March 6, 2011
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“Nothing is more needful for making a sermon memorable and impressive than a logical arrangement.” — Robert Murray M’Cheyne
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Behold the Christ for Sinners Slain ― Don Fortner
(Tune: #90 ― It Came Upon A Midnight Clear ― CMD)
Behold, the Christ for sinners slain upon the cursed tree!
What crushed His holy soul with pain? From whence His agony?
Let none who wear His blessed name forget what His death means. ―
Our Savior died and suffered hell within because of sin!

The nails, the thorns, the soldier’s spear, the taunts and jeers of men,
Could never crush Immanuel’s heart, ― but our imputed sin!
God’s holy sword atonement made, (Not all the strokes of men!)
Which fell upon our Savior’s head for us made to be sin!

Now blush, my soul, oh, blush with shame, for all my horrid sin!
Rejoice, my soul, and praise His name, Christ put away my sin!
A willing Sacrifice He died, in this poor sinner’s stead,
Triumphant, “It is finished,” cried and calmly bowed His head.

Triumphant, see our Victor lead into captivity
Satan and sin and death and hell, winning our liberty!
Behold the Savior on His throne, (Redemption fully wrought!)
He reigns to give eternal life to sinners dearly bought!
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“For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.”
Psalm 38:18

“Let not these words stagger the faith of the believer in considering them as spoken by Christ. As the sinner's Surety, He was truly made sin for His people, so the Scripture declares, yea, also a curse for them. Hence, in the eye of the law, Christ and His seed are one (Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21).”
— Robert Hawker
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Six Things Christ has Done for You
Mark 5:10-20

Using the demon possessed Gadarene as a picture of every sinner saved by the grace of God, we see six things the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us by His grace.

-He came to you where you were (v. 1; John 4:1-4).
-He cast the devil out of you (v. 8; Ephesians 2:1-3; Luke 11:21-22).
-He has given you rest (v. 15; Matthew 11:28-30).
-He clothed you (v. 15). You were naked. Christ clothed you with the garments of salvation; and now your nakedness is covered (Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 22:11; 3:18).
-He gave you a right mind (v. 15), even “the mind of Christ.” A right mind is a sound mind, a mind that agrees with God.
-He sent you forth bearing to others the message of His grace (vv. 19-20).
— Frank Hall
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Cities of Refuge — Numbers 35:11

When the children of Israel were settled in the land of Canaan, God ordained that six cities of refuge be set aside, to which a man might flee for security, if he had unintentionally killed another man. These cities of refuge were located strategically throughout the land, so that any one of them could be easily reached within a day's journey from any place in the land of Canaan. If the guilty man could get into the gates of the city before the avenger of blood caught him, he would be secure. These cities of refuge together form a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. They typically represent Him to whom we have “fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18).

We are informed by the ancient Jewish rabbis that, at least once every year, the magistrates of each city were responsible to survey the road to their city, making certain that the road was clear of all debris and easily passable. There must be no obstacles in the way that would hinder any who might flee to the cities of refuge. The magistrates sent out work crews to remove all large rocks and fallen trees from the road, taking the greatest possible care to remove every stumbling block. Any low places in the road were filled. Any high places were leveled. All along the road they placed markers with the word “REFUGE” written in bold letters. When the fugitive came to a crossroad, he needed not hesitate for a moment. Seeing that blessed word, “REFUGE,” he kept on his breathless pace, with relentless determination, until he reached the place of safety. Once he entered the gates of the city, he was secure.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Refuge for sinners. All who come to Him are saved from the wrath of God. The way to Christ is plainly revealed, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” And Christ, by His righteousness and blood, has removed every obstacle that might keep the sinner who seeks Him from finding Him. He even sends His Spirit to reveal the way, lead us in the way, and bring us safely to our souls’ Refuge.
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