JESUS DESK

JESUS—OUR SUBSTITUTE

    All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no not one. All are under the sentence of death, because of sin. All are doomed for the eternal lake of fire, because of sin.

    Sin separates us from God. The only way that fellowship with God can be reestablished is, our sentence of death needs to be paid for.

    Thus Jesus came and took upon Himself all our sins. Our sins were transferred to Him. He became our substitute. He took our place. He paid our jail sentence. He suffered death for us in our place. He paid it all. It was paid for in full. The sin debt is done. It is finished. It was all paid for on the cross. As it is written, NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST-Eph 2:9. Salvation is not something man can earn. It is NOT OF YOURSELVES-Eph 2:8. There is nothing man can do to pay for his own sins. He is in a helpless, hopeless, sinful condition.

    Man rebels against this message. He rebels against the message of the "free gift" from God through believing and faith only.
    Man wants to perform. He wants to "do" something to pay for his own sins. He wants a system of regulations and rules enabling him to work for or to do. Man feels better when he can do something. He wants to have a part in his own salvation.
    Man’s sinful, worldly, deceitful, wicked, vile nature has difficulty receiving the message of "only" believing on Jesus for salvation. This requires of man that pride be destroyed. This requires a person to humble himself. This requires man to say, "I can’t do it by myself." This requires man to say to God, "I need you." As it is written, GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD, BUT GIVETH GRACE UNTO THE HUMBLE-Ja 4:6.
    To fully believe God’s Word, a person must humble himself. He needs to receive God’s Word as a little child receives instruction from his earthly father, in submission, being fully persuaded. It requires man to trust God, rather than himself. It requires that a man die to himself. It requires that a man follow Jesus, the Word. It requires that man trust (by faith) in God’s Word and God’s leading.
    Man, however, does not want to relinquish or surrender control. Man wants to control his own destiny. He wants to do his own will. To submit to God means he gives up his own will. He willfully, in loving trust, submits the control of his own life into the hands of a loving, faithful God. This is very difficult for man to do. Many people make the statement, "I am a self-made man." All men with this prideful, egotistical attitude will perish, unless they repent.

    Man in no way can save himself. Good works or any kind of performance on man’s part for salvation is of no value. It is not in the picture. Thus, all the glory for man’s salvation goes to God and only to God.

    The word "believe" as it appears in the Bible does not portray to many people its true meaning. To many, it relates a lightness or lack of commitment. A person may say, "Oh, I suppose I believe that." However, that belief does not produce a commitment or a change. Though they say they believe, there is no evidence to back it up.
    The definition of the word "BELIEVE" as it appears in the Bible means to be "as positive as one can be." It means to "be as sure as you can be." It means to "know in your heart." It means to regard as true. It means full acceptance of God’s Word. It means to be fully persuaded. Thus, to believe is: to be positive, to be sure, to know, to regard as true, to be fully persuaded.

    The inner evidence of believing is a total, uncompromising commitment of love and obedience. From being fully persuaded or believing comes: trust, commitment, submission, humbleness, and faith.

    Believing does not mean just to believe on Jesus, but it also means that a person must believe God’s Word. As it is written, HE THAT BELIEVETH…NOT THE SON (or the Word) SHALL NOT SEE LIFE-Jn 3:36. HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT GOD (or the Word) HATH MADE HIM A LIAR-1 Jn 5:10. THE PHARISEES AND LAWYERS REJECTED THE COUNSEL OF GOD (or the Word) AGAINST THEMSELVES, BEING NOT BAPTIZED-Lk 7:30. FOR HAD YE BELIEVED MOSES (the words he spoke), YE WOULD HAVE BELIEVED ME (the Word). BUT IF YE BELIEVE NOT HIS WRITINGS (or his words), HOW SHALL YE BELIEVE MY WORDS?-Jn 5:46,47. FOR WHOM HE HATH SENT, HIM (His words) YE BELIEVE NOT-Jn 5:38. HE THAT…RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS, HATH ONE THAT JUDGETH HIM: THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN-Jn 12:48. WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD (the Word) AS A LITTLE CHILD, HE SHALL NOT ENTER THEREIN-Mk 10:15. Many do not seem to understand that Jesus is the "Word."
    It is written, IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD (which is Jesus) WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD (which is Jesus) WAS GOD. AND THE WORD (which is Jesus) WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US. Jesus came to this earth in human form and dwelt among us. (AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER,) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH-Jn 1:1,14. Jesus is full of grace and truth. As we note, Jesus is the Word. This is further proven in Rev 19:13-AND HE (Jesus) WAS CLOTHED WITH A VESTURE DIPPED IN BLOOD: AND HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD.
    In this lukewarm generation, many teach to believe on Jesus, but few teach that to believe on Jesus also means to believe HIS WORD.

    The result or evidence of "believing" are the fruits of the Spirit and the fruits of what a person does. It is written, WHEREFORE BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM-Mt 7:20. The result or evidence of "believing" is a changed life. It is repentance. It is obedience. As a result of faith, a person becomes A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW-2 Cor 5:17. He is born-again-ref Jn 3:3. As a result of faith in Jesus Christ, the new nature, the new man craves God’s Word. It is written, AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE (or crave) THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY-1 Pe 2:2.
    As a result of faith, a person wants to serve God. He wants others to receive Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation. The works in no way save us. They are a result of being saved. As it is written, YOUR WORK PRODUCED BY FAITH, YOUR LABOR PROMPTED BY LOVE-1 Thes 1:3 NIV.

    The Scriptures give us many verses illustrating that Jesus, the precious Lamb of God, was our substitute. The following are a few of those verses.
    FOR WHEN WE WERE YET WITHOUT STRENGTH, IN DUE TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY. FOR SCARCELY FOR A RIGHTEOUS MAN WILL ONE DIE: YET PERADVENTURE FOR A GOOD MAN SOME WOULD EVEN DARE TO DIE. BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. MUCH MORE THEN, BEING NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, WE SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM-Ro 5:6-9. Note, Jesus did this for us. He became our substitute.
    AND HE (Jesus) TOOK BREAD, AND GAVE THANKS, AND BRAKE IT, AND GAVE UNTO THEM, SAYING, THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU: THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. LIKEWISE ALSO THE CUP AFTER SUPPER, SAYING, THIS CUP IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU-Lk 22:19,20. Again we note, Jesus became our substitute. He gave His life for us.
    Jesus said, I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD: THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVETH HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP-Jn 10:11. Again we note, Jesus became our substitute. He gave His life for us.
    AS THE FATHER KNOWETH ME, EVEN SO KNOW I THE FATHER: AND I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP-Jn 10:15. Again we note, Jesus became our substitute. He gave His life for us.
   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: THAT THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM MIGHT COME ON THE GENTILES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH-Gal 3:13,14. Again we note, Jesus became our substitute. He gave His life for us.
    FOR THERE IS ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS; WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL, TO BE TESTIFIED IN DUE TIME-1 Tim 2:5,6.
    LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE, AND THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST; WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, AND PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS-Titus 2:13,14. Again we note, Jesus became our substitute. He gave His life for us.
    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-1 Pe 3:18. Again we note, Jesus became our substitute. He gave His life for us.
    FORASMUCH THEN AS CHRIST HATH SUFFERED FOR US IN THE FLESH, ARM YOURSELVES LIKEWISE WITH THE SAME MIND: FOR HE THAT HATH SUFFERED IN THE FLESH HATH CEASED FROM SIN; THAT HE NO LONGER SHOULD LIVE THE REST OF HIS TIME IN THE FLESH TO THE LUSTS OF MEN, BUT TO THE WILL OF GOD-1 Pe 4:1,2. Again we note, Jesus became our substitute. He gave His life for us.
    EVEN AS THE SON OF MAN CAME NOT TO BE MINISTERED UNTO, BUT TO MINISTER, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY-Mt 20:28; ref Mk 10:45. Again we note, Jesus became our substitute. He gave His life for us.

    Certainly we can say, WE LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US- 1 Jn 4:19.