"For Whom Did Christ Die?" by Charles Hodge

From Reformation Ink,here's a look at the question, "For Whom Did Christ Die?"
It's answered from the writings of Charles Hodge. (1823-1886)

Designed by Aliens?

Click here for a story on "Discoverers of DNA’s structure attack Christianity"

Instead of seeing the folly of their beliefs, they add more folly.

Death And Life: Romans 5:8-11 Conclusion

Jesus not only saves His people by His death, but we are told they will be saved—future tense—by His life. (For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Romans 5:10-all Bible quotes are ESV.)

Christ needed to be pure and unblemished, just as Old Testament sacrifices were to be. For example, a shepherd didn’t pick a lamb at random, or give a sickly one when it was time to sacrifice. He was to give his best—an unblemished lamb. By living a sinless life and fulfilling the Law—Jesus could offer Himself as an unblemished sacrifice for His people. I believe that, but there is more than that here. The verb here is future tense, and also speaks of present tense (will be saved.) After Jesus died and was buried—what happened? He rose again—and He still lives—this is the life Paul is referring to in verse 10—Jesus’ resurrection life!

There are three tenses of Salvation. The past tense is justification. This means all true believers are saved from the penalty of sin, Because of reconciliation with God through Christ.

We are also being saved from the power of sin—this is sanctification—where God shapes us and we grow in Him. We shall also be saved from the presence of sin in eternity future as we receive glorification.

These last two are what Paul has in mind in verse 10—especially the future glory. The salvation from the presence of sin is secure in Christ because He lives to make intercession for us.

This means to petition for, to speak on another’s behalf. There are many examples in Scripture of this. In Numbers 21:4-9, Moses interceded with God when the people were ungrateful and complaining about God after He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. They wanted more, and they wanted it on their own terms—does that sound familiar? It’s the human way. Jesus also used the example of the bronze serpent being lifted up to point to His crucifixion, and the reconciliation that would bring. Christ does this for us-He died for us, reconciled us to the God, and keeps us safe. Because He does this we are forever His, he will not let us go, and we can not sneak away. Paul-in a familiar passage (Rom 8:38-39) gives a list of what can not remove us from His love, from His protection, and therefore our salvation. That list covers everything-including ourselves. This security is possible because He lives and He intercedes to protect us.

Christ didn’t just die to pay for our sin—He rose again to secure that salvation. And as the risen Christ, according to Hebrews 7:25- He lives always to make intercession for us.

Please do not think this means our sins are still being paid for—that has been finished as Hebrews 1:3 says He has finished that and has sat down, and John 19:30 tells us Christ on the cross decalred it is finished—that the debt has been paid. But the future tense of salvation—our glorification is guaranteed by Christ as the LIVING Saviour.

Romans 5:8-11 tells of the past and present state of believers—from enemies to friends-and even children. And the past & present condition of Jesus—He died, He is now alive.

They are intimately intertwined, because Christ died for us, while we were enemies. By His death He paid the highest price ever paid anywhere at anytime for anything to reconcile His people to God, by His resurrection He was able to enter into Glory where we who are His will one day enter as well. Because He lives! Our lives and His are bound together. Romans 6:8 says if we die with Him, we shall live with Him. The dying here refers to our sinful nature, which is said to die when we become new creatures through Christ, when we come to salvation-and experience the reconciliation He has earned.

Ways I am not like Charles Haddon Spurgeon

It only seems fair, that if I listed ways I am like Charles Spurgeon I should also list ways I am not. None of these are to say I'm better than him. Spurgeon was a man whose ministry continues to be used by God.

-Spurgeon was British, I am Canadian.
-Spurgeon smoked cigars, I can't stand the smell of cigar smoke.
-Spurgeon became a Christian in his teens, I became one in my 20's.
-Spurgeon vacationed in France, I've never been to France.
-Spurgeon was a Baptist, I am a Presbyterian.
-Spurgeon's picture has been on magazine covers, as far as I know, mine has not.
-Spurgeon never flew in a 747, I have.
-Spurgeon never blogged, but I have, obviously.
-Spurgeon had a photographic memory, I forget where I read that.
-I have quoted Spurgeon, but as far as I know he never quoted me...

Cowboyology and Blessed Union

Recently one of my favorite blogs had changed.
Cowboyology is still on the internet, but Clint has joined up with his wife, Christel(who also blogs) to start a blog together.

And so the Cowboyology link in my sidebar will be replaced by a link to
Blessed Union.

Check it out.

Ways I am like Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I am not suggesting I am his equal, just having some fun.
Other than being a sinner saved by Grace, and all that entails (Which is the most important one.)- here are some ways I am like Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

-We are both male.
-We share a love of books.
-We have both been in church buildings.
-We both have/had the ability to read & write in the English language of our day
-We both love the Puritans.
-We've both preached sermons (Although Spurgeon is way ahead of me if we count them)
-We both have archives of our writing on the internet (Mine is on the left & down. His is in the link above, and various other places.)
-We were both born on Earth.
-We both can grow a good beard.

Fantasy Church--from Challies.com

Check out this post on Challies.com- He's closed the comments on it--but there are some great ones there.

I've tried my hand at fantasy sports leagues, so this interested me in that way as well. But as you'll probably realize-he's making it up. That doesn't stop it from being an interesting commentary.
Fantasy Church

LOTW--September 1, 2006

William Tyndale has ben called, "The Father of the English Reformation" and "The Apostle of England." the story of the English Bible would be quite incomplete without mention of his contributions--for which he paid with his life.

This link includes reference to a play about his life. I have not seen the play, so I can't comment on it. But there is some good material under the Gallery heading about his life and work.
williamtyndale.com

The second link this time is a newspaper comic strip.
Pearls Before Swine.
While the title is from the Bible, it isn't a Bible comic strip although religious themes do appear. Stephan Pastis skewers various targets and just makes me think and laugh with most of his strips. It's one of my favorite current comic strips.
Pearls Before Swine

Death And Life: Romans 5:8-11 Part Three

In the early 1800’s, Robert Haldane, a Scottish preacher, said, “It greatly enhances the love of God that He gave His Son for us while we were yet His enemies. Had we discovered any symptoms of willingness to obey Him, or any degree of love to Him, His love to us would not have been so astonishing.”

Unless God works in us-we don’t think we’re anywhere near as bad as we really are-no matter how bad we think we are. We don’t and can’t see the depth of our sin. Our regret or sorrow over our sin is mostly, if not completely self centered, because we don’t see the true seriousness of our sin. We often downplay the seriousness as well. Our sin is not just disobedience or breaking the rules—our sin is against God-and it is offensive to Him. King David realizes this in Psalm 51, although he had sinned against other people his sense of sin made him declare his sin was against God alone. Remember—sin is offensive to a Holy God.

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.James 2:10 (all Bible quotes in this post are from the ESV.)

Yet despite this God saves people from what we deserve. He does it while we were sinners, and with no interest in salvation or desire to be saved, until He puts it there. Romans 5:10 tells us God makes the first move-He doesn’t wait for us to clean up our act. And even then He doesn’t just make one move and leave the rest up to us—He makes the 2nd , 3rd, 4th move, etc, etc—whatever is necessary to His plans. He may take years or do it in an instant—but He does it-start to finish.

This doesn’t release us from responsibility—The Bible tells us we are responsible, and it also tells us God is the one in Charge-and His plans are accomplished—sometimes we find both in the very same passage.
In Phil 2:12-13 Paul points this out-

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

This doesn’t mean we work for our salvation, but that we do have a responsibility to God. Are we His? Is there any proof?—And what is it that God does? Re-read verse 13.

In Peter’s first recorded sermon in Acts 2, he gives an example in the death of Christ-Acts 2:22-24-

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

And so we see God is at work. He meant it for good, men meant it for evil. Peter refers to BOTH God’s predeternmined plan and foreknowledge as well as to men—"You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men." Jesus has brought about reconciliation between God and His people in His death. Notice this is past tense-it is accomplished—not merely made possible-but accomplished.

To reconcile means to change or exchange, especially in order to make something right. Christ’s reconciliation removed God’s enmity and wrath from His people, and again I want to stress the love involved here. We were not lovable, we were not worthy, but He died for us anyway—while we were sinners.
And why did He have to die? Because, as we read in Hebrews 9:22-

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

The death of Christ removed all obstacles to reconciliation & allowed us to be clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and we are more than merely His people-We are His children.


In the conclusion we will look at how we are saved by His life.
(Part one is here.
Part two is here.)

Stuff in my Profile-Sports

Sports fall way below my interest in theology and history-especially on the importance scale--but I still like them--or some of them anyway.

Why?

I enjoy the strategy and the performance, the drama and the emotion.
They are a lot more real than so-called "Reality TV."

Yes most pro athletes are overpaid--some grossly. Many are spoiled brats. Ticket prices soar to ridiculous amounts in many leagues.

But--still some leagues have an intrigue that lures me to watch.

As for playing sports, well I'm not very athletic.
If I'm playing a sport most likely it's a computer game.
Which involves strategy again.

I find it interesting to follow along as the coaches and players play out the strategy with plans and counterplans. This is the main reason I don't find watching darts boring--there is a real strategy to the game.

My favorite sports to watch? Hockey & football.