Disinterest Unto Perdition

 Disinterest Unto Perdition

Romans 2:5

“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;”

It is possible that some disinterested, unconcern, and profane person, or a religious lost individual who is not absolutely sure of their salvation, or one who is a self righteous moralist may, by divine providence, be reading these lines. If one of these is your case reader, you should know that unless the God of all mercy does something for you by His grace your present state is unto perdition. If you are disinterested in the state of your soul; or if your worship is not governed, and according to the scriptures; you have no reason whatsoever to think that God Almighty has any regard for you; in fact, according to arithmetic of the New Testament there are many more bound for hell than for heaven. “This is the testimony Jesus Christ: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). Reader: pause and consider, are you traveling through this world on the broad road with the multitude, the host? Or are you traveling with the few on the narrow path, what is your state?

The God who has revealed His will in the Bible, is a God of Justice, and it is justice that is absolutely inflexible and of the most strict sort. It is true that the God of the Bible is a God of love (I John 4:8), but before His love can be exercised He is, and must always be a just God, and deals with men in the most strict justice. That is the reason the God of the Bible charged the sin of His elect to Jesus Christ, that, in the body and soul of Jesus Christ, God might punish all the sin of all His elect, so that sin can never again be charged to the children of God (Romans 4:6-8; I Corinthians 5:19) and all the children of the covenant are justified from all things (Acts 13:39) they are declared not guilty in the sight of God; because their sins were punished in the body and soul of Jesus Christ. All sin is against God (Psalm 51:4) and all sin must be punished; either in the Surety of the New Testament, our Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:22) or the persons themselves must endure their own punishment without end. And as it pleased God to impute sin to His Son, (Isaiah 53:6, 10; Galatians 3:13; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24) just so, and in the same way it pleased God to impute the righteousness of His Son to His children of the covenant, through the faith of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-26; 4:22-25). All men without exception are by nature at enmity with God for it is written “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). Because of covenant union in Adam, all men with the exception of Christ Jesus were made sinners, (Romans 5:12) and because of covenant union in Christ the children of promise are made the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ, (II Corinthians 5:21).

Many go through their life on earth without any apparent thought of eternity and the coming judgment, that fact in itself, should indicate to such persons that the God of the Bible has no regard for them. The reason is that “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealing with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons” (Hebrews 12:6-8). And in the law of Moses it is written “A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord (Deuteronomy 23:2). And to the religious who attend services where it is apparent that the preaching is not scriptural; but the traditions of former generations are preached: you should be warned of this, “ye have made the commandment of God of none effect by your traditions,” (Matthew 15:6). Men protest thus “if it was good enough for former generations, it is good enough for me” the truth is that if the faith of former generations was contrary to the scriptures, it was neither good for them nor for this generation. Preachers should preach the scriptures, leave the traditions of men on the dung hill of hypocrisy and leave the conviction of souls and the regeneration of the elect to God. Thus saith the Holy Ghost in the scriptures is the only warrant to speak in the name of the Lord.

The Jesus who came into this world to save all men without exception is not Jesus Christ of Holy Scripture; and is not worthy of worship. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and Surety of the New Testament (Hebrews 7:22), the only Mediator between God and men (I Timothy 2:5) has warned us against such false Christs, and their prophets in the gospel of Matthew. “For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24). Unregenerate men poising as preachers sent of God, come with nothing but natural reason as their guide. The things of the Spirit of God are altogether unknown to them and natural reason. Natural reason is requisite for the things of nature, and for this natural world. But, “the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (I Corinthians 2:11). False prophets preach “another gospel” as it is written “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:” (Galatians 1:6) and the false gospel which is preached by false prophets is based on “another Jesus” it is written “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” .. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light,” (II Corinthians 11:4, 13, 14). Men who do not preach the Holy Scriptures but preach for doctrine the commandment of men, are enemies of the souls of men, enemies of the gospel, and the enemies of God. They are the murderers of the souls of men, though their message will please the flesh: for they say things like: “the choice is yours; it’s up to you; make your decision for Jesus; make it right with God; you are the master of your own destiny” and all such things that make salvation dependent upon the actions of men, and not the will of God. But the Holy Scriptures have declared that God chose His people out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation before the foundation of the world, (Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 5:9) and predestinated those whom he chose to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ according to His own will (Ephesians 1:5). Since God predestinated all the “remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:5) “to be conformed to the image of his Son,” (Romans 8:29) and to “the adoption of children by Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:5), AND ALL THIS ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE HIS WILL; how say some that God did, what He did, because He saw what man would do? That mode of thinking is either the deepest depth of stupidity; or the highest height of treachery; or a combination of both.

When the unconcerned sons of Adam ignore the truth the gospel, or when professing religionists delight themselves in a false gospel, which is centered in the will of man, or a Christ of their own imagination; they “heap to themselves wrath, against the day of wrath, for “vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord,” (Romans 12:19) and it is written “O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom ventence belongeth, shew thyself” (Psalm 94:1). Those who delight themselves in the worship of a false Christ, and those who ignore the truth of their need of a Savior, are willingly ignorant of the Christ of God. Being willingly ignorant, they sin willingly by “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4). And it is written “If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:26-29). O Dear Reader: how awful is the sin, of sinning against the knowledge of the truth!  See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the true gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed services times.  

A.J. Ison  

My Blood of the New Testament

My Blood of the New Testament

Matthew 26:28

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

            “My Blood of the new testament” this statement of our Lord Jesus Christ declares that His own blood of His human body, is the blood that has sealed the everlasting covenant of grace from eternity past and will remain the seal of it in eternity to come; for it is written, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21). The blood of Christ is God’s own blood. Though “God is a Spirit:” (John 4:24) in His essential essence; and has no body, yet by the indissoluble union of the Godhead in Christ Jesus to human nature; the blood that did flow through the arteries and veins of the Son of God was God’s own blood. That human nature of Jesus Christ is the true tabernacle of the Triune Jehovah; (Hebrews 8:2) “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9); and therefore Jesus Christ, “who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15) is the only visible Jehovah. And it is written “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Therefore “the blood of the everlasting covenant” is the “blood of the New Testament” and it is the blood of Jesus Christ; and it is God’s own blood.

It is the two separate natures indissolubly joined in one glorious person that is our Lord Jesus Christ; and it is this all glorious Person that is the God-Man Mediator, Great High Priest, and Surety of the everlasting covenant, or New Testament. The two natures remain all they are in themselves, and in the person of Christ never intermingle. All that Christ Jesus undertakes in His own glorious Person, He undertakes in both natures. Therefore the infinite and incomprehensible glory and merit of His Godhead upholds all that He undertakes in His Most Holy humanity; and all His activities as the Great High Priest and Surety of the New Testament are perfectly effectual to their intended end, which is to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21); “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” (Romans 3:10). Jesus Christ Himself is the righteousness of His people, He is “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:6) and His people are perfectly sanctified or holy in Him; for the children of God are, as they were chosen, in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 1:4; I Corinthians 1:2; Jude 1).

“In the beginning was the Word,” (John 1:1) “and the Word was made flesh,” (John 1:14); by this action the Son of God took sinless, and perfectly holy human nature  into indissoluble union with His Godhead, (Luke 1:35; Isaiah 6:3 compared with John 12:41).  In this action the espousals of eternity were finished; human nature was indissolubly joined to the Godhead in Jesus Christ; now, therefore, both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” (Hebrews 2:11). “For we (the church of God) are the members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30). Because of this “he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit” (I Corinthians 1:17). All the members of the church of God are members of the election of grace, of which company Jesus Christ is the Head, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). Therefore the Lord Jesus speaking to His Apostles and to the church through them saith “I have given unto them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14). Then in verse 16 to strengthen the force of His words He repeats them “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16). “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: (the antichrists) because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4). Each member of the church of God is a member in particular of the body of Christ “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (I Corinthians 1:27). Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them (Psalm 139:16). The names of all the children of God of all ages, are written in heaven, and have been written there from all eternity, (Hebrews 12:22-24; Revelation13:8).

The union between Christ and the church is in scripture presented as a conjugal union; for the Apostle Paul writes “I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (II Corinthians 11:2; Hosea 2:19; Revelation 21:2) and speaking to the church the scriptures say “For thy maker is thy husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called” (Isaiah 54:5). The Apostle declares to us the oneness of Christ and His church as set forth in the marriage union “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church; for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:29-32). The mystery of the union of flesh between a man and his wife; is declarative of the union of Christ Jesus and His church, and since the covenant and the union which is by the covenant, is from everlasting, so also is the union of Christ and His church.

The eternal union of Christ and His church is the just cause of the Blood of the New Testament. The church in Christ Jesus sinned in Adam, when Adam sinned; and in their own persons by actual transgression. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, has no sin, neither original, nor actual; for He is the Holy One of God, but His members have sinned; that is, individual believers have sinned. The sin of His members was charged to Christ Jesus, for He is the Head of the church which is His body, as it is written “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). The iniquity of all the individual members of the church was laid on Jesus Christ, and since the church is but one (Ephesians 4: 4-6) it may be said that the iniquity of the church was laid on Christ Jesus. The sin that was imputed to Christ, He willing owned as justly imputed or charged to Him; so much so that He called it “my sin and mine iniquities” (Psalm 38:3-4; 69:5). This truth is declared in the second Corinthian epistle, for it is written “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” (II Corinthians 5:21). The same truth is stated in epistle to the Galatians “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” (Galatians 3:13). And it is written “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye are healed (I Peter 2:24). Reader, it was for the sin of His people that Christ died, for He “knew no sin” (I Co. 5:21) “did no sin” (I Peter 2:22) is “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15) “in him is no sin” (I John 3:5); in the presence of Christ Jesus the seraphim covered their face and cried, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts:” (Isaiah 6:3; see also John 12:41).

Christ Jesus died for the sin that was laid to His charge; and in His death He fulfilled the law of God in its penal arrangements for His church which is in Him and is His body. “And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:” (Daniel 9:26) Messiah, Christ Jesus was cut off not for Himself, but was slain in the stead of His members, that is, His elect, the church; whom He loved and washed from their sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5). His washing the church in His own blood is according to that which is written “Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” (Acts 2:23). Every event that occurred concerning the death of Christ was agreed upon in the everlasting covenant of grace, by God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; for it is written “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done” (Acts 4:26-28). All this was done in complicity with what was determined from everlasting, for it is written “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand” (Isaiah 53:9-10).

The whole human nature of Jesus Christ was made an offering for sin, that is, Christ Jesus was made a sin offering, in that, the sin of His elect who were in Him was laid to His charge. The law of God finding sin laid to His charge, charges Him with sin, and condemns Him as guilty of sin, and therefore worthy of death; the sentence goes forth from the law; “The soul that sinneth it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4) and “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:” (I Corinthians 5:7). God dealt with sin, when in fury He punished sin, which was upon His own beloved Son, for it is written “God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” (Romans 8:3). God punished sin to the fullest extent of the law in His own beloved Son; and put the sin which was upon His Son away for ever; and has promised, never to remember it again in such way as to condemn the church, (Hebrews 8:12). Christ Jesus “now once in the end of the world hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). “Christ was once offered to bare the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). Christ shall appear the second time without sin, for He has finished the transgression, and made an end of sins, made reconciliation for iniquity, brought in everlasting righteousness, by full and free justification, fulfilled the vision and prophecy, and was anointed the most Holy (Daniel 9:24). “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Christ Jesus has, by one offering, perfected forever them that were set apart in Himself; for, they are sanctified or set apart by the decree of election in Christ, in the covenant of grace from everlasting, for, to sanctify is to set apart see Exodus 13:2 and compare it with Exodus 13:12. Therefore the Holy Ghost, by the Apostle Paul declares; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6). Amen and Amen.

A. J. Ison            

 

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

            “My Blood of the new testament” this statement of our Lord Jesus Christ declares that His own blood of His human body, is the blood that has sealed the everlasting covenant of grace from eternity past and will remain the seal of it in eternity to come; for it is written, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21). The blood of Christ is God’s own blood. Though “God is a Spirit:” (John 4:24) in His essential essence; and has no body, yet by the indissoluble union of the Godhead in Christ Jesus to human nature; the blood that did flow through the arteries and veins of the Son of God was God’s own blood. That human nature of Jesus Christ is the true tabernacle of the Triune Jehovah; (Hebrews 8:2) “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9); and therefore Jesus Christ, “who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15) is the only visible Jehovah. And it is written “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Therefore “the blood of the everlasting covenant” is the “blood of the New Testament” and it is the blood of Jesus Christ; and it is God’s own blood.

It is the two separate natures indissolubly joined in one glorious person that is our Lord Jesus Christ; and it is this all glorious Person that is the God-Man Mediator, Great High Priest, and Surety of the everlasting covenant, or New Testament. The two natures remain all they are in themselves, and in the person of Christ never intermingle. All that Christ Jesus undertakes in His own glorious Person, He undertakes in both natures. Therefore the infinite and incomprehensible glory and merit of His Godhead upholds all that He undertakes in His Most Holy humanity; and all His activities as the Great High Priest and Surety of the New Testament are perfectly effectual to their intended end, which is to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21); “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” (Romans 3:10). Jesus Christ Himself is the righteousness of His people, He is “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:6) and His people are perfectly sanctified or holy in Him; for the children of God are, as they were chosen, in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 1:4; I Corinthians 1:2; Jude 1).

“In the beginning was the Word,” (John 1:1) “and the Word was made flesh,” (John 1:14); by this action the Son of God took sinless, and perfectly holy human nature  into indissoluble union with His Godhead, (Luke 1:35; Isaiah 6:3 compared with John 12:41).  In this action the espousals of eternity were finished; human nature was indissolubly joined to the Godhead in Jesus Christ; now, therefore, both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” (Hebrews 2:11). “For we (the church of God) are the members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30). Because of this “he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit” (I Corinthians 1:17). All the members of the church of God are members of the election of grace, of which company Jesus Christ is the Head, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). Therefore the Lord Jesus speaking to His Apostles and to the church through them saith “I have given unto them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14). Then in verse 16 to strengthen the force of His words He repeats them “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16). “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: (the antichrists) because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4). Each member of the church of God is a member in particular of the body of Christ “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (I Corinthians 1:27). Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them (Psalm 139:16). The names of all the children of God of all ages, are written in heaven, and have been written there from all eternity, (Hebrews 12:22-24; Revelation13:8).

The union between Christ and the church is in scripture presented as a conjugal union; for the Apostle Paul writes “I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (II Corinthians 11:2; Hosea 2:19; Revelation 21:2) and speaking to the church the scriptures say “For thy maker is thy husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called” (Isaiah 54:5). The Apostle declares to us the oneness of Christ and His church as set forth in the marriage union “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church; for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:29-32). The mystery of the union of flesh between a man and his wife; is declarative of the union of Christ Jesus and His church, and since the covenant and the union which is by the covenant, is from everlasting, so also is the union of Christ and His church.

The eternal union of Christ and His church is the just cause of the Blood of the New Testament. The church in Christ Jesus sinned in Adam, when Adam sinned; and in their own persons by actual transgression. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, has no sin, neither original, nor actual; for He is the Holy One of God, but His members have sinned; that is, individual believers have sinned. The sin of His members was charged to Christ Jesus, for He is the Head of the church which is His body, as it is written “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). The iniquity of all the individual members of the church was laid on Jesus Christ, and since the church is but one (Ephesians 4: 4-6) it may be said that the iniquity of the church was laid on Christ Jesus. The sin that was imputed to Christ, He willing owned as justly imputed or charged to Him; so much so that He called it “my sin and mine iniquities” (Psalm 38:3-4; 69:5). This truth is declared in the second Corinthian epistle, for it is written “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” (II Corinthians 5:21). The same truth is stated in epistle to the Galatians “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” (Galatians 3:13). And it is written “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye are healed (I Peter 2:24). Reader, it was for the sin of His people that Christ died, for He “knew no sin” (I Co. 5:21) “did no sin” (I Peter 2:22) is “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15) “in him is no sin” (I John 3:5); in the presence of Christ Jesus the seraphim covered their face and cried, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts:” (Isaiah 6:3; see also John 12:41).

Christ Jesus died for the sin that was laid to His charge; and in His death He fulfilled the law of God in its penal arrangements for His church which is in Him and is His body. “And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:” (Daniel 9:26) Messiah, Christ Jesus was cut off not for Himself, but was slain in the stead of His members, that is, His elect, the church; whom He loved and washed from their sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5). His washing the church in His own blood is according to that which is written “Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” (Acts 2:23). Every event that occurred concerning the death of Christ was agreed upon in the everlasting covenant of grace, by God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; for it is written “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done” (Acts 4:26-28). All this was done in complicity with what was determined from everlasting, for it is written “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand” (Isaiah 53:9-10).

The whole human nature of Jesus Christ was made an offering for sin, that is, Christ Jesus was made a sin offering, in that, the sin of His elect who were in Him was laid to His charge. The law of God finding sin laid to His charge, charges Him with sin, and condemns Him as guilty of sin, and therefore worthy of death; the sentence goes forth from the law; “The soul that sinneth it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4) and “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:” (I Corinthians 5:7). God dealt with sin, when in fury He punished sin, which was upon His own beloved Son, for it is written “God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” (Romans 8:3). God punished sin to the fullest extent of the law in His own beloved Son; and put the sin which was upon His Son away for ever; and has promised, never to remember it again in such way as to condemn the church, (Hebrews 8:12). Christ Jesus “now once in the end of the world hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). “Christ was once offered to bare the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). Christ shall appear the second time without sin, for He has finished the transgression, and made an end of sins, made reconciliation for iniquity, brought in everlasting righteousness, by full and free justification, fulfilled the vision and prophecy, and was anointed the most Holy (Daniel 9:24). “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Christ Jesus has, by one offering, perfected forever them that were set apart in Himself; for, they are sanctified or set apart by the decree of election in Christ, in the covenant of grace from everlasting, for, to sanctify is to set apart see Exodus 13:2 and compare it with Exodus 13:12. Therefore the Holy Ghost, by the Apostle Paul declares; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6). Amen and Amen.

A. J. Ison