Category: Calvary’s cross

Forsaken of God—For You!

Friday, November 18, 2016

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 KJV).

Jesus was forsaken of God, that you not be forsaken of God in everlasting hellfire!

These past several months, I have been ministering to a lady about a year old in Christ. (Perhaps you remember me writing about her several weeks back. When Mom and I visited her at home, she cried because she was so burdened that her son and daughter were still trapped in the cult she had escaped months earlier.) Just a few days ago, her son was nearly killed in an explosion. While he sustained major burns on his back and arms—about 20% of his body—he did in fact temporarily avoid a greater fire (hell!). He is certainly thinking about eternity right now, and so thankful to be alive. In the near future, I do hope he allows me to visit him so I can give him the Gospel.

Friends, let us face it. We are all going to die at some point, short of the Lord’s coming. Furthermore, we should never be under the impression that we have “all the time in the world” to get right with God. People die unexpectedly and enter hell every single day. Someone once estimated 100,000 people enter hell daily—about one death every 0.9 second. If that rate is accurate, by the time you finish reading this study, over 100 souls will have left our physical world and entered the flames that will never be quenched!! We can almost hear their bone-chilling wails, their incessant weeping, and the crackling of the flames around them—there is no hope here, no joy or friendship, no comfort. Yes, they remember. They remember us. How they plead with us not to join them in that place of torment!

Thankfully, Jesus Christ suffered such awful spiritual torment on Calvary’s cross. He bore our sin on His soul, pain beyond description, and died. We see just a hint of it in today’s Scripture. However, He resurrected so victoriously, to give us His life. Oh, may we trust Him as our personal Saviour now!

The Greatest Veteran

Friday, November 11, 2016

“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; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:14,15 KJV).

Today is Veterans’ Day in the United States, so let us especially thank the “Greatest Veteran of All Time.”

We thank veterans, living and departed, the often-forgotten men and women who risked their lives to secure our freedom. Just as we remember flesh-and-blood veterans who fought for our physical liberty, we reserve our worship and utmost respect for the least esteemed Veteran, He who secured our spiritual liberty.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Through Christ’s finished crosswork on Calvary, we have eternal victory over sin, death, hell, and Satan. Everything that God has planned for us is dependent upon Christ’s victory at Calvary.

Jesus Christ nailed the Mosaic Law to His cross (today’s Scripture). His sinless blood covered our failure to obey God’s laws; Jesus’ righteousness annulled our unrighteousness (sin). Christ not only liberated us from sin and its penalty (the everlasting lake of fire), but today’s Scripture affirms He also triumphed over Satan himself!

Christ has “spoiled [destroyed] principalities and powers [Satan’s power], he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it [His cross].” Jesus Christ destroyed Satan’s plans. Through Christ’s cross, God has “delivered us from the power of darkness” (Colossians 1:13), Satan’s evil system of Ephesians 2:1-3.

During a recent cemetery visit, I noticed American flags flying above deceased veterans’ headstones. These individuals can no longer hear or regard our thanks, but Jesus Christ’s body is not decaying in some tomb. If there ever was a Veteran most worthy of our gratitude, it is our Lord Jesus Christ. Though He died in battle, allowing Himself to be executed on a Roman cross of shame and scorn, He resurrected. He is alive and well today, alive forevermore!

Saints, eternity will ring with our thanks to the Veteran worth thanking, the Lord Jesus Christ.

*Adapted from our 2010 Bible study, “The Greatest Hero.” The Bible study video can be viewed here.

Grace Abounding

Monday, October 17, 2016

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18,19 KJV).

Grace to hundreds of nations and billions of sinners—God’s abounding grace!

Recently, a Christian sister, experiencing marital difficulties, asked me why God had not yet punished her husband for the despicable evils he was still committing against her. I replied, “We are living in the Dispensation of Grace!” Now, please understand. God still hates sin as much as He ever has. Sin nailed His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to the cross, so He will never change His attitude about sin. Still, that finished crosswork satisfied His wrath against man’s sin. When Jesus’ soul was literally offered for sin (Isaiah 53:10), He experienced on the cross what lost people experience forever in hellfire. God’s wrath came down upon Christ in the utmost severity. Thus, He cried out from His cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). The holy God of the Bible forsook Christ, that we, by faith, would have redemption in Him, so He not forsake us in hellfire.

Instead of His wrath and judgment, today’s Scripture says the God of the Bible is offering to all nations (and individuals) of the world to come fellowship with Him through His Son. He changed their status, from being worthy of punishment, to being recipients of His grace. People still die and go to hell today, but they do so having rejected the Gospel of the Grace of God that would have saved them from that penalty of sin. They had a chance to be permanently reconciled to God by His Son’s death, and they refused it. God is not “getting even” with anyone—Christians or lost people—living today. The only divine punishment in the Dispensation of Grace is after physical death. In our Dispensation of Grace, God’s attitude toward the world is highlighted in the opening line of every Pauline epistle—“grace and peace.”

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).

Borrowed Time—Little or Much

Sunday, October 16, 2016

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not” (Job 14:1,2 KJV).

“Amen and Amen!”

My family just received news that a neighbor was severely injured in an out-of-town automobile accident. This young, single mother has two small children. She is now on a respirator, clinging to life. Tragically, she may not survive, and, to my knowledge, does not have a testimony of salvation in Christ.

Friends, let us give today’s Scripture some heavy thought. We do not know when death will come for us. It is a morose topic, and rarely discussed, since many people are “too busy” thinking about “life right now” than “life hereafter.” Some reply, “Oh, I believe in life before death, not life after death!” Well, we respond, “You have a right to your opinion. If you want to be wrong, you can. After death, you will certainly believe in life after death!”

Others may say, “Oh, I have plenty of time to trust Christ. Let me enjoy my life first, and have a good time in sin!” Friends, remember my neighbor’s predicament. People commonly die unexpectedly and young. You think you may have several decades left to live, when you may actually have just a few minutes! Thousands of people living in the world today will not see tomorrow. Some of us may be in that crowd. We had better not play around with eternal matters! Only God knows just how many people in history have procrastinated concerning trusting Christ. They waited too long, were dead before they realized it, and it is now too late for them!

If we have not done so, let us take a moment to trust the Gospel of the Grace of God: “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Christ Jesus died to pay for everything wrong with us. Now, we need to trust Him as the fully-satisfying payment for our sins, so we can go to heaven when we leave this life. Friends, we are living on borrowed time. This life may be over more quickly than we think!

The Precious Blood of Christ #8

Saturday, September 24, 2016

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19 KJV).

God the Father and God the Holy Ghost think the blood of Jesus Christ is “precious.” And you?

When people tell us the blood of Christ is “slaughterhouse religion” or “too offensive to stress,” what they really mean is God’s purpose and plan for creation means nothing to them! “Without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness]” (Hebrews 9:22). Life is in the blood, Leviticus 17:10-14 tells us. Save for the shed blood of the sinless God-Man, we sinners have no life—we would remain dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). The person who rails against the blood of Christ does so in ignorance. He or she has not a clue that just as sin brought us death, so the blood of Christ brings us life (cf. Romans 5:1-21).

By faith in the shed blood of Christ, any person can come to Father God and be justified (declared righteous) because he or she will share Christ’s identity. In today’s Dispensation of Grace, the believer joins the Church the Body of Christ. In time past, it was the nation Israel. In the ages to come, it will be the nation Israel. Regardless of which agency—Israel (Earth) or Body of Christ (Heaven)—both require faith in Christ’s shed blood to join. Now, we see how God will reconcile Heaven and Earth unto Himself. He will toss out Satan and his minions and replace them with His saints!

Romans 3:24-26: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” ’Tis only possible because “the precious blood of Christ” was shed so rich and free… for you and for me! 🙂

The Precious Blood of Christ #7

Friday, September 23, 2016

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19 KJV).

God the Father and God the Holy Ghost think the blood of Jesus Christ is “precious.” And you?

In Ephesians 2:19-22 (the Church the Body of Christ) and 1 Peter 2:5-10 (the nation Israel), Jesus Christ is the “chief corner stone.” A “corner stone” is absolutely critical, “valuable” and “precious,” to the structure or function of something else. Without the cornerstone, an arch falls, a wall tumbles, and a house collapses. Jesus Christ is “precious” (1 Peter 2:6,7). His blood is also “precious” (today’s Scripture): by it, God’s life is displayed in heaven and earth in the ages to come. Redeemed Israel is God’s “house” and the Body of Christ is God’s “house”—they have His life in them because Jesus’ “precious” blood has redeemed them all from sin!

Colossians 1:16 says: “For by him [Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” Satan and sinful man tainted those offices of government that were to originally glorify Jesus Christ. Verses 20-22 are God’s solution: “[20] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. [21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled [22] In the body of his flesh through death….”

“Through the blood of [Christ’s] cross,” God will reconcile all the governments of heaven and earth unto Himself. Without that shed blood, God’s life cannot be imparted to sinful man. Although Satan and his angels have corrupted heaven, and sinful mankind has corrupted the earth, God’s original plan for creation will still come to pass. The “precious blood of Christ” is the means whereby God overthrows Satan forever (Colossians 2:13-15), both in heaven and in earth….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Why did God demand blood sacrifices?”

The Precious Blood of Christ #6

Thursday, September 22, 2016

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19 KJV).

God the Father and God the Holy Ghost think the blood of Jesus Christ is “precious.” And you?

Remember, God’s original purpose in creating the nation Israel was to form an earthly people whom He would use to glorify His Son in the earth. That was the intention of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3). Israel was to remain separate from the world’s nations and religions (all Satanically-inspired). However, Israel increasingly intermingled with heathenism. By the time we get to Christ’s earthly ministry, 2000 years after Abraham, Israel is far removed from God’s Word. They are in no condition to recognize God’s Son when He shows up and offers to be their king. Pagan idolatry, false religion, has so deceived them that they are under Satan’s control like the rest of the world!

However, the Little Flock of today’s Scripture is reminded that they, as Israel’s believing remnant, have been purchased from that vain manner of living they received by tradition from their fathers. God has taken them out of that apostate nation Israel. Their purchase price was “the precious blood of Christ.” As the Passover lamb’s blood saved Israel from God’s wrath in Egypt, so the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, will save believing Israel from the wrath about to consume the apostate Jews.

No amount of silver or gold could provide these Jews spiritual life. It was the valuable blood of Christ. They are “born again… by the word of God” (verse 23)—given new life. Now, they are to behave according to their new identity. They are to be holy practically because God is holy (verse 16). With Israel’s believing remnant coming by faith to God through “the precious blood of Christ,” they have left Satan and become the nation God originally intended them to be! They are His kingdom of priests, His holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), able to reach believing Gentiles in the future Millennium. Israel can finally be that nation to restore God’s authority in the earth….

The Precious Blood of Christ #5

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19 KJV).

God the Father and God the Holy Ghost think the blood of Jesus Christ is “precious.” And you?

When Scripture says the blood of Christ is “precious,” it means “valuable” or “esteemed.” That word is rendered “had in reputation” in Acts 5:34 when referring to the respected rabbinical scholar, Gamaliel. Paul confessed that, despite all his afflictions for preaching the Gospel of Grace, he did not count his life “dear” to himself (Acts 20:24). We read about “precious” stones (or gemstones) symbolizing good doctrine at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12). Marriage is called “honourable” in Hebrews 13:4. God’s promises to Israel are called “precious” (2 Peter 1:4). That word “precious” is also used to describe the immense wealth of the Antichrist’s future religious-political system (Revelation 17:4; Revelation 18:12,16). “Precious” is descriptive of the radiant stones that make up New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:11,19).

Chapter 2 of 1 Peter, not far away from today’s Scripture, declares: “[4] To whom [the Lord] coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious… [6] Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture [Isaiah 28:16], Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. [7] Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is become the head of the corner….” This is the cross-reference for the “precious blood of Christ” in today’s Scripture.

Father God “laid in Sion” a “chief corner stone” means His Son’s earthly ministry, culminating with His crucifixion. Believing Israel (to whom Peter is writing) embraced Jesus, while the nation’s religious leaders encouraged most Jews to reject Him. To Father God, Jesus Christ is “precious” and His blood is “precious.” Believing Jews agreed. Still, what makes Jesus’ blood so “precious?” It is ever so valuable because it holds together God’s purpose for creation….

The Precious Blood of Christ #4

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19 KJV).

God the Father and God the Holy Ghost think the blood of Jesus Christ is “precious.” And you?

The verse immediately following today’s Scripture says: “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you….” The “who” is Jesus Christ; the “you” is Israel. Again, Christ’s death was planned before the foundation of the world. The triune Godhead decreed it before sin had even entered… before man had even been created!

From the establishment of the Mosaic Law all the way up until Christ’s earthly ministry—about 1,500 years—Israel had been trained every year to remember the innocent lamb whose blood was shed at Passover (Exodus 12:4,5). That blood saved Israel from God’s wrath in Egypt. Beloved, innocent Jesus dying at Passover centuries later was no coincidence! When Israel saw Jesus die during their Passover feast, they should have realized it—for all those centuries, that Passover lamb represented Him! Alas, most of Israel was blind. They had no faith in the verses He fulfilled, so they did not recognize who He was. Praise God, however, a small group of Jews believed in Jesus as Messiah! They are “the little flock” (Luke 12:32). Peter is writing to them in the epistle from which today’s Scripture is extracted.

In addition, a similar believing Israeli remnant will live during the future seven-year Tribulation. They will follow that epistle of 1 Peter as well. In verses 6 and 7 (context of today’s Scripture), believing Israel is “in heaviness through manifold temptations” and experiencing “a trial of [their] faith.” Having separated themselves from apostate Israel following Antichrist, they are experiencing severe hardships and horrific persecution. Their families have been torn apart: their relatives are now their enemies. They are waiting for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming to end those awful seven years. Today’s Scripture says they have been purchased, with a heavy price, for His glory….

The Precious Blood of Christ #3

Monday, September 19, 2016

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19 KJV).

God the Father and God the Holy Ghost think the blood of Jesus Christ is “precious.” And you?

While God did not reveal the complete meaning of Jesus Christ’s death until the Apostle Paul, we can look back into some of the Bible’s most ancient portions and see God had the death of His Son in mind all along. For example, Acts 2:23 reminds us: “Him [Jesus Christ], being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” Before there ever was a creation—one angel, one devil, one human, one star, one tree, or even one atom—the three Members of the triune Godhead conferred. God the Father had a most glorious plan, God the Son would lay down His life to make that plan possible, and God the Holy Spirit would execute all the details.

God arranged it so that, as soon as sin entered the world, He began to teach man that sin meant an innocent life had to be taken, and innocent blood would have to be shed. The precedent was Genesis 3:21 (Adam and Eve); it carried on to the shed blood offered by Abel (Genesis 4:4) and Noah (Genesis 8:20). When we come to Israel in Egyptian bondage, the blood of the innocent Passover lamb saves them from God’s righteous wrath against their idolatry (Exodus 12:3-14). God said Israel is to observe the annual Passover literally “for ever” (verse 14). Throughout the Book of Leviticus, we read about various animal sacrifices and the priests’ daily shedding of animals’ blood to make atonement for sins. Israel’s national forgiveness relied on the annual Day of Atonement, involving more animals’ blood (Leviticus chapter 16).

That intricate religious calendar was God’s way of reinforcing in Israel’s mind the plan He had from before the foundation of the world. The “precious blood of Christ” was going to be shed….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What does, ‘All Israel shall be saved,’ mean?”