Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. But just as surely as all
men shall individually face judgment for their sins, so too did Christ
make atonement for His people as individuals, which were chosen
in Him before the foundation of the world. This very fact
overturns the notion that His atonement is general in nature,
as a blanket covering for the sins of all men. He died for
certain men, atoned for certain sins, and obtained a certain
redemption for them. Neither by the blood of goats
and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy
place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. This is the
basis upon which the sons of God have the hope of eternal
life and expect to stand in the day of judgment, as those whose
sin is covered by his righteousness. The judgment under condemnation,
which rightly should have been theirs, has fallen upon him who
has delivered them from the curse of the law and granted unto them
the right to be called the sons of God. A certain man, Lazarus
of Bethany, fell sick and ultimately died, as all men will. Lazarus'
death, however, was not unto death, but rather unto life,
as the Lord ordained both his sickness and his death to demonstrate
his power over death itself in a most striking fashion. There
is no doubt that the Lord could have prevented his friend Lazarus'
death by healing him of his disease, just as he had so many others.
Yet he tarried on purpose upon being told about the illness
of Lazarus, so that Lazarus might die. Certain men were present
on that day when the most startling of all the miracles which the
Lord Jesus performed was carried out. Certain of those that were
gathered there were those who already believed the Lord's teaching
and loved Him. They would be strengthened by
what they saw. Certain men had perhaps heard of this man Jesus,
who after what they witnessed would be caused to believe in
Him. Certain men were there as spies who would report to the
Pharisees of what they perceived to be a man of power who threatened
the religious structure of the Jews. Not one of these certain
men was there by chance or happenstance. Every step that each of them
took was ordained by him who would demonstrate the power and
sovereign right of God to make one vessel into honor and another
to dishonor as pleased him. Martha, being of a very practical
mind, expressed an objection when the Lord told men to take
away the stone which covered the tomb's entrance. She was
right to be concerned about the stench which would surely come
forth from the rotting corpse of Lazarus. Yet this stench was
itself ordained by him, so that there might be no doubt that
Lazarus was dead, beyond any hope of reviving. The Lord would
have those certain men which were present there to smell death
itself, and to understand that it is impossible for a man to
live again apart from the supernatural work of God. A tree may be cut
down and yet sprout from its root, but when men die, they
return to the dust from whence they came. But man dieth and
wasteth away, yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and dryeth
up, so man lieth down and riseth not. The Lord had the stone removed
as an illustration of the fact that the grave shall be opened
and the dead in Christ shall be raised from the dust. The
Lord cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. This was
a call to a certain man, elsewise all of the dead would have come
forth. Even so is the call of the Lord to each one of his children.
He calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out. And when
he put forth his own sheep, he goeth before them and the sheep
follow him, for they know his voice. He removed the stone from
the grave's mouth so that Lazarus could come out. The living have
no place among the dead. And he that was dead came forth,
bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was bound
about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose
him, and let him go. This is an illustration of the
preaching of the gospel to the sons of God who were made alive
in Christ. For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. Until a man is awakened by the
Spirit, he cannot see the light which is shed forth in the preaching
of the gospel. who has saved us and called us
with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to
his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing
of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death and
hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Have you seen this light? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.