Calvin Synod Herald, 2003 (104. évfolyam, 3-12. szám)

2003-05-01 / 5-6. szám

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CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

( Justification... continued from page 3)

blind confidence of human denial about sin. If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong: Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother: Than shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Deuteronomy 19:16-21)

2. Evasion is the exact opposite of God’s way. Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

3. Before God’s throne it will take more than jury nullification to settle matters. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. (Proverbs 17:15)

4. Denial about sin is not materially different Írom denial about cancer. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteour judgment of God’ Who will render to every man according to his deeds. (Romans 2:5-6)

B. Someone must pay the debt for sin. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)

C. We can’t talk God out of justice. If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. (Job 9:3)

1. People have no starting place to resist God. Nay, but 0 man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (Romans 9:20)

2. Why would sin be the one area of life which people understood in full? Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. (Psalm 19:12)

3. People can lie to themselves, but they cannot lie to God. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)

II. God Doesn’t Discount Debts

A. Though a bankruptcy court will discount debts, God demands payment in full. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (Ezekiel 18:20)

render to every man according to hid deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. (Romans 2:6-9)

2. The Bible ends with an emphasis on the final accounting. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:12-15)

B. God’s demand for full justice removes the room to hope that somehow there must be some way around the implications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniqities, 0 Lord, who shall stand? (Psalm 130:3)

C. People do not have the resources to solve the problem. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. (Psalm 49:7)

III. Only a Unique Mediator Can Resolve the Problem

A. The substitutionary atonement of the perfect for the imperfect provides an answer for the human dilemma. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:21)

1. Death is no barrier to the Savior. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11-25)

2. Paul summarized the substitutionary atonement in a sentence. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

B. God directed the atonement. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

C. The Christmas message is ultimately about the Godman becoming the substitutionary payment for the sin debt. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Heidelberg Cathechism Lord’s Day 5 Questions 12-15 Dr. Edwin P Elliott, Jr.

1. God deals in particulars rather that generals. Who will

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