FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE? - sm990307sum.html

FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE?

Sunday Morning: March 7, 1999

Text: 1 Timothy 1:15 "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

The statement that Paul made to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15 "That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" was a "faithful saying" because it was consistent with the plans and purposes of God from the foundation of the World. Revelation 13:8 "... the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Because of the statement was true and faithful to the plans purposes of God it was worthy and fit for all sinners accept as true and trustworthy to believe.

ALL HAVE SINNED

Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

The first Adam knowingly and willingly accepted the sin of his wife Eve upon him self. Because Adam sinned, sin entered into the world and death by sin passed upon all men, because all have sinned. This verse gives us the scope of sin being passed upon all men (both men, women, and children).

HE DIED ONCE FOR ALL, EVERY MAN, THE WORLD

2 Corinthians 5:14 "... we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:"

For Christ Jesus to save sinners, He had to die for all of the sinners. 2 Corinthians clearly states because all are dead, that Christ Jesus had to die for all those who are dead.

HE DIED FOR THE WORLD

John 1:29 "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God as depicted in the sacrifices of the Old Testament. In Leviticus 4:32-33 "And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. 33. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering." Jesus being the Lamb that was to take away the sin of the world, He had to be killed and the lamb was in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ was to be the Lamb that would be killed for the sins of the whole world as planned by the determinate council in Acts 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:" The following verses just emphasize the fact that Jesus Christ died for every man.

HE DIED FOR EVERY MAN

Hebrews 2:9 "But we see Jesus, ...that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."

Jesus had to use the power of God, His grace, to be able to taste death for every man. It was not an easy thing for him to do.

HE DIED ONCE

1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, ... being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"

Christ is not being daily offered for the sins of the whole world as some would like us to believe. He suffered and died once.

IT IS FINISHED

John 19:30 "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."

Jesus acknowledged in prayer that his teaching ministry to his disciples and apostles was finished on the earth in John 17:4 "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." It was in John 19:30 "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." that the Lord said that his work for all of mankind was finished and He died. He was tasting death for every man because He was the lamb being slain for the sins of the whole world.

THE "MANY" PASSAGES

Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

Matthew 26:28 "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

MANY

Matthew 22:14 "For many are [the] called, but few are [the] chosen."

If only "many" are called, then the calling is not to be saved. Salvation has been offered to every man and all the world. From the following verse salvation comes before the calling.

SALVATION BEFORE THE CALLING

2 Timothy 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

The calling goes out to those who are already saved and it is a holy calling.

CALL TO HIS KINGDOM

1 Thessalonians 2:12 "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."

The calling is unto his kingdom and glory and not to be a part of His family. Salvation is becoming part of the family of God when we are born from above. John 3:3 "Jesus answered ... I say unto thee, Except a man be born again [from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God." To walk worthy of God is to do the will of the Father and enter into the Kingdom of God Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." There is a difference between seeing the Kingdom and entering into the Kingdom.

THE MANY

Romans 5:15 "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift [carisma, grace gift]. For if through the offence of one [the] many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift [dwrea] by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto [the] many."

This verse seems to have seemingly many contradictions in that the offence of Adam the many be dead. This encourages changing the meaning of the word many to all. This is a grave error which produces the wrong interpretations of many passages of scripture. If all of man kind be dead because of the sin of Adam, "the many" would be dead as well. This emphasis on "the many" as a unique body must be saved as well all of mankind, they are no different. It should be noted that the grace gift which is agelasting life, Romans 6:23, is a gift by grace offered to "the many." Agelasting life is a reference to Kingdom Life in the coming millennial reign of Christ.

ONE BODY IN CHRIST

Romans 12:5 "So we, being [the] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

When any man is born from above he is baptized into the body of Christ and he becomes part of His body. Within the body of Christ their are many members yet there is one body in Christ that is referred to as "The many" The word "many" in Romans 12:5 has the definite article "the" before it. With the definite article, there is a definite reference to a unique body in Christ known as the many. This unique body within the body of Christ is the Church.

EVE, ONE MEMBER IN THE BODY OF ADAM

Ephesians 5:30 "For we (the church v. 23,24,25,etc) are members (but not the whole) of his body, of [ek, out from] his flesh, and of [ek, out from] his bones."

This is a reference to a body removed from the body of Christ as in the case of Eve being removed from the body of Adam who is a type of Christ.

Genesis 2:23 "And Adam said, This (woman named Eve) is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

Jesus Christ is the second Adam and out of the second Adam will come the many who will reign with Him in His coming Kingdom.

A RANSOM FOR MANY

Matthew 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for [ajnti>, in exchange for] many."

When a ransom is paid for someone or something money or something of value is given in exchanged for that person or thing's release from bondage. The Lord gave a ransom for the release of the nation of Israel from Egypt. Isaiah 43:3 "For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee."

THE LIFE

Leviticus 17:11 "... the life of the flesh is in the blood.."

There are those who want to change the meaning of the word "many" to "all" because they know that Christ died for all. To understand the Lord giving his life for many is not a problem when you know what the life is. The life is a reference to the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and not to the giving up of his spirit in death.

THE DEATH

John 19:30 "..., It is finished: ... and gave up the ghost."

In the memorial of breaking of bread, the bread is used as a symbol of His body that was crucified on the cross in his death. Matthew 26:26 "…Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, … and said, Take, eat; this is my body." The word many was not used with regard to his body.

THEN THE BLOOD

John 19:34 "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water."

In the memorial of breaking of bread the cup of wine was used a s symbol of His blood. Matthew 26:27-28 "And he took the cup, … saying, Drink ye all of it; 28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The blood of the New Testament was shed for many where the body was given for the sins of the whole world.

PASSOVER THEN SPRINKLING

Hebrews 11:28 "Through faith he kept the passover (for all), and the sprinkling of blood (for many), lest he that destroyed the firstborn (not all) should touch them."

The separation of the two parts of the passover is vividly shown in the passover in Egypt. The passover lamb was slain and it's body was roasted for all in the house to eat. The blood was sprinkled upon the door to protect the firstborn which is a reference to the many.

REMISSION OF SINS

Matthew 26:28 "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed [ekcew, poured out] for many (not for all) for the remission [a]fesiv, deliverance, liberty] of (from) sins."

Remission is a misunderstood word. Remission through His blood is for the purpose of redemption from bondage. Remission [a]fesiv] is also translated deliverance and liberty. Luke 4:18 "... to preach deliverance [remission a]fesiv] to the captives, ... to set at liberty [remission a]fesiv] them that are bruised (bound, Isa 61:1),"

Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption (delivered from serving another master) through his blood (shed for many), the forgiveness [remission: a]fesiv, liberty, deliverance] of (from) sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

Ephesians 1:7 is not a reference to salvation but redemption. Redemption is a family matter and pertained to one inheritance and not one salvation. Only a family member could redeem another family member as only Christ as a kinsman redeemer could redeem them that were of his house hold. The shed blood of Christ is the ransom that can redeem us from the power and servitude of sin.

PAUL IN CAPTIVITY

Romans 7:23 "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."

MADE FREE

Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

REDEMPTION FOR SERVICE

Titus 2:14 "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity [lawlessness, (from serving sin)], and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

Christ redeemed us from the power of the sin of lawlessness so that we could serve Him and received the reward of our inheritance. "Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." Col. 3:24)

REMISSION FOR SERVICE

Hebrews 9:22 "...without shedding of blood is no remission [deliverance, liberty (to serve the Lord)] ."

You should not associate the shedding of blood with salvation because the blood was shed for many and not for all. If the blood was shed for salvation, then Christ did not make provision for all men to be saved and that is just not consistent with Him being the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the whole world.

WHO ARE THE MANY?

Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many ..."

There is a neuter singular article before the masculine plural "many" so the two do not modify each other. The context of verse 28 will give us light as to who the many are.

CONTEXT OF VERSE 28

Hebrews 9:24,25,26,28 "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

ONCE A YEAR

Leviticus 16:34 "And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses."

NOT ALL ARE OF THE HOUSE OF LEVI

Leviticus 16:6 "And Aaron (the high priest) shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house (the house of Levi, Num. 17:8)."

CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST

Hebrews 3:1 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;"

WHOSE HOUSE ARE WE

Hebrews 3:6 "But Christ as a son over his own house (of priests); whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."

1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

WE WILL ENTER HIS KINGDOM AND GLORY

Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:... they shall be priests (of the house Christ) of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Rev 1:6 "...kings and priests.."

Hebrews 9:26,28 DAY OF ATONEMENT ONCE A YEAR

26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world [ages] hath he appeared to put away [bring to nought; frustrate) sin by the sacrifice of himself.

28. So Christ was once offered to bear (the consequences of) the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

Verses 26 and 28 is a reference to the day of atonement. The high priest entered the holy of holies once every year on the day of atonement. Once for himself and his house and then for the whole house of the children of Israel. Jesus Christ did not have to enter into the holy of holies for himself but he did for his house which is a reference to the many.

DAY OF ATONEMENT AND JUBILEE

Leviticus 25:9-10 "...on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 10 And (conjunction to verse 9) ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty [remission, LXX] throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee [remission] unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family."

It is significant that the day of atonement and the year of jubilee are connected with the conjunction "and". I believe this was done so that we would relate the day of atonement with the 50th year jubilee which release every man from the bondage of another master. Every house in the nation of Israel would receive the land of their inheritance back that had been sold because of debt.

BEAR THE SINS

Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ was once offered to bear [anaferw, the sins of many ..."

The word bear is an interesting word. It is compound word containing the preposition ajna> and root word fe>rw. The word ajna> carries the meaning of "up". The root word fe>rw carries the meaning to bear or to carry.

HE SHALL BEAR THEIR (MANY) SINS

Isaiah 53:11 "He shall see of the travail of his soul [life], and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear (experience consequences of) their iniquities [sins]."

The word "bear" is translated "carried" verse 11.

Isaiah 53:4 "Surely he hath borne [lift] our griefs, and carried [bear, v 11] our sorrows: yet we did esteem him (able to bear our sorrow because he was) stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."

For us to know that he can enter into our sorrows and to carry them we have to know that he has entered into sorrows himself. If we can't "Esteem Him stricken, smitten …, and afflicted" we can not be sure that he can enter into the feelings of our infirmities. Heb 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.. " 2 Cor. 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Lamentations 5:7 "Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne [bear the consequences of] their iniquities."

The fathers who had sinned in Isaiah 50:1 "… Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, " into captivity and the children had to bear the consequences of the father's sin. It was not the sins of their fathers they had to bear but the sorrow.