Consequences of Sin (2)
By Timothy Glover
In our last lesson, we studied on the consequences of sin. Humanity was alienated from God. Yet, in his great love for us, God has offered a way of salvation (John 3:16).
God, who is just, cannot overlook sin and continue to fellowship his creatures overcome by it. The expected result would be humanity’s eternal punishment. Paul wrote, "Cursed is every man who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them"(Gal. 2:10). Romans 4:15 tells us that the law works wrath. There is no justification for those who seek it by works of law because all are transgressors of law (Rom. 3:20, 23). The problem is how God could maintain his justice while justifying sinful humanity at the same time.
Jesus, who identified with humans, (Heb. 2:9-18), "made himself to be sin for us, who knew no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21) and "tasted death for every man". He took our sins upon himself. Now, it required his sinless life. Otherwise, he would have been suffering for his own sins. He was the perfect sacrificial lamb who died in our place. As a result of sin being justly dealt with in death, and the removal of the Old Law which was against us (Col. 2:14), humanity could then be justified.
The term "justified" is a courtroom term that carries the idea of an acquittal. The picture is that of a guilty soul who deserves death. Yet, through the sacrifice of one willing to die in your place, God frees you of all guilt and treats you as if you were innocent. The faith in one’s renewed fellowship with God is through Jesus and his death. One’s confidence in this gift of life, is based upon the fact that God’s justice has been met through the "blood" of Jesus, God’s spotless lamb. "Being justified as a gift by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.... for the demonstration I say of his righteousness at the present time, that he might be JUST and THE JUSTIFIER of the one who has faith in Jesus."-Ro. 3:24-ff
This plan did two things in "destroying the power of the devil" (Heb. 2:14). First, through an apparent defeat of Jesus, the devil’s dominion in people’s lives is gone (Rom 6:14). His role as the "accuser of men" has weakened because the Old way of justification by "works of law" has been canceled and a new testament (legal will) is now in force (Heb. 8:7-13; 9:15-18) -- the new covenant.
Second, it allowed the man Jesus to enter the grave, Satan’s stronghold. There, he could free himself of its clutch, and leave Satan powerless to control humanity. Jesus’ resurrection is victory over death and our assurance of the same (1 Cor. 15:20-26). "Death is swallowed up in victory. Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory... But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"(1Cor.15:54-57).
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