Jesus Christ became what we are in order to reconcile man to God. God cannot look upon sin, can have nothing to do with it. Perfect righteousness cannot have fellowship with sin. Since "in Adam ALL have sinned", we are all in this fallen state at birth.
He had to provide a way for salvation, otherwise, He would be unjust, unfair, etc., and as we know, He is none of these things. Therefore, the only substitute for man, in His matchless grace and infinite wisdom and sovereignty, He asked His Son, to "become flesh for man's sake". This substitute for us had to be perfect humanity. Just as we can do nothing to make God look upon our sinful nature, an imperfect sinful man could not be a proper substitute.
God, in His grace, provided our "kinsmen redeemer". Christ, through the substitutionary work on the cross on our behalf, has redeemed us all from this "slavemarket of sin". The door to the "market" is wide open. Many choose to stay behind, others choose to have faith and believe and leave the market (does NOT mean now leads a sinless life). God has done ALL the work to bring man the volitional choice: eternity with Him, or eternity separated from Him. So, God has made the choice possible.
ALL have been redeemed, the price for all sin has been paid, mankind is reconciled TO God, and God is satisfied with the work of Christ on the cross. But, what about after we believe, after our belief "is credited to our account for righteousness"? Now we have the life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to "be conformed to the image" of. This takes learning how He thinks and scripture says that the Word of God is the "mind of Christ". Also, "be conformed by the renovation of your thinking". Christ also said at the Last Supper, "you are my friends who keep my commands". He also said before this "he who keeps My commands, loves Me". (I might have gotten that one backwards, but same point.) Bottom line is that we must, through the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit and bible teaching, learn what it means to be "Christ like". We must learn His thinking and apply it to our daily lives.
So, I could almost say that "to bring us to himself" is the means for salvation. Then, the second one of "to bring us to be what he is in himself" is what He desires of us AFTER salvation, our relationship with Him, and becoming "conformed to the image of Christ".
Sarah, and I cannot even do it justice in the five paragraphs. Pastor Joe and Pastor John from Grace Bible Church did a tremendous series on Soteriology (doctrine of salvation) in their basics series. You can listen on-line here: http://www.gbible.org/index.php?proc=msg&cat=bas
They started this series at the very beginning, with the cross, because that is where it all "starts" (Old Testament looking forward to it, and the New looking back), so page through to the last page and you will see where the series starts.
It is just amazing what God, in His infinite wisdom, grace and love has done for us with regards to the cross (and, of course, the whole realm of scripture - His mind!).
The more I learn, daily, the more I learn just how little I am and how BIG He is! :-) But, at the same time, He is so personal, real, and involved in everything we are and do. Just amazing!
4 comments:
Jesus Christ became what we are in order to reconcile man to God. God cannot look upon sin, can have nothing to do with it. Perfect righteousness cannot have fellowship with sin. Since "in Adam ALL have sinned", we are all in this fallen state at birth.
He had to provide a way for salvation, otherwise, He would be unjust, unfair, etc., and as we know, He is none of these things. Therefore, the only substitute for man, in His matchless grace and infinite wisdom and sovereignty, He asked His Son, to "become flesh for man's sake". This substitute for us had to be perfect humanity. Just as we can do nothing to make God look upon our sinful nature, an imperfect sinful man could not be a proper substitute.
God, in His grace, provided our "kinsmen redeemer". Christ, through the substitutionary work on the cross on our behalf, has redeemed us all from this "slavemarket of sin". The door to the "market" is wide open. Many choose to stay behind, others choose to have faith and believe and leave the market (does NOT mean now leads a sinless life). God has done ALL the work to bring man the volitional choice: eternity with Him, or eternity separated from Him. So, God has made the choice possible.
ALL have been redeemed, the price for all sin has been paid, mankind is reconciled TO God, and God is satisfied with the work of Christ on the cross. But, what about after we believe, after our belief "is credited to our account for righteousness"? Now we have the life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to "be conformed to the image" of. This takes learning how He thinks and scripture says that the Word of God is the "mind of Christ". Also, "be conformed by the renovation of your thinking". Christ also said at the Last Supper, "you are my friends who keep my commands". He also said before this "he who keeps My commands, loves Me". (I might have gotten that one backwards, but same point.) Bottom line is that we must, through the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit and bible teaching, learn what it means to be "Christ like". We must learn His thinking and apply it to our daily lives.
So, I could almost say that "to bring us to himself" is the means for salvation. Then, the second one of "to bring us to be what he is in himself" is what He desires of us AFTER salvation, our relationship with Him, and becoming "conformed to the image of Christ".
Who is "Montego"? I LOVE those ideas!
Montego is my younger brother - Rob.
Sarah, and I cannot even do it justice in the five paragraphs. Pastor Joe and Pastor John from Grace Bible Church did a tremendous series on Soteriology (doctrine of salvation) in their basics series. You can listen on-line here: http://www.gbible.org/index.php?proc=msg&cat=bas
They started this series at the very beginning, with the cross, because that is where it all "starts" (Old Testament looking forward to it, and the New looking back), so page through to the last page and you will see where the series starts.
It is just amazing what God, in His infinite wisdom, grace and love has done for us with regards to the cross (and, of course, the whole realm of scripture - His mind!).
The more I learn, daily, the more I learn just how little I am and how BIG He is! :-) But, at the same time, He is so personal, real, and involved in everything we are and do. Just amazing!
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