The Message of The Cross (2)
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Chapter 1
Chapter 1
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD
“As speech reveals mind, so Jesus as the Word reveals God. But to reveal God He must Himself be God, for only God could reveal God.” Williams
THE ETERNAL WORD OR LOGOS
THE ETERNAL WORD OR LOGOS
While Jesus laid aside the expression of his deity, He never for a moment lost possession of His deity.
AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD
AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD
AND THE WORD WAS GOD
AND THE WORD WAS GOD
THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD
THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD
ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM
ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE
AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN
AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN
Before the Fall, Jesus was the “light of men”, which means there was no other life and no other light.
When the “light” at the Fall was lost due to the “life” being rejected, God immediately set about to restore the “life” which would automatically bring the “light”.
Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
BELIEVING A LIE
BELIEVING A LIE
THE INCARNATION
THE INCARNATION
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
THE CHURCH
THE CHURCH
THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS
THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
THE ANSWER
THE ANSWER
LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU
LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
THE VIRTUES OF CHRIST
THE VIRTUES OF CHRIST
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
EQUAL WITH GOD
EQUAL WITH GOD
THE FORM OF GOD
THE FORM OF GOD
AN EXTENDED MEANING THE TIME OF WHICH THIS SPEAKS
AN EXTENDED MEANING THE TIME OF WHICH THIS SPEAKS
THE ANGELS
THE ANGELS
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
EXACTLY WHAT DOES GOD LOOK LIKE?
In the words of Albert Barnes, “What was the ‘form’ Jesus had before His Incarnation? What is meant by His having been then in the Form of God?” Perhaps no satisfactory answer can be given to these questions. Jesus Himself speaks (Jn. 17:5) of “the Glory which He had with the Father before the world was.” The language naturally conveys the idea that there was then a manifestation of the Divine Nature through Him, which, in some measure, ceased when He became Incarnate. As well, there was some visible splendor and majesty, which were then laid aside, although He continued to be God. What manifestation of His Glory God may make in the heavenly world, of course, we, as human beings, as stated, cannot know nor understand. Nothing forbids us, however, to suppose that there is some such visible manifestations; some Splendor and Magnificence of God in the view of the angelic beings such as becomes the great Sovereign of the Universe — for He “. . . dwells in Light which no man can approach unto” (I Tim. 6:16). It is said here that before His Incarnation, the Lord Jesus possessed that “Glory,” that visible manifestation, or splendor, indicating the Nature of God. I merely ask the question, “Is it possible that God has a Spirit Body, whatever that might mean?” (Jn. 4:24). EQUAL WITH GOD The phrase, “Thought it not robbery to be equal with God,” refers to a Judgment based upon facts. The word, “God,” is used again without the article — the God. Had the article preceded it, the meaning would be, “Equal with God the Father.” The word, “God,” here refers to Deity, not seen in the Three Persons of the Godhead, but to Deity seen in its Essence. Equality with God does not refer here to the Equality of the Lord Jesus with the other Persons of the Trinity, nor does it refer to His Equality with Them in the “possession” of the Divine Essence. Possession of the Divine Essence is not spoken of here, but the “expression” of the Divine Essence is referred to, although “possession” is implied by the “expression.” Equality with God refers here to our Lord’s Co-participation with the other Members of the Trinity in the expression of the Divine Essence. This is a very important point, for when we come to consider the fact that our Lord laid aside something, we will see that it was not the “possession,” but rather the “expression” of the Divine Essence. ROBBERY? The Greek word, “Robbery,” has two distinct meanings, “A thing unlawfully seized,” or, “A treasure to be clutched and retained at all hazards.” When a Greek word has more than one meaning, the rule of interpretation is to take the one which agrees with the context in which it is found. The Passage which we are studying is the illustration of the virtues mentioned in Philippians 2:2-4, namely, humility and self-abnegation for the benefit of others. If our Lord did not consider it a thing to be unlawfully seized to be equal with God in the expression of the Divine Essence, then He would be asserting His Rights to that expression. He would be declaring His Rightful Ownership of that prerogative. However, to assert one’s right to a thing does not partake of an attitude of humility and self-abnegation. Therefore, this meaning of the word will not do here. If our Lord did not consider the expression of His Divine Essence such a treasure that it should be retained at all hazards, that would mean that He was willing to wave His Rights to that expression if the necessity arose. This is the essence of humility and of self-abnegation. Thus, our second meaning is the one to be used here (Wuest). HUMAN NATURE Another step in Jesus’ Humiliation was that He was made in the outward form of a man. His Inner Nature remained Divine. His Outward Temporary Form, however, was different, changed to that of a man. Jesus was, in fact, God become man; the Incarnation was not a phantom; His Humanity was real. In other words, He was not fifty percent God and fifty percent Man. He was Very God, meaning, “Total God,” although freely giving up some of the expressions of Deity, and Very Man, i.e., “Total Man.” EQUALITY WITH GOD To make it easier to understand the phrase, “Thought it not robbery to be equal with God,” I think it can be explained according to the following: Jesus is God: in fact, He had always been God and despite the Incarnation, was still God. Despite the fact of His becoming human, even with all its limitations, it in no way took from Him the possession of His Deity. Also, despite becoming Fully Man, He in no way felt it was an insult to the Godhead to continue to declare His Essential Essence of Deity. He became a Man, Fully Man, Total Man, Absolute Man, “The Man Christ Jesus.” However, even though He willingly laid aside His Expression of Deity, He never laid aside His Possession of Deity. He was just as much God while Man as He had been God before becoming Man. His Essence never changed despite the fact that He no longer used the Power of His Deity, at least, during His Earthly Life of some thirty-three and a half years. JESUS CHRIST THE SOURCE OF ALL BLESSINGS He is the Source simply because He paid the price at Calvary’s Cross. In fact, while Jesus Christ is the Source of all the things we receive from God, as well, He Alone is the Way to God (Jn. 14:6). So, it doesn’t matter what one gets right in other areas of life and living, and it doesn’t matter what good things a religious denomination may proclaim. If they are wrong about Christ, then they are wrong about everything. Jesus Christ must be given His Rightful Due. Once again, we state that this is an absolute necessity simply because He Alone paid the price that had to be paid. HE MADE HIMSELF NOTHING Paul said, “But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7). The description now moves to Christ’s Incarnate State. Two phrases carry the main thoughts: He made Himself nothing. . . . He humbled Himself. . . . This latter phrase is found in the next Verse. The first phrase is literally, “But Himself He emptied.” It uses a verb that has lent its name to the so-called “kenosis” theories that probe the nature of Christ’s “Emptying Himself.” Although the Text does not directly state that Christ emptied Himself “of something,” such would be the natural understanding when this verb is used. Furthermore, the context has most assuredly prepared the reader for understanding that Christ divested Himself of something. What it was, the following phrase implies: THE FORM OF GOD The One Who was existing in the Form of God took on the form of a servant. The word, “Taking,” does not imply an exchange, but rather an addition. The “Form of God” could not be relinquished, for God cannot cease to be God. However, our Lord could and did take on the very form of a lowly servant when He entered human life by the Incarnation. It is sometimes suggested that the term, “Servant,” refers to the exalted Servant of Jehovah, but this Passage seems intended to emphasize His Condescension and Humble Station. Consequently, what an example our Lord provides considering the spirit of humility! Inasmuch as Angels also are servants, the statement makes it clear that Christ became part of humanity: “Being made in human likeness.” Thus, by Paul using the word, “Likeness,” it is implied that even though Christ became a Genuine Man, there were certain respects in which He was not absolutely like other men. Paul may have had in mind the unique union of the Divine and human Natures in Jesus or the absence of a sin nature. In summation, Christ did not empty Himself of the Form of God (His Deity), but of the manner of existence as equal to God. He did not lay aside the Divine Attributes, but “the insignia of majesty.” Christ’s Action has been described as the laying aside during the Incarnation of the independent use of His Divine Attributes. NO REPUTATION The phrase, “But made Himself of no reputation,” literally means, “He emptied Himself.” Instead of asserting His Rights to the expression of the Essence of Deity, our Lord waived His Rights to that expression, being willing to relinquish it if necessary, which He did. He did not consider the exercise of that expression such a treasure that it would keep Him from setting that expression aside and making Himself of no reputation. So, on behalf of fallen humanity, He willingly and freely “emptied Himself.” The Divine Majesty of which He emptied Himself was His Own Rightful Prerogative, and His Humiliation was His Own Voluntary Act. Alford says, “He used His equality with God as an opportunity not for self-exaltation, but for self-abasement.” In fact, Christ’s Self-humiliation proved His Deity, for this renunciation would have had no value if Christ were not God. He became Man but in contrast with the first man, He did not grasp at equality with God by robbery. On the contrary, He emptied Himself of all His Outward Glory of the Form of God and revealed Himself to the world in the form of a slave. By robbery, Adam sought to exalt Himself to the dishonoring of God; the Last Adam humbled Himself to the honoring of God. The first Adam exalted Himself and was humbled; the Last Adam humbled Himself and was exalted. OF WHAT DID HE EMPTY HIMSELF? Christ subsisting in the Form of God, i.e., the visible glories shining forth from His Divine Essence as God, is here set in contrast with His assuming “the form of a servant,” which, in its turn, declares the existence of His Human Nature. Thus, the “form of God” declares His Deity and the “form of a servant” His Humanity. He did not hold fast and bring down to Earth the visible demonstration of His Deity — for such is the import of the word, “Robbery” — although it was shown out for a moment on the Mount of Transfiguration — but emptied Himself of that outward Glory in order to become Man and by His Death on the Tree secure the eternal advantage of those who would accept His Sacrifice. He fought not on His Own Glory but on the glory of others. The question here is not between His being on an equality with God and His emptying Himself — for He never emptied Himself of His Godhead — but the contrast is between His being in the Form of God and in the form of a servant. Equality with God declares His Being; the Form of God expresses the manifestations of that Being. It was of the outward demonstrations of His Deity that He emptied Himself. THE SEVEN STEPS The seven downward steps of His Great Renunciation are followed here by the seven upward steps of His Glorious Ascension (Vss. 9-11). They are as follows: His Renunciation (Vs. 6). Emptied Himself. Servant’s Form. Became in man’s likeness. Humbled Himself. Bowed to death. And what a death! The death of the Cross! The seven upward steps of His Exaltation are: God highly exalted Him. Granted Him the Name which is above every Name. Universal dominion. Over beings in Heaven. Over beings on Earth. Over beings under the Earth. Divine Glory: all tongues will confess by and by that Jesus of Nazareth is Jehovah, and such confession will honor and not dishonor God. THE FORM OF A SERVANT He took the form of a servant at the time when He assumed humanity, as it is said, “Being made in the likeness of men.” It is as follows: His Subjection to the Law (Lk. 2:21; Gal. 5:4). His Subjection to His Parents (Lk. 2:5). His Position as a Carpenter (Mk. 6:3). His Sale for the price of a slave (Ex. 21:32). His Death, the death of a slave, and His Dependence as a Servant on God, all illustrate His Form as a servant (Isa. 49:3, 7). This proves: He was in the form of a servant directly when He became man. He was in the Form of God before He was in the form of a servant. He truly subsisted in the Divine Nature as in human nature, for He was as much in the Form of God as in the form of a servant, and was so truly in the Form of God as to be on an equality with God. He therefore could have been none other than God (Isa. 46:5; Zech. 13:7) (Williams). HIMSELF So, we continue to come to the question, “Of what did Christ empty Himself?” Was it His Deity, His Nature, His Divine Prerogative, or His Equality? Paul simply says that Christ emptied Himself. The verb used here simply means, “To pour out,” with Christ Himself as the Object. Thus, Christ emptied Himself of Himself. At no time did He allow selfish considerations to dominate His Spotless Life. The words, “Made Himself,” mean, “To make empty, to make vain or void.” The word does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament except in the Passage before us. The essential idea is that of bringing to emptiness or nothingness; hence, it is applied to a case where one lays aside his rank and dignity and becomes in respect to that, “As nothing.” That is, he assumes a far less rank and station. As someone has said, “When the sun is obscured by a cloud or in an eclipse, there is no real change of its glory, nor its beams extinguished, nor is the sun itself in any measure changed. Its luster is only for a time obscured.” So it might have been in regard to the manifestation of the Glory of the Son of God. A FAR GREATER WEIGHT This one thing is certain, whatever the phrase means, “But made Himself of no reputation,” it is far more than the mind of man can even begin to grasp. The reason should be obvious. Where it is possible for us to see what He became, it is, in fact, impossible for us to know in totality what He was before His Self-emptying. As a creature, we cannot really even begin to grasp the Glory and the Grandeur of the Creator, and He was definitely the Creator (Jn. 1:1-3). To be frank, even if shown such, we do not presently have the capabilities of grasping that which we would be shown, even if that were possible. Actually, when we’re given a glimpse into the spirit world of the Glory of God, we are as much at a loss to comprehend it even as the Prophets were in trying to explain it. If the reader doubts my words, let him look again at the First Chapter of Ezekiel, or Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation concerning what John saw. Paul didn’t even bother to attempt to explain his “Visions and Revelations.” He just said that he saw things “. . . and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (II Cor. 12:1-4). Even as I dictate these words, I sense the Presence of God. WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF THIS SELF-EMPTYING OF CHRIST? If we see only greatness and glory, I think we miss the point. It is “Love” we must see! It was Love that did all of this, a Love that is beyond the comprehension of man. A fallen race was doomed — doomed to die eternally lost. Having forfeited that which was given to them by God, man found himself in a position from which he could not be extricated, at least by his own machinations. So, if he was to be Saved, God would have to do the deed Himself. In His Greatness and Glory, God could easily have regenerated man without the sin question being addressed; however, His Nature and Holiness could not allow such. The sin question had to be addressed and answered, and addressed in full, in other words, no shortcuts. There was no other way. God could simply have allowed man to die in his lostness, which, of necessity, would demand his spending eternity in the Lake of Fire. That would have satisfied the sin debt on an individual basis regarding each human being. The wages of sin is death, which means separation from God, and eternal separation from God would have paid the penalty. However, Love could not allow such to happen. It must be understood that man was not created by God as a result of need. God does not need anything. He created man from a position totally and completely of Love. LOVE Some have claimed that God created man because He wanted or needed fellowship. Once again, God has never needed anything, much less fellowship. No! He created man simply and totally from a position of Love, and as such, He would “crown him with glory and honor” (Ps. 8:5). So, if Love created Him, then Love must rescue Him. However, to rescue man, even though God had spoken all of Creation into existence (Heb. 11:3), He could not speak Redemption into existence, that is, and be true to His Nature. A debt had been incurred, a terrible debt of sin, and that debt must be paid. The only way it could be paid was by death, for that was the penalty (Gen. 2:15-17; Ezek. 18:4
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.
I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
WAS JESUS DIFFERENT FROM US?
WAS JESUS DIFFERENT FROM US?
Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
SATAN HAS NO PART IN ME
SATAN HAS NO PART IN ME
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
THE FORM OF A SERVANT
THE FORM OF A SERVANT
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE SERVANT
AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE SERVANT
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,
rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
HUMILIATION
HUMILIATION
For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
THE LIKENESS OF MEN
THE LIKENESS OF MEN
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
HUMAN LIMITATION
HUMAN LIMITATION
THE DIVINE MYSTERY
THE DIVINE MYSTERY
HE HUMBLED HIMSELF
HE HUMBLED HIMSELF
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
THE CROSS
THE CROSS
FOUND IN FASHION
FOUND IN FASHION
A DIVINE MIRACLE
A DIVINE MIRACLE
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
PAUL’S DESCRIPTION
PAUL’S DESCRIPTION
For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.
THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST
THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST
For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
THE PARTICULAR TIMES IN WHICH HE LIVED
THE PARTICULAR TIMES IN WHICH HE LIVED
THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES
THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES
THE SADDUCEES
THE SADDUCEES
JESUS
JESUS
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.
THE NAZARENES
THE NAZARENES
And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ”
And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.
But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land,
and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.
And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.
HIS TEACHING AND PREACHING
HIS TEACHING AND PREACHING
And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.
More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?
They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.
Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
OBEDIENCE
OBEDIENCE
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
THE DEATH OF THE CROSS
THE DEATH OF THE CROSS
his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
WAS SUCH A DEATH NECESSARY?
WAS SUCH A DEATH NECESSARY?
“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
WHY WAS THE CROSS NECESSARY?
WHY WAS THE CROSS NECESSARY?
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.
And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,
saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,
CRUCIFIXION, THE WORST FORM OF DEATH
CRUCIFIXION, THE WORST FORM OF DEATH
as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree,
his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
ATONEMENT
ATONEMENT
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
THE NEED FOR ATONEMENT
THE NEED FOR ATONEMENT
“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?
The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
ATONEMENT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
ATONEMENT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
BLOOD
BLOOD
The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold.
But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”
And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting.
When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand
and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped.
Numbers 25:13
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
ATONEMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
ATONEMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
THE ATONEMENT REVEALS GOD’S LOVE FOR MEN
THE ATONEMENT REVEALS GOD’S LOVE FOR MEN
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
THE SACRIFICIAL ASPECT OF CHRIST’S DEATH
THE SACRIFICIAL ASPECT OF CHRIST’S DEATH
who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
THE REPRESENTATIVE NATURE OF CHRIST’S DEATH
THE REPRESENTATIVE NATURE OF CHRIST’S DEATH
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
SUBSTITUTION TAUGHT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
SUBSTITUTION TAUGHT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
WHAT THE CROSS TELLS US
WHAT THE CROSS TELLS US
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.’
THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION
THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION
who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”
DELIVERANCE
DELIVERANCE
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
WHAT DOES CRUCIFYING THE FLESH MEAN?
WHAT DOES CRUCIFYING THE FLESH MEAN?
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?
For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.
Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
HOW DO WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT?
HOW DO WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT?
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
GOING BEYOND THE CROSS
GOING BEYOND THE CROSS
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
THE RESURRECTION LIFE
THE RESURRECTION LIFE
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
“O my brother, do you know the Saviour, “Who is Wondrous, Kind, and True? “He’s the Rock of your Salvation! “There’s Honey in the Rock for you.” “Have you tasted that the Lord is Gracious? “Do you walk in the way that’s new? “Have you drunk from the Living Fountain? “There’s Honey in the Rock for you.” “Do you pray unto God the Father, “What will You have me to do? “Never fear, He will surely answer, “There’s Honey in the Rock for you.” “Then go out through the streets and byways, “Preach the Word to the many or few; “Say to every fallen brother, “There’s Honey in the Rock for you.”