judas, all, in a way, repented; but their repentance was natural remorse, not the godly sorrow of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. They neither hated their sins nor forsook them; loved holiness nor sought it. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord; Esau plotted Jacob’s death; Saul consulted a witch; Ahab put Micaiah into prison; Judas hanged himself. How different all this from the godly aversion to sin, and intense longing for righteousness, which the Spirit imparts to chosen and blood bought sinners.

J.C. Philpot

Believing “in” or into (eis) “the name of Christ,” 1 John 3:23, is reposing unhesitating and abiding trust in His revealed character, His one name comprises three titles, each of which is a revelation: Jesus designates Him as a Saviour of sinners; Christ as appointed and anointed of God; Lord as the supreme Ruler over the creation of God. Jesus is His personal name, Christ His official name, Lord His given title. He is Jesus in relation to sinners; Christ in relation to God (Luke 2:26); Lord in relation to all created beings. He is our Christ by the Spirit; our Lord by His acquired right; our Jesus by His merit. As Jesus He frees us; as Christ, He fills us; as Lord, He rules us and rules over all things for us. Believing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, is therefore trusting His character in the fullness of the revelation which these titles afford. W.J. Styles

What sacred fountain yonder springs

Up from the Throne of God,

And all new cov’nant blessings brings?—

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

“What mighty sum paid all my debts

When I a bondman stood,

And has my soul at freedom set?—

’Twas Jesus’ precious blood.

“What power has borne my sins away,

Like an o’erwhelming flood,

Nor lets one guilty blemish stay?—

’Twas Jesus’ precious blood.

“What voice is that which speaks for me

In heaven’s high court for good,

Resistless in its potent plea?—

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

“What theme, my soul, shall best employ

Thy harp before thy God,

And make all heaven to ring with joy?—

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

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Guard against quoting Matt. 28:20, as if it ran, “Where two or three meet together in My name, there I am in the midst of them to bless them.” For “Gathered” and “meet” are different in meaning. The term employed by Jesus is in the passive voice, and implies the agency of the Holy Spirit, by whose influence the saints have assembled. A meeting might be a mere human arrangement. Such a gathering as the Lord describes is convened by the energy of the Spirit. copied

If you are not in submission to the truth of God, be sure that you are still a rebel against the God of truth.