I Am Not Ashamed: Our Insults Have Fallen on Him

"For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." (, NIV). Now, right up front you need to know that the context of this verse is in within the framework of the disputable matters issue I spent the last three Sundays preaching on. The Apostle Paul reminds the mature Christians in the Church at Rome that, when it comes to Christian Liberty, it’s not so much about their liberty, but their love for a Christian brother who is weak in the faith. “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” (, NIV). Then he adds the kicker ... Christ, himself, is our example, “For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”” (, NIV)

But in using Christ as our example of not pleasing ourselves, the Apostle drops this golden nugget of Christological redemptive truth. The Apostle quotes — "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." This Psalm is an inter-Trinitarian conversation in the Old Testament. It is God the Son speaking to God the Father. The you of the passage refers to the Father, and the me refers to the Son. Here’s the point: Our sin is an affront to God. All the contempt, all the reproach, all the scorn, and disrespect that sinners have heaped upon God was borne by the Christ in his suffering on the cross. Here, tucked away in a passage on the importance of Christian Liberty, is the Doctrine of Substitutionary Atonement.

For three weeks I’ve preached on disputable matters, and right in the middle of the Apostle’s discourse on disputable matters, he drops a doctrine that is indisputable and non-negotiable — that Christ died in the sinner’s place, taking upon himself the wrath that was rightly meant for us. It is a doctrine of the faith worth contending for.

The author of the Book of Hebrews writes:

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (, KJV)

Jesus is a Savior who does His work completely, fully, and to perfection. Jesus doesn’t save us just a little bit leaving us to work out the rest of our salvation by ourselves. Jesus doesn’t save us just part way leaving us to suffer in some ‘middle state’ or purgatory while friends and family on Earth do good works to get us out.

The good news of the Gospel is that God saves sinners to the uttermost. The Apostle unequivocally tells us in that Jesus is able to save. The Scriptures are emphatic about the efficacy of the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Now efficacy is a good theological word you need to know. It refers to the capacity or power to produce a desired effect. The blood of Jesus, who is the Christ, is efficacious in that our Lord’s shed blood has the power to produce a desired effect — it atones for our sin and for the sin of all who are called according to His purpose.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (, KJV)

This morning, I want to share with you three propositions about salvation. First, why the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ was necessary in the first place. It’s because man has a spiritual dilemma. Second, what God has done that offers a solution to our dilemma. And finally, the decision you have to make if God is going to solve your dilemma.

I. THE PROBLEM OF MAN

1. man has a spiritual dilemma –

ILLUS. He is, to quote American rock musician George Thorogood — “Bad to the Bone”.

On the day I was born

The nurses all gathered 'round

And they gazed in wide wonder

At the joy they had found

The head nurse spoke up

Said "leave this one alone"

She could tell right away

That I was bad to the bone

a. from the day he is born, a man is “bad to the bone”

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (, NIV)

“This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.” (, NIV)

• “This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.” (, NIV)

• “The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. 3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together. 4 The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. ... .” (, NIV)

“The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. 3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together. 4 The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. ... .” (, NIV)

• “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ... 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (, , NIV)

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ... 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (, , NIV)

2. according to the bible, man is not just a little bit bad or kinda naughty

a. men are remarkably evil, audaciously corrupt, and completely rotten to the core

b. such a view is diametrically opposed to the social theories of our day that maintain man is basically good, but is negatively affected by environmental or social conditions such as poverty, social disenfranchisement, or a dysfunctional home life

maintain man is basically good, but is negatively affected by environmental or social conditions such as poverty, social disenfranchisement, or a dysfunctional home life

1) just put a person in the right social and economic environment, and you’ll see just how good man is (according to the social scientist)

see just how good man is (according to the social scientist)

c. the bible says no, man’s problem goes deep

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”” (, NIV)

1) poverty, social disenfranchisement, or a dysfunctional home life may accentuate a man’s evil nature, but they are not the cause of man’s evil nature

a man’s evil nature, but they are not the cause of man’s evil nature

3. why is the human character in such appalling condition?

a. it is because of something called sin

b. while others speculate about the cause of wickedness and evil in our world, Christians know — or should know — that because of sin, men are capable of almost limitless evil

Christians know — or should know — that because of sin, men are capable of almost limitless evil

1) how else do we explain the Armenian Genocide, Nazi Concentration Camps, Soviet Gulags, the “Killing Fields” of Cambodia, “Ethnic Cleansing” in Bosnia, and Rwanda, and ISIS beheadings, or the Abortion industry where the executives of Planned Parenthood nonchalantly talk about selling baby body parts?

Soviet Gulags, the “Killing Fields” of Cambodia, “Ethnic Cleansing” in Bosnia, and Rwanda, and ISIS beheadings, or the Abortion industry where the executives of Planned Parenthood nonchalantly talk about selling baby body parts?

c. the Scriptures teach us that — since our fall from grace in the Garden of Eden — evil has been woven into the core of our character

Eden — evil has been woven into the core of our character

4. take away the civilizing force of society and law, and the restraining influence of God’s Holy Spirit and the accountant will become a murderer

God’s Holy Spirit and the accountant will become a murderer

A. THE PROBLEM OF MEN GOES DEEP

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (, KJV)

(, KJV)

1. Jeremiah says sin affects every part of a man’s character

a. when the prophet Jeremiah speaks of a man’s heart he is not referring to the muscle that pumps our blood

b. when the bible speaks of our heart it is referring to a person’s soul, with all its attributes — intellectual, emotional and spiritual

attributes — intellectual, emotional and spiritual

c. when says that our hearts are full of evil and madness it means that our emotions, our will, and our intellect — our entire character is affected by sin

that our emotions, our will, and our intellect — our entire character is affected by sin

1) sin dominates every thought the unregenerate man thinks

2) sin dominates every feeling the unregenerate man experiences

3) sin dominates every action the unregenerate man takes

2. Jeremiah says our character is deceitful

a. the word deceitful is the root word from which we get the Old Testament name Jacob

Jacob

b. the Bible is saying that we’re all like Jacob in character

1) if you remember, Jacob was a schemer and a conniver who would do about anything to advance himself or his agenda

anything to advance himself or his agenda

2) he was double-faced and double-tongued, tricking his brother and lying to his own father

his own father

3. Jeremiah says our character is desperately wicked

a. the word desperately in this verse literally mean incurable

1) our character is not just desperately wicked, it is incurably wicked

b. Paul speaks to this in his letter to the Christians at Rome

“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (, KJV)

maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (, KJV)

5. Jeremiah says our character is unknowable

a. the prophet Jeremiah looks at the human heart and sees it as so wicked and so depraved that he wonders out loud, who can know it?

so depraved that he wonders out loud, who can know it?

1) the answer is, you can’t

b. some men, who by all accounts are good men, will sometimes commit unthinkably horrible acts that leave the rest of us wondering, “How could they have done that?”

horrible acts that leave the rest of us wondering, “How could they have done that?”

ILLUS. Last week James Hodgkinson, a 66-year-old home-inspector from Belleville, ILL, went on a shooting spree that left Rep. Steve Scalise and several others wounded. Hodgkinson was shot and killed by police. The next day, Hodgkinson’s wife spoke out, saying she was shocked by the shooting, and had no idea her husband would do anything like that. "I can't believe he did this. I cannot believe this. ... I don't know what to tell you people, I had no idea this was going to happen and I don't know what to say about it, I can't wrap my head around it,"

ILL, went on a shooting spree that left Rep. Steve Scalise and several others wounded. Hodgkinson was shot and killed by police. The next day, Hodgkinson’s wife spoke out, saying she was shocked by the shooting, and had no idea her husband would do anything like that. "I can't believe he did this. I cannot believe this. ... I don't know what to tell you people, I had no idea this was going to happen and I don't know what to say about it, I can't wrap my head around it,"

Former Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, who chatted with Hodgkinson at the gym, said "He was just a very calm, rational person, I thought."

Dale Walsh, a neighbor back in Illinois, told reporters, “I just want to let people know that he wasn’t evil. ... I’d like to know why he did it.”

know that he wasn’t evil. ... I’d like to know why he did it.”

1) Christians know why he did it

2) men are, according to the Scriptures, evil — our character being totally marred by sin — and we are capable of committing unspeakably evil acts

by sin — and we are capable of committing unspeakably evil acts

6. because of sin, the lost person is dead in trespasses and sins

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (, KJV)

past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (, KJV)

7. The Reason We Need the Substitutionary Atonement Is Because Man Is Bad to the Bone

Bone

II. THE PROVISION OF GOD

1. God has an answer to man's spiritual dilemma — Jesus came to offer himself as our sin sacrifice

sin sacrifice

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (, NIV)

2. the answer for man’s depravity is God’s mercy and regenerating grace

a. to that end, God sent His only begotten son to become our substitutionary

a. to that end, God sent His only begotten son to become our substitutionary sacrifice

sacrifice

3. the birth of Christ was God's great expression of love for sinners

a. even our Lord’s name was special

1) in the Hebrew is Iesous (ee-ay-sooce')

2) it means "Jehovah saves"

4. through the life, death and resurrection of His only begotten son, God would provide a way through that wall which separates men from Himself

provide a way through that wall which separates men from Himself

5. through Jesus alone, our Lord’s atoning sacrifice revealed God’s great love for us

a. God’s love is unconditional

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (, NIV)

1) the Apostle writes: when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly

b. God’s love is incomparable

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (, NIV)

1) sin has outraged God and defiled the earth

2) it has introduced rebellion and ruin where once the Lord God reigned supreme

a) the world is haunted by demons, disease, and death, and dotted with graveyards, hospitals, prisons, and mental institutions—all because of sin

graveyards, hospitals, prisons, and mental institutions—all because of sin

b) it is ruined by vileness and squalor, misery and hatred, war and famine, blight and pestilence, death and decay—all because of sin

and pestilence, death and decay—all because of sin

c. and yet we read that But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

were still sinners, Christ died for us

A. CHRIST’S SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT COVERS OUR SIN AND APPEASES GOD’S WRATH

A. CHRIST’S SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT COVERS OUR SIN AND

APPEASES GOD’S WRATH

ILLUS. In 1900, the Japanese Parliament passed a law that no foreigner could take up residence in the city of Tokyo unless he had a "substitute." There were native Japanese who hired themselves out for this purpose. If the foreigner broke any law, the substitute suffered the penalty for it, even if the penalty were death. The wrath of the government came down upon the substitute. In a similar way, our standing before God and his demand of perfect righteousness in our lives is only obtainable through the substitutionary work of His Son. And this substitutionary work is obtained without any fee — only repentance and faith in Christ.

residence in the city of Tokyo unless he had a "substitute." There were native Japanese who hired themselves out for this purpose. If the foreigner broke any law, the substitute suffered the penalty for it, even if the penalty were death. The wrath of the government came down upon the substitute. In a similar way, our standing before God and his demand of perfect righteousness in our lives is only obtainable through the substitutionary work of His Son. And this substitutionary work is obtained without any fee — only repentance and faith in Christ.

1. the word we translate atonement in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word kaphar

a. it occurs 110 times in the Old Testament

b. it comes from a root word that literally means to cover

1) it is the same word used in when God tells Noah: "Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch."

an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch."

2) just as the pitch that covered the ark, keeping out the storm, so the shed blood of Jesus keeps us safe from the wrath of God against sin

blood of Jesus keeps us safe from the wrath of God against sin

3) Jesus has become our Ark of Safety

2. the Death of Jesus has made atonement for our sins

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, ... “” (, NIV)

a. his substitutionary atonement first justifies us — that is, God pardons, accepts, and declares a sinner to be "just" on the basis of Christ's righteousness

declares a sinner to be "just" on the basis of Christ's righteousness

1) the price for our pardon was his blood

b. the cross is the focal point of all of Christianity—everything hangs on the cross—everything

cross—everything

c. in the cross the Christian church has something no other religion or philosophy has

1) many religions have great teachers

2) some have great martyrs

3) however, none but Christianity has a cross

a) none but Christianity has a salvation plan so strong, so poignant, or so absurd to human thinking

to human thinking

b) none but Christianity has a point in time where God, evil, and mankind collided so violently that it abolished the sin that separated man from God and changed man forever

so violently that it abolished the sin that separated man from God and changed man forever

3. the Life of Jesus continues to make atonement for our sins

" ... how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (, NIV)

a. his substitutionary atonement also reconciles us — that is, because we have been justified God no longer considers us His enemies, but His children

justified God no longer considers us His enemies, but His children

b. as I gaze at the cross, I see God's standard — the perfection and sinlessness He demands of me

demands of me

1) I also see how absolutely short I fall in trying to measure up to His standard

2) and yet the words of grace ring in my ears But God commendeth his love toward me, in that, while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me

me, in that, while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me

4. Paul’s thoughts here are spiritually staggering: When I was a slave to my sin, disobedient, a child of wrath, undeserving of mercy and grace, God the Father took pity on me, regenerating my soul, giving me the gifts of repentance and faith, and granting me full and complete parson of sin. And he did this because of the death of God the Son who hung on the cross in my place. In doing so, he has delivered me from the wrath of God rightly poured out on sin. By his life he continues to be my advocate before the throne of God and at the resurrection I will stand before the Father wholly reconciled.

disobedient, a child of wrath, undeserving of mercy and grace, God the Father took pity on me, regenerating my soul, giving me the gifts of repentance and faith, and granting me full and complete parson of sin. And he did this because of the death of God the Son who hung on the cross in my place. In doing so, he has delivered me from the wrath of God rightly poured out on sin. By his life he continues to be my advocate before the throne of God and at the resurrection I will stand before the Father wholly reconciled.

5. God’s Answer to Man's Spiritual Dilemma is that He Came to Offer Himself as Our Sin Sacrifice

Our Sin Sacrifice

III. THE PLAN OF SALVATION

1. men have a decision to make concerning God’s answer to their dilemma — to receive or reject the atonement god has offered

reject the atonement god has offered

ILLUS. In C. S. Lewis’ novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, there is that majestic scene where Aslan dies in the place of Edmund.

majestic scene where Aslan dies in the place of Edmund.

Aslan is the Great Lion who rules Narnia. He is described as the King of Narnia, the King of Beasts, the Lord of the Wood, and the Son of the Great Emperor-Beyond- the-Sea. Aslan is the embodiment of all that is good and just and right and perfect.

Edmund is one of the four children who come through the Wardrobe into the Land of Narnia. And it is Edmund, who for the love of the things the White Witch gives him, is the one who betrays Aslan, and his siblings — Peter, Susan and Lucy. The Witch convinces Edmund that she will make him a prince and give him power and authority if he stands by her side. And he does. The Witch, however, eventually turns on Edmund, and is going to kill him, but he is rescued just in time by Aslan and his followers. Edmund is happy to see his siblings, as he has finally accepted that the Witch is evil.

The next day, the Witch and Aslan speak and the Witch demands Edmund's life because she says that Edmund is a traitor. The Witch says that according to the Deep Magic of Narnia, a traitor life's is forfeit to the Witch. Aslan does not deny this, and he secretly reaches a compromise with her — he will give his life in place of Edmunds’.

The next night, Aslan willingly comes to the place of sacrifice — the great stone altar. The Witch and a horde of her followers torment, humiliate, shave off his great mane, and finally kill Aslan. The Witch exalts that Aslan is dead.

Susan and Lucy stay with Aslan's dead body all night. In the morning, as they are leaving the Great Altar and Aslan’s lifeless body, they hear a great cracking noise, and are astounded to see the Stone Table broken. Aslan has disappeared. Suddenly Susan and Lucy hear Aslan's voice from behind him. Aslan has risen from the dead. Peter, Susan, Lucy and yes, Edmunds’ lives are forever changed because the Lion lives.

2. God has sent the world a Savior — His name is Jesus — he is the Lion of Judah

a. he has made atonement for sin by his life and blood

3. every lost person has a decision about Jesus that they need to make

a. you can remain a slave to your sin and under the condemnation of God which will eventually lead to hell, or

eventually lead to hell, or ...

b. you can commit your life — your whole life — to following Jesus for the rest of your life

your life

"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." (, NASB95)

4. will you accept the sacrifice of Jesus for your life this morning?

Men and religions have long despised and stumbled over the cross. The Jews of Jesus' day could not fathom their Messiah coming and dying. After all, messiahs don't die. The Romans saw a dying god as weak and unworthy of their allegiance — gods aren't slain by mortals. Islam flatly rejects the cross, saying it is inappropriate that God's prophet would succumb to such an end. Gandhi, the great Hindu leader, couldn't bring himself to accept Jesus as anything more than a martyr. It's no different today.

could not fathom their Messiah coming and dying. After all, messiahs don't die. The Romans saw a dying god as weak and unworthy of their allegiance — gods aren't slain by mortals. Islam flatly rejects the cross, saying it is inappropriate that God's prophet would succumb to such an end. Gandhi, the great Hindu leader, couldn't bring himself to accept Jesus as anything more than a martyr. It's no different today.

How can something so despised and rejected — an execution tool and a dying God — be the axis around wh ich the entire universe rotates?

During the last half of the 19th century, J. P. Morgan was one of the richest men in the world and the most powerful business man in America. His life is a fascinating read. A year before he died, Morgan had made his will. It consisted of about 10,000 words and contained thirty-seven articles. When you read his testament, there is no doubt as to what Mr. Morgan considered to be the most important clause in his will, in fact, the most important affair in his whole life. He had made many significant financial transactions during his career — some affecting such large sums of money as to disturb the financial equilibrium of the world. Yet there was one transaction that evidently stood out in Morgan's mind as of supreme importance — his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In his will he wrote: "I commit my soul in the hands of my Savior, full of confidence that, having redeemed me and washed me with His most precious Blood, He will present me faultless before the throne of my Heavenly Father. I entreat my children to maintain and defend, at all hazard and at any cost of personal sacrifice, the blessed doctrine of complete Atonement of sins through the Blood of Jesus Christ once offered, and through that alone." He trusted in the blessed doctrine of complete Atonement of sins through the Blood of Jesus Christ once offered, and through that alone. Will you?

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