In the sermon "Sweet Incense of Grace," Norm Wells addresses the theological doctrines of grace and the exclusive role of Christ in salvation, as exemplified through the Old Testament character of Eleazar. Wells argues that Eleazar’s task of carrying the sweet incense represents Christ's atoning work and the grace that is offered to sinners who cannot save themselves. He cites Scripture, such as Numbers 4:16 and multiple passages from Luke, to illustrate that Jesus Christ is uniquely capable of cleansing sinners and fulfilling the law, demonstrating that all are inherently incapable of achieving righteousness. This theological discourse emphasizes the essential Reformed belief in the total depravity of humanity, the necessity of Christ's work for salvation, and the profound grace extended to believers, thereby encouraging a reliance on God's sovereignty in salvation rather than human effort.
Key Quotes
“People are not saved that way. They're saved alone by God.”
“Don't try to make a substitute for the Lord Jesus Christ. He is in a class by himself.”
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ.”
“By grace, by grace alone, I am what I am.”
The Bible teaches that grace is the unmerited favor of God toward sinners, exemplified through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Scripture highlights grace as an essential aspect of God's nature, characterized by His unmerited favor towards undeserving sinners. In Numbers 4:16, Eleazar's responsibility to carry the sweet incense symbolizes how, through Christ, God provides for His people’s needs, leading us into deeper fellowship with Him. The New Testament reinforces this through passages like John 8, where Jesus offers forgiveness and grace to the woman caught in adultery, illustrating that it’s God's grace that brings redemption and hope, not human effort or merit.
Numbers 4:16, John 8:10-11
God's grace is crucial for Christians because it underpins our salvation and empowers us to live according to His will.
God's grace is foundational for the Christian faith as it assures believers that their salvation is not based on their merit but solely on the work of Christ. As seen in the example of Eleazar's role with the altar incense, grace is represented as the means through which believers can approach God. Without grace, no one could stand before God since all have sinned. Romans 3:23 affirms that all fall short of the glory of God, emphasizing the necessity of grace to bridge that gap. Ultimately, it is grace that transforms our lives, enabling us to walk in obedience and worship God in truth.
Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:8-9
Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for salvation because, through Him, we receive forgiveness of sins and imputed righteousness.
The sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice for salvation is evidenced throughout Scripture, most notably in His statements about being the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). In Numbers, Eleazar's roles imply that there is a divinely set means for atonement and offers a foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate sacrifice. This is emphasized in the book of Hebrews, which explains that Jesus entered the holy place once for all, securing eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12). Thus, believers can rest assured that through faith in Christ alone, they are justified and reconciled to God, not through their works but through grace.
John 14:6, Hebrews 9:12
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