This broadcaster has 1264 podcast archives available on-demand.
Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.
June 8, 2021 12:00 am
The writer to the Hebrews referred to it as in these last days, God has spoken to us through his son receptor one John the apostle James is a little bit is the last hour days, times, hours. Imagine, then, beloved in the planning and providence of God, you happen to be living in the final days of human history. The last era last the last day by evil men, but we must never forget that the death of Christ was God's plan. Jesus went to the cross willingly because of what his death would accomplish for us the gospel isn't about golden streets and pearly gates. It's about the riches of Christ's sacrifice one through suffering and obedience today were looking at what Jesus death accomplished for us. Stephen baby is back in first Peter with this lesson. He's calling simply ransom let's get started. Take your Bible turn first Peter for what Peter tells his original audience. Notice in chapter 1 verse 18 just the first word, knowing it could be rendered for you know I will talk about is stuff you already know, but I want to sit for you and remind you because it will be beneficial to you. What exactly are these deep and beneficial truths well for different ways to look at the Lord of the sacrifice in the first way that Peter describes our Lord is first of all, as our liberator, our liberator and also back to verse 17, which we studied our last session at length, but let's really beginning to get a running start is remember that means since since you address as father of the one who impartially judges according to each one's service for that home country conduct yourselves in fear during your stay on earth.
I was picking up where we left off her safety. Knowing you know this already, but let's remember together, knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold stop there. The one you're referencing with holy fear. Remember that is holy, all in light of the coming beam in which he will decorate you for service to the country and only more significant declaration that the Congressional medal of honor, but live in. In light of that in the meantime, remember that you were redeemed that verb to redeem in this text was used in Peter's day for the ransoming of prisoners of war. It was the price paid to redeem a slave and given us freedom. Peter makes it clear that the ransom was not gold or silver perishable things to do all the money in the world to be sufficient to purchase one person out of spiritual bondage and slavery to sin and death.
You just don't have enough money for that. That gold and silver is as good as scrap metal compared to the price of one, just one eternal soul to take something far more valuable than gold or silver to break the chains and opened the prison door and redeem the sinner out of darkness and into a marvelous light gold and silver is perishable, that we tend to think of golden silver little differently when we pass it down right we suffered people do that pass down gold and silver from one generation to another. But Peter is in evaluating your redemption, your value against 60 7080 years of market value he's evaluating your reduction in light of eternity, and in light of eternity. Silver and gold are incidental gold will be so common as you know, to the paved streets in heaven, and the implication then is don't live for something, don't pursue something, don't just dream about that don't pursue something that one day he will walk on in heaven not return Peter's words in a positive statement here. You can read it to me and the believer is redeemed up by perishable things to notice further salsa redeemed from futile things inherited futility from your futile way of life. He writes inherited from your forefathers.
The word feudal refers to earthbound their worthless in the light of eternity because the only matter on earth earthbound commitment that have nothing to do with God for the glory of Christ, you inherited all this futility. He says it'll never even if it's all combined together with all the money you have redeem you. Paul describes by the way the unbeliever with the same word in Romans one rewrites knowing about God even though they knew about God.
They they didn't give him glory or or thank him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 121 Paul encouraged the believers living in Ephesus to no longer live as the unbelievers do in the futility the earthbound manner of thinking. Ephesians 417. In other words, the unbelieving human race spends its energy and passion chasing after empty and meaningless goals that will have no significance when compared to eternity see your life matters on earth only when your eternal life is settled in heaven.
If your eternal life is not settled in heaven, you're really not ready live here on earth. And whatever you do, look for one day for the Peter goes on to shows Jesus Christ. Not only is our liberator. But secondly, as our substitute notice verse 18. Again, knowing that you are not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold, from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers on those first 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. You are ransom.
You are free to translate the payment price was not gold or silver our every futile effort. You inherited from your forefathers's blood clot. The liberals believe that we follow what they call a glory gospel that we believe across the one former evangelical pastor now liberal said is nothing less than cosmic parental abuse why blood why this substitution.
Well, God made it very clear in the beginning, as he gave Moses. These wonderful words, the life of the creature is in the blood and I've given it to you to make atonement for yourselves, it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. 17 verse 11.
See the entire sacrificial system began and pointed toward the final sacrifice. It began is adamant he fell and God took those animals and killed them and gave Adam and Eve their skins atoning covering of that began the process. The pictures of the types in the shadows of Christ who would come and by the way, Peter writes here that Jesus was notice like that lamb. In other words, the ultimate and final sacrifice for sin was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Old Testament look toward it and we in the New Testament. Look back to it. Jesus shed.
Peter writes precious blood work to be rendered costly fact would be impossible to define its value. Peter's drawing from two Old Testament passages here in Exodus chapter 12.
Clearly, the freedom from slavery as the Israelites languished in Egypt. God came and delivered to them. The instructions for the liberation they were to kill a lamb splattering blood on the frames of their slave doors. All it did were safe behind that blood. When the angel of death came in is God's final act of judgment against that idolatrous world taking the lives of the firstborn. If you were buying the door marked by blood you were safe in the angel pass you giving us the Passover Isaiah would be another text chapter 53, the messianic the messianic prophecy of the suffering servant we know is our Messiah who would come approaching death as a silent lamb and in his suffering. Give us healing.
Imagine, then the stunning significance of that Old Testament baptizing profit.
John sees Jesus coming toward him and he says behold look, the Lamb of God. Everything we been looking toward the Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world is he qualified to do that yet. Here, this text is truly unblemished, spotless.
You could understand that he is perfect inside and out, qualifying him as our fallen final sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
That is our perfect unblemished substitute which allows him to be able to shed his blood in our place paying the penalty for our crimes which we could never pay for why were not unblemished.
Anybody here I'm staying by sin were not qualified to die for arson. See Jesus died a death we could not die in order to pay a debt we could not shed his precious blood, knowing we did something that'll take a couple of minutes and were getting overtime because of what I want to type II verses together very very quickly. In fact, if you hold your finger here turn the acts chapter 20. I want you to see verse 28 he might write in the margin. The reference of first Peter 119 where refers to our substitute shedding his blood.
Christ shedding his blood and notice what he says in acts chapter 20 verse 28 now in this text Paul is saying farewell to the elder team is leaving Ephesus and we typically look at this text as a text. Given the elders to take the responsibility of guarding the flock, but I want to focus on the last phrase, which we often overlook.
Paul said to them, be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit is made you overseers notice to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his blood to talk about the blood of Christ is to talk about the blood of God, God the son, who took on the physicality who took on flesh and blood so that he could die physically, God doesn't die. God man could God the father does not blood or the spirit, God's son took on blood flesh and blood so we could shed it in the shedding of the blood of Jesus is tantamount to the shedding the blood of God equally divine to talk about Jesus is to talk about God. By the way the sacrifice back in first Peter was not only accomplished by God the son, but you notice got the spirit of the father. All of all of the plan to notice how Peter slips in that little phrase.
Would you also. We also overlook verse 24 he was foreknown before the foundation of the world and I was just as God shows the redeemed from eternity past. That's chapter 1 verse to remember the elect are chosen by the foreknowledge according to the foreknowledge of God.
Now here in verse 20 the death of Christ, shedding of Christ's blood was according to the foreknowledge before knowing of the triune God. It was part of the plan of our triune God from eternity past yellow hard time understanding how God can choose the elect from eternity past. Well that is all Jesus Christ, God the son chose to diet eternity past and in the mind of God was accomplished crucified before the foundation of the world.
So what does this mean well, it means that the crucifixion was an afterthought.
It it it wasn't plan to be was in the last minute fix the triune God wasn't saying as they watched their newly created, you know world and adamant even they watched them out. Please don't like that please don't eat that. I don't know now what are we gonna do now. The sacrifice of Jesus was part of the triune God's plan from eternity past, which means a little deeper. What this means is the crucifixion was not only foreseen, it was right not only foreseen by our triune God. It was arranged by God. The crucifixion was not an accident. It was an appointment that had been scribbled under the calendar in eternity past time to the Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost in the creation of the New Testament church is taking place and is reminding his vast audience that all the wicked man in the nation Israel hammered his hands and feet to that cross. Peter goes on to say further.
He was delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, acts 223.
Imagine Jesus knew everything we would do all the way back through eternity past and he still chose to create us, even though would require staff. Jesus is shown here is our liberator as our substitute. Thirdly, as our Savior is the latter part of verse 20, but he has appeared in these last times for the sake of you, who through him are believers in God. He has appeared in these last times that participle can be written rendered he he became visible and indicates that moment in in history when God saw took on flesh and appeared on earth. The course we know it is the incarnation in the form of a baby we been singing about it today. He appeared in these last times. This is a reference then to that. Of time marked by his first coming and ending with his second coming people as a funeral is a religion in the last days you been about 1900 years from now when he came, and it'll be if you came tomorrow, but almost 2000 years.
When this end or shortly thereafter Nepal cause this.
In human history. The last days.
Last year we lived in the last days. Yes, last they started when he came 2nd to 3 want the writer to the Hebrews referred to it as in these last days, God has spoken to us through his son. Hebrews chapter 1 verse two John the apostle chases a little bit and he says this is the last hour I started my day is times hours.
Imagine, then, beloved in the planning and providence of God, you happen to be living in the final days of human history. The last era. The last epic call at the last dispensation, as it were the last days. John the apostle thought it was the last hour. Imagine how many minutes must be left for the last one ticks away now. This, however, the personalization of the gospel of Christ, right, he didn't just appear for no reason at all. He didn't just pierce. We do some Christmas carols sing about in the nativity scene to look at look.
He did this for the sake of you for you.
This is the crux of the gospel.
It isn't enough to believe that Jesus is the son of God. The demons believe that it isn't enough to believe that Jesus died on the cross.
They were there isn't enough to believe, and I haven't Satan still having access to God were accuses you before God comes in and accuses God to you right.
I know this I believe all this, but the devil will never save Jesus die for me were the ever want to. The question is, is Jesus your liberator is he you are substitute is he you are Savior.
One of my recent appointments with greenhouse new members were going to the class to have the privilege of meeting with past couples if they're married, met with a couple a couple weeks ago and the other woman said to me something, I'm sitting in on you know I really show the carriers that moment when she went from death to life and was born again she heard the gospel throughout her life and thought she was okay but realize that that moment she never personally asked Christ to save.
She said a man was preaching and he had everybody turn to John 316 and she said, and I knew that verse 500 by heart. But he said no.
I want you to put your name in there and you do that.
It is adjusted for God so loved the world, the devil believes that that he gave his only begotten son. The devil believes that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. He knows that's the gospel but have you put your name there. If I were to put my name there I thought about that, since it would read for God so loved Stephen that he gave his only begotten son, that is Stephen believes in him trusts in him. Stephen will not perish. Stephen will have everlasting life. They were called upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Just believe a lot of truth and even the demons believe causes them. James says to shutter with the reality of this is the amazing personal offer of the gospel of loss.
Sinners must be personalized in the heart of faith toward the God of grace. Paul write that in his own testimony by the way in Galatians chapter 2 in verse 20 save the life that I that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who love me and gave himself for me. Is there a me in your testimony were to just the world, I noticed further Peter writes, who through him are believers in God. This is the very personal and very exclusive claim of Christianity who you can serve the Lord through him that to anybody else but through him not to anything else, but through him. His sacrifice, his substitutionary atoning death only through him you become genuine believers in God and people say maybe your say I don't like that part unit is to exclusive that's way too narrow as to defining many that have in my own way doing the best I can. I think a pretty good fellow. My own plan my own efforts my own will remember asking a man do you think you're going to have an yes why do you think you're going to have is I want to go I will go remind me of CS Lewis wrote in the 1900s there only two kinds of people in the world. Those who say to God, thy will be done those to whom God says all right then have your will.
You must have a liberator substitute Savior forth and finally the Lord is pictured here by Peter as our Victor verse 21. The latter part who raised him from the dead and gave him glory return them to his glory Christ resurrection is the exclamation point of the gospel.
Without it, nothing would be ratified. It was that signals sent throughout the universe that the sacrifice of Jesus on your behalf, and mine was accepted except it was sufficient so that Paul can write we Christ are overwhelmingly conquerors feel that way. Probably not, but in light of eternity. You are an overwhelming conqueror.
The kingdom of Christ is one and so now notice verse 21 the end of your faith and hope are in your best efforts away your faith and hope are in how strong you feel in your faith, your faith and hope are in God, your faith is not in your face and feel strong one day and very weak. The other is the object of your faith matters and he says here it's in God there is anything you can offer from your own futile efforts to redeemers of your you're too poor. And all the gold and silver you got is pavement present. Anything you can say or do the will clear your name. I can understand your family. Record your crimes are too great.
Your sins are too many and we add to the mall every day we have to have someone to take her place. Someone qualified to shed blood to atone for us to pay for crimes then rise in victory is Christ in back to his glory. And he promises his disciples before he sends. Oh by the way, I am going there place for you. Personal liberator substitute Savior Victor came to clean up your name give you an opportunity with your new name to live for his glory and when this last name is open for you to get out my face and personal trust having been redeemed by his precious blood personally apply Satan's Jesus Christ is your liberator, your substitute, your Savior and your Victor you're listening to wisdom for the heart Stephen Davey, you can learn more about wisdom for the heart by visiting wisdom online.org. That site is filled with valuable resources to equip and encourage you in your walk with Christ, if you ever miss one of these broadcasts you can go online to listen.
There are books, commentaries, Bible study guides and many other resources as well.
You'll find all of that@wisdomonline.org. I also encourage you to install the wisdom for the heart app to your smart phone. Once you do, you can take the teaching you hear wherever you go, you'll find the app in either the iTunes or the Google play store wisdom for the heart is also on Facebook and Twitter. We'd love to hear from you, and learn how the teaching of wisdom for the heart is blessing our email address is info@wisdomonline.org it would be encouraging for us to hear from you today. Be sure and tune in next time. Stephen will have another lesson from God's word so make plans to join us at this same time right here on wisdom for the horns