II Corinthians 5

New eternal bodies waitingverses 1-5

For we know that – if our earthly house of this tabernacle with dissolved

we have a building of God – a house not made with hands

                        eternal in the heavens

For in this we groan – earnestly desiring to be clothed on with our house

            which is from heaven – if so be that being clothed

we shall not be found naked

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan – being burdened

            not for that we would be unclothed – BUT clothed upon

                        that mortality might be swallowed up of life

NOW HE that has wrought us for the selfsame thing is God

            WHO also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit 

Bema seat of Christ happening in our futureverses 6-10

 THEREFORE we are always confident – knowing that

            while we are at home in the body – we are absent from the Lord

            (For we walk by faith NOT by sight) – we are confident

I say – and willing rather to be absent from the body

                                    and present with the Lord

Wherefore we labor – that – whether present or absent

we may be accepted of HIM

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ

            that every one may receive the things

done in his body according to that he has done

whether it be good or bad

Our new life controlled by love for Christverses 11-15

 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord – we persuade men

            BUT we are made manifest to God

                        and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences

For we commend not ourselves again to you

but give you occasion to glory on our behalf

that you may have somewhat to answer them

which glory in appearance

and not in heart

For whether we be beside ourselves – it is to God

or whether we be sober – it is for your cause

For the love of Christ constrains us – BECAUSE we thus judge

            that if one died for all – then were all dead 

and that HE died for all

            that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves

                        BUT to HIM which died for them and rose again   

New creatures in Christverses 16-17

 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh

YEA – though we have known Christ after the flesh

YET now henceforth know we HIM no more

THEREFORE if any man be in Christ – he is a new creature

old things are passed away

BEHOLD – all things are become new

All ministers of reconciliationverses 18-21

 AND all things are of God

WHO has reconciled us to HIMSELF by Jesus Christ

and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation

To wit – that God was in Christ – reconciling the world to HIMSELF

not imputing their trespasses to them

and has committed to us the word of reconciliation

NOW then we are ambassadors for Christ

as though God did beseech you by us

we pray you in Christ’s stead – be you reconciled to God

FOR HE has made HIM to be sin for us – WHO knew no sin

that we might be made the righteousness of God in HIM

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 5        Now he that has wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit. (728 “earnest” [arrhabon] means money which is purchases is given as a pledge or down payment that the full amount will subsequently be paid, first installment, pledge, guarantee, deposit, or first installment)

DEVOTION:  There is a change coming. We are not going to be in these earthly bodies forever. We are going to receive a heavenly body because of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

We have to live in these weak human bodies until we die or the LORD returns and calls us home to heaven. Paul wants the believers in Corinth to understand that there are already eternal bodies prepared for them. We need to realize this as well.

They had a guarantee that this was going to happen. The guarantee was the indwelling Holy Spirit. HE had promised to never leave us or forsake us. The Holy Spirit came as another comforter just like Jesus. They are co-equal parts of the Godhead.

Paul is stating that if we have the Holy Spirit we have a prepared heavenly body waiting for us for all eternity. It will be great. I have told one of my former deacons that we are going to play tennis in heaven. He is presently his struggling with Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Each time we talk he likes the idea that we can play tennis in heaven.

A heavenly body will have no aches and pains that this present one can have. It will be perfect.

CHALLENGE:  We need to thank the LORD for HIS promises. HE never lies. One day this mortal body will put on immortality. Hallelujah!! What a wonderful Savior!!! 

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers 

: 10      For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad. (968 “judgment seat” [bema] means judicial court, tribunal, a raised place to speak to public assembly, speakers platform, or throne)

DEVOTION:  Paul is addressing believers in this book. All those who are genuine followers of Jesus Christ will appear at this tribunal to receive rewards for their actions after they became believers.

Remember that we can’t earn our salvation by works because Christ did it all on the cross but the LORD expects our faith to be manifested in service to HIM. HE expects those who claim to be believers to worship HIM in spirit and in truth each Sunday. HE expects those who love HIM to give of their income to support HIS work here on the earth. HE expects us to depend on HIM for all of our needs and come to HIM when we are going through hard times. HE expects us to love one another. HE expects us to raise our family to honor HIM. HE expects us to meditate on HIS love letter to us called the Bible each day. HE expects us to witness to our neighbors, friends and family. HE expects us to use our spiritual gift in the local church and manifest the gift of the Spirit to everyone we meet.  HE doesn’t expect us to sit in our pews and do nothing. If this list is too long and too hard for you it means that you don’t understand what the LORD expects of you. WARNING: We can do all these things externally and still not be saved. The guiding factor is our heart. These actions have to be done internally first before we manifest them externally. We have way to many external religious people whose hearts are not right with God.

On the basis of these things and others that are found in the Word of God we will all stand before this bema seat and receive judgment regarding our actions since we have become a follower of HIM.

Hopefully no one reading this is hoping to just skate by on that day. Yes, there are some who will saved “yet so as by fire” but it is our prayer that you are not one of them. Remember that HE will say to those who claim to be HIS followers at the Great White Throne judgment “I never knew you.”

CHALLENGE: If some of the things listed above are not happening in your life ask the LORD to help you to start manifesting your love for HIM.

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: 14      For the love of Christ constrains us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. (4912 “constrains” [sunecho] means hold together, to press together, to control, to restrain, to urge or force (a person) to an action, to hold together, hem in, or restrain.)

DEVOTION:  Why are we different once we become believers? Should there be a difference between those who are followers of Christ and those who are not following HIM? The answer is yes to the second question.

The answer to the first question is answered by Paul. He states that because of our love for Christ we are compelled to show the world the love we have for Jesus Christ.

HE died in our place. If HE died for us we are to live for HIM. We are no longer selfish and lazy. We want to show people HIS love through our actions. We want to serve those who even mistreat us because they need to know the love of Christ.

Appreciation for HIS gift to us of salvation makes us want to stop being selfish and always thinking of ourselves. Instead we are asking the LORD for ways to show others Christ in the flesh. Our flesh is doing something that is not normal. Our flesh is working to see that people understand that they don’t have to live in an unloved state but in a state of being loved.

We manifest this love with the help of the Holy Spirit in our life. People will ask the question “Why is he/she doing this for me?” In reality it is not for them it is for the LORD.

CHALLENGE:  What are you doing today for those around you that will help them understand the love of Christ?

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 18      And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. (2643 “reconciliation” [katallage] means atonement, a change from enmity to friendship or restoration to favor)

DEVOTION:  Paul instructs the Corinthian believers that our present body is groaning and burdened but that there is a future body in heaven that gives real life to those who are followers of Jesus Christ. How do we know we are going to receive this heavenly body? God has given believer a guarantee by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. HE is our engagement ring to enter the marriage supper of the Lamb.

He also warns that we are all going to be standing before the LORD at the judgment seat to see what we have done while in our earthly body. Some of the things we do after the beginning of our relationship with Christ are good and some are bad. Paul warns that they should realize that this event is going to happen and should be prepared for it.

How do they prepare for this judgment seat of Christ? They have to be involved in the ministry of reaching people with the message of the gospel. They have to spread the word that there is a way to be turned from enemies of the LORD into friends of the LORD.

It is a ministry that is given to ALL believers. It is not just for Paul and the apostles but for all believers. All are going to be judged for what they have done with this call to ministry. All Christians are ambassadors for Christ. Once we realize that Christ died for all. We have the responsibility to contact everyone in our world with the gospel message. Not only those who don’t know Christ have to be restored but also those who have been followers of Christ need to be restored to fellowship.

Our responsibility is two-fold. First on our list is to those who are part of the Christian family. Paul spent some of his time dealing with Christians who were not living the way they should. He warned them that there was a judgment coming. Those who are in the family need to realize that they can be restored to fellowship even after a time of living in sin. Some live in the sin of gossip. Some live in the sin of pride. Some live in the sin of immorality. Some live in the sin of criminal activity. There is only one unpardonable sin and that is rejecting Christ.

He also spent a good deal of his time reaching those who were outside of the kingdom of Christ. We should be doing the same. Those who are without Christ need to know that they can be part of the family of God and gain favor with God by confessing their sins and asking Christ to come into their lives. Our ministry is to help all of those in our world. That is OUR ministry!!! There is no retirement age regarding this ministry.

Are we reaching those outside of Christ with the gospel on a regular basis? Are we praying for them daily to come to know the LORD?

CHALLENGE: Are we encouraging those who do know the LORD to witness to others about the good news we have in Christ? What type of ambassador are we??? 

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

          Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

Godverses 1, 5, 11, 13, 18-21

Building of Godverse 1

Reconciling the world to HIMSELFverse 19

Righteousness of Godverse 21

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Lordverses 6, 8, 11

Christverses 10, 14, 16- 20

Judgment seat of Christverse 10

Terror of the Lordverse 11

Love of Christverse 14

ONE died for allverses 14, 15

Rose againverse 15

Jesusverse 18

Jesus Christverse 18

Ambassadors for Christverse 20

Knew no sinverse 21

Righteousness of God in HIMverse 21

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Spiritverse 5

Earnest of the Spiritverse 5

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Earthly houseverse 1

Tabernacleverses 1, 4

Our houseverses 2, 6

Mortalityverse 4

Consciencesverse 11

Fleshverse 16

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Walk by sightverse 7

Bad worksverse 10

Glory in appearanceverse 12

Live for selfverse 15

Old thingsverse 17

Trespassesverse 19

Sinverse 21

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Building of Godverse 1

Groanverse 4

Given the Holy Spirit>verse 5

Confidentverses 6, 8

Walk by faithverse 7

Laborverse 9

Accepted of HIMverse 9

Good worksverse 10

Persuade verse 11

Consciencesverse 11

Glory in heartverse 12

Soberverse 13

Constrained by love of Christverse 14

Not live to selfverse 15

New creatureverse 17

All things newverse 17

Reconciledverses 18, 20

Ministry of reconciliationverse 18

Word of reconciliationverse 19

Ambassadorsverse 20

Righteousnessverse 21

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

Dissolved = deathverse 1

Eternal bodyverse 1

House which is from heavenverse 2

Lifeverse 4

Absent from the bodyverse 8

Present with the LORDverse 8

Appear before Judgment seat of Christverse 10

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QUOTES regarding passage

21 Thus far Paul has been content to give the broadest outlines of the drama of reconciliation, stating merely the relationship between the principal actors, as it were. Now he explains, so far as human language and imagery permit, the “how” of reconciliation. The fifteen Greek words, carefully balanced, almost chiastic, defy final exegetical explanation, dealing as they do with the heart of the atonement.

There are three main ways of understanding the first section of the verse, particularly the second use of hamartia, “sin” (so L. Sabourin; see notes): (1) Treated as if he were a sinner, Christ became the object of God’s wrath and bore the penalty and guilt of sin. (2) When Christ in his incarnation assumed human nature “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Rom 8:3, RSV), God made him to be “sin.” (3) In becoming a sacrifice for sin, Christ was made to be sin. The background to the first view is the idea of substitution; to the second, the notion of participation; to the third, the OT concept of sacrifice.

Although, as Sabourin observes, the Hebrew term ḥaṭṭāʾṯ (like ʾāšām) may mean both “sin” and “sacrifice for sin” (or “sin-offering”), it seems Paul’s intent to say more than that Christ was made a sin-offering and yet less than that Christ became a sinner. So complete was the identification of the sinless Christ with the sin of the sinner, including its dire guilt and its dread consequence of separation from God, that Paul could say profoundly, “God made him … to be sin for us.”

Paul’s declaration of Christ’s sinlessness may be compared with the statements of Peter (1 Peter 2:22, quoting Isa 53:9),John (1 John 3:5), and the author of Hebrews (Heb 4:15; 7:26). Just as “the righteousness of God” is extrinsic to us, so the sin with which Christ totally identified himself was extrinsic to him. He was without any acquaintance with sin that might have come through his ever having a sinful attitude or doing a sinful act. Both inwardly and outwardly he was inpeccable.

The glorious purpose of the Father’s act in making Christ “to be sin” was that believers should “become the righteousness of God” in Christ. This is a bold restatement of the nature of justification. Not only does the believer receive from God a right standing before him on the basis of faith in Jesus (Philippians 3:9), but here Paul says that “in Christ” the believer in some sense actually shares the righteousness that characterizes God himself (cf. 1 Cor 1:30). (Harris, M. J. (1976). 2 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, pp. 354–355). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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21. For. Omit. It is a later addition, in order to soften the abruptness of the following clauses.

Made to be sin (ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησεν). Compare a curse, Gal. 3:13. Not a sin-offering, nor a sinner, but the representative of sin. On Him, representatively, fell the collective consequence of sin, in His enduring “the contradiction of sinners against Himself” (Heb. 12:3), in His agony in the garden, and in His death on the cross.

Who knew no sin (τὸν μὴ γνίντα ἁμαρτίαν). Alluding to Christ’s own consciousness of sinlessness, not to God’s estimate of Him. The manner in which this reference is conveyed, it is almost impossible to explain to one unfamiliar with the distinction between the Greek negative particles. The one used here implies the fact of sinlessness as present to the consciousness of the person concerning whom the fact is stated. Compare John 8:46. (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 321–322). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)

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Him who knew no sin (τον μη γνοντα ἁμαρτιαν [ton mē gnonta hamartian]). Definite claim by Paul that Jesus did not commit sin, had no personal acquaintance (μη γνοντα [mē gnonta], second aorist active participle of γινωσκω [ginōskō]) with it. Jesus made this claim for himself (John 8:46). This statement occurs also in 1 Peter 2:22; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 John 3:5. Christ was and is “a moral miracle” (Bernard) and so more than mere man. He made to be sin (ἁμαρτιαν ἐποιησεν [hamartian epoiēsen]). The words “to be” are not in the Greek. “Sin” here is the substantive, not the verb. God “treated as sin” the one “who knew no sin.” But he knew the contradiction of sinners (Heb. 12:3). We may not dare to probe too far into the mystery of Christ’s suffering on the Cross, but this fact throws some light on the tragic cry of Jesus just before he died: “My God, My God, why didst thou forsake me?” (Matt. 27:46). That we might become (ἱνα ἡμεις γενωμεθα [hina hēmeis genōmetha]). Note “become.” This is God’s purpose (ἱνα [hina]) in what he did and in what Christ did. Thus alone can we obtain God’s righteousness (Rom. 1:17). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (2 Co 5:21). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)

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5:21. Paul now summarized the basis of this message. The Cross epitomized the love of God (John 3:16) and of Christ (John 15:13; Rom. 5:8). The Savior was sinless: He had no sin. He was “without sin” (Heb. 4:15), and “in Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). He took on Himself the sin of the world (John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2). God made Him … to be sin for us (cf. Isa. 53:4–6, 10). The sins of the world were placed on Him so that, in turn, His righteousness could be given those who trust Him (Rom. 5:17) and are thus in Him. That gift of righteousness is obtainable only by faith (Rom. 3:22; 6:23; Eph. 2:8–9; Phil. 3:9). (Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 568). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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The key idea in this paragraph is reconciliation. Because of his rebellion, man was the enemy of God and out of fellowship with Him. Through the work of the Cross, Jesus Christ has brought man and God together again. God has been reconciled and has turned His face in love toward the lost world. The basic meaning of the word reconcile is “to change thoroughly.” It refers to a changed relationship between God and the lost world.

God does not have to be reconciled to man, because that was accomplished by Christ on the cross. It is sinful man who must be reconciled to God. “Religion” is man’s feeble effort to be reconciled to God, efforts that are bound to fail. The Person who reconciles us to God is Jesus Christ, and the place where He reconciles us is His cross.

Another key idea in this section is imputation. This is a word borrowed from banking; it simply means “to put to one’s account.” When you deposit money in the bank, the computer (or the clerk) puts that amount to your account, or to your credit. When Jesus died on the cross, all of our sins were imputed to Him—put to His account. He was treated by God as though He had actually committed those sins.

The result? All of those sins have been paid for and God no longer holds them against us, because we have trusted Christ as our Saviour. But even more: God has put to our account the very righteousness of Christ! “For He hath made Him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Reconciliation is based on imputation: because the demands of God’s holy Law have been fully met on the cross, God can be reconciled to sinners. Those who believe on Jesus Christ as their Saviour will never have their sins imputed against them again (Ps. 32:1–2; Rom. 4:1–8). As far as their records are concerned, they share the righteousness of Jesus Christ!

There is a lovely illustration of this truth in the little letter Paul wrote to his friend Philemon. Philemon’s slave, Onesimus, stole from his master and then fled to Rome. Because of his crimes, he could have been crucified. But in the providence of God, Onesimus met Paul and was converted. Paul wrote the Letter to Philemon to encourage his friend to forgive Onesimus and receive him home. “Receive him as myself,” wrote Paul (Phile. 17); “if he … oweth thee aught, put that on mine account” (Phile. 18). Paul was willing to pay the bill (imputation) so that Onesimus and Philemon could be reconciled.

How does this wonderful doctrine of reconciliation motivate us to serve Christ? We are ambassadors with a message. God has committed to us the ministry and the word of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18–19).

In the Roman Empire, there were two kinds of provinces: senatorial provinces and imperial provinces. The senatorial provinces were made up of people who were peaceful and not at war with Rome. They had surrendered and submitted. But the imperial provinces were not peaceful; they were dangerous because they would rebel against Rome if they could. It was necessary for Rome to send ambassadors to the imperial provinces to make sure that rebellion did not break out.

Since Christians in this world are the ambassadors of Christ, this means that the world is in rebellion against God. This world is an “imperial province” as far as God is concerned. He has sent His ambassadors into the world to declare peace, not war. “Be ye reconciled to God!” We represent Jesus Christ (John 20:21; 2 Cor. 4:5). If sinners reject us and our message, it is Jesus Christ who is actually rejected. What a great privilege it is to be heaven’s ambassadors to the rebellious sinners of this world!

When I was a young pastor, it used to embarrass me somewhat to make visits and confront people with the claims of Christ. Then it came to me that I was a privileged person, an ambassador of the King of kings! There was nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, the people I visited should have been grateful that one of Christ’s ambassadors came to see them.

God has not declared war on the world; at the cross He declared peace. But one day, He will declare war; and then it will be too late for those who have rejected the Saviour (2 Thes. 1:3–10). Satan is seeking to tear everything apart in this world, but Christ and His church are involved in the ministry of reconciliation, bringing things back together again, and back to God.

Ministry is not easy. If we are to succeed, we must be motivated by the fear of the Lord, the love of Christ, and the commission that He has given to us. What a privilege it is to serve Him! (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 649–650). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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5:21 Here Paul summarized the heart of the gospel, resolving the mystery and paradox of vv. 18–20, and explaining how sinners can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. These 15 Gr. words express the doctrines of imputation and substitution like no other single verse. who knew no sin. Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God (see notes on Gal 4:4, 5; cf. Lk 23:4, 14, 22, 47; Jn 8:46; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1Pe 1:19; 2:22–24; 3:18; Rev 5:2–10). sin on our behalf. God the Father, using the principle of imputation (see note on v. 19), treated Christ as if He were a sinner though He was not, and had Him die as a substitute to pay the penalty for the sins of those who believe in Him (cf. Is 53:4–6; Gal 3:10–13; 1Pe 2:24). On the cross, He did not become a sinner (as some suggest), but remained as holy as ever. He was treated as if He were guilty of all the sins ever committed by all who would ever believe, though He committed none. The wrath of God was exhausted on Him and the just requirement of God’s law met for those for whom He died. the righteousness of God. Another reference to justification and imputation. The righteousness that is credited to the believer’s account is the righteousness of Jesus Christ, God’s Son (see notes on Ro 1:17; 3:21–24; Php 3:9). As Christ was not a sinner, but was treated as if He were, so believers who have not yet been made righteous (until glorification) are treated as if they were righteous. He bore their sins so that they could bear His righteousness. God treated Him as if He committed believers’ sins, and treats believers as if they did only the righteous deeds of the sinless Son of God. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Co 5:21). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

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Ver. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, &c.] Christ was made of a woman, took flesh of a sinful woman; though the flesh he took of her was not sinful, being sanctified by the spirit of God, the former of Christ’s human nature: however, he appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh; being attended with infirmities, the effects of sin, though sinless; and he was traduced by men as a sinner, and treated as such. Moreover, he was made a sacrifice for sin, in order to make expiation and atonement for it: so the Hebrew word חטאה signifies both sin and a sin-offering; see Psal. 40:6 and so αμαρτια, Rom. 8:3; Heb. 10:6. But besides all this, he was made sin itself by imputation; the sins of all his people were transterred unto him, laid upon him and placed to his account; he sustained their persons, and bore their sins; and having them upon him and being chargeable with, and answerable for them, he was treated by the justice of God as it he had been not only a sinner, but a mass of sin: for to be made sin, is a stronger expression than to be made a sinner: but now that this may appear to be only by imputation, and that none may conclude from hence that he was really and actually a sinner, or in himself so, ’tis said he was made sin; he did not become sin, or a sinner, through any sinful act of his own, but through his father’s act of imputation, to which he agreed; for it was he that made him sin: it is not said that men made him sin; not out that they traduced him as a sinner, pretended they knew he was one, and arraigned him at Pilate’s bar as such; nor is he said to make himself so, though be readily engaged to be the surety of his people, and voluntarily took upon him their sins, and gave himself an offering for them; but he, his father is said to make him sin; ’twas he that laid, or made to meet on him, the iniquity of us all; it was he that made his soul an offering for sin, and delivered up into the hands of Justice and to deam, and that for us. in our room and stead, to bear me punishment of sin, and make satisfaction and atonement for[…]; of which he was capable, and for which he was greatly qualified: for he knew no sin; which can’t be understood of pure absolute ignorance of sin; for this can’t agree with him, neither as God, nor as Mediator; he full well knew the nature of sin, as it is a transgression of God’s law; he knows the original of sin, the corrupt heart of man, and the desperate wickedness of that; he knows the demerit, and the sad consequences of it; he knows, and he takes notice of too, the sins of his own people; and he knows the sins of all wicked men, and will bring them all into judgment, convince of them, and condemn for them: but he knew no sin so as to approve of it, and like it; he hates, abhers, and detest it; he never was conscious of any sin to himself; he never knew anything of this kind by, and in humsen[…]; nor did he ever commit any, nor was any ever to and in him, by men or devils, though diligently sought for. This is mentioned, partly that we may better understand in what sense he was made sin, or a sinner, which could be only by the imputation of the sins of others, since he had no sin of his own; and partly to shew that he was a very fit person to bear and take away the sins of men, to become a sacrifice for them, seeing he was the Lamb of God, without spot and blemish, typified in this, as in other respects, by the sacrifices of the legal dispensation; also to make it appear that he died, and was cut off in a judicial way, not for himself, his own sins, but for the transgressions of his people; and to express the strictness of divine justice in not sparing the son of God himself, though holy and harmless, when he had the sins of others upon him, and had made himself responsible for them. The end of his being made sin. though he himself had none, was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him; not the essential righteousness of God, which can neither be imparted nor imputed; nor any righteousness of God wrought in us; for ’tis a righteousness in him, in Christ, and not in ourselves, and therefore must mean the righteousness of Christ; so called, because it is wrought by Christ, who is God over all, the true God, and eternal life; and because it is approved of by God the father, accepted of by him, for, and on the behalf of his elect, as a justifying one; it is what he bestows on them, and imputes unto them for their justification; it is a righteousness, and it is the only one which justifies in the sight of God. Now to be made the righteousness of God, is to be made righteous in the sight of God, by the imputation of the righteousness of Christ. Just as Christ is made sin, or a sinner, by the imputation of the sins of others to him; so they are made righteousness, or righteous persons, through the imputation of his righteousness to them; and in no other way can the one be made sin, or the other righteousness. And this is said to be in him, in Christ; which shews, that though Christ’s righteousness is unto all, and upon all them that believe, it is imputed to them, and put upon them: it is not any thing wrought in them; it is not inherent in them. Surely in me Lord have I righteousness and strength, says the church, Isa. 45:24 and also, that the way in which we come by this righteousness is by being in Christ; none have it reckoned to them, but who are in him; we are first of God in Christ, and then he is made unto us righteousness. Secret being in Christ, or union to him from everlasting, is the ground and foundation of our justification, by his righteousness, as open being in Christ at conversion is the evidence of it. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 792). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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The content of the appeal is clarified. Christ never committed sin, but He voluntarily became a sin offering (the likely sense of to be sin on our behalf) by bearing the penalty for sin as a substitute. He was punished for the sins of others. The purpose for his death was that those who believe might have a righteous standing before God. The sinless One died so that sinners might live.

(p.1815), The Moody Bible Commentary by Michael Rydelnik & Michael Vanlaningham)

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FROM MY READING: 

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Deuteronomy 1
Moses reminds the new generation of their parents’ disobedience
INSIGHT

Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it. Moses reviews the history of the wanderings of Israel to the new generation poised on the plains of Moab-ready to enter the Promised Land.

Moses tells them that their fathers did not believe the promises of God. Therefore, they were not obedient to Him. Their fathers condemned themselves to a life of untold hardship. Their fathers made their own destiny; they sealed their own fate.

Learn from their history. Do not repeat it. (Quiet Walk)

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THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK IN US

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13
Our Lord said in John 15 that we are bound to Him as are the branches to the vine; His life is in us, and it is a part of this blessed work of the Spirit. Then He goes on to work in us, sanctifying and perfecting us. “Work out your own salvation,” says Paul in Philippians 2:12-13, “with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Heaven helps us in our prayers: “We know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself market intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). He then goes on to produce the fruit of the Spirit in us: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23).
The work of the Spirit is to make the Lord Jesus Christ real to us. So do not waste your time trying to picture the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not go and look at portraits of Him that are wholly imaginary. There is a sense, I believe, in which nobody should ever try to paint Him—it is wrong. I do not like these paintings of Christ; they are the efforts of the natural mind. If you want a photograph of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will give it to you in the inner man. Christ said Himself, in John 14:21, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall beloved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself tohim.” That is the work of the Spirit—to make Christ living, to makeus certain He is there, so that when we speak to Him, and He to us, the Spirit makes Him real, and He is formed in us.
A Thought to Ponder: The work of the Spirit is to make the Lord Jesus Christ real to us.
                        (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 92-93, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).

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Several years ago my sons and I spent a few days camping in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Northern Idaho. It’s grizzly bear habitat, but we carried bear spray, kept our campsites clean, and anticipated no major grizzly encounters.

One evening, in the middle of the night, I heard Randy scramble around trying to get out of his sleeping bag. I grabbed my flashlight and turned it on, expecting to see him in the clutches of an enraged grizzly.

There, sitting upright on its haunches and waving its paws in the air was a field mouse about 4 inches tall. It had Randy’s cap firmly clenched in its teeth. The little creature had tugged and tugged until he pulled Randy’s cap from his head. As I laughed, the mouse dropped the cap and scampered away. We crawled back into our sleeping bags. I, however, fully adrenalized, couldn’t get back to sleep and thought about another predator—the devil.

Consider Satan’s temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). He countered his enticements with the Scriptures. With each answer, Jesus reminded Himself that God had spoken on this issue and therefore He wouldn’t disobey. This caused the devil to flee.

Although Satan wants to devour us, it’s good to remember that he’s a created being like the little rodent. John said, “the one who is in [us] is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). (By David H. Roper, Our Daily Bread)

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Nests in the Ark
“Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.” (Genesis 6:14)
Details surrounding the story of Noah and the Flood have long caused laymen and theologians alike to stumble and compromise.
None could argue that the wording was not clear. God had commanded Noah to build a wooden boat of huge dimensions and to take on board representatives of land-dwelling, air-breathing animals. The Flood, Scripture reveals, devastated the entire world. But 19th-century theologians, pressed on by James Hutton, Charles Lyell, and others proposing the new uniformitarian interpretation of Earth history, became convinced that the scriptural account must be understood in a figurative sense. Their later counterparts repeat this error, promulgating the non-biblical idea that the Flood was only local.
Some have wondered how Noah could gather all the animals, but the Bible simply says they “went in two and two unto Noah into the ark” (7:9), evidently migrating to the location on God’s command.
Their care while on the Ark has also been raised as a problem. But, in all likelihood, the animals entered a state of semi-dormancy, as nearly all of their descendants do today when faced with danger over which they have no control and from which they cannot flee.
Scripture supports this idea in our text: The word “rooms,” which is more properly translated “nests” everywhere else in Scripture, implies a small place to sleep or nestle rather than a large cage. The job of caring for the animals may have been difficult, but our gracious God would have seen to it that it was possible. Questions like these are no cause for compromise. (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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 Recently, in the UK Guardian, a woman told of her decision to have an abortion, but this wasn’t one of those “My abortion was personally empowering” type of stories.  Hers was a real-life dilemma faced by too many women. Let me be clear: Her reasons in no way justify her decision to have an abortion, but pro-lifers should listen to her story carefully and take her circumstances seriously, if we hope to build a culture where abortion is not just illegal, but unthinkable.

Charlotte Sullivan was newly married and newly employed when she learned she was pregnant. As a new hire, she didn’t qualify for the six-week paid parental leave her employer offered. Her husband’s job also didn’t pay enough for both of them plus a new baby to live on during those six weeks.

So, they agonized for several weeks before ultimately deciding to abort the child. The inner conflict she experienced in making the choice, and continues to feel since, is palpable throughout the article.

Sullivan’s story isn’t unique. Though women have abortions for a variety of reasons, there’s no question that, in certain cases, financial pressures play a role for many.  We’ll have to take these pressures into account if we hope to build a culture of life.

Paid family leave is a good place to start.

According to current data about abortion, nearly half of women who have an abortion live below the federal poverty level. To put that in perspective, the federal poverty level for a family of two—say a husband and wife—is an income of $17,420 a year. In other words, many abortion-minded women feel they simply can’t afford to take unpaid time off from work.

This year, paid family leave has become a bit of a priority on various political agendas on both sides of the aisle.

During his State of the Union address last week, President Trump threw his support behind the “Advancing Support for Working Families Act,” which was introduced late last year by Arizona Democrat Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy. An exclusively Democratic proposal entitled the “Family Act” is also on the table.

Not surprisingly, there are differences between the two. The bipartisan bill favored by the President would allow couples, who become new parents by birth or adoption, to collect a portion of their future child tax credits early and receive a smaller credit for the next 10 to 15 years.

As the New York Times describes, parents would be “borrowing from themselves.” Assume a new parent withdrew $5,000 to cover her six-week leave. Over the next ten years, her child tax credit, which maxes out at $2,000 a year, could be reduced by $500 a year.  At the same time, this bill “would not guarantee that a person’s job is protected when taking the leave.”

The Democratic proposal would be funded by a payroll tax averaging about $120 per worker and would not affect the child tax credit. Unlike the Sinema-Cassidy proposal, it would protect the employee’s job.

Neither bill is likely to become law this year, but the issue is getting the national attention it needs to advance.

For years, the Church has taken the lead in the building a culture of life through pregnancy care centers, adoption agencies, and sound arguments. We should also back policies that will encourage women to choose life.

Abortion advocates often point to poor women having to choose between their livelihood and their pregnancy. It’s a red herring that distracts from the central question of whether or not abortion takes an innocent life. Still, we can only advance the cause of life by assisting women and families that face dire financial situations.

Kudos to the President and to those in Congress who are seeking a way forward for paid family leave. And special thanks to those organizations and activists who’ve championed this cause for so long. It’s a cause worthy of our support.  (Break Point)

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In case you missed it, yesterday, Federal Agents arrested Dr. Charles Lieber, chair of Harvard University’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, with lying to the Department of Defense about secret monthly payments of $50,000.00 paid by China and receipt of millions more to help set up a chemical/biological “Research” laboratory in China. Also arrested were two Chinese “Students” working as research assistants, one of whom was actually a lieutenant in the Chinese Army, the other captured at Logan Airport as he tried to catch a flight to China – smuggling 21 vials of “Sensitive Biological Samples” according to the FBI.Oh, almost forgot. The research lab the good professor had helped set up? It’s located at the Wuhan University of Technology. Wuhan China is ground zero to the potentially global pandemic known as the “Coronavirus”which is both spreading rapidly and killing people. This is Stephen Coonts international spy novel stuff happening in real life – and it has barely made the news.

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Bill writes (MO): A very wealthy member of my pastor brother’s church passed away. Just before he died, he called in his lawyer, his doctor, and his pastor, my brother.

“Here is $30,000 of my money in cash for each of you to hold for me,” he began. “When they put me in my coffin, I want you each to put $30,000 in my coffin so I can take my money with me.”

At the funeral each man put a sealed envelope into the casket. As the lawyer left the funeral to get into his limousine, he broke down and confessed to the other two: “I only put $20,000 in my envelope. My office roof was leaking and I needed $10,000 to repair it.”

“Well, since we are confiding in each other,” the doctor said. “I only put $10,000 in my envelope. We needed a new x-ray machine for our pediatrics ward. It cost us $20,000.”

My brother was aghast. “I am ashamed of you two,” he thundered as if he were preaching a fire and brimstone sermon. Shaking a long bony finger in their faces, he declared, “I want you to know when I put my envelope into his coffin, it contained a check for the full $30,000.”

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