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That this sacrifice is acceptable to God and efficacious for us, will appear in several propositions.
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Charnock's nine proofs of the above doctrine in our portion for this week are as follows:
- God took pleasure in the designment and expectation of it
- God had a restoration of his rest, which had been disturbed by the entrance of sin, and therefore this sacrifice was highly acceptable to God
- The highest perfections of God's nature had a peculiar glory from this sacrifice (My favorite section)
- Compare this sacrifice with the evil for which he was sacrificed, and which had invaded the rights of God, and the sweet savour of it will appear, as also the efficacy of it
- His resurrection after his bloody sacrifice, is a clear evidence of the sweetness of its savour with God, and its sufficiency for us
- The ascension and full exaltation of Christ after his bloody sacrifice, is a full evidence of this doctrine
- The admirable virtue of this sacrifice, evidences the sweetness of it in the account of God
- It is so acceptable to God, that it is a sufficient sacrifice for all, if all would accept of it, and by a fixed faith plead it.
- The effects of this sacrifice show the acceptableness of it to God
2 comments:
"His holiness was glorified in the discovery of the hellish filthiness of sin; His justice in the grievous punishment of it; His mercy to His creatures in giving the dearest thing He had a ransom for them. In Him, He appeared gracious as well as righteous, transcendently merciful in the exercise of the highest justice." Here again Charnock reminds me of the transcendent beauty in every aspect of the Cross in displaying the full measure of the character of God. I have never really thought in these ways about the Cross, and I thank God for His revealing His Truth through this book to me. How much more glorious the whole act of redemption becomes as you read through these pages thinking about the manifold characteristics of our holy God! We can see how all of Scripture and history builds up to this glorious point. Even today we anticipate how God is bringing about His plan for His people awaiting the day when our King will return as the glorious King of kings and Lord of lords! May God grant us the grace to be about building His Kingdom today, for everything else will pass away and what's done for His glory will only prove of eternal value.
"The reason why the damned lie for ever under the weight of His wrath in hell is because by all their suffering they cannot restore that honour to God which they have robbed Him of by their iniquities." God is so much more gloriously holy and righteous than my mind can fathom. In my mind, I have sometimes thought that an eternity in hell is rather harsh for just a lifetime of sin, but the sin was against an infintely good and holy God. When we really delve into the Truths of His Word, our minds are overwhelmed by the magnificence of Him. I cannot even begin to grasp the depth of any of His attributes. Can we begin to grasp His grace, love, justice, wisdom, power, patience, joy, peace, righteousness? Our minds think in terms of ounces when our God holds the oceans in His hands. O God let us sit and wonder at the beauty of Who You are!
-KW
"As the effect of Adam's disobedience demonstrates the blackness and strength of his sin, so the fruit of this sacrifice evidences the efficacy of it. Had it not been sweet to God, we had still been in our sins...Man was upon the terms of enmity with God, hating him and being hated by Him."
Sinners have a problem: sin. And because of that sin: enmity with God. The wrath of God is coming (Mal 4:1). The wrath of God abides on those who do not believe (John 3:36). Because of sin there is no peace with God - no fellowship. Just enmity. Enemies of the King. So now what? There has to be reconciliation right? We need reconciliation. And it has to come thru Christ:
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
18Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
"All that Christ did in his life, had not been available for us, had he not added the top-stone in the shedding his blood...So much is God pleased with it that his majesty condescends to the lowest step, to solicit [invite and plead with] his apostate creatures; and miserable man is admitted to importune God, not only with hopes, but assurance of his favour, and a happy success upon the account of this expiatory sacrifice."
What a sweet smelling savour Christ was to God! What satisfaction and delight His sacrifice brought the Father. This book has been such an eye opening, heart challenging study for me. The depths of the cross are so overwhelming and yet so glorious. May we all be changed by our study of it.
And especially during this season, may we not forget that there was a reason Christ came. And it wasn't so we could fa-la-la-la-la while we drink egg-nog and light advent candles. Christ came to die. Christ came to reconcile sinners from the promised wrath of God. So when we think of that little baby in a manger, let us not forget who He was and why He came. From the manger to the cross. May we ponder an appropriate question: What Child is this?
"Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here, The silent Word is pleading."
The silent Word is pleading. Christ in the manger pleading: Be reconciled to God. The God of Malachi is the God of the manger and the God of 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
May we be ever-thankful that the sacrifice of Christ was sweet to our God! Let us ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name!
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