Release from bondage is connected to forgiveness. They cannot be separated.
Redemption
is inclusive of a release from the corruption that is in the world
through lust. In other words a true redemption experience serves as an
antidote to this...
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
The
law of sin and death is that if you sin you die. Spiritual death is the
result of ANY act of rebellion to God, to turn from God is to turn from
life and the spiritual repercussions are instantaneous.
This is why it is the Spirit of life IN Jesus Christ which sets us free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
The death and resurrection of Christ MUST be connected to the "Spirit of life in Jesus Christ" ie. "BEING RAISED UP WITH HIM."
ALL
substitution theories DISCONNECT the "redemptive aspect of escaping the
corruption that is through lust" from the cross and instead present the
death of Christ in the context of "effecting a provision."
That
is why all the substitution theories are extremely dangerous. That
includes Penal Substitution, Satisfaction Substitution and Governmental
Substitution. All of them are false teachings and deadly.
The term "atonement" appears ONCE in the New Testament.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
The word for "Atonement" is...
katallagē
From G2644; exchange (figuratively adjustment), that is, restoration to (the divine) favor: - atonement, reconciliation (-ing).
The word is more correctly translated RECONCILIATION as it is translated everywhere else in the New Testament.
Clearly the rendering of it as "atonement" in Romans 5:11 is a result of theological bias in favour of a Substitution View.
Substitution
teaches that the "exchange" by which one is "brought back into divine
favour" is a result of a PROVISION. That is a lie.
The real "exchange" by which one is "brought back into favour" is a result of TRANSFORMATION. That is why Paul writes...
Rom
8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ
Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom
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:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The
basis or reconciliation and thus the just forgiveness of sins by God is
in accordance with REDEMPTION IN CHRIST by which one enters into a
MANIFEST STATE of wholehearted obedience to God, quickened by the
Spirit, a walk unto righteousness in accordance with will of God.
Hence...
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph
2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The
false teachers butcher the Bible in order to deceive the simple into
TRUSTING IN A PROVISION and whether they append obedience or not as a
condition is irrelevant because the obedience they speak of is in the
context of being "morally influenced" instead of being "totally
transformed." How do we know this? Because they ALL teach EASY
FORGIVENESS AFTER REGENERATION.
None of these wolves
are warning people about the danger of rebellion after a real salvation
experience. To them rebellion is addressed by some kind of "sorry" by
which one is able to go back across the salvation line they believe in.
Thus they can believe that one can go back and forth multiple times
between being saved and not saved. It is a lie.
This is why wolves like Charles Finney, whom so many foolishly uphold as a sound teacher, would write the following...
QUOTE
He who does not habitually overcome the world, is not born of God. In
saying this, I do not intend to affirm that a true Christian may not
sometime be overcome by temptation; but I do affirm that overcoming the
world is the general rule, and falling into sin is only the exception.
This is the least that can be meant by the language of our text, and by
similar declarations which often occur in the s, Bible. Just as in the
passage: "He that is born of God doth not commit sin, and he cannot sin
because he is born of God." Nothing less can be meant than this--that he
cannot sin habitually--cannot make sinning his business, and can sin,
if at all, only occasionally and aside from the general current of his
life. In the same manner, we should say of a man who is almost
universally truthful, that he is not a liar. I will not contend for more
than this, respecting either of these passages; but for so much as this
I must contend, that the new-born souls here spoken of do, all of them,
habitually overcome the world. The general fact respecting them is,
that they do not sin, and are not in bondage to Satan. The affirmations
of Scripture respecting them must, at least, embrace their general
character. END QUOTE
If that quote does not reveal
to someone that Charles Finney was a false teacher then nothing will.
People emotionally attach themselves to their theology idols and simply
refuse to count it all like dung.
If one does not have a love of the truth THEY WILL be deceived.
Don't be one of them.
Tit
2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.
A redemption from ALL INIQUITY and being
made PURE is the key. Without that as a foundation of righteousness then
all is in vain. Don't be deceived.
Why The Blood?
Why is the blood of Christ necessary?
The answer is simple...
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Heb 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
Heb 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
Heb 9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
Heb 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Jesus died for the CAUSE that our consciences be purged of dead works that we may serve God in an acceptable manner. Dead works is everything that is done apart from God, sinful deeds and deeds which are vain.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We are to present ourselves as LIVING SACRIFICES, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD. In order to do this we have to have our conscience purged of the dead works, works which are not rooted in a living sacrifice, not rooted in holiness, and therefore not acceptable unto God.
Jesus, due to this, is the mediator of the NEW TESTAMENT and where a testament is there must be the death of the testator. In other words the death of Christ is what ESTABLISHED the New Covenant as a manifest reality, the death of Christ brought the New Covenant into reality. We are therefore enjoined into covenant with God by the blood of Jesus Christ, the blood that was shed on our behalf.
When we enter into covenant with God via the blood we are approaching God in a NEW AND LIVING WAY. We are not approaching God via the Old Covenant sacrificial system, ordinances, rules and regulations. Instead we are approaching God in a "new and living way" which is exclusively of the heart, this why we read...
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Heb 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Heb 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Heb 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
...
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Heb 10:10 BY THE WHICH WILL WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH THE OFFERING OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST ONCE AND FOR ALL.
...
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with A TRUE HEART in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
We therefore approach God with a TRUE HEART.
True - alēthinos - G228
From G227; truthful: - true.
In other words...
1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
We come clean with God in repentance and yield wholeheartedly to God and by doing so we ENTER INTO COVENANT BY THE BLOOD and it is through this means that our hearts are sprinkled from an evil conscience, our bodies figuratively washed with pure water.
This cleansing is designed to be a ONCE AND FOR ALL cleansing whereby the believer has been redeemed from ALL INIQUITY and MADE PURE and are thus zealous for righteousness.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
It has NOTHING to do with trusting in some kind of abstract provision which Jesus somehow brought into reality via the cross.
Jesus WAS NOT your substitute. Jesus DID NOT bear the full wrath of God. Jesus DID NOT pay your sin penalty. Jesus DID NOT bring satisfaction to the honour of God via being a substitute for the dishonour wrought by sin. Jesus DID NOT die as a substitute for the penalty that the moral law of God be upheld.
Jesus DID die that He might redeem us from ALL iniquity an make us PURE. That is why He died. He brought into effect the New Covenant and tore the veil in order that people would DIRECTLY approach God via the "Temple of the Heart" and therefore worship God in Spirit and Truth.
Jesus PURCHASED US with Hid blood. He DID NOT purchase some kind of provision wrought by Him being a substitute. That is a lie from the pit of hell designed to lure people away from the REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST.
Redemption IN Christ
We are justified freely by the redemption that is IN Christ. Not by "trusting in a provision."
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Redemption involves a RELEASE FROM BONDAGE, a BEING SET FREE.
Redemption - apolutrōsis - G629
From a compound of G575 and G3083; (the act) ransom in full, that is, (figuratively) riddance, or (specifically) Christian salvation: - deliverance, redemption.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
It is OBEDIENCE FROM THE HEART which sets us free, not "trusting in a provision." WHOLEHEARTED OBEDIENCE TO GOD is wrought through GODLY SORROW WORKING REPENTANCE UNTO SALVATION.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Co 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
This is a REPENTANCE NOT TO BE REPEATED, hence one is to be brought into a SALVATION NOT TO BE REPENTED OF, a salvation NOT TO BE TURNED AWAY FROM. This is why we are given this warning IMMEDIATELY AFTER the cleansing of Hebrews 10:19-22...
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
The wolves simply do not understand this "once and for all cleansing" which is why they imply a sin/repent cycle and the subsequent easy forgiveness. Look around who is teaching a "once and for all cleansing not to be repeated" as the salvation experience? Practically no one is, that is how deceived the world is regarding repentance, faith, salvation, grace and the forgiveness of sin. These folks do not under understand regeneration for if they did they would contend earnestly for endurance in the faith and would never imply easy forgiveness or repeated rebellion (even occasional) by Christians.
Pure means pure.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
Pure hearts do not willfully sin. Willful sin voids the cleansing via the blood and a second repentance is not something easily to be found which is why Peter gave the warning...
2Pe 2:20 For if AFTER THEY HAVE ESCAPED the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been BETTER for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Compare...
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the KNOWLEDGE of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
to
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the KNOWLEDGE of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
to
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the KNOWLEDGE of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Knowledge - epignōsis - G1922
From G1921; recognition, that is, (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgement: - (ac-) knowledge (-ing, -ment).
Knowledge is a dangerous thing because with it comes accountability. It is no small issue to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust, be sanctified by the blood, and then turn away from that, count it as cheap and rebel once again. Don't be deceived into taking the forgiveness of God for granted, the forgiveness of God is not something to be trifled with. Substitution theories insidiously and subtly imply easy forgiveness.
Please consider.
Scott
Awesome truth. Clear and precise.
ReplyDeleteThis is the truth! Amen Scott. I can testify that Christ will wash us in His blood, after we have washed ourselves in His word and cleanse ourselves from all unrighteousness by the leading and convicting of the Holy Spirit. We must make His paths straight - we cannot walk in and out of sin - or we cannot experience the "divine nature" Peter spoke of.
ReplyDeleteRelease from bondage is connected to forgiveness. Thanks, Scott.
ReplyDeleteWe see this illustrated so clearly when Jesus released people from the bondage of their afflictions (physical blindness, deafness, etc...) and then said "your sins are forgiven you" or "go and sin no more." We see this clearly when Jesus cast a demon from a man, the Pharisees said the Jesus cast demons out by Beelzebub, Jesus went right into the strong man being bound story (where Jesus bound the strong man (Satan) and spoiled (plundered) his goods (sin) in Matt12:29=Luke11:21=Mark 3:27. Then Jessus IMMEDIATELY says that men will be forgiven sins and blasphemies, with that one exception.
Luke 4:18 and many other passages talk about setting the captives free. He came "To proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are oppressed. "
In Is 49:9 God says "That You may say to the prisoners 'Go forth,' to those who are in darkness, 'show yourselves'...For He who has mercy on them will lead them, ....guide them."
By His stripes we are healed (Is 53:5, I Peter 2:24) - healed from what? From the corrupting influence of sin, from the CAPTIVITY of sin - so that we can see and hear and understand---in purity of heart, living for righteousness, with faithfulness and fidelity to God. (which is discussed in u-tube's holdingfirmly mike desario Faithfulness to God's Commands)
As you say, there is no Release from Bondage or Forgiveness of Past sins without a true Biblical Repentance, where a person, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, gets clean with God, stops their sinning, and comes in broken humility to Him asking for mercy.