2-Minute Theology - TRINITY BIBLE CHURCH

The Death of Christ: Part 10 - Justification

1/9/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 10 - Justification

Justification means to be pronounced righteous. It is the legal and judicial act by which God declares believers to be righteous in Jesus Christ. Justification is the removal of sin and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness.

Justification is necessary because of the universality of sin.

all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, - Romans 3:23

Therefore everyone needs to have their sin removed. Justification cannot be obtained without the finished work and shed blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Jesus died for the sins of humanity.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. […] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:6, 8
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, - 1 Corinthians 15:3

Only the shed blood of Jesus can appease the wrath of God and justify the sinner in His sight.

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. - Romans 5:9

When God removes sin, He removes if as far as the East is from the West and remembers it no more.

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. - Psalm 13:12
I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. - Isaiah 43:25

That something is removed necessitates that it be replaced with something else. Thus, when God removes sin from a person’s life, He replaces it the righteousness of Christ.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Death of Christ: Part 9 - Jesus is the Propitiation

1/9/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 9 - Jesus Is The Propitiation

Jesus is the propitiation, which atoned for sin and assuaged God’s wrath. As the propitiation, Jesus effected purification from sin.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, - Hebrews 1:3

Second, He effected eternal redemption for believers.

and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. - Hebrews 9:12

Third, He effected cleansing of believers’ conscience from dead works.

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? - Hebrews 9:14

Fourth, He effected the putting away of sin.

Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. - Hebrews 9:26

Fifth, He effected the perfecting of the saints.

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. - Hebrews 10:14

Sixth, he effected the granting of access to God.

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. - Hebrews 10:19-22

The Death of Christ: Part 8 - Propitiation, the Means of Expiation

1/6/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 8 - Propitiation, The Means Of Expiation

There are five elements of propitiation. First, there is an offense (i.e., sin) which needs to be removed. Second, there is an offended party (i.e., God), who needs to be pacified. Third, there is an offending party (i.e., humanity), who needs to acknowledge their guilt. Fourth, there is a sacrifice (i.e., Jesus) to make atonement for the offense. Fifth, there is a high priest (i.e., Jesus) who offers the sacrifice.

Jesus’ sacrificial death was the means of expiation by which God’s wrath is propitiated or covered.

being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation (hilastērion) in His blood through faith. - Romans 3:24

Jesus is both the Propitiator and the Propitiation — High Priest and Sacrificial Lamb. It is Jesus’ action of obedience to the death on the cross that appeases God’s wrath.

and He Himself is the propitiation (hilasmós) for our sins; - 1 John 2:2
{God] sent His Son to be the propitiation (hilasmós) for our sins. - 1 John 4:10

Hebrews demonstrates the doctrine of propitiation.

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. - Hebrews 2:17

It shows that Jesus, as a priest, represented the people, who were guilty of the offense. It shows that Jesus, as a sacrifice, expiated or propitiated the offense or sins of the people. Hebrews shows Jesus as both the Passover Lamb and the Sin-offering who shed His blood.

For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. - Hebrews 13:11

The Death of Christ: Part 7 - Propitiation, A Covering For Sin

1/6/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 7 - Propitiation, A Coverings For Sin

The Hebrew term defined as propitiation is kāpar (kippūr, kappōret) meaning to cover, atone or propitiate. Accurately, the term describes a covering for sin or an atonement vis-à-vis the Day of Atonement — Yom Kippur.

On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement (Yom Kippur); - Leviticus 23:27

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest offered the Sin Offering on behalf of the whole nation. The blood of a slaughtered goats was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat (kappōret — the place of propitiation).

Then he shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering which is for the people, and bring its blood inside the veil and [...] sprinkle it on the mercy seat (kappōret)... - Leviticus 16:15

The Mercy Seat was representative of God’s throne in Heaven, where He sits. When the blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat, God saw it as a covering for sin and thus extended mercy to those represented by the blood. Interestingly, the Greek term for propitiation (hilastērion) means the place of propitiation and directly translates the Hebrew term kappōret or Mercy Seat.

and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat (hilastērion); but of these things we cannot now speak in detail. - Hebrews 9:5

Propitiation, then, means to cover a wrong that has been committed. It speaks to how God is completely satisfied with Christ’s sacrifice. By enduring the humiliation, Jesus became a merciful and faithful high priest. Though eternally the Son of God, Jesus took on the ministry of High Priest at His death. He is merciful in His dealing with humanity. He is faithful in the observance of His priestly duties. By becoming a High Priest, He is able to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become to make propitiation for the sins of the people. - Hebrews 2:17

The Death of Christ: Part 6 - Redemption, The Payment of Christ's Blood

1/2/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 6 - Redemption, The Payment Of Christ’s Blood

Jesus’ blood secured redemption for three reasons. First, Jesus’ blood has no taint of sin. Second, Jesus knew no sin. His blood is incorruptible. Third, Jesus’ blood was His Father’s blood. In the context of 1 Peter 1:18, the subject of this redemption is believers. Jesus paid the price for every lawless deed committed by a believer and, in turn, purifies the believer.

Who gave Himself for us to redeem (lutroō) us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. - Titus 2:14

While the redemption provided by Jesus, through His blood, is a completed action, the believer is awaiting the full provision of redemption.

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption (apolytrōsis) of our body. - Romans 8:23
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (apolytrōsis). - Ephesians 4:30

Regarding redemption, Alan Cairns stated, “The deliverance has been purchased and is now the possession of all believers, but the full effects of that purchase await the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ when our vile bodies will be changed to be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).” (1)

Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. - Philippians 3:21
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. - 1 John 3:2

Jesus became the offering for sin, giving His life for a people He purchased.

…shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. - Acts 20:28
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession… - 1 Peter 2:9

ENDNOTES:

Alan Cairns, Dictionary of Theological Terms (Belfast; Greenville, SC: Ambassador Emerald International, 2002), 372.

The Death of Christ: Part 5 - Redemption, the Payment of a Price

1/2/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 5 - Redemption, The Payment Of A Price

Believers have been released from the bondage of sin through the payment of a price, the price being he sinless blood of Jesus. Another Greek term for redemption is lutroō meaning to obtain a release by the payment of a price. It refers to the money paid to buy back or liberate a prisoner of war. Lutroō is the key term used in the New Testament to define the work of redeeming or liberating sinners from the bondage and slavery to sin.

In Him we have redemption (apolytrōsis) through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. - Ephesians 1:7
Knowing that you were not redeemed (lutroō) with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. - 1 Peter 1:18-19

The verb lutroō in the context of 1 Peter 1:18 is in the aorist tense and passive voice. The aorist tense indicates that the payment of the price is a completed action, not an ongoing process. Jesus is not continuously being offered again and again. He has offered Himself as a sacrifice once for all time.

Who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. - Hebrews 7:27

The passive voice of the verb indicates that the subject of 1 Peter 1:18 — believers — received the results of the action (i.e., the shedding of blood). Only His blood can bring true redemption.

and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (lutroō). - Hebrews 9:12

The Death of Christ: Part 4 - Redemption, the Right to Possession

12/30/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 4 - Redemption, The Right To Possession

The Greek term agorázō, translated as redemption, also refers to the right of possession. Even though the slave has been purchased out of the slave market and granted freedom, they are still the possession of the one who bought them. The buyer has the right to possession. Jesus offered Himself as the substitutionary ransom in the believer’s place. In doing so, Jesus freed the believer from paying their liability to God’s wrath against their lawlessness and became His possession.

For you have been bought (agorázō) with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:20
You were bought (agorázō) with a price; do not become slaves of men. - 1 Corinthians 7:23

Again according to Leon Morris, “The redeemed are paradoxically slaves, the slaves of God, for they were bought with a price.… Believers are not brought by Christ into a liberty of selfish ease. Rather, since they have been bought by God at terrible cost, they have become God’s slaves, to do His will.”

Believers have been released from the bondage of sin through the payment of a price, the price being the sinless blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

In Him we have redemption (apolytrōsis) through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. - Ephesians 1:7
Knowing that you were not redeemed (lutroō) with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. - 1 Peter 1:18-19

The Death of Christ: Part 3 - Redemption, To Purchase from the Slave Market

12/30/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 3 - Redemption, To Purchase From The Slave Market

Christ’s death was redemptive. The English term redemption means to buy back, to free from captivity, to release from debt, or to free from the consequences of sin. Theologically, redemption means to purchase or buy back something that originally belonged to the purchaser. Through His death, Jesus Christ buys back the sinner. His blood is the payment of redemption. Thus, redemption is the foundation of salvation. Before God could provide salvation to the sinner, He had to pay the ransom required to release the sinner from his or her sins.

The Greek term agorázō means to purchase in the slave market. It conveys the idea of buying a slave to grant them freedom. As well, it carries the idea of being delivered from something. The term agorázō is used to denote Jesus’ ransoming people from the curse of the Law.

Christ redeemed (exagorázō) us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. - Galatians 3:13
So that He might redeem (exagorázō) those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. - Galatians 4:5

By paying the ransom to God, Jesus secured the release of believers from the Law’s curse. Not only did Jesus secure the believer’s release, but He took upon Himself the curse. Note that the Law is not a curse, but rather the breaking of the Law results in the curse.

Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them. And all the people shall say, Amen. - Deuteronomy 27:26
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. - James 2:10

According to Leon Morris, “A curse rests on everyone who does not fulfill the law; Christ died in such a way as to bear or be a curse; we who should have been accursed now go free … (moreover, this is) a legally based freedom.” (1)

ENDNOTES:

Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965), p. 56, 58

The Death of Christ: Part 2 - Substitution

12/26/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 2 - Substitution

Christ death was substitutionary — on behalf of sinners. Another term for substitution is vicarious. Vicarious means in the place of another. Christ vicariously took humanity’s place as the ransom for sin.

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, - 1 Peter 2:24

The ransom paid by Jesus to recover lost sinners is substitutionary.

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom (lutron) for (antí) many. - Matthew 20:28
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom (lutron) for (antí) many. - Mark 10:45

The term for (antí) in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 means in the place of and highlights the substitutionary aspect of Jesus’ sacrifice. The term antí appears 318 times in the Septuagint. In each case it means ‘in place of’ translating the Hebrew term tachath the term used for substitution. Antí always carries the idea of substitution. This ransom was not paid to Satan, but God. Sinners cannot be recovered or redeemed until God’s wrath is assuaged. While His substitutionary ransom is only efficacious to those who repent and believe (i.e., the many), Jesus died for (huper) the sins of the whole world.

Who gave Himself as a ransom (antilytron) for (huper) all, - 1 Timothy 2:6a

The preposition for (huper) also conveys the idea of in place of another. Christ stood in humanity’s place and took the Law’s curse upon Himself.

The Death of Christ: Part 1 - Real or Fake

12/26/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Death Of Christ: Part 1 - Real Or Fake

The death of Jesus Christ was real. He did not swoon. The swoon theory states that Jesus came close to death, but did not die. Theorist propagate that after three days in the tomb, the coolness revived Him. This theory does not hold up under the scrutiny of evidence. Jesus was beaten, scourged, scalp ripped open, crucified, bled out for six hours, and his pericardial sack pierced.

Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; […] There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. […] but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. […] So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. - John 19:1-3, 18, 33-34, 40-41

He was placed in the tomb, with no water, food, or medical treatment for seventy-two hours. How would Jesus have survived without medical treatment for seventy-two hours from the great loss of blood and physical trauma? Additionally, if Jesus simply swooned, then how did He escape after being bound tightly in grave clothes? Furthermore, how did He remove the stone from the inside of the tomb if He simply swooned? Christ did not swoon. He experienced a miraculous resurrection from the dead and was resurrected to physical life.