The final truth that 1 Corinthians 1:30 outlines is this: “Christ became to us…redemption.” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary gives the following definition of redemption: “the ransom or deliverance of sinners from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God’s violated law by the atonement of Christ.” We have been released from our captivity to sin and delivered from the wrath of God! This is why we refer to Jesus as our “Saviour.”
How did Christ become our redemption? Paul explains that He “gave Himself for our sins” (Galatians 1:4), He “redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). We were redeemed not with “perishable things like silver or gold…but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Our debt to the demands of God’s justice has been satisfied – paid in full! We can proclaim, “Saved by the blood of the Crucified One! Now ransomed from sin and a new work begun!” What is that new work? Titus 2:14 gives the answer: “[Christ] gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” And Hebrews 9:14 confirms this new purpose for our lives: “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
A very special blessing associated with our redemption from sin’s bondage is this freedom to now serve God with our entire life! “Living for Jesus who died in my place, bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace; such love constrains me to answer His call, follow His leading, and give Him my all” (Thomas O. Chisholm). Echoing the words of Paul’s prayer for his brothers and sisters in Christ, I too “pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
Showing posts with label 1 Cor. 1:30 series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Cor. 1:30 series. Show all posts
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Christ Our Sanctification
The third blessing listed in 1 Corinthians 1:30 is this—“Christ became to us…sanctification.” Matthew Henry remarks on this verse, “Where Christ is made righteousness to any soul, He is also made sanctification. He never discharges from the guilt of sin, without delivering from the power of it.”
In both the Old and New Testaments, the word “sanctify” means to set something apart as pure and holy. So sanctification basically means holiness. Several historic doctrinal catechisms contain the following wording in regard to our understanding of sanctification: “Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.”
Hebrews 10:10 tells us that “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” We see, then, that sanctification is something that definitely took place when we were saved. But it is also lifelong process of consecration! As we behold the glory of Christ, we are “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The hymnwriter William D. Longstaff encourages us in this respect: “Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone; by looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be; thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.” We can take this truth to heart as we seek to be “vessels for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). Let us be eagerly awaiting the day that our sanctification will be complete and perfect! “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). “Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
In both the Old and New Testaments, the word “sanctify” means to set something apart as pure and holy. So sanctification basically means holiness. Several historic doctrinal catechisms contain the following wording in regard to our understanding of sanctification: “Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.”
Hebrews 10:10 tells us that “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” We see, then, that sanctification is something that definitely took place when we were saved. But it is also lifelong process of consecration! As we behold the glory of Christ, we are “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The hymnwriter William D. Longstaff encourages us in this respect: “Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone; by looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be; thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.” We can take this truth to heart as we seek to be “vessels for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). Let us be eagerly awaiting the day that our sanctification will be complete and perfect! “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). “Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Christ Our Righteousness
The second consideration from 1 Cor. 1:30 is “Christ became to us…righteousness.” This truth can be traced back to the Old Testament, where, for example, David acknowledged that his righteousness was not found in himself: “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!” (Psalm 4:1). In Jeremiah, we even find this as a name of God (Jehovah-Tsidkenu, “the Lord our Righteousness – see Jer. 23:6).
In the New Testament we see the fulfillment of this blessing—the righteous and holy Son of God who perfectly kept God’s Law that we could not keep (James 2:10; Galatians 3:10). He has taken upon Himself all the guilt and sin and punishment that were upon us, and has clothed us with His robes of righteousness. “[God] made [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21). “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). What a gift!
Robert Murray McCheyne penned these words in his hymn “Jehovah Tsidkenu”—
One of my favorite expressions of this truth is found in the 60th question of the Heidelberg Catechism… “Q. How are you right with God? A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God's commandments and of never having kept any of them, and even though I am still inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without my deserving it at all, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me. All I need to do is to accept this gift of God with a believing heart.”
In the New Testament we see the fulfillment of this blessing—the righteous and holy Son of God who perfectly kept God’s Law that we could not keep (James 2:10; Galatians 3:10). He has taken upon Himself all the guilt and sin and punishment that were upon us, and has clothed us with His robes of righteousness. “[God] made [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21). “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). What a gift!
Robert Murray McCheyne penned these words in his hymn “Jehovah Tsidkenu”—
My terrors all vanished before the sweet name,The comfort and assurance that “Christ is our righteousness” should have a real impact on our daily living as children of God. Since it is Christ’s righteousness, not our own feeble attempts, which makes us accepted in God’s sight, we never have to come to Him in fear, but instead may come boldly to His throne of grace (Hebrews 4:15-16)! Let us gratefully say with the apostle Paul, “[I am] found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:9).
My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came
To drink at the fountain, life-giving and free,
Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.
One of my favorite expressions of this truth is found in the 60th question of the Heidelberg Catechism… “Q. How are you right with God? A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God's commandments and of never having kept any of them, and even though I am still inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without my deserving it at all, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me. All I need to do is to accept this gift of God with a believing heart.”
Monday, June 30, 2014
Christ Our Wisdom
1 Corinthians 1:30 declares that Christ Jesus “became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” All we truly need is found in our Lord! “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3), and this includes wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. I've been studying 1 Cor. 1:30 lately, and will share a short series of posts on my gleanings.
So, firstly: Christ Our Wisdom
The Book of Proverbs has much to say about the wisdom of God. “The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6). Christ is the perfect fulfillment of this wisdom that was with God from eternity past— “The Lord possessed Me [wisdom/Christ] at the beginning of His way, before His works of old” (Prov. 8:22). In Christ are stored up all God’s treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).
Without Christ we would be spiritually blind and ignorant of the things of God! Paul describes this condition as “futility of their mind… being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart” (Eph. 4:17, 18). What a privilege then, that Christ enables us to see God’s truth! “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
May we be ever thankful that our Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son to declare to us more about God and His wisdom and truth (see John 1:18). The more we learn about God, the more we will desire to be holy like Him. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (1 Peter 1:14-15).
Without Christ we would be spiritually blind and ignorant of the things of God! Paul describes this condition as “futility of their mind… being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart” (Eph. 4:17, 18). What a privilege then, that Christ enables us to see God’s truth! “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
May we be ever thankful that our Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son to declare to us more about God and His wisdom and truth (see John 1:18). The more we learn about God, the more we will desire to be holy like Him. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (1 Peter 1:14-15).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)