An Infinite Sacrifice for an Infinite Crime

I tend to think that a person who has never question some aspects of their beliefs doesn’t have a very good understanding of their beliefs. This applies to faith, politics, business philosophies, etc… By that I am not saying that a person should doubt everything they believe, thus becoming a skeptic. I am saying that we should ask questions and be honest about things that we don’t understand very easily.

For example, last week Jonathan B. posted on the incommunicable attributes of God. I for one have often thought of the concept of eternity and it hurts to think about. I mean, I can’t imagine not existing because I’ve never done that before, but something about always existing is impossible for my brain to comprehend.

If we don’t ask ourselves and others these questions how will we ever “be ready to give a defense for the hope that is within us” (see 1 Peter 3:15)?

One of the questions that I had to think through and study long and hard was how the chronologically short-lived suffering of Jesus could atone for my sin which is deserving of eternity in hell. There isn’t a category in my brain for peculiar justice that immediately makes me understand God’s ways in redemption.

Could it be true, as Shai Linne says, that “forever will I tell in 3 hours Christ suffered more than any sinner ever would in hell”?

Because I asked the question, put in the time, I feel confident that “there is only one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 2:5)

My answer to this question is that finite punishment cannot satisfy the demands of an infinite sentence. Allow me to explain:

I. Why is Hell Eternal?

1. The honorability of the offended party increases the magnitude of the crime, the magnitude of the crime increases the level of punishment.

Is there a difference between the punishment for lying to an infant and lying to the President? Absolutely there is. Because we sin against the Holy God of the universe we deserve to be punished for an infinite crime, namely, cosmic treason.

2. There is no biblical evidence of the sinful nature being reversed when a person goes to hell.

We tend to assume that people repent in hell but it seems that their hearts are still hardened toward God (example, Luke 16:19-31 the rich man still sees himself as greater than Lazarus). Therefore, there is no reason to believe that cosmic treason ceases to be committed in Hell. A person cannot fulfill their sentence if they don’t stop committing punishable crime.

3. There is no biblical reason to assume that we can bear the full wrath of God.

This is where I believe many who believe in annihilationism get it wrong. They assume that a finite number of years (even in the millions) will eventually lead to a person bearing the full weight of the wrath of God for their sin. Even forgetting the first two points I just made, do we really believe we have that capacity? We can’t even look at God in the face without going blind, how will we bear His wrath sufficient to save ourselves?

II. How is the Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Sufficient to Save us from Eternal Punishment?

1. The value of the sacrifice (Christ) is equal to the value of the offended party (God).

It’s not easy to get my mind around this. In the same way that my crime against God is worthy of greater punishment than a crime against a person, Christ’s sufferings are worth more than my sufferings. Christ’s value makes him the sufficient savior for my sins, and not for mine only…(see 1 John 2:2)

2. Because Christ’s death purchased righteous standing before God, and eventual glorification for the saints, our crime against God has a stopping point.

Though we sin as Christians (more than we realize), and that sin can only be atoned for by Christ, we will eventually be given a new nature in which we will not sin. Therefore Christ’s infinite sacrifice atones for a finite number of sins.

3. There is every biblical reason to believe that Christ did bear the full wrath of God.

From the garden where he felt the weight of the cup of God’s wrath (see Luke 22:42), to his cry “it is finished” (John 19:30) Jesus suffered through what we are fully incapable of bearing, the wrath of God.

For these reasons and more we can be certain that Christ is the fully sufficient savior for the sins of mankind.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

Subtraction by Addition

"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power" (1 Corinthians 1:17).

Some people don't see the glory in the penal substitutionary atonement for various reasons. When we try to make the gospel too much about a relationship or a better life we think we are giving immediate application for the sinner so that they understand things better. The problem is that it can hinder people from seeing the necessity of the cross and the great kindness of God.

That said, here is a quick breakdown of one of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith, namely the penal substitutionary atonement. Don't run away from this because it has a big word or two in the name, it is really quite simple.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands . This he set aside, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14).


This is typical of the great Christian doctrines because it is simple enough for a child to understand and yet, at the same time, complex enough for PHD students to write their dissertations on. The three writers of Pierced For Our Transgressions give a simple definition,

"The doctrine of penal substitution states that God gave himself in the person of his Son to suffer instead of us the death, punishment and curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for sin" (p 21).

This is an essential of the gospel that must be understood to some extent for a person to be saved.

Penal because we deserve wrath.
Substitutionary because he took it in our place.
Atonement because it worked.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

The Gospel understanding of an eight year old

The Gospel understanding of an eight year old

Originally I did not plan on writing another post on the gospel but tonight allowed for a great opportunity.
My wife and I have an opportunity to meet with a ministry every week called STEP where we both have kids that we mentor. Tonight's lesson was strongly focused on recapping and understanding the gospel.

The conversation with my eight year old mentee Xia Xia:
Me: Who is God?
Xia Xia: The guy who made everything (referring to our conversation last week about Genesis 1 which blew his mind)
Me: Who is Jesus?
Xia Xia: The Son of God
Me: what did He do?
Xia Xia: He came to the planet as a baby and grew up and did good things for people and never did anything to hurt nobody. Then He died and came back to life, but first He talked to that other guy on the other cross about heaven.
Me: Why did He die
Xia Xia: Because thats why He came here. And so we wouldn’t have to.

(after a long conversation about what sin is and that God cannot sin or be around sin)
Me: So if God cannot be around sin what would that mean for us?
Xia Xia: It means we can’t be with God... but Jesus told the other guy on the cross he would be in heaven....

(after a long conversation on the implications of Christ’s death, atonement and beginning to move into memorizing our verse Romans 8:11)

Me: Any questions about the verse?
Xia Xia: (he decided to back track) If God can’t be around sin, and every one doesn’t believe... then where do those people go? (how would you dodge that question if you were afraid of turning people off by talking about hell)

(moved into a conversation about justice, mercy, heaven and hell)

Amazing the simplified answers and direct questions from a kid who didn’t know who Jesus was on the first lesson. He may not have all the pieces put together but at least its evident that he’s listening. Obviously this wasn’t the full conversation but this seemed to be a great complement to last weeks post.

Grace and peace,

Why a Physical Death?

As my pastor taught a Sunday evening lesson on Christ as mediator I was confronted once again with the amazing truth that Christ's physical suffering and death was not nearly as significant as the fact that the wrath of God was being poured out on him. That is not to take away from what is presented in the gospel accounts. It is, however, to say that Christ did not ask His Father to keep him from suffering in the hands of the Romans. He asked that if it was the will of the Father that He would not empty out the cup of His wrath on him.

So why do we read of such horrendous physical suffering? The list of reasons is much bigger than my library can explain. But as I thought through some of the things that happened at the cross and why they happened the way they happened I thought it would be helpful to post it for you folks and allow you the opportunity to marvel at just a small list of things you were meant to see at the cross.


He was mocked and despised to display the shame of my sin. (Isaiah 53:3-4)

He carried his cross to Golgotha (outside the city of Jerusalem) because my sin defiles the camp of God. (Leviticus 16:21-22)

Nails were driven through his hands to give me a picture of the record of my sins being put away by God, through Christ. (Colossians 2:14)

He was killed show me the severe penalty for sin. (Romans 6:23)

He willingly died to demonstrate the love of God for His people. (Romans 5:8)

He died for me that I might know how to love my brothers and my wife. (1 John 3:16, Ephesians 5:25)

So that's my list. What did I miss?

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

Creation and the Gospel

This past weekend I was supposed to preach at a local juvenile detention center. Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances involving a fire alarm and multiple Sham Wow's our group wasn't able to go inside and talk to the young men and women. However, my preparation left an impression on me that I would like to share with you.

Every time I get the opportunity to preach the gospel I feel the weight of a new truth that I should try to press on the lost person. This time was no different. For the greater part of this year I have been thinking about the importance of God's role as Creator and how that should play a big role in my presentation of the gospel. It flies in the face of the secular worldview to tell a person that they must do anything in order to please someone they have never seen.

My intention last Friday was to go to one of my favorite passages- especially lately- Colossians 1:15-17, 19-20:

[The Son] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together...For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

It is one thing to tell a person that they were created by intelligent design, therefore they should believe in a god, and while they're at it they might as well go for Christianity. It is quite another thing to tell that person that Jesus Christ created them with a purpose for himself. It doesn't matter if you think you are a great person or the lowest of the low, if the rulers and authorities (demons) were created for Christ, you are no worse than they.

This is what is so offensive to a Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins. This is the truth they want to suppress. If they were created with a purpose, rather than haphazardly, they have no rights over their own life, whatever they do that is not for Christ is rebellion against him and fully deserving of the appropriate response for cosmic treason.

But this passage doesn't stop there! It doesn't only tell us that we were created for Christ, allowing us to realize how far short we have fallen, it also tells us how this is accomplished despite our rebellion. Verse 20 tells us that Christ reconciled all things through his death on the cross. This is how rebellious sinners become the adopted children of God. This is where all things find their purpose, including those who are infinitely and eternally evil, never to find repentance. They find their purpose in being shamed by the cross (Colossians 2:14-15).

This is a wonderful passage for reflecting on the gospel and sharing it to those who don't know Christ. I encourage you to give it a read today and thank Christ for creating, redeeming, and ultimitely restoring you. If you don't yet believe in him I plead with you to trust in the only Savior of the world.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

The Purpose and Centrality of the Local Church Part 2

This is part 2 of a series on the centrality of the local church in God's redemptive purpose. Click here for part 1 of the series.

The centrality of the church can be seen in that Christ died for her and adds to her number.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)

As evangelical Christians we like to emphasize, with good reason, the individual nature of the atonement of Christ (Colossians 2:13-14). But we must not overlook the fact that the New Testament often speaks of Christ dying on behalf of the church.

Functionally this should be one of the greatest comforts in our Christian lives. If Christ died for a particular people, namely, the universal/invisible church, we find our identity as part of this group while participating in the local/visible expression of this people.

Not only did Christ die for the church, he is also the one adding to her number. Acts 2:41-47.

First we see about three thousand souls being saved (Acts 2:41), the next thing they do is commit themselves to the church (Acts 2:42-47) and finally we read that the Lord adds more to their number daily (Acts 2:47).

There is a cycle of salvation and the church is right in the middle. In the coming weeks we will see with a little more clarity why that is the case.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

Reflections on a Shadow

Looking at the calendar above my desk I see a lot of holidays that are meaningless to me. I would list them out but you know what they are; pretty much any holiday that doesn't get me out of work or school. But this year I saw one of those days and it made me pause and think.

This time next week is the celebration of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is described in chapters 16 and 23 of Leviticus as well as some other places. I'm not, however, suggesting that we celebrate this Jewish holiday. But when we see a day like this on our calendar it can be helpful to reflect back on what its purpose was for that time, namely a type and shadow of Christ (Col 2:17).

So I just thought that in honor of this shadowy holiday I would post the lyrics to Shai Linne's "High Priest."

Verse 1

There’s commotion in my brain, strange is the notion

Words cannot explain my range of emotion

I’m speechless, my flaws exposed and my weakness

Each breath draws me closer to a deep test

It’s month number seven, it’s been ten days

I’ve been awake all night reflecting on my ways

A threat to my peace in this greatest of moments

Because I’m the High Priest and it’s the Day of Atonement

The LORD is so holy and perfect, I’m nervous

I’m floored that He chose me to worship through service

Don’t ask me why the God who crafted the sky

Drafted this weak guy from the clan of Levi

Preceding generation taught me to read the regulations

Deep meditation on decreed revelation

Extreme trepidation breeds hesitation

Yet I must lead and be the representation

My occupation- to intercede for the nation

But indeed my own sins need expiation

The wrath of Jehovah’s grim, sin is no joke to Him

The hope is slim for unholy men coming close to Him

He’s spoken in His Word the proper way of approach to Him

Nadab and Abihu got it wrong and He roasted them

These things I weigh as I sigh

This could either be the greatest day of my life or the day that I die!

Chorus

So you say that you wanna know the LORD?

Do you really wanna stand before the LORD?

Do you know what it takes to meet the LORD?

God is an all-consuming fire

So you say that you wanna know the LORD

Do you really wanna stand before the LORD?

Do you know what it takes to meet the LORD?

Be careful what you desire

Verse 2

For now, no time to focus on my sinning

I bathe in the laver though it seems extreme

I put on the holy coat made of white linen

Craving His favor- I’m ceremonially clean

I check to inspect- no tangible faltering

Next I must collect the animals for the offering

A spotless ram and a bull- the components

God gives to make atonement for my own sins

This part of the ritual makes me real cautious

Because the very sight of blood makes me feel nauseous

Still I proceed by snatching him close, slashing his throat

when his blood splashed on my coat

Reacting, I choke- gasping that’s when I’m grasping

God’s reaction that sin provokes

I take a moment to reflect on the blood spilled in this

Staring at the goat to be sent into the wilderness

I’ll confess Israel’s sins with my hands on his head

Symbolizing guilt transferred instead

to a substitute the living God provided and stamped

guilty of our sin, driven outside the camp

This beautiful picture of hope and grace motivates

And I don’t want my fear to make this dope occasion go to waste

Change my outer garments, slow my pace- yo I brace

myself to stand before Jehovah’s face in the Holy Place

Verse 3

The time has come, the great moment has arrived

About to enter in- what a lonely enterprise

Look at the other priests, they speak only with their eyes

Rope tied around my ankle just in case I don’t survive

I enter through the first curtain to a dark room

I’m standing in the Holy Place, my thoughts consumed

I’m caught off guard, I’m unraveling at this stage

My heartbeat so hard it’s rattling my ribcage

Feeling like I’m disintegrating and I can’t stand

Comforted by the light emanating from the lampstand

This helps my vision- I can see the showbread

I think of God’s provision, that helps me go ahead

I need courage to worship! Man, this is intense

I take burning coals off the altar for the incense

The sweet aroma fills the room

The smoke protects my eyes- one sight of Jehovah seals my doom

It’s no mere coincidence I’m here surrendering

With fear and trembling I’m nearly entering

I feel like running scared, hoping I’m not unprepared

Stunned with fear- no one comes in here but once a year

Nevertheless I’m at the point of no return

Besides, I don’t want my anointing to be spurned

After counting to three, next time I inhale

I’m in the Holy of Holies beyond the veil!

The first thing I realize is I’m thrilled that I’ve

entered into God’s presence and yet I’m still alive

I’m awestruck by the weight of His terrible beauty

It’s almost unbearable but I must fulfill my duty

Approach the ark, the first part of my work’s complete

when I sprinkle blood seven times on the mercy seat

Quickly I exit, impressed with the Hesed

that rescues the wretched and left us accepted!

Grace and Peace,
Stephen