Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of More Shorts for Zion's Tour. Paul said, For when
we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous
man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even
dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, and while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. There are two astounding
truths set forth in this passage. Paul said that it is not astounding
that one man might die for another, especially if he deemed the other
man worthy of such sacrifice. However, he said it is most certainly
is astounding that one would die for an unworthy wretch who
had no benefits to offer and deserve to be destroyed. Such
is that people for whom Christ shed his precious blood. Christ
died for the ungodly. He bled for those who disobeyed
Him, disregarded Him, and even dismissed Him as a failure and
an imposter. None stood with Him, but all
forsook Him and fled. He trod the winepress of God's
wrath alone in their behalf and without their aid. Jesus Christ
was no ordinary man, but rather was the eternal Son of God, who
knew no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Can anyone
begin to fathom the wonders of the incarnation of that eternal
and only begotten son to merely walk among men, let alone that
he who is eternal life should die in their place? The atonement
which Christ made for his elect bride gains all of its worth
from the fact that he is who he is. No other man who has ever
lived could have ever even atoned for his own sins, let alone taken
away the sin of another. But he who had no sin became
sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God
in him. Who is He? He is the fullness
of the Godhead bodily. That means that He is indeed
God, the same One who created all things and by whom all things
consist. Without Him was nothing made
that was made. Yet He has taken on a body of
flesh and blood that He might dwell among men, revealing Himself
as the One with the Father and the Holy Ghost. who being in
the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God,
but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of
a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. It was impossible that
men should have ever had any contact or understanding of God,
except that it pleased Him to manifest Himself as the Son of
God in the person of Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is
in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. Who is he?
He is the head of all principality and power. There is no power
that is not ordained by God to fulfill his own purpose. Even
as he said to Isaiah, I form the light and create darkness.
I make peace and create evil. I, the Lord, do all these things.
The forces of evil and men of wickedness, which were created
to be destroyed, serve the ordained purpose of God and can in no
wise be found to operate contrary to that purpose. The Lord has
made all things for himself, yea, even the wicked for the
day of evil. Therefore he has complete dominion over every
form of authority or government that could possibly exist in
the universe, and has demonstrated his own mighty power in his triumph
over them as the God-man. And you, being dead in your sins
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, have he quickened together
with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out
the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his
cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of
them openly, triumphing over them in it. The deliverance of
the elect of God is established by the decree and purpose of
him who does all things according to the pleasure of his will.
Yet he has not seen fit merely to decree the deliverance of
those who are the apple of his eye, but to actually procure
their redemption by taking upon himself the very penalty under
which they dwell. The just dying for the unjust,
the pure taking upon himself the sin of ungodly men. Had any
attempt to redeem the fallen sons of God been undertaken by
any other than this Lamb of God, it could not have succeeded.
John records this vision. And I wept much, because no man
was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to
look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto
me, Weep not, behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root
of David, hath prevailed to open the book. And in the midst of
the elders stood a lamb as it had been slain. And he came and
took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take
the book, to open the seals thereof, for thou was slain. and has redeemed
us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, tongue, and people,
and nation, and has made us unto our God kings and priests, and
we shall reign on the earth. We are complete in Him. If you
would like a free transcript of this broadcast, email us at
forthepoor at windstream.net.