THE K I NG ' S B U S I N E S S
339
First, as it affects man’s standing with God. Second, as it affects man’s own daily life. Third, as it affects man’s surround ings. I. Our Saviour from the Penalty, or Guilt, of Sin. Matt. 20:27, 28; John 1:35; 3:16; Rom. 1:16, 17. Sin is against God. It is disobedi ence, rebellion, anarchy, lawlessness. How can it be expiated? Our Lord Jesus Himself says that He came to “give His life a ransom for many.” See Isaiah 53:5, 6. The condemned sinner escapes the just penalty of his sin because the sinless Son of God secures his release by bearing it “in His own body on the tree,” 1 Peter 2:24. When John the Baptist pointed out Jesus of Nazareth as “the lamb of God” (see John 1:29-35) every Jewish hearer knew what the reference meant, for every day in the Temple the smoke of the morning and evening lamb arose heavenward from the brazen altar. God’s armistice is made possible by the sacrifice of Calvary. His peace terms are Submission to His authority and acceptance of His Son, as our substitute Saviour. But God goes farther than merely forgiving the penitent rebel. Romans 1:16, 17 teach us that He reckons the pardoned rebel a righteous man. He not only blots out the past, but puts the man on a new footing. When Jesus hung on the cross of Calvary all my sins were reckoned as being His—were all laid to His account. When I believed that fact and accepted Him as my per sonal Saviour, all His righteousness was laid to my account. This is the truth set forth in the second section of Romans, chapters 3:21 to 4:25, “Justi fied by faith.” In peace let me resign my breath, And Thy salvation see! My sins deserve eternal death— But Jesus died for me!
H. Our Saviour from the Power of Sin. Matt. 1:21; 1 John 1:1-10. See also Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:18 R. V. After a man has got right with God on the sin question, the next question is horn can he get right with himself? God has pqt away the guilt of my sin by the blood of His Son. How can I put away sin out of my life? And the answer is this, our Lord Jesus delivers me from the power of sin by the power of His indwelling life. He did not save us from death to leave us at the mercy of our enemy, and His. Seated at God’s right hand today, with all power given to Him, He actively, momentarily, con tinually works in His redeemed ones, giving victory. We are saved by His life from that sin from whose guilt He saved us by His death. He brought Israel out of Egypt that He might bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, though a whole generation never reached the land because of their unbelief. How many Christians are imitating those unbelieving Israelites! How shall we appropriate this deliv erance from the power of sin? First, by accepting its possibility as a fact taught in the Word of God. See also Romans 5:10; 6:1-23. Many a man fails at this point as signally as did the Israelites who refused the testimony of Joshua and Caleb. See Numbers 13:30, 31. Second, by accepting it as a fact that no man can gain the victory by his own strength. See Romans 7:18. Third, by definitely committing your weakness to the living Saviour, with out excusing yourself for it; in other words—absolute surrender of self to Him. 2 Cor. 12:9. Fourth, by definitely accepting Him as Saviour from sin’s dominion, and trusting Him to give victory over every temptation-. 1 Cor. 10:13; Phil. 4:13; 2 Pet. 2:9. Fifth, by taking every failure to Him
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker