A gracEmail subscriber writes: "The substitutionary atonement seems very clear biblically, i.e., that Jesus paid the penalty (that we were required to pay) through his death. I understand the transfer of our sin to him. From my perspective, that seems sufficient for God to call us just. Why does there need to be a transfer the other way of Jesus' righteousness?" * * * Our primary and original obligation to the Father is a lifetime of faithful loving obedience. That is what sin prevents. The penalty for sin is secondary to the real issue. Even if we are forgiven, we still have not … [Read more...]

Someone asks, "Although Jesus made the only sacrifice we need to atone for our sin, don't we have sacrifices which we are supposed to offer to God as well?" * * * The Law of Moses provided for sacrifices of many kinds (Lev. 1-5, 16). A person brought a "sin offering" to ask for divine forgiveness. The worshiper presented a "whole burnt offering" to say that he offered himself to God. A "grain offering" expressed homage and gratitude to God. A "peace offering" symbolized fellowship with God by one who had been forgiven. And the "guilt offering" acknowledged some specific offense committed … [Read more...]

  Did you ever stop to think, if you are a believer, that Jesus' perfectly obedient life was lived for you? That when God views you through Jesus your representative, he sees you as perfectly pleasing to himself? That is the astounding message of Hebrews 10:4-14. * * * Above all else, in Hebrews (as in the Old Testament), a high priest is one who acts as a representative of all his people. God sees what the high priest does, and he regards it as done by all the people whom the high priest represents. The holy clothing or vestments of the Mosaic high priest from Aaron forward … [Read more...]

  Did you ever stop to think, if you are a believer, that Jesus' perfectly obedient life was lived for you? That when God views you through Jesus your representative, he sees you as perfectly pleasing to himself? That is the astounding message of Hebrews 10:4-14. * * * Hebrews 10:10 is a gospel gem! The author has already told us that Jesus came to do God's will in a human body -- to offer God the living sacrifice of a sinless and obedient human life. Now he tells us that Jesus' obedience was for our benefit. "By this will" -- this life of perfect human obedience, this life lived … [Read more...]

Did you ever stop to think, if you are a believer, that Jesus' perfectly obedient life was lived for you? That when God views you through Jesus your representative, he sees you as perfectly pleasing to himself? That is the astounding message of Hebrews 10:4-14. * * * The New Testament author of Hebrews says it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin (10:4). "Why is that?" we ask. Because animals, being amoral creatures, are incapable of offering God what he most desires from his human creatures -- an obedient human life, lived in right relationship to the Creator from … [Read more...]

Someone objects: "All this talk concerning justification by grace through faith is largely theoretical. When we talk to real people, they want to know what they must do to be saved." I respond that nothing us more practical than the reality that God saves us, apart from anything we deserve, attain or accomplish, for the sake of his Son Jesus Christ and on the basis of Jesus' finished work of redemption. (Let's listen in on the following conversation in progress.) * * * Q. How, then, can I relate to this saving work which God has accomplished, if nothing I do is any part of it? A. Because … [Read more...]

Someone objects: "All this talk concerning justification by grace through faith is largely theoretical. When we talk to real people, they want to know what they must do to be saved." I respond that nothing us more practical than the reality that God saves us, apart from anything we deserve, attain or accomplish, for the sake of his Son Jesus Christ and on the basis of Jesus' finished work of redemption. (Let's listen in on the following conversation in progress.) * * * Q. Can I perfect myself morally, or perform enough good deeds, or obey God's commands so well, that God will look at my … [Read more...]

I grew up in the 1950's in the Deep South and enjoyed a largely-idyllic childhood that now seems a world apart. In the summertime, we played yard softball, explored in the woods and swam in the creek. Every night for two special weeks, we also attended a "Gospel Meeting" conducted under a big tent with sawdust floors. There we sang from floppy, paperback Stamps-Baxter hymnals and fought back the heat with cardboard hand fans usually bearing the advertisement of a local funeral home. Heaven intersected earth in those meetings as visiting evangelists warned of inevitable death and imminent … [Read more...]

For Christians other than Lutherans and Calvinists, the four gospel slogans: "grace alone, Jesus Christ alone, faith alone, Scripture alone," might sound less than obvious. The third expression ("faith alone") sometimes even provokes a vigorous denial. But properly understood, the four Reformation mottos well summarize biblical teaching about our salvation. How would you complete each of the following sentences? * * * 1. God saves us as a matter of: (a) grace alone (wholly a gift)? (b) grace partially (somewhat a gift; somewhat merited)? or (c) grace not at all (wholly merited)? We … [Read more...]

  "I hear much about the doctrine of grace," writes a gracEmail subscriber. "Can you give me a good definition of what it really means?" * * * We must never think of divine grace as some impersonal, abstract reality which can be defined and discussed apart from a relationship between two or more real living persons. Grace is nothing less than the undeserved mercy and kindness which the living God pours out freely on all who entrust themselves to him as known through his Son Jesus Christ, surrendering to the Father their sins, their merits and their lives for his disposition and … [Read more...]