Thursday, March 1, 2012

The Great Exchange. -Rev. James Lee (Crosslife Church)

According to a Jewish rabbi who counted them out (I should check his numbers sometime), there are 365 prohibitions and 248 positive commands in the Torah. That is, there are 365 "You shall not ... " and 248 "You shall ... " commands. And Jesus did them all. 

Double Imputation:
Our sins are imputed to Christ, and thus Christ is called condemned.
Christ's righteousness is imputed to us, and thus we are called justified. 

Ok. So Jesus had to die for our sins' guilt, and we need a lifetime's merit to be even called an "unprofitable servant." 

--Why is the resurrection necessary? 

The catechism would say something like the resurrection "is proof of justification and efficacious death exchange." Wow. Cool vocabulary. 

--But is the resurrection necessary for salvation?

"For if the dead are not raised, 
not even Christ has been raised; 
and if Christ has not been raised, 
your faith is worthless; 
you are still in your sins."
(I Corinthians 15:16-17 NASB)

"Now not for his [Abraham's] sake only was it written that it [righteousness] was credited to him [for believing in God's promise], 
but for our sake also, to whom it [righteousness] will be credited,
as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
[Jesus] who was delivered over because of our transgressions,
and who was raised because of our justification." 
(Romans 4:23-25 NASB)

We are not justified without the resurrection of Jesus.
Resurrection and New Life
Humans sin and are sinners (which is a sin in itself!)--we'll call the state of the fall "depravity". 
(Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13, Romans 8:5-8)

The moment a person believes, that one is baptized in the Spirit and unified with Christ. This means that whatever happens to the crucified and buried Christ happens to that baptized soul. 
(I Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3: ?)

Jesus crucified the flesh [depravity], buried our sins, and rose to life. 
(Romans 6:1-11)

How does one fix one's depravity? Kill it. Crucify!
(I Peter 1:3)

The reason we live is because Christ lives. 

Resurrection and our justification (...and sanctification... and glorification)
Romans 4:25 is vexing to theologians. Why? Because it refers to Jesus's resurrection being the justification of believers.  

--How was Jesus raised from death to life?

There is a connection between righteousness and life. Those who live, live because they are righteous.
(Habakkuk 2:4, all of Proverbs, Genesis 6)

Jesus fulfilled all things God requires of men. He is the unprofitable servant, perfectly representing mankind.
(Philippians 2:1-9)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? 
(Micah 6:8 NASB)

Life is not denied from the righteous. 
The resurrection is Jesus's justification; He is declared righteous by His own righteousness. 

By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh,
was vindicated [justified] in the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory. 
(I Timothy 3:16 NASB)

Jesus died in our sins that we may die to depravity.
Jesus lived that we might one day live and cease sinning. 

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
(I Corinthians 15:22 NASB)

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