“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
He that saith, ‘I know Him,’ and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in Him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.
He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1 John 2:1-6 (KJB)
Propitiation
Exactly As GOD Said
“I gave My back to the smiters, and My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not My face from shame and spitting.” Isaiah 50:6 (KJB)
This is a prophecy of the trial, pain, beating, the suffering of the sinless Son of God as He gave Himself as the propitiation for our sins. A prophecy given to the prophet Isaiah around 700 years before Jesus was even born in the manger.
From Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary on verse six…
“smiters — with scourges and with the open hand (Isa_52:14; Mar_14:65). Literally fulfilled (Mat_27:26; Mat_26:27; Luk_18:33). To “pluck the hair” is the highest insult that can be offered an Oriental (2Sa_10:4; Lam_3:30). “I gave” implies the voluntary nature of His sufferings; His example corresponds to His precept (Mat_5:39).
spitting — To spit in another’s presence is an insult in the East, much more on one; most of all in the face (Job_30:10; Mat_27:30; Luk_18:32).” From the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary
O, come to Jesus Christ who loved us so much He gave Himself to redeem us to the Father God in Glory.
Like His Brethren
“For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on the seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:16-17 (KJB)
As I read these words this morning the word “behoved” asked the question, “What is the meaning of this word?” Behooved is the modern spelling. I found this…
“BEHOOVE, v.t. behoof’. To be necessary for; to be fit for; to be meet for, with respect to necessity, duty, or convenience.
And thus it behooved Christ to suffer. Luke 24.” 1828 Websters Dictionary
So we can learn from these verses above that Jesus our Savior saw it as necessary that He die for the sins of the world that He might redeem unto Himself a people. There was, and there is no other way of redemption.
When God says there is no other way; whether it involve the giving of His son, or the salvation of Adam kind; then there is no other way.
Jesus Christ died for our sins; He was buried carrying away all our sin, shame, guilt, and condemnation; then He rose victorious over the grave. Call on His name He is the only Savior of the world.
Mercy and Blessing
“God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; Selah.” Psalm 67:1 (KJV)
Mercy and blessing is what the world needs today. Mercy and blessing is what the Lord has given us. Many will curse that last sentence because they curse God and all that He has said; all that He has done; and all that He is doing.
The Psalmist in praying this prayer may have the one big event in mind. The coming of His Son; our Saviour into the world. The greatest show of mercy from God toward the world was the sending of Jesus Christ, Son of God into the world to be propitiation for our sin.
The sinless Son of God became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), took the judgment of God; and when we by faith look to Him He makes us the righteousness of God. Now what could be more merciful than that? What could be more gracious than that?
When we trust Jesus as our Lord and Saviour the face of God shines upon us and within us. “Selah” I always view this word as being a word to tell us “Pause and think on this for a while”. Rejoice in the grace and mercy of God today and always.
Words for Christian Living 061113
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 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.” Romans 2:19-26 (KJV)
Because God is holy, just and righteous He could not and cannot look upon sin or the sinner. Because He is love He gave His Son Jesus to die in our place paying the price that was ours alone to pay. By the grace of God we are declared “Just” by Him.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Way to Hell
Are we not always looking for the easy way to do things? For many years we were in the “Industrial revolution” which brought us the steam engine, the gasoline engine, electricity, automobiles, power equipment for farming, gardening, and so forth. Our ancestors worked hard, and they worked at fining an easier way of doing their work.
The word of wisdom from Solomon is found saying –
“Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” Proverbs 7:27
Whose ways? The temptress, the harlot, the prostitute, the flatterer (Male or female). It is easy to fall into this temptation, because it comes from a natural drive; given us by God. Just because it is easy does not make it right. That is why Wisdom is speaking and telling the naive young man and woman in some cases that this the the way to hell.
We live in a generation where we are being told by some school personnel, government leaders, some religious leaders, and neighbors, family members and friends, “Oh! It is such a natural thing; and it feels so good what could possibly be wrong about it.” You could add your own experience with the argument to what the “it” is.
The whole matter with the sin thing, and especially the sexual sin is that it tends to stick with you for your whole life. You will never get over it or away from it. You can only hope and pray that some where along the way you can find forgiveness and cleansing.
The way to Hell is already prepared. You need do nothing. That is your destination when you are living in sin and rebellion against God.
The way to God has been prepared as well. It is not so easy. The easy way is not always the best way or the right way. There was a price paid to bring you to God and His glory, and that was the life of His Son Jesus Christ. With Him there is forgiveness and cleansing. Trust Jesus and miss the way to Hell.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 