The Restitution Of All Things
This is a five week study that we are having in our Sunday evening service. Please see the “Articles & Outlines” section under “Outlines” for the outlines to accompany this study.
SHARING
The Nail
The circumstances and events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, make two things very clear:
1. Man’s nature towards God: one of enmity.
2. God’s nature towards man: that of redeeming love.
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) The fact that men were so used (motivated) by sin and Satan, that they knew not what they were doing, speaks of man’s spiritually dead condition. ALL MANKIND was made a spiritually dead being by Adam’s sin and spiritual death: “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. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.” (Romans 5:12, 18a, 19a) “For as in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22a).
Thus, all who are born of Adam are born with an inherited spiritually dead nature that is estranged from God, is at enmity with God due to the fact this nature is sinful, and is also at conflict with one another. This spiritually dead sin condition is what has written human history and is determining the course of mankind today: “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:9, 13-18, 23)
When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, the human instruments that hung him there did so because of Sin’s enmity within human nature: “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.” (John 15:25) It was the enmity of man’s sinful nature that drove the nails that hung Christ on the cross. It was the redeeming love of God’s nature, that let those nails remain so that atonement for sin would be made.
The reason Christ died was because God laid our sin upon Him on Calvary and He yielded Himself to die to pay the penalty for our sin: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “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)
Thus the judgment of the cross is: “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.” (2 Corinthians 5:14) Since we are all the sinner for which Christ died, then we must repent and trust Him to save us—or we will perish.
SHARINGThe Kiss
–Pastor Clayton Doss
You have heard about the kiss of death, otherwise known as the Judas kiss.
There is also the kiss of life. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10
One day, Mercy was out taking a stroll along life’s highway, and chances to meet one called Truth. There is love at first sight. A wedding is performed, and Mercy and Truth, in the persons of Peace and Righteousness, kiss each other and fall lovingly into each other’s arms. Is this not a picture of the romance of redemption?
However, unless Truth meets up with Mercy and makes Peace, death will ensue. Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death…” Men may hide the truth, hinder the truth, and haggle with the truth, but truth will stand. Every evil thought, sinful act, or wicked intent is on everyone’s record, and that record must be faced one day…and then what? Revelation 20:15 says, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
But there is a way to clear the record. Truth found satisfaction at a place called Golgotha. One died there and satisfied the just demands of God’s Holy Law. And now, Truth can make friends with Mercy, and while maintaining its dignity and worthiness, can kiss Mercy and find blessed reconciliation. Titus 3:5 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”
Have you been to Calvary? Were you there when Righteousness and Peace…kissed each other on your behalf?
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10
SHARINGHow Long Since You Went Fishing?
“And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17
Most people, sometime in their life, have gone fishing. Usually, the urge to fish strikes when one is young. As a kid, I fished with homemade poles and string that floated, and cane poles, and at the last, I finally managed to acquire a rod and reel (which I still have). As a teenager, I built a boat, and Dad and I strung fishing lines across the Licking River, which joined our farm.
No one starts out as a master fisherman. At first, one may find themselves awkward and ill-equipped. And, often, one goes home empty handed. But if one is determined to catch fish, over time and putting forth one’s persistent effort, the methods and means that work are learned. There is much to learn: where the fish are; what bait will draw them; how to approach them and catch them without chasing them away. No fish is seeking to be caught. But a diligent fisherman can catch them by acquired wisdom.
“And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” (Luke 5:10b) A good fisherman is not stopped by the fear of going where the fish are, or of not catching fish, but is motivated by the fact that if he continues to fish, he will catch fish, and this makes it worth everything.
If we will accept the Lord’s call to go fishing for Him for the souls of men, He has promised that He will make a fisherman out of us, and that we shall catch men. We may start out feeling awkward and ill-equipped, but as we continue to go, under the direction of the Master, He will make us to become an able fisherman.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
In terms of being fishers of men, how wise are we? It took someone to answer the Lord’s call, to reach us. What if no one would have been willing?
SHARINGDigesting Criticism
–Edited from the Plains Baptist Challenger
Ultimately, our goal is to please God and magnify Christ. So if we care more about what God thinks of us, instead of what people think of us, we are going to be criticized. Proverbs 29:25 tells us that, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” When we fear God, He supplies us with the understanding we need to make sense of why we are receiving criticism. It may be a part of our trial of faith; a part of God’s refining process, or even just a part of serving the Lord. Surviving criticism depends a lot upon who you fear the most! David said, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” Psalm 118:6
Whenever we receive criticism, it is best to give the benefit of the doubt to the critic before over-reacting—they may have a point. For instance, when we receive a criticism, it is crucial to ask, “Are these statements justified and are they true?” Never presume that you are always right! Often it is not our response to criticism that is wrong; it is the way we react towards the critic. The best thing to do when receiving criticism is to immediately evaluate it by the Word of God and begin praying, “Lord, keep my heart open to the truth and I will change if you reveal the way to me.” Remember, the truth shall make you free, even if at first it makes you miserable. Allow criticism to grow you spiritually!
One of the most important points to apply is, “treat the critic better than they deserve.” God loves mercy and He delights in the merciful (Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:7). Some critics are just complainers, nitpickers, and gripers; yet God says to have mercy on them. Too often, we feel the urge to win the argument, but I have learned that I may win the argument and lose the relationship. People are more important than arguments. Sometimes criticism just doesn’t deserve, or maybe even need, an answer.
Christian, let criticisms make you better, not bitter. Too often we sit around waiting for those who have given offense to come and say they are sorry. Remember, no one was saying they were sorry at the foot of the cross, and yet mercy and forgiveness were freely offered—“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” You never know what God can produce in your life through criticism.
“There is much in the world to make us afraid, but there is so much more in our faith to make us unafraid.”
SHARING
