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Part 3 - The Fall and the Restoration
Restoration in Christ: Rest in Christ
The Sabbath day rest commanded by the Fourth Commandment is a type of the
rest found in Jesus Christ, for it is "a shadow of things to come" (Col.
2:17). The commandment is a negative one: "you shall not do any work" on the
seventh day. It is a commandment given to a redeemed people, the nation of
Israel. The work of redemption is completed and Israel is entering the
promised land. The literal interpretation of the Fourth Commandment is that
which pertains to Israel. It is a shadow of things to come however and so
has a spiritual application. God did a
work of redemption from sin and death for all the world, both Jew and
gentile, through the Messiah Jesus. As the redeemer of mankind, Jesus
claimed to be "the way" and that "no one comes to the Father except through
Me" (John 14:6). The believer is to rest in Christ as the Way and not
try to work his way to God.
A completed work
The believer's relationship to God rests upon the person of Jesus Christ
and the redemptive work He has completed. This is the foundation upon which
the temple of God, the church, is built: "For no other foundation can anyone
lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11). The
person and work of Christ is that which establishes a person's standing
before God. It is the basis and starting point for a right relationship with
God.
The finished work of Christ includes:
- Redemption - In the Fall, mankind and the creation under him
were sold under sin. Jesus purchased mankind back with His own blood,
making God the rightful owner of the world and all those in it. Strictly in this
sense, redemption is not salvation, but it allows God to work with what is
His in bringing salvation to fallen and sinful man. In redeeming mankind,
Jesus is the rightful lord not only of the saved, but also of those still
lost in sin and rebellion.
- Atonement, Propitiation, Expiation - When John the Baptist saw
Jesus he proclaimed, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of
the world" (John 1:29). Jesus is said to be the "Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). An extensive sacrificial system was
set up under the Mosaic law to deal with sin. This system points to Christ,
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away
sins" (Heb. 10:4). The death of Jesus on the cross deals completely with
sin that separates fallen man from a holy and righteous God. Atonement is the all-encompassing
term used to speak of the reconciliation that Christ brought between
sinful man and God, where sin is completely dealt with and the forgiveness
of sins made available. Propitiation is the averting of God's wrath toward
sin from man onto Christ. Expiation is the removal of the guilt of sin.
- Justification - Paul the Apostle said to the Jews regarding
Jesus, "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man
is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who
believes is justified from all things from which you could not be
justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38-39). Justification is the
imputation of righteousness, apart from works, where the believer is
considered just. It is just as if he had never sinned. This imputation
comes through faith, and is the result of the work of Christ. Paul wrote
concerning righteousness, "It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him
who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because
of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification" (Rom.
4:24-25). The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is an important aspect
of justification. It is Jesus who is considered perfectly just and
righteous by God, and the believer who is identified as being one with the
risen Christ has the righteousness of Christ imputed to him.
- Sanctification - The death of Jesus on the cross brought
redemption and atonement, His resurrection brought justification, and it
is His ascension to the Father that brought sanctification. Sanctification
is where the believer has been set apart and consecrated to God's
purposes, with provision made for these purposes to be accomplished. The
rest that one has in Christ, that is entered into by faith, is based upon
(among other things) the finished work of sanctification. Christ's work of
sanctification includes the setting of the believer apart into the light
of Christ, the heavenly dwelling place of Christ, the body of Christ, and
the rule of Christ. Christ's work includes the consecration of the
believer to sharing the light with the lost, to a relationship of worship
to and fellowship with God, to a ministry of edification to the body of
Christ, and to a relationship with Christ the Redeemer as His bride.
Christ has made full provision for this setting apart and consecration
through the Holy Spirit who was given to indwell the believer after the
ascension of Christ. (See Part Two).
The finished work of Christ leaves the believer no room to boast in his
own standing before God. It leaves the believer no room to share in the
work. The wisdom of God is that mankind who fell through the elevation of
his own strength above God's should be reconciled solely through the
strength of God. Paul therefore writes, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God; and righteousness and sanctification and
redemption; that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the
LORD.' " (1 Cor. 1:30-31).
The power of God
The wisdom of God is manifested in the cross of Christ. Paul wrote, "For
the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to
us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). When Jesus
said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow Me," it included denying that part of one's self, one's
strength, power, and ability. To follow Christ is to reckon that one, along
with one's strength, has been crucified with Him. This only leaves the power
of God to bring salvation, and it only gives the glory to God.
To be reconciled to God through Christ is to deny one's own strength and
to glory in God's strength. The demonstration of this is the rest of the
believer in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Paul said, "but we preach
Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks
foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:23-24). The Jews sought after
God according to their own works and righteousness, so the cross of Christ
was a stumbling block to them, an offense that testified that their own
works were insufficient. The unsaved gentiles considered the cross
foolishness, for the natural and fallen state of man is the place of lifting
oneself up upon the throne of one's heart.
"I will give you rest"
But those who answer the call of God, both Jews and gentiles, find rest
in Christ who said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am
gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My
yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30). Jesus takes away
the burden of the establishing of one's standing before God. He did and
completed the work and makes a rest available to those who would come to
Him.
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