By the finished work of Christ is meant the work of atonement or redemption for the human race which he completed by His death on the cross. This work is so perfect in itself that it requires neither repetition nor addition. Because of this work, He is called "Saviour of the world" and "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" - 1John 4:14; John 1:29 -
In the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible sin is viewed in several ways: as an offense against God which requires a pardon; as defilement which requires cleansing; as slavery which cries out for emancipation; as a debt which must be cancelled; as defeat which must be reversed by victory; and as estrangement which must be set right by reconciliation. However sin is viewed, it is through the work of Christ that the remedy is provided. He has procured the pardon, the cleansing, the emancipation, the cancellation, the victory and the reconciliation.
When sin is viewed as an offense against God, it is also interpreted as a breach of His law. The law of God, like law in general, involves penalties against the lawbreaker. So strict are these penalties that they appear to leave no avenue of escape for the lawbreaker. The apostle Paul conducting his argument along these lines, quoted one uncompromising declaration from the Old Testament: "A curse on him who does not maintain the words of the Law by observing them". And all the people shall say: Amen. - Deut. 27:26 -
On the other hand, those who rely on the keeping of the Law are under a curse since scripture says: - Gal. 3:10 - But Paul goes on to say that Christ, by enduring the form of death on which a divine curse was expressly pronounced in the law, absorbed in His own person the curse invoked on the lawbreaker: - Deut. 21:22-23 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being cursed for our sake since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree. - Gal. 3:13 - Since Jesus Christ is fully human and fully divine, He partakes in the nature of both God and humanity. he represents God to humanity and He also represents humanity to God. God is both Lawgiver and Judge; Christ represents Him.
In the hour of His death, Christ offered His life to God on behalf of mankind. The perfect life which He offered was acceptable to God. The salvation secured through the giving up of that life is God's free gift to mankind in Christ. The work of Christ is to set humanity in a right relationship with God.
When sin is considered as defilement that requires cleansing, the most straightforward affirmation is that 'the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from sin. - 1John 1:7 - The effect of His death is to purify a conscience that has been polluted by sin. Spiritual defilement calls for spiritual cleansing and this is what the death of Christ has accomplished.
When sin is considered as slavery from which the slave must be set free, then the death of Christ is spoken of as a ransom or means of redemption. Jesus Himself declared that he came 'to give His life a ransom for many' - Mark 10:45 -
Apostle Paul not only spoke of sin as slavery; he also personified sin as a slave-owner who compels his slaves to obey his evil orders. When they are set free from his control by the death of Christ to enter the service of God, they find this service, by contrast, to be perfect freedom.
The idea of sin as a debt that must be cancelled is based on the teaching of Jesus' parable of the creditor and the two debtors - Luke 7:40-43 - the creditor forgave them both when they could make no repayment. But the debtor who owed the larger sum, and therefore had more cause to love the forgiving creditor, represented the woman whose "sins which are many, are forgiven" - Luke 7:47 - This is similar to Paul's reference to God in Colossians 2:14-15 -
Colossians 2:15 speak of the 'principalities and powers' as a personification of the hostile forces in the world which have conquered men and women and hold them as prisoners of war. There was no hope of successful resistance against them until Christ confronted them. It looked as if they had conquered Him too but on the cross He conquered death itself, along with all other hostile forces. In His victory all who believe in Him have a share. - 1Cor. 15:57 -
Sins is also viewed as estrangement or alienation from God. In this case, the saving work of Christ includes the reconciliation of sinners to God. The initiative in this reconciling work is taken by God: - 2Cor. 5:19; Col. 1:20 -
Those who are separated from God by sin are also estranged from one another. Accordingly, the work of Christ that reconciles sinners to God also brings them together as human beings. Hostile divisions of humanity have peace with one another through Him. Apostle Paul celebrated the way in which the work of Christ overcame the mutual estrangement of Jews and Gentiles. - Eph. 2:14 -
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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