The Barrier
Before you begin your Bible study, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, be
sure you have named your sins privately to God the Father.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Known, Unknown and Forgotten sins)
(1Jn 1:9)
You will then be in fellowship with God, Filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to
learn Truth from the Word of God.
"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth,"
(John 4:24)
GOD AND HIS PLAN
God placed the first man and woman into the perfect environment of the
Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had daily fellowship with the Lord until the sin
of disobedience set up a Barrier between themselves and God. Omniscient
God had always known that sin would alienate man from his Creator; therefore,
He designed a Plan in eternity past to provide for the removal of this Barrier. An
expression of God’s grace, the Plan is basically divided into three parts: Phase
One, Salvation; Phase Two, the believer in time; Phase Three, the believer in
eternity.
God The Father, the First Person of the Trinity, was the Author of the
Plan; God The Son, the Second Person, was the Executor of the Plan; while
God The Holy Spirit, the Third Person, was the Revealer of the Plan. From the
Divine Viewpoint, (God’s Reality) Phase One began in eternity past at the
conference of Divine Decrees’ when the Members of the Godhead, anticipating
man’s failure, resolved the problem of sin. The Second Person of the Trinity
was elected to execute this phase of God’s Plan. Historically, Phase One
began with the virgin birth and concluded with the Cross, resurrection,
ascension and session of Jesus Christ. For the believer, Phase One is that
instant of time when he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. (Past,
present and in the future) Phase Two for the believer begins immediately after
Salvation and is executed by God the Holy Spirit in and through the believer.
Phase Three, executed primarily by God the Father, begins for the believer at
the moment of physical death or at the Second Advent, whichever occurs first.
(1Th 4:13-18)
The removal of the Barrier is solely the work of God, and apart from
Divine intervention, man would face eternal condemnation. No matter what we
may possess in the way of abilities, talents or any other human assets, we are
totally incapable of saving ourselves or of having fellowship with God. No one
has ever removed the Barrier by his own efforts or merits.
SUMMARY OF THE BARRIER
Illustration
For the sake of illustration, let us say that the Barrier is composed of
bricks. The first is SIN: “For all have sinned, and come short {Missed the mark]
of the glory [Essence] of God.” (Rom 3:23) The second “brick” is the PENALTY
OF SIN: “For the wages of sin is death...” (Rom 6:23) The third is PHYSICAL
BIRTH. Man is born physically alive, but at the same time he is Spiritually dead
that is, without fellowship with God. (Eph 2:1) The next brick is the
CHARACTER OF GOD, or His Divine essence. Man simply cannot measure up
to the Divine characteristics of perfect God! No one is as good as God!
Therefore, the next brick is man’s RELATIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS. No matter
how good man may be, his human righteousness is still lacking. (Isa 64:6) I call
this MINUS-R. Finally, we have man’s POSITION IN ADAM: “In Adam all die...”
(1Co 15:22) Adam’s Fall and subsequent Spiritual death not only disqualified all
mankind from fellowship with God, but limited the physical life span of the
human race.
Illustration
SIN AND REDEMPTION
Since SIN and the PENALTY OF SIN have been covered in detail in the
book, Slave Market of Sin, we will only summarize the Principles. The first sin in
the human race was an expression of negative volition — disobedience to the
stated will of God. “But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you
shall not eat...” (Gen 2:17) Adam’s disobedience had far-reaching
repercussions to mankind; his sin was imputed to the entire human race — that
is, it was charged to OUR account as well as to Adam’s! “For as by one man’s
disobedience many were made sinners...” (Rom 5:19) Because Adam is the
head of the human race, we stand or fall with him, and we also inherit Adam’s
sinful nature. Adam BECAME a sinner; therefore, we are BORN sinners. We
have no more choice in the matter than we had a choice in being born male or
female.
For this reason, just as through one man Adam’s original sin entered into
the world, and Spiritual death through the sin of Adam, and so Spiritual death
spread to all men, because all sinned. (The moment Adam sinned) (Rom 5:12)
“All have sinned” because we ALL have an old sin nature and because
Adam’s sin was imputed to us! We are born in the “slave market of sin” and will
remain slaves to our sin natures for as long as we are alive unless we avail
ourselves of God’s solution — REDEMPTION.
The word “redeem” means “to buy, to purchase.” In the case of a slave, it
means “to purchase his freedom from a slave market.” Redemption includes
forgiveness of all sin, (1Jn 2:2) and provides the basis for justification and
immediate cleansing of sin at Salvation. (Rom 3:24)
The Truth of Unlimited Atonement resolved the problem of the universality
of sin. Christ was judged for every sin everyone in the world has ever
committed or ever will commit! Redemption and unlimited atonement are
available to the entire human race, but they are obtained only by those who
believe in Christ.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power [Right and ability] to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. (John 1:12)
THE PENALTY OF SIN AND EXPIATION
When God placed man on the earth, He also included a test of man’s free
will. (Volition) One tree was forbidden and a PENALTY imposed for
disobedience to God’s warning; “…for in the day that you eat from it you will
surely die.” (Spiritual death) (Gen 2:17) Because God’s righteousness cannot
have fellowship with sin. His justice must demand a penalty or payment for sin
Spiritual DEATH. “For the wages of sin is death...” (Rom 6:23) When Adam
used his volition to go negative to God’s Commandment, he died Spiritually.
Many years later, as a result of Spiritual death, Adam died physically.
(Gen 5:5)
The debt which was incurred by the first man and passed down to the
entire human race had grievous consequences! Without Salvation, we would be
doomed to eternal judgment; yet God never leaves man in a hopeless situation.
In expiation, the Spiritual death of Christ blotted out this staggering debt against
us.
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. (Col 2:14) “To
expiate” means to atone for or to make amends for a wrong which you have
done. A criminal must make amends for his crime by serving a prescribed
sentence. When he has served his time, he is then considered to have paid his
debt to society. Man owes God perfect righteousness, just as we owe the
State obedience to the law. But, as we have seen, our sins, our old sin nature,
(Inherited from Adam) and the penalty against us have put us hopelessly in
debt. Only GRACE could find a solution!
Acting as our Substitute, Jesus Christ took the punishment for our sins, as
God the Father judged them in His soul and body on the Cross. (Isa 53:11;
(1Pe 2:24) The penalty of sin was SPIRITUAL DEATH; the payment of sin was
SPIRITUAL DEATH! The Spiritual death of Christ occurred when the Father
judged Christ in His human nature while He was bearing the sins of the world.
When at last Jesus cried, “It is finished,” He had paid our debt in full. Expiation
was an accomplished fact.
PHYSICAL BIRTH AND REGENERATION
The very fact that our birth is physical implies certain restrictions, both
human and Spiritual. Adam had been created a trichotomous being, possessing
a body, a soul and a spirit. The body is merely the house which qualifies us for
life on this earth. The old sin nature, which came into existence when Adam
sinned, resides in the body and is the source of Spiritual death, satanic thinking
and demonic fellowship. The soul, the real person inside, enables us to
understand and enjoy human fellowship. Your soul contains self-consciousness,
(Awareness of your own existence) mentality, (The ability to think) faith, (The
appropriator) volition, (Your decider) emotion, (The appreciator) and
conscience. (Norms and standards) The human spirit, which has the ability to
absorb and categorize Spiritual Thinking, is the only means by which man can
have fellowship with God.
When he sinned, Adam and the human race lost both the human spirit and
the capacity to have fellowship with God. We became dichotomous, possessing
only a body and a soul. Since that time, all humanity is born in the same
condition — physically alive but Spiritually dead. Mentality and the old sin nature
are developed before birth; these are inherited from our parents. (The sin
nature from the father — Gen 5:3) When the soul life given by God combines
with the mentality at birth, there is immediate physical life. The remainder of the
soul’s essence is received at this time. At the instant you receive physical life,
Adam’s sin is imputed to your sin nature, which is already present, and
produces Spiritual death. We are dead to God! To have fellowship with God, to
be made alive unto Him, we must be born again. God has made provision for
this through REGENERATION a supernatural work of God whereby eternal life
is imparted by the Father to the believer in Christ through the agency of the
Holy Spirit. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which
He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive
together with Christ,” (By grace you have been saved). (Eph 2:5)
The Biography of Nicodemus
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the
Jews. (John 3:1)
The Truth of Regeneration is illustrated in John 3 in the well-known
account of Nicodemus. Devout but unregenerate, Nicodemus was a member of
the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jews, comprised of Scribes, Sadducees
and Pharisees. The Scribes were the guardians and the scholars of the Old
Testament Scriptures; the Sadducees were aristocratic rationalists who denied
all supernatural phenomena, such as the resurrection or the Concept of eternal
life; the Pharisees were religious legalists. For example, they prayed seven
times a day and attended “church” three times a day. They were do-gooders
and, whether sincere or insincere, they accumulated a tremendous number of
good deeds. They worked overtime at doing GOOD because they were trying
to get through the “pearly gates” by their own merit. If there were holy-day
ceremonies to be observed, they observed them to the letter! They gave money
to the poor, but it was done publicly with great pomp and fanfare in order to
create a magnanimous impression! Their faces bore the sanctimonious
appearance of the ultra Spiritual, and their overt activities displayed an aura of
consecration. If there were temple functions, they were first in line, shouting the
loudest, praying the longest and performing sacred rituals in a manner
calculated to attract the most attention! Erroneously, they believed they were
making an impression on God!
Nicodemus was a typical Pharisee — fat-headed, religious, self-righteous,
proud, vain, hypocritical and legalistic. He was one of those unbelievers Jesus
described in, (Matt 23:27) as “whitewashed tombs” — beautiful on the outside,
(One of the prerequisites to becoming a Pharisee was outward physical
perfection) but on the inside he was “full of dead men’s bones.”
This is the most difficult person, whether “unbeliever or believer” to
impress with Divine Thinking, as far as Salvation is concerned. I personally
would rather deal with any other than a religious person, because he is totally
blinded by his own good-deeds system. He has no Concept of the Doctrine of
total depravity but thinks in-stead that depravity relates only to people who lie
around in the gutter. In some cases, guttersnipes might be respectable by
comparison! The sins of religious people are some of the most despicable sins
of all: for example, the sin of pride; which is abundant among them! Imagine
trying to impress God by something YOU can think or do rather than being
impressed with what GOD THINKS AND DOES; HAS DONE THROUGH
CHRIST!
The name “Nicodemus” is simply a Greek word for ruler or victory of the
people. No matter how you slice it, Nicodemus was a very important person.
Although his life was filled with good deeds and many ritualistic observances,
which he was depending upon for Salvation, he had moments of concern that
possibly all was not well. Either from personal observation or from hearsay, he
learned of Jesus’ power and wondered as to its source.
This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that
You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You
do unless God is with him." (John 3:2)
Although there has been much speculation as to why Nicodemus came to
Jesus by night, I suspect that he was so busy in the administration of doing
good, in the practice of long prayers, so preoccupied with the observation of
prescribed ritual, (All done in the energy of the flesh — old sin nature) that he
simply did not have time to meet with Jesus during the day and or to prevent
being criticized.
By using the title “Rabbi Nicodemus, in effect, conferred an honorary
degree upon the Lord. His comment, “we know,” indicates that Nicodemus was
tremendously impressed with the knowledge of the Pharisees particularly his
own. Even though he had just acknowledged the Lord’s academic prowess, he
was not interested in what Jesus KNEW, but only in what He was DOING.
Whether he had heard of the miracles or witnessed them personally, he was at
this time more fascinated and attracted by the deeds of Jesus than by His
Words. Actually, the true purpose of miracles was to gain and focus attention
on the message. In the case of Jesus Christ, the miracles which He performed
further identified Him as “the Son of God with power.” (Rom 1:4) Yet, had the
miracles been accomplished simply to alleviate suffering, then Jesus was
remiss in not healing everyone in the world! But time is just a drop in the bucket
compared to eternity, and the eternal safety of the soul is more important than
the soundness of the body. For all his assumed academic knowledge,
Nicodemus paraded his ignorance of vital Biblical Truths!
Nicodemus recognized that Jesus was a “teacher come from God,” for he
admitted, “for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
But here is where Nicodemus missed the point: a Teacher from God
TEACHES; a Teacher from God COMMUNICATES. If any change takes place,
it will be in the heart of the individual who responds to the content of the
MESSAGE; but that is not the miracle to which I am referring to here. Many
unusual and marvelous wonders had been performed: Jesus Christ raised
people from the dead; (Resuscitation) He caused the blind to see, the deaf to
hear, the demon-possessed to be free from demons, and lepers to be healed.
When Nicodemus acknowledged Jesus as a Teacher from God, it is obvious
that he was confused: a teacher TEACHES; yet Nicodemus failed to mention a
single Principle that Jesus TAUGHT — he could only recount the miracles!
“No man can do” is present linear aktionsart: literally, “no man can keep on
doing the miracles that You do.” In effect, he was saying: “The Sanhedrin, and
specifically the Pharisees, have tried to explain away these extraordinary
events; but we find it very difficult to do so because the miracles continue. We
could say they were accidental or perhaps acts of nature; we could explain
away a few of them; but when You consistently perform supernatural deeds,
there is no explanation. Therefore, we must conclude that You are a Teacher
from God!”
Nicodemus Interrupted
Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is
born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
The interruption was well timed, for Nicodemus, and was long on
whitewash and short on Spiritual wisdom, as was typical of most of the
Pharisees. We know this from their long public prayers, designed to attract
attention! If there is anything that is Spiritually depressing, it is a long-winded
prayer. Assembly prayers are for the specific purpose of asking God’s blessing
on the occasion. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus emphasized the importance
of getting to the point! Whenever someone prays a long prayer in public, almost
invariably he is trying to impress someone other than God.
I will always remember an incident that happened in a Chapel period
during my seminary days. Someone had prayed an unusually lengthy prayer,
and after about ten minutes, a restless character in the back finally piped up
and quipped in a stage whisper, “He must be catching up on his devotionals on
our time!” With that, Chapel was broken up — and rightly so! Prayer in private
may be as long as your inclination dictates; but PRAYERS IN PUBLIC SHOULD
BE SHORT AND TO THE POINT! If you are asking God’s blessing on a
service, simply do it and move on! In much the same way, Nicodemus
approached Jesus with the intention of impressing Him. Jesus spared us a
wordy dissertation when He interrupted Nicodemus and hit the true issue.
I’ve heard people teach courses on how to witness for Christ in which they
say, “Now, you must do it this way: if they say that, then you say this; and if
they say this, then you say that.” Jesus cut through all the whitewash and
forthrightly presented the Gospel. He said simply, “You will never get into the
Kingdom of God unless you are born again.” Jesus was talking to a man with
every merit badge! This individual had made all the points that could be made:
he prayed consistently, attended “church” regularly; and, as for good deeds, he
had won all the blue ribbons. Humanly speaking, Nicodemus could claim every
credit; yet Jesus had just insulted him by saying, “You’ll never go to heaven
unless you are born again.”
For a person who had made a career of trying to earn a ticket into heaven
by good deeds, this was quite a shock! I want you to correlate a Principle here:
the problem was his birth. Nicodemus had been born physically, but that was
all. He possessed a body with its old sin nature and a human soul, and he was
Spiritually dead! Jesus did not tell Nicodemus, “The gates of heaven stand wide
open because you have 1,280 good deeds, 3,642 prayers and umpteen
thousand church attendance medals — you’re in.” To the contrary, he has just
been told he’s out! Jesus said, “You cannot enter the kingdom of God unless
you are born again!” Heaven is made up of those who possess eternal life!
Once a person is born again — and ONLY then — can he “see” the Kingdom of
God. (2Co 4:18) Nicodemus, though an intensely moral man, could not relate to
Spiritual information, and his reaction was most interesting.
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He
cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?"
(John 3:4)
This is a perfect illustration of a religious man’s blindness to the Spiritual
Thinking of Christ. Without a human spirit, he was incapable of understanding
Spiritual Thoughts. But a natural man {Unbeliever and or carnal believer] does
not accept the things [Thoughts] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to
him; and he cannot understand them, because they are Spiritually appraised.
(Understood) (1Co 2:14) Nicodemus assumed one must be born again
physically, and he wanted to know the mechanics. He even suggested, (And he
was being a little humorous, to say the least, and possibly sarcastic) a re-
entrance into the womb. His suggestion must have seemed amusing to Jesus;
but in deference to the dignity of the Scribes and the Pharisees, He refrained
from laughing and continued with His Theological discourse. Jesus could look
inside and see that this man was truly seeking or he would not have come at all.
Certainly, he was a long way from the Truth when he asked, “Must you reenter
your mother’s womb?” To prove to Nicodemus that He was not talking about
physical birth, but Spiritual birth, Jesus used a frame of reference which would
be meaningful to a Jewish religious leader.
Water and the Spirit
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
Every time some people see the word “water” in Scripture, they instantly
jump to a conclusion baptism! Water occasionally means H2O; however, when
literal water is intended, the context will so specify. Literal water is not indicated
in this passage because Jesus was not discussing a literal, physical birth. There
is also a Spiritual connotation of water. It was this terminology to which Jesus
referred; and Nicodemus, trained in the school of the Pharisees, should have
been able to correlate it with one of three analogies:
(1) Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters...” The sinner is pictured
as being thirsty and coming to Christ for Salvation (cf. John 4:14). “The Spirit
and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the
one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without
cost. ” (Rev 22:17)
(2) The Bible or the Word of God, as in, (Eze 16:9) compared with
(Eph 5:26). The Word of God Thought with provides Spiritual cleansing. It
makes the bitter experiences sweet, (Exo 15:25) and gives rest and
refreshment. (Psa 23:2)
(3) The Holy Spirit, as in, (Isa 44:3) compared with, (John 7:37-39) “...Out
of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. (But this He spoke of the
Spirit...”)
Since Jesus spoke of a Spiritual birth, which of the three Spiritual uses of
water applies? We can eliminate Salvation because this is not brought out until
Jesus convinces the Pharisee that He is referring to a Spiritual birth. The Holy
Spirit is eliminated on the basis of redundancy, as He is mentioned in the next
phrase. We must conclude, therefore, that water refers to the “water of the
Word.” (Eph 5:26; (1Jn 5:4-13) Ultimately, everyone who is saved receives
information directly or indirectly from the Word of God. The Principle of the new
birth, the mechanics, the provision — the Gospel — all are found in the Word of
God. (Psa 119:50; (1Co 4:15; Jas 1:18; (1Pe 1:23)
The “Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit, the Agent of regeneration. (Tit 3:5) It
is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to take the Gospel and “boom” it into the
mind of the unbeliever. No one has ever been saved and no one has ever
understood the plan of Salvation apart from this ministry of the Holy Spirit. Once
a person believes in Christ, he receives a human spirit, (1Th 5:23; Tit 3:5) the
Holy Spirit takes up His residence in the body of the believer; (1Co 6:19) and as
the Holy Spirit fills and therefore controls his soul, the believer is able to learn
and Think with Spiritual Thoughts. (John 16:13-15)
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit. (John 3:6)
Our first birth provides us with a body of flesh and blood, as well as a
soul, and puts us into Adam’s family; but in order to enter the Kingdom of God,
(Eternal relationship with Him) we must be Spiritually alive. Therefore,
Nicodemus should not have been surprised to learn that a person would need a
Spiritual birth.
"Do not be amazed that I said to you, ’You must be born again.’
(John 3:7)
Jesus’ Words, “Do not be amazed,” suggest the reaction of Nicodemus.
He was standing there with his mouth open, his eyes popping and the veins
probably standing out on his neck. He was totally shocked! No one ever spoke
to a ruler of the Jews in this manner! Yet Jesus had emphatically proclaimed,
“Don’t be surprised when I say unto you — you respectable, religious Pharisee
— that you must be born again!” In spite of all his human accomplishments,
Nicodemus was totally baffled. For the third time, Jesus had repeated the need
of a second birth; now He capped it off with an unusual illustration.
From Where Comes the Wind?
"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not
know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of
the Spirit." (John 3:8)
Where does the wind begin, and where does it end? You hear it, and you
know it is there, but you do not know where it started or where it is going. As
the wind blows where it will, “so is everyone that is born of the Spirit” This is the
clincher! The illustration indicates that the wind cannot be seen — only the
effect is visible. You know wind exists because it hits you in the face, tosses
the waves, bends the trees or blows dust into your eye. However, you do not
know how the wind got there or where it is going. So it is with Spiritual birth: it
is unseen, but it is nevertheless real.
After this tremendous discourse, Nicodemus, the religious giant, finally had
something to say. Notice the incredible shallowness of his soul. As a Pharisee,
this man was established academically — well educated and smart! But, you
see, all of his intelligence was only in the mentality of his soul. When it came to
Spiritual content, he was ignorant and just plain stupid because he did not have
the ability to assimilate the information; nor would he be able to understand
unless he was born again Spiritually and in fellowship. Nicodemus had reached
an impasse; he could not interpret Spiritual Thoughts because he did not have
the resources. For the present, however, he had a more pressing problem: he
did not possess a human spirit; he was “dead!” (Jas 2:26) After Spiritual birth,
the human spirit is added and or renewed, (Tit 3:5) and with this new
equipment, you can begin to comprehend Spiritual Thoughts.
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?" (John 3:9)
The Pharisee was amazed. “Where did you get this? I received no
bibliography on this Concept when I went through graduate school. I don’t have
a single footnote on being born again. From the beginning, I was instructed to
do, do, do! And now, for the first time, someone says something about being
born! How can this be?” Nicodemus was really stymied. He was so well
educated he had almost worn out his eyes reading and memorizing the Talmud,
the Mishnah, etc.; yet he understood nothing. Here was a man who had such
extensive training that he could speak eloquently in the temple and debate
question Theological nature with consummate skill. To suddenly come up
against something like this took a little skin off his nose, and it hurt! “How are
these things possible?”
That remark opened the door to further conversation, and I want you to
notice that Jesus was not above using sarcasm at the appropriate time. This
sanctified sarcasm was about as subtle as the crack of a shillelagh over the
cranium!
Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do
not understand these things? (John 3:10)
Jesus challenged Nicodemus. “You mean to tell me you have your Ph.D. in
philosophy and Theology, and you don’t know what I’m talking about?” As a
matter of fact, never once in any examination, in any seminar, in any classroom,
never at any point did Nicodemus receive information like this. The curriculum
was devoid of Spiritual Thinking!
"Truly, truly, I say to you, We [God The Father, Jesus Christ and God The
Holy Spirit] Speak of what We know and Testify of what We have seen, and
you do not accept Our testimony. (John 3:11)
Because Nicodemus was blinded by his legalism and therefore still
confused, Jesus continued: “I know what I’m talking about, even if you don’t!”
Nicodemus had been told he must be born again, but he did not understand it.
The Words and the Thoughts were there, but the Principle was not clear to him.
Jesus said, “Now look! YOU are all mixed up; but I am not mixed up!” This
gives us a Concept of witnessing: when you tell people about Jesus Christ, you
should speak with confidence, and confidence comes from UNDERSTANDING
the Word of God. (Col 2:2-3)
"If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I
tell you heavenly things? (John 3:12)
In the Greek, this “if” is a debater’s first-class condition. Jesus said, “Let’s
assume for the moment that I have told you about human phenomena,
(Comparison between physical birth and a Spiritual birth) about earthly things,
and you do not believe; how will you ever believe when I present Spiritual or
heavenly Principles? Let’s go over this just once more, Nicodemus; and this will
do it!”
Christ, the True Issue
"No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven:
the Son of Man. (John 3:13)
At the time when Jesus said this, no member of the human race had ever
entered the third heaven, the abode of God. Although billions of Old Testament
people had been saved, after death they resided in Paradise; in the heart of the
earth in Hades; until the Representative Man was resurrected, ascended and
accepted by the Father. The first Man to enter into heaven was Jesus Christ.
The “Son of Man’ is a title of Christ, which emphasizes His humanity. That
Jesus declared He was in heaven at that very moment was an interesting
puzzle for Nicodemus to work out in his spare time. Quite possibly, it was one
of the two factors that caused him to become a believer.
Jesus Christ is omnipresent: He is everywhere. While He was in heaven.
He was standing there talking to Nicodemus! You see, the reason He could be
there and in heaven at the same time, (Billions of light years away) is because
He is the God-Man, undiminished deity and true humanity in one Person forever
— the unique Person of the universe! While He is God, just as are the Father
and the Holy Spirit, He is different from the Father and the Spirit in that He
could stand there in a human body and talk to Nicodemus. Yet He is different
from Nicodemus and all other members of the human race because He is God.
HE IS UNIQUE. In the presentation of the Gospel, the Person of Jesus Christ is
always the issue. If Nicodemus recognizes Jesus’ Person, he will accept Jesus’
Word. Then he must accept the work of Christ.
How To Be Born Again
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the
Son of man be lifted up. (John 3:14)
Jesus made one last appeal on ground which was familiar to Nicodemus.
In order to become a Pharisee, he had to memorize the Torah (The first five
books of the Old Testament) and take a stiff examination; therefore, he was
familiar with, (Num 21:8). All that was necessary was a summary, just a
flashback, and Nicodemus could orient to the Principle. The analogy of the
brass serpent was an anticipation of the Spiritual death and judgment of Christ.
Therefore the serpent lifted up on the pole was analogous to the saving work of
Christ on the Cross.
So that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. (John 3:15)
“That” introduces a purpose clause and states the reason for
Jesus Christ being lifted up on the Cross. This clear declaration tells
Nicodemus, and every person who reads or hears the Scripture, how to be
born again: BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ! Faith is the absence of works
or human merit. The value of faith lies in its object. For Salvation, the object of
faith is Christ! “Whoever” means any member of the human race — religious,
irreligious, non-religious, moral, immoral, amoral — ANYONE!
When you believe in Christ, you become a trichotomous being. You retain
your body, with its old sin nature, and soul, but you receive the indwelling Holy
Spirit and a renewed human spirit. Nicodemus received Christ as his Lord and
Savior, possibly even that same night. We do not know the time; we do know
the results. Nicodemus was one of the two pallbearers of our Lord; Joseph of
Arimathaea was the other. Very interesting! Both of them were Pharisees; both
of them were rich and prominent men. At one time, both of them were dead in
sin and separated from God.
Once again, let’s look at the problem of the Barrier between man and
God. If man is to know God, the Barrier must removed. The bricks of sin and
its penalty were removed by redemption and expiation through the Spiritual
death of Christ on the Cross. The problem of physical birth is solved by
regeneration — a Spiritual birth. In addition, we are placed into the Royal
Family of God, (Gal 3:26) we become sons of God; (John 1:12) and God is our
Father. (2Co 6:18)
MAN’S RELATIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS
The next element in the Barrier is, to some, the most confusing of all —
the problem of man’s righteousness. It is quite obvious that some people are
“very good.” (Humanly speaking) These unbelievers have trend toward
obedience to authority, moral degeneracy or religion etc., and are the “good”
people, and there are some unbelievers who have a trend toward disobedience,
immoral degeneracy, lawlessness etc., and are the “bad” people. (Humanly
speaking) (Isa 53:6) Unbelievers have both undesirable and admirable qualities;
they have the ability to obscure their obnoxious characteristics and to hide their
personal problems. In contrast, I have noticed that many believers have the
same “good” and “bad” trends.
Here, then, is the issue of righteousness: obviously, some people are very
nice, some people are very good, some people are better than others — and
that is the real problem. We often establish the fact that a person is “good”
because he is BETTER than other people. Some people know how to keep
their mouths shut, mind their own business, and they never welsh on an
obligation. You can hardly beat that! They are fine, relaxing, lovely people to be
around. And why do they seem “good” to me? Because I compare them with
nosy busybodies, maligners, gossipers, and welshers — people who have no
sense of responsibility. I say, “These people are wonderful; these other people
are way down on the totem pole.” So, according to human standards, one
group is “good” and one is “bad.”
But let’s compare this system of morality with God’s Standards. The
person I admire has honorable characteristics, and I enjoy his company; but
with all his noble qualities, he is still MINUS-R. He does not stack up with God
at all! God is PLUS- R — absolute righteousness. He has perfect
characteristics perfect righteousness, justice, love, eternal life. God has never
welshed on an obligation — God is immutable; He keeps His Word. So when I
compare this individual with God, I have to admit that he just does not measure
up to God at all.
Here is God’s opinion of us: “For ALL have sinned, and come short of the
glory [Essence] of God.” (Rom 3:23) “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on
earth who continually does good and who never sins.” (Eccles 7:20) “As it is
written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE
WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD.”
(Rom 3:10-11) “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our
righteous deeds are like a filthy garment...” (Isa 64:6)
Three Types of People
There are many kinds of people in the world; but generally speaking, they
fall into three categories: the religious person like Nicodemus; the moral or self-
righteous individual; and the immoral person. The moral person is the “good
guy,” a respected member of society, who never does anything overtly wrong
or sinful. He is kind and courteous and contributes to all worthy causes. His
trouble, however, is that he banks on his own righteousness to get him into
heaven. He usually thinks he is so good that he does not need Salvation or The
Word.
Then there is the immoral person. He is obviously out of line, and
everyone knows it; he makes no bones about it. He may be the type who
“chases,” connives and makes shady business deals; or he may be the down-
and-outer who gets drunk, steals and ends up in the gutter or in jail. The
difference in the moral and the immoral person lies in the fact that the immoral
person’s sins are obvious, while the self-righteous and religious types have
hidden their carnality behind a facade of respectability. This is for the unbeliever
and the believer; it makes no difference as long as there is no change of nature;
by the daily intake, belief and Thinking with the Word of God, maintaining the
filling of God the Holy Spirit! (2Pe 1:4)
The Barrier of Good Works
Man’s good deeds form a tremendous barrier to God because they often
lead to religious and sanctimonious illusions. Some misguided do-gooder thinks,
“I am going to heaven because I’m so marvelous. I am going to heaven
because I have all these merit badges.” (Or the believer thinks he will be
rewarded) Such a person will never make it because all the good deeds in the
world add up to MINUS-R, (Man’s righteousness) and MINUS-R cannot have
fellowship with PLUS-R. (God’s righteousness) The presence of the old sin
nature and the absence of a human spirit, (Or for the believer not being in
fellowship) make it impossible to have fellowship with Absolute Righteousness.
The only way to be saved and or reach Spiritual maturity is to have a
righteousness that equals God’s righteousness.
If you refuse to accept Christ and or His Word, then you may as well stop
playing the righteousness game and live it up for the few years you have left on
earth, because there is going to be “hell to pay,” (For believers the Judgment
Seat of Christ) waiting in the future. Religion and morality just won’t cut it! Jesus
said, “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:20)
(Positional and or Experiential righteousness; Heb 12:14) Now how are we
going to move this road block, this barrier, out of the way? The answer is found
in the Doctrines of Imputation and Justification for Salvation.
IMPUTATION
The Credit Side of the Ledger
It takes but a stroke of the pen to change MINUS-R into PLUS-R, but it
took infinitely more to change our unrighteousness into the righteousness of
God.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him. (2Co 5:21)
God the Father is the Author of the Plan of Salvation for the human race.
“He made” is the aorist tense: “once and for all the Father made Jesus Christ to
become sin,” (The sin offering) which is a reference to atonement.
When He hung upon the Cross, all of the sins of the entire human race
were imputed to the Lord Jesus Christ! This is a reference to the DOCTRINE
OF UNLIMITED ATONEMENT. (1Jn 2:2) That was the removal of the first brick
of the Barrier. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf...” Christ
was qualified to die for our sins because He was sinless Himself, and,
therefore, qualified to be the Sin-bearer. So, billions and billions of sins — as a
matter of fact, every sin that you and I have ever committed or will ever
commit, past, present and future — He bore in His own body on the Cross.
Our sins were charged to Christ, but until Salvation, we still have MINUS-
R. We are on the debit side of the “balance sheet” because we are born
Spiritually dead; Adam’s sin was imputed to our old sin nature at the moment of
physical birth. In order to receive PLUS-R, the righteousness which belongs to
Christ, we simply exercise non-meritorious positive volition and believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 3:22) When PLUS- R is credited to our account, that is
called IMPUTATION, an ancient accounting term, which means “to put on the
credit side of the ledger.” EXPIATION takes us out of the “red,” while
imputation puts us “in the black.” We do not work for it; we do not deserve it.
The work of Christ on the Cross leads us from “filthy garments” to the riches of
His grace!
The Vain Pursuit of Righteousness
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness,
attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith. (Rom 9:30)
Thousands of Gentiles were saved in the Old Testament as well as in the
New. Isn’t this interesting? Many of the Jews thought they could get into heaven
by cranking out their own righteousness and by keeping the Mosaic Law; but no
matter how much good they cranked out, it all added up to MINUS-R. Many
Gentiles, on the other hand, did not try to keep the Ten Commandments for
Salvation; they did not pursue after righteousness; yet they attained it. How?
They “have attained [Aorist tense — once and for all] to righteousness, even
THE righteousness which is BY FAITH.” In other words, the Gentiles believed in
Jesus Christ.
At the moment of Salvation, PLUS-R — God’s righteousness was imputed
to them by faith. However, the Jews who were trying to be saved by keeping
the Ten Commandments, kept working, striving, struggling; and all they ever got
for their efforts was MINUS-R! The harder these Jews tried to work their way
into heaven, the deeper grew the hole they dug and the deeper they went into
debt; they worked and worked, but never got anywhere. (Rom 4:4) It was
MINUS-R all the way!
but Israel, pursuing a Law of righteousness, did not arrive at that Law.
Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.
They stumbled over the stumbling stone. Just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY
IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE
WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." (Rom 9:31-33) cf.
(Isa 28:16)
“The Law of righteousness” is PLUS-R, attained by faith in Christ. They
did not have PLUS-R because they did not seek it by faith; they did not believe
in Christ. They tried to be saved by keeping the Law. Therefore, they stumbled
over the Stumbling-stone, who was Christ.
JUSTIFICATION
Now, where does justification come into the picture? Let me put it this
way: IMPUTATION credits to our account the righteousness of Christ;
JUSTIFICATION declares or pronounces us righteous. On the basis of the
righteousness of Christ imputed to the one who believes, God declares the
undeserving sinner justified, vindicated, and acceptable to Himself. God is free
to declare him free from guilt because the believer now possesses the
righteousness of Christ! To put it simply, to be justified means to be the
possessor of PLUS-R; it does NOT mean “just as if I had never sinned!”
Nevertheless knowing that a man is NOT justified by the works of the Law
but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that
we may be justified by faith in Christ and Not by the works of the Law; since by
the works of the Law NO flesh [Old sin nature will be made holy] will be
justified. (Gal 2:16)
Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in
Christ Jesus (Rom 3:24)
How are you vindicated in the eyes of God? By “being good?” Definitely
not! “By the instrumentality of His grace.” By now you should be familiar with
grace. “Grace” is the entire Plan of God. Grace means that God provides what
we cannot earn and do not deserve. PLUS-R is not a merit badge; it is a grace
gift given freely upon Salvation!
Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those
who believe; for there is no distinction. (Rom 3:22)
As soon as you read the phrase, “righteousness of God,” you know
immediately that this refers to PLUS-R. It is the righteousness which belongs
only to God. (Genitive of possession) How do you receive PLUS-R? By FAITH
— not by keeping the Law! “Which is”; is in italics in the King James Version
and is not found in the original manuscript. The translators have supplied it in
order to make smoother reading; but we do not need it here. “Even the
righteousness of God BY MEANS OF faith...” “Of” is an objective genitive and
should be translated “faith IN Jesus Christ.” “Unto ALL...” Why is this
righteousness available to everyone? Because when Christ was judged for sin
on the Cross, He paid the penalty for everyone. (Unlimited atonement) He bore
the sins of every person who has ever lived or ever will live. The phrase “upon
all” specifies the conditions. Who receives PLUS-R? All those who believe! It
makes no difference whether you are moral or immoral, atheistic or religious, in
God’s sight “all have sinned” (Rom 3:23) therefore, all are savable.
For the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so
that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Rom 3:26)
Why can God the Father save sinners without compromising His PLUS-R?
Because His justice and righteousness were satisfied at the Cross. God is
perfectly just in forgiving us because Christ, who is absolute righteousness,
became our Substitute. The Justifier is the One who passes out PLUS-R to
those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This Principle has always been true
since the Fall of Adam. Let’s take Abraham as an Old Testament example. How
was Abraham saved? We will use a Principle of debater’s technique and
suppose for a moment that Abraham was justified by his good deeds.
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the
flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to
boast about, but not before God. (Rom 4:1-2)
If Abraham WERE justified by deeds or good works, he could boast all
right, but not to God!
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of Law? Of works?
No, but by a Law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart
from works of the Law. (Rom 3:27-28)
If Christ does all the work, where does that leave boasting? What
happens to human activity? What happens to “operation good works?” They are
all EXCLUDED! The way of Salvation has always been the same, before and
after the Cross.
Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as
righteousness. (Gen 15:6)
For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT
WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Rom 4:3)
PLUS-R was credited to Abraham’s account through faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ. But what about the people who are trying to “work” their way into
heaven?
Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as
what is due. (Rom 4:4)
In other words, the more you work; the deeper into debt you go.
But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the
ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Rom 4:5)
The imputation of Divine righteousness results in vindication for the one
who believes in Christ; and the Barrier of relative righteousness is removed.
THE CHARACTER OF GOD
When the Bible speaks of God’s glory, it is referring to His character or
essence — that combination of qualities which distinguish an individual. God is
One in essence but Three in Personality. The Father, The Son and The Holy
Spirit possess the same characteristics — sovereignty, absolute righteousness,
justice, love, eternal life, omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, immutability
and veracity. Where God is concerned we are dealing in absolutes. That is why
God cannot make allowances for our sins and failures. He has set the Perfect
Standard, and anything less falls short of His glory.
Sin is an outrage to God’s holiness, (His righteousness and justice) and an
offense and insult to His Perfection. Since we have all sinned, we are all
unacceptable to God. God simply cannot have anything to do with sin or
unrighteousness. His righteousness demands condemnation for sin. His justice
executes what His righteousness demands: sin must be judged. The problem is
obvious: Divine blessings cannot go through the “grace pipe” to man until
righteousness and justice is satisfied. And HOW can they be satisfied?
Lets go back to Eternity past when God made a sovereign decision to
treat-sinful man in grace — the perfect expression of Divine justice. The Father
provided a Plan whereby man could have fellowship with Him forever. God The
Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, was willing to take the sinner’s place and
pay the penalty of his sin. As absolute righteousness, the Son would satisfy the
demands of a righteous and just God. When He bore the sins of the world on
the Cross, He satisfied the righteousness of the Father. Now, instead of
cursing, it is possible for blessing to come through the grace pipe to man. Now
God’s love can flow in man’s direction, and behind that love is eternal life. God
gives eternal life to every person who will meet His Son at the Cross.
Illustration
PROPITIATION
The work of Christ on the Cross which satisfied the Father’s holiness is
called PROPITIATION This is the God-ward side of the Cross.
Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God
He passed over the sins previously committed. (Rom 3:25)
Propitiation is the same Greek word [HILASTERION] as “mercy seat” in,
(Heb 9:5) and means “a lid” or “a place of covering.” The mercy seat was the
lid situated over the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle.
The Ark, a box made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, depicted the
unique Person of Christ: the wood spoke of His humanity; the gold, His Deity.
(Heb 9:4)This box contained, the jar of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded and the
tables, (Thoughts) of the Old Covenant — all symbolizing various aspects of
Israel’s sin in rejecting God’s provision, (God’s Spiritual food and Spiritual life;
God’s human authority; God’s Covenant — Thoughts and Word) for overcoming
the old sin nature —the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and the lust of the
flesh. The mercy seat of pure gold covered the emblems of sin. Facing each
other on either side of the mercy seat, were the Cherubim — one representing
righteousness, and the other, justice. (Integrity — Holiness) As they looked
down on the mercy seat, they saw, not the sinfulness of man, represented by
the contents of the box, but rather the blood which had been sprinkled on top of
the golden lid. (Where judgment and mercy meet!)
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest went alone, in past
the second veil into the Holy of Holies, carrying in a bowl, first the blood of a
bullock for his own sins, then the blood of the sacrificial goat for the sins of the
people, and sprinkled it over the top of the mercy seat. (Lev 16:14-17)
“Righteousness and Justice’ looked down and saw the blood of the innocent
sacrificial animal that had been slain at the brazen altar. This ritual
foreshadowed and represented the Cross, where historically, righteousness
and justice were satisfied.
“Blood” in, (Rom 3:25) refers to the propitiatory work of Christ on the
Cross, which satisfied the Father. (Isa 53:11) Before the Cross, God
suspended judgment of sin until such time as Christ became the propitiatory
Sacrifice. Now God has publicly displayed Him as our Mercy Seat THROUGH
FAITH — faith in His saving work on the Cross! He demonstrates His
righteousness by crediting PLUS-R to everyone who believes in Christ.
God’s character is vindicated and no longer presents an obstacle to His
fellowship with mankind. Now, if Christ’s work on the Cross was all that was
necessary to satisfy the Father, how dare anyone think he must add something
to it! Salvation’s work is finished! (John 19:30) You never need to beg or to ask
God to be merciful to you. He is always and continually propitious; (Friendly)
because of what Christ did on the Cross! (Luk 9:56)
POSITION IN ADAM
We have come to the final obstacle in the Barrier between man and God
— our POSITION IN ADAM. The first man Adam, was the representative head
of the human race. As we have seen, all future mankind stood or fell with him
and in him. By his willful disobedience, sin and Spiritual death are upon the
entire human race; thus, “in Adam all die.” (1Co 15:22) We have become
“alienated from the life of God.” (Eph 4:18) As long as we remain “in Adam,”
the limitations of our natural and brief lives present a barrier to fellowship will
God, who is Eternal Life.
There are two things which every member of the human race must have if
he is going to live with God forever. One is PLUS-R, and the other is God’s life
eternal life. Before we can realize this position, we must enter into the proper
relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ. That new relationship is
ours through personal faith in Him, and it guarantees us a new position: “For as
in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” (1Co 15:22)
POSITION IN CHRIST
Adam was the first member of his species — Homo sapiens. (Rom 5:14)
Jesus Christ, the LAST ADAM, is the head of a “new species” — believers in
union with Himself: “Therefore if anyone be IN CHRIST, he is a new creature;
[Species] old things are passed away; behold, new things have come.”
(2Co 5:17) “Old things” does not mean old habits; bad habits are retained along
with the sin nature. They can be broken; but that is another story covered in the
book, Old Sin Nature vs. Holy Spirit
A believer is a new creature, not because of something he does or does not do,
but because of what God does for him at the moment of Salvation. The “old
things” which have passed away are all the debits and thinking that put us
behind the Barrier. The “new things and or Thoughts” are all those wonderful
assets we have on the other side of the Barrier through POSITIONAL TRUTH.
The moment we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit picks us
up “by the nape of the neck” and places us in union with Christ — the baptism
of the Spirit. (1Co 12:13) From that day forward, we are ONE with Him. Our
physical birth, which is our position in Adam, ceases to be a problem, for with
regeneration, the life of Christ becomes OUR LIFE! Christianity is a relationship
— NOT a religion! Our new position guarantees us an eternal relationship with
Jesus Christ.
And the Testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is
in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of
God does not have the life. (1Jn 5:11-12)
You are familiar by now with the top and bottom circles.
Illustration
We may be in or out of the bottom circle, depending on our use of,
(1Jn 1:9). But regardless of what we may or may not do, we can never be
removed from the top circle. Our union with Christ is eternal and depends on
Who and What God IS, and has done; not on you and me. Because of all that
our Lord did for us. He is free to offer us the life which is part of the character
of God eternal life — life that qualifies us for fellowship with God in time and in
eternity.
RECONCILIATION
With the last obstacle removed, there is no longer a Barrier between man
and God! The removal of the Barrier is called RECONCILIATION.
Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded
from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the Covenants of Promise,
having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who
formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He
Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the
barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the
Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances, so that in Himself He might
make the two into One New Man, [Christ Jesus — The God-Man] thus
establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God [The
Father] through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. (Eph 2:12-16)
Reconciliation is the man-ward side of the Cross. It is the sum total of all
that Christ did on the Cross in removing the Barrier. God is propitiated; man is
reconciled! Jesus Christ did not come to usher in world peace between nations;
He came to provide peace with God for us who were His enemies. (Rom 5:10)
“Namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself...” (2Co 5:19)
This does not mean that all the world is automatically saved but that ALL MAY
BE SAVED. Sin is no longer the issue — Christ is! Where once stood the
Barrier, Christ now stands — the ONLY Mediator between God and man the
MAN CHRIST JESUS. (1Ti 2:5)
Walk Over the Line
Jesus Christ gave Himself that you might be brought to God. Whereas
before the Cross only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, now the
way has been opened once and for all into the presence of God. Jesus said,
“I am the way, the Truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but through
Me.” (John 14:6) The only barrier remaining is your attitude toward the Person
of Christ and His Word. What will you do with Him? All you have to do is to walk
over the line: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
In the words of the Apostle Paul,
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making
an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
(2Co 5:20)
Jesus Christ is not here on earth to extend the invitation to you personally.
Instead, He says through His Word, “Come to Me, all who are weary and
heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28) “All that the Father gives Me
will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
(John 6:37) Not everyone reads the Bible, so believers must stand in the place
of Christ as His ambassadors with the word of reconciliation.
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through
Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2Co 5:18)
God The Father planned reconciliation; God The Son accomplished it;
God The Holy Spirit reveals it. Man simply receives it! Namely, that God was in
Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against
them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (2Co 5:19) Why
doesn’t God credit their trespasses to the account of the human race? Because
Christ bore them on the Cross. Sin is not the issue; Christ IS! Man can put up
his own barriers of works. Every time he tries to work his way into heaven by
his own good deeds, he builds his own barrier. Therefore, it is up to the believer
to make the issue clear.
A Purpose in Life
Once you step over the line and believe in Christ, you have a new purpose
in life: you have a message, a ministry, and a title — ambassador for Jesus
Christ. Whatever your business, whatever your activities or circumstances in
life, you are just as much in full-time Christian service as the pastor-teacher.
True, that is a special gift; but every believer is a royal priest in Christ! God has
given us a message worth telling: Christ has solved the sin problem.
(1Co 15:3-4) and made peace between man and God.
And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace
through the blood of His Cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or
things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind,
engaged in evil deeds, [Thoughts] yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly
body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and
beyond reproach. (Col 1:20-22)
We owe the world the Gospel. (Rom 1:14-16) Paul said, “Woe is me {And
this includes us] if I preach {Proclaim] not the gospel!” (1Co 9:16) This is our
responsibility; but more important, “For the love of Christ controls us, having
concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so
that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and
rose again on their behalf.” (2Co 5:14-15) The more we love Jesus Christ
through the daily intake of Truth, the more we will have the capacity to live a life
pleasing to Him.
Remember that you cannot love Jesus Christ nor live as unto Him apart
from the Word Truth resident in your soul; nor can you make the Salvation issue
clear apart from the knowledge of Truth. That has been the purpose of this
book to clarify the Truths pertinent to Salvation so that you can fulfill
ACCURATELY your ambassadorship. Your first and foremost purpose is to
take in the Word of Truth under the ministry of your right pastor-teacher and
grow to Spiritual maturity! (2Pe 3:18) Only then will you fulfill the purpose for
which God left you on this earth!
End
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