That Sounds Like Home To Me! - Part 3

Temple Baptist Church - 4-17-2022

Revelation 21:27-22:5

 

A.  We saw last week that the New Jerusalem was going to be a place of unimaginable beauty.  Walls of Jasper, gates of pearl, foundations garnished with precious stones, a street of transparent gold, ivory palaces, angels attending the gates, having the glory of God, and the light of God to lighten it: like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone as clear as crystal.  A place of unimaginable size.  1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide (From New York City to Colorado and from Canada to Miami, Fl), and 1500 miles high containing 3,375,000,000 cubic miles cube laid beside cube would stretch to the sun 36.29 times,

 

B.  As we end chapter 21, we see that the New Jerusalem is a Holy Place.  A place of absolute purity.  Once again in the last verse of chapter 21, the Bible reiterates that sin is gone from all aspects of eternity.  As it was with "In the beginning God," so will be "In the beginning" of eternity with God.  The sinful who have rejected Christ will be at home in the lake of fire while the sinful who have received Christ will be at home in the New Jerusalem.

 

Revelation 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

 

Revelation 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

No sinners, no sin, and no temptation to sin.  The residents of the New Jerusalem have had their sins washed in the blood of Christ and their righteousness found in the person of Christ.  Their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life because they are His.

 

C.  Verse 22:1.  The word "And" shows the continuity of the context: the description of the New Jerusalem.  We saw the City of God in chapter 21 from the outside: its glory, wall, gates, foundations, and Light.  The only description given inwardly thus far was the "street" of transparent gold.  Chapter 22 gives a more vivid picture of certain aspects of the New Jerusalem.  The silence of the Bible on the other inward beauty and design speaks of our inability to imagine such beauty and radiance.

 

D.  "A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal."  In Revelation, chapter 22, we find the Last Mention of "river" found in the Bible. The source of this beautiful river is the "throne of God and the Lamb."  James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."  It is a pure river; it is a life-giving river; it is a beautiful (clear as crystal) river. 

 

Joel 3:17-18  So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.  (18)  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

 

John 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

 

John 4:13-14  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  (14)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 

Revelation 7:15-17  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  (16)  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  (17)  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 

Revelation 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

 

The First Mention of "river" found in the Bible is consistent with the last mention. 

 

Genesis 2:10  And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. (As it was in the beginning, so shall it be in eternity.)

 

E.  Verse 2.  This verse has always thrilled my soul.  Three things are depicted here and the visual that we are granted is a glorious sight. 

 

We have already seen that there will be a "street" of transparent gold and here the "river" of life.  One leads to and the other proceeds from the throne of God and the Lamb.  The street is a boulevard.  A boulevard is a divided road or street with one lane going one direction and the other lane the opposite direction.  The area between the two parts of the street or road, called the median, are normally beautified with trees or plants.  Look at the description that the Bible gives.

 

Here, we find the Tree of Life in the midst of the street.  The Tree of Life is only mentioned in two books of the Bible: Genesis, chapters 2 and 3, and Revelation, chapters 7 and 22. 

 

In Genesis, chapter 2, we find its availability to mankind in the midst of the garden of Eden.  In Genesis, chapter 3, we find its unavailability to mankind, protected by a flaming sword and Cherubims.  As to when God moved the Tree of Life to Paradise, we do not know.  If the Tree of Life was there, then was the River of Life there also.

 

Genesis 2:10  And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

 

 

In Revelation, chapter 2, we find its availability in the paradise of God, the restoration of eternal things that were from the beginning, and in chapter 22, we find its accessibility to those who are saved for all eternity.

 

The Tree of Life is also found here on "either side of the river" as well as "In the midst of the street of it."  Here is the picture that God gives us of the median of the Street of Gold.  The Street of Gold that leads to the Throne of God and The Lamb is divided by The River of Life flows which flows from the Throne of God and the Lamb. 

 

The Tree of Life is also divided as it is in the midst of the street and on either side of the river.  I get the picture of one of the giant sequoia trees out in California that has a road through the middle of it. The Tree of Life has a River of Life running through it.

 

Here is the picture:  we see the Throne of God and the Lamb with the Street of Gold leading to it and, in the median of the Street of Gold, there is the River of Life flowing out of the Throne of God and The Lamb, through the middle of the street and the Tree of Life will grow on both sides of the River of Life. 

 

F.  The Tree of Life will bear "twelve manner of fruits."  There are no identifications of what these different kinds of fruit are but the number twelve, a perfect number in the Bible, will be a perfect variety of fruits.  They will be both available, yielded her fruit every month, and accessible.  In the First Mention of the Tree of Life in the Book of Genesis, we find that Adam and Eve were able to put forth their hand and eat of the Tree.

 

G.  It will be a Tree of Life.  Our trees today either have a dormant season or, once they bear fruit, they will bear no more: such is the Banana Tree.  There will be no dormant season, nor will there be any lack of bearing.  The Bible does not expound upon the phrase found in Genesis, chapter three, which says, " lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever."

 

H.  The leaves of the Tree of Life will be for the healing of the nations.  This is not the healing of the individual because there will be no more sickness there.  Our bodies will be perfect in every way and will need no healing.  The healing of the leaves of the trees has to do with the healing of the nations on earth.  Throughout the history of mankind after the curse, nations have risen against nations with these conflicts of interest in most cases ending in wars. 

 

The leaves of this tree will evidently be used to heal, or to maintain, the relationships of the nations toward each other as eternity will be a time of peace and goodwill among the peoples of the earth.

 

J.  Verse 3.  Here it is reiterated that the curse caused by sin will be no more as God and the Lamb will both reign forever and his servants shall serve Him.  Paul spoke of the requirement of stewards in 1 Corinthians 4:2: "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." As God has been faithful to His people, His people will be faithful to Him.

 

K.  Verse 4.  "And they shall see His face."  Because of the sinfulness of men and the absolute holiness of God, no man had ever seen the face of God.  In eternity, we shall see His face.  Both the face of His person and the face of His audience.

 

Exodus 33:18-20  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.  (19)  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.  (20)  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

L.  "And His name shall be in their foreheads."  Ownership of mankind is once again restored as we were created by God and created for God.  Song of Solomon 2:16 says, "My beloved is mine, and I am his!"  Here, we find ownership: both by the Master and the Bond Slave.  We love and serve God because He has loved and served us.

 

Exodus 21:5-6  And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:  (6)  Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

 

M.  Verse 5.  There will be no night, no canopy of celestial lights, for God will be the Light of eternity and we will "reign for ever and ever" with Him.  Eternity will be structured as God is a God of order and this restored earth, and the New Jerusalem will be the busiest places that you will ever see.  That sounds like home to me!

It Is Finished

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-10-2022

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This morning, I want to take one more look at the Cross of Christ. 

 

1.  There is so much that could be said but I wanted to "zero" in on one final aspect of the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Too often people look beyond the cross because of how they celebrate Resurrection Sunday. 

 

2.  Without the cross there would be no resurrection and without the resurrection there would be no salvation and without salvation there would be no eternal life.

 

B.  This morning, we come to Calvary’s Purpose Completed.  “It is finished!” 

 

In 1921, Jennie Evelyn Hussey wrote the hymn “Lead Me To Calvary. It starts out:

“King of my life I crown Thee now— Thine shall Thy glory be;

Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary.

“Lest I forget Gethsemane; Lest I forget Thine agony;

Lest I forget thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary.”

 

C.  In verse 30, we find words of finality, the words of completion!  Years ago, I heard Dr. James Crumpton preach on this subject ("It is finished") and remember well his emphasis on the Greek word used here: “teleo.”  The last stroke of the artist’s paint brush!

 

Jesus Christ, Jehovah God incarnate, came to die for the sins of the world.  He came to finish the work that the Father gave Him to do. 

 

In the phrase “it is finished” we find accomplishment.  His life: His work finished and summed up in one short phrase.

 

1.  Calvary, where redemption’s price was paid.

 

2.  Calvary, where the Just became the Justifier.

 

3.  Calvary, where the Innocent took the place of the guilty.

 

4.  Calvary, where the blood shed covers my sin, my guilt, and my shame.

 

5.  Calvary, where God’s mercy is great, and His grace is free.

 

6.  Calvary, where the burdened soul finds true liberty!

 

D.  When Christ cried out “IT IS FINISHED,” we find not a distressed voice, not a cry of defeat, BUT a clarion cry of victory!

 

E.  As I thought on the words "It is finished," I pondered on just what Jesus Christ had finished.  I hope and pray that these will be a blessing to you as they are to me.

 

1.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Word Of God Verified – Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

There were hundreds of prophecies written concerning Jesus Christ and He fulfilled every prophecy, every promise, every “jot and tittle” perfectly and completely!  God’s Word can be depended upon not only in the performance of this life but also the expectation of the life to come.  Jesus Christ left nothing undone!

 

2.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Work Of Propitiation Done – John 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 

 

At Calvary, we find the finishing of 4,000 years of sacrifices!  Millions and millions of lambs had died while awaiting the death of THE Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.  Mankind had long awaited Messiah’s coming, and we look back to His coming in wonder and amazement.  When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was saying that the substitutionary work on the cross for us had been accomplished.

 

Peter said, in I Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”  (Jesus Christ became the “scapegoat” for you and me.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for taking my place and dying for my sins!)

 

3.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Way Of Salvation Established – John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

Proverbs 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

 

1 Corinthians 1:17-18  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  (18)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  (Man can teach and preach anything that he chooses but it does not change the fact that salvation is through Jesus Christ and Him alone!  Not a church, not a denomination, not a movement, not a baptism, not a sacrament, not a dogma, and not an individual theology—but the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Man can go his own way but he will not go to heaven until he comes God’s way!)

 

4.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Wages Paid In Full – Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Ezekiel 18:20a  The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

 

Jesus Christ became the “Sinner’s Substitute.”  Our sin separated us from a holy God and Jesus Christ, our Propitiation, reconciled us back to Him through the finished work of Calvary.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21  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.

 

Hebrews 9:26  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  (The cross upon which Jesus died was an “altar” and He was the “sacrifice.”)

 

5.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Lost World Condemned – John 3:16-18  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (18)   He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

1 John 5:10  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

 

John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  (As Christ suffered for us as no man ever suffered, so the sinner who rejects Christ will one day suffer for all of eternity!)

 

6.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Works Of The Devil Destroyed – 1 John 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

 

Revelation 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  (God will destroy Satan’s position, his purpose, his power, his people, and ultimately his person.  Because of Calvary, one day there will be no more Satan!)

 

7.  In “It Is Finished,” We Find The Wealth Of Eternity Secured – Revelation 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;  (Because of the finished work of Christ on Calvary, one day we that are saved will be “finally home!)

That Sounds Like Home to Me! - Part 2

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-10-2022

Revelation 21:16-22:5

 

A.  Last week, we began to survey the heavenly city on earth, The New Jerusalem.  Our eternal home.  Ecclesiastes 12:5 says, "Man goeth to his long home."  Here on earth now, we live in our short home.  "Life is short; death is sure; sin the cause; Christ the cure!" 

 

B.  God's original intent for mankind was for them to live forever in a perfect place and in a perfect environment, the Garden of Eden.  When Adam sinned, God drove Adam and Eve from the Garden and placed guards to keep them from returning to the Tree of Life.

 

Genesis 3:22-24  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:  (23)  Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.  (24)  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

 

C.  At some point, God removed both the Eden and the Tree of Life.  The new heaven and new earth are now restored and the New Jerusalem in its place, either sitting on the earth of hovering over it.  I believe that the earth will be returned to its original glory and perfection where mankind will now live how and where God intended them to live.  They will live there for all eternity.

 

D.  In verse 16, we find that the New Jerusalem is a vast place.  The description given is that of a cube.  I am giving a picture of a cube so that you can visualize it.  Plane Geometry introduces us to area: length times width.  We use Plane Geometry as we measure to cut flat surface materials.  Solid Geometry introduces us to volume: length times width times height.  Thus, the cube.  We rarely us the cube so this picture will help us to understand the immensity New Jerusalem.

E.  The New Jerusalem "lieth foursquare," meaning that all dimensions are equal: twelve thousand furlongs.  "The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.  A furlong equals one eighth of a mile.  Twelve thousand furlongs equals 1,500 miles.  From the east coast of America to the west coast of America is 2,800 miles. 1,500 miles is over half that distance.  From New York City to Colorado!  From the Canadian Border to the Southern tip of Florida.  The area of the outside of the New Jerusalem, or net of the cube, will be 13,500,000 square miles.  The New Jerusalem, in its outer square miles would be 50.2 times as big as the state of Texas.  The inside of the New Jerusalem, or the volume of the cube, will be 3,375,000,000 cubic miles.  It is 93,000,000 miles to the sun.  If you lined single cubic miles together, the cubic miles of the New Jerusalem would stretch to the sun 36.29 times!  The New Jerusalem will be a city of indescribable size!  And Texas thinks that it has a monopoly on "big things?"  Enough room to house every person who has ever been born with space to spare.  God intended it to hold them all!

 

F. Verses 17-21.  Heaven Is A Beautiful Place!

 

1.  Walls of Jasper - Revelation 21:17-18  And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.18  And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.  (Jasper is opaque – either reflects or absorbs color.  The walls are given a size of 144 cubits or 244 feet.  The Bible does not specify if this is width or height.)

 

2.  Gates of Pearl - Revelation 21:21  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.  (The size of the gates is not given but to only have 3 gates in a 1500 mile expanse of wall, the gates would have to be sufficient in size to allow masses in at a time.)

 

3.  Foundations of Precious Stones - Revelation 21:19-20  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20  The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

 

4.  Street of Transparent Gold – Revelation 21:21b  and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.  So pure and brilliant that you can see through it.

 

5.  Palaces Of Ivory - Psalms 45:6-8  Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.  (7)  Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.  (8)  All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.  (This Psalm gives a description of the Throne and house of the Lord.)

 

G.  Verse 22.  There will be no Temple found in the New Jerusalem.  The Tabernacle in the Wilderness spoke of the veil of separation between sinful man and a thrice holy God as did Solomon and Zerubbabel's Temples and worship through mediation of the high priests.  There is a Temple mentioned in heaven today (Revelation chapters 11-16) indicating that there continues to be a place of worship through our High Priest.  The New Jerusalem will have no Temple as God will now reside with man with no mediation needed as sin will be forever gone.

 

H.  Verse 23.  The canopy of heavenly bodies, given for light, signs, and seasons will no longer be required.  Heaven's light will be the light of the glory of God as it was in the beginning.  When God said, "Let there be light," there was neither natural nor artificial light.  That "Light" was the light of God.  There will be no need of signs as there will be no uncertainties and knowledge will be perfected. We shall know even as we are known! There will be no need of seasons as there will be no changes in weather. It will be perfectly wonderful, comfortable world to live in. 

 

J.  Verses 24-25.  The New Jerusalem will be an open city.  Though only the saved under the New Covenant will live there, the "nations" of the saved and the "kings" of earth will have perfect access and bring their glory and honour to God.  As there will be nations on earth in eternity, these nations will have kings.  I believe that there will be a reciprocal access as the saved in New Jerusalem will be able to come and walk on this restored earth while the saved on earth will be a able to walk on that street of gold.  The gates will have no doors to be closed because there will be no enemies to repel and there will be no night there.

The Product Of The Cross

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-3-2022

Luke 23:32-43; 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

Introduction:

 

A.  I want to continue preaching on the cross as we near Resurrection Sunday Morning.  My verse for this morning shows the immediate work of the cross was SIN PAID and future work of the cross was SALVATION OF SINNERS.  Immediate in that Christ who knew no sin had to become sin for us and die on the cross.  Future in that we had to become the righteousness of God in Him to be saved.

 

B.  In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we find two very important doctrines:  propitiation and expiation.  Let me define these two words as we begin.

 

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

 

PROPITIATION – to appease by substitution.  Christ completely satisfied the just demands of a holy God for judgment on sin by His death on the Cross.  Propitiation literally means to make favorable and specifically includes the idea of dealing with God’s wrath against sinners.  “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin!”  (The root word for Propitiation is also translated “mercy seat.”)

 

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

EXPIATION - Expiation literally means to make pious and implies either the removal or cleansing of sin.  “That we might be made the righteousness of God in him.“

 

C.  In these two words, we find salvation in Christ alone!  Since it is Christ who both propitiates and expiates, then salvation must be an act of God and Christ the only way to heaven.

 

D.  I want to look at this verse tonight for a few minutes in order for us to have a proper understanding of what happened on the cross that brought about eternal salvation.  Most people know that they are saved but know little of what it took to save them.

 

E.  The word “made” is used twice in this verse:  once in reference to propitiation and once in reference to expiation.  The word "made" gives the understanding that something had to be done that would not naturally occur.

 

1.  Our Lord Jesus Had To Be Made Sin Because He Had No Sin – Propitiation – "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 

 

a.  Christ Was Made Flesh - John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)full of grace and truth.

 

Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

b.  Christ Was Made Under The Law - Galatians 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  (God was not under the Law.  God is the Law!  It is “my commandments.”)

 

Luke 2:21-24  And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22  And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23  (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24  And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

 

c.  Christ Was Made Sin – Romans 8:3  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:

 

1)  Christ was Sinless - Acts 4:30  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

 

Hebrews 10:5  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

 

2)  Christ made Sin - 2 Corinthians 5:21a  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;  (Notice that Christ was not made a sinner!  He was made sin!)

 

1 Peter 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  (He did no sin!  He spoke no sin!”)

 

2 Corinthians 5:21  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.  (He thought no sin!”)

 

Hebrews 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

Hebrews 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

 

Isaiah 53:4-12  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 9  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. 10 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. 11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

2.  We Had To Be Made Righteous Because We Had No Righteousness – Expiation – "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise!"

 

a.  We were born Sinful - Psalms 58:3  The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

 

Psalms 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

 

Job 15:14  What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

 

Isaiah 48:8  Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

 

b.  We chose to be Sinful - Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

 

1 John 1:8-10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

Isaiah 53:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 

c.  We had to be made Righteous - 2 Corinthians 5:21  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.  (Notice that we did not become righteous.  We had to be made righteous!)

 

Romans 3:10-12  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  (We did not righteousness.)

 

Romans 3:13-14  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:  (We spoke no righteousness.)

 

Genesis 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  (We thought no righteousness.)

 

Ephesians 2:1-3  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

 

Isaiah 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 

Galatians 3:6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

 

Ephesians 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 

Jude 24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

 

1 John 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

 

Conclusion:  Jesus Christ Became What We Were That We Might Be Made What He Was!