Ans. It was because man was lost, a sinner in nature, by birth and by practice, that God sent His 'on in love to die. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. (Matt. 9:1313But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13), Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10).) The Jew, the Gentile and the unconverted professor of Christianity will all be judged for their sins. (See Horn. 2:12; Matt. 22:1212And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (Matthew 22:12).) And read carefully Rom. 9:2222What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (Romans 9:22); Eph. 5-6; Col. 3:66For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (Colossians 3:6), which show that the unconverted have fitted themselves for eternal wrath by their wicked works. None will be loss: because that they were born sinners, but all will he judged for their sins that die without Christ. Babes that die before the years of responsibility are saved by the death of Christ. (Matt. 18:1010Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10))
Those to whom the gospel is preached, who neglect it or reject it, do indeed add to their sins, the worst one of all, for by so doing they are condemned already. But whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins, full forgiveness. (Acts 10:43; 13:38, 3943To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)
38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39).)
If they will not believe it, this crowning sin seals their doom, and their judgment will be greater than those who have never heard the gospel. (Luke 12:47, 4847And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:47‑48).)
Ans. In the peace offering (Lev. 3:3, 43And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 4And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. (Leviticus 3:3‑4)) we have Jehovah's portion of the offering, in the inward energies, emotions and feelings of the Lord typified. In the offering priest, type of Christ (verse 33), the right shoulder is for His part, the strength is His. Aaron and his sons, type of Christ and the Church (verse 34), feed on the wave breast and the heave shoulder together. There love and strength are both seen. It is the fellowship of the whole Church of God.
Then the offerer and his associates eat the rest on that day; if it was a thank offering, and if a voluntary offering, the spiritual power continues another day; but after that, the remainder must be consumed with fire. It must always be connected with offering to God. And it was the common enjoyment of all believers if they were clean from defilement. Therefore the directions follow the law of the sin and trespass offering.
In 1 John it is necessarily higher than Lev., for it is the fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. This is Christianity, the knowledge of the Father and of the Son. It is only known and enjoyed since Jesus died and rose again. It is wonderful to have delight in what the Father delights in, in His Son, and with the Son in the knowledge of the Father.
To have such fellowship, we must be in the light, to have communion with each other, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth us from all sin. This is a statement of our Christian position, and without it we could not have fellowship with the Father and the Son.
On the ground of sacrifice, pointing to the death of Christ, God starts the world again, though man is incorrigibly bad. He gives relief from the curse by cultivation, promising seed time and harvest and all the seasons to run their course without fail Noah fails to govern himself; the first magistrate or ruler was the first victim to drunkenness by cultivating a vineyard. It is on the ground of the propitiation of Christ that God can bear with this present world.
Ans. In creation, as in redemption, we find the Son doing the Father's will. It is the Father's will, the Son's work, the Holy Spirit's power. He has it by inheritance, but in John's gospel where He has emptied Himself, and taken the servant's place, we find all things put into His hands as a man who has vanquished death and the grave, and all the power of Satan. And who can claim a place for man in heavenly glory. The blessing is obtained in resurrection. And so also is His Messiah ship in Psa. 21: 1 given in resurrection.
Ans. Yes, and so it is in Rom. 8:2929For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29); Col. 1:1818And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18); Rev. 1:55And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5). But in Col. 1:1515Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15). He is the first born of all creation; that is, when He became a babe, He must necessarily be the highest part of it. First born is a title of dignity. Only begotten is the Father's title of affection for the One who ever lay in His bosom.
Ans. 1 Cor. 12 shows the functions of the body in its activities in the assembly on the earth, as when the apostle wrote-not for continuance. We may not take the place of evangelists, pastors or teachers, but we may be helps, and if walking with the Lord will be helping to guide the saints in His ways.
"God Is Good!"