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Q: What does the Bible say about spiritual debt?

The Bible teaches that all have sinned and owe a spiritual debt to the law of God, which is fulfilled by Jesus Christ. In Scripture, especially in Romans 6:23, we see that the wages of sin is death, indicating that every sinner owes a debt due to sin. This debt cannot be paid by mere religious actions but requires absolute obedience to God’s law, which no one can achieve. However, the good news is that Jesus Christ, through His sacrificial death, fully paid this debt for those chosen by God, as stated in Romans 8:1, 'There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.' Thus, believers can rest assured that their spiritual obligations have been rendered in Christ.

Q: How do we know that Christ is our substitute?

The New Testament affirms that Christ was the perfect substitute who bore our sins and fulfilled the law on our behalf. The concept of substitution in history is illustrated in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, particularly in Genesis 49:14-15, where Issachar represents a picture of Christ as a burden bearer. Hebrews 9:12-14 connects these sacrifices to Christ's ultimate sacrifice, emphasizing that His blood achieved eternal redemption. Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that we could be declared righteous before God. Hence, we can confidently trust that Christ's substitutionary atonement satisfies God's justice on our behalf.

Q: Why is understanding grace important for Christians?

Understanding grace is crucial as it highlights that our salvation is based solely on God's unmerited favor, not our works. Grace shapes the core of the Gospel, emphasizing that no amount of human effort can fulfill God’s law. Romans 8:1 demonstrates how believers have no condemnation due to their faith in Christ, who answers for their sin and makes them righteous before God. Understanding grace frees us from the burden of works-based righteousness and enables true rest in God's mercy. Resting in grace allows Christians to serve out of love and gratitude rather than fear of condemnation, which is the essence of the Christian life.

Q: How does Jesus' sacrifice relate to Old Testament sacrifices?

Jesus’ sacrifice fulfills and surpasses the Old Testament sacrificial system as the ultimate and final atonement for sin. In the Old Testament, sacrifices like the heifer in Numbers 19 were symbolic of the atonement for sin, pointing to the ultimate Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:12 articulates that His blood, unlike the blood of goats and calves, secured eternal redemption. Jesus, the fulfillment of Old Testament types, bore the sins of His people and satisfied God's justice through His sacrifice. Therefore, He replaces the old system of animal sacrifices with His own perfect offering, making it possible for believers to receive forgiveness and righteousness through faith in Him.

I'm going to ask you to take your Bibles and turn with me to the book of Genesis chapter 49. Genesis 49. I'd like to look at a couple of verses as we continue in this blessed book. Verses 14 and 15. Genesis 49. Genesis 49 verse 14, Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens.

He saw that rest was good and the land that it was pleasant, and bowed his shoulder to bear and became a servant unto tribute Now there is nothing more comforting to a needy sinner Than to know that truly I Want to hear what I'm about to say. I've got this written down in my notes, but I want to hear what I have to say Right here.

There's nothing that is more comforting than to know that my debt, my spiritual debt before the law of God has been fully paid and that my obligation for obedience to God Almighty has been fully rendered by the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and his death paying my debt. The wages of sin is death and I am a sinner. And because I'm a sinner, I owe a debt to the law of God. The wages of sin, the pay of sin is death.

And without obedience to God Almighty, I'm talking about obedience, I'm not talking about what a fickle man or woman can do, doing a few little religious actions. I'm talking about absolute obedience in word and thought and deed and never could there be found an infraction, a failure. This is what it's going to take for me to enter into glory. I have to have a perfect righteousness to stand before God. And I have to have absolutely no charge that can be laid to my account for obedience to God's law. That's the only way I'm going to be in heaven. That's the only way I'm going to leave this earth and have any hope of glory.

I can't owe anything to God's law. Everything's got to be taken care of. this verse that we deal with so often, and it's such an absolute truth. Now listen, Romans 8, the Apostle Paul was moved to say, there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh. who walk not, and that word walk, that has no impulse whatsoever, no thought, not even a fleeting thought, there's no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after any impulse of sin, never even think anything. that God won't accept. There's no condemnation to them, but walk after the spirit.

I need a savior. I need one to save me. I need one who will stand and answer for me. Well, knowing that truth and looking at this passage of scripture, those two verses that we just read, I want us to just look for just a few minutes at what is being said in verses 14 to 15, and I'm telling you, the more I've read it, the greater blessing that those two verses of scripture have been to me. And I pray they will be to you.

Now we know this. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. And all scripture, according to the word of the Lord Jesus Christ, he said, you search the scriptures, and in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they that testify of me. So I know that what I'm about to read right now is concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Now our passage today starts off, verse 14, it says, Issachar, here's Issachar, I know this, According to the word of the Lord, they are they, these scriptures speak of Christ. So Issachar is a type of Christ. He's one of the sons of Jacob, I know that. But these words are concerning Christ, Issachar.

Here's what his name means. There is recompense. Issachar, that's what that word means, his name. It means there is recompense. That's what the word recompense means. And the reason I want to explain all these words is because I, like you, am so ignorant. I don't really know exactly what all these words mean. So I have to search them out. Recompense. If somebody asks you, say, what does recompense mean? Well, let me tell you what it means. It means that amends or compensation has been made on behalf of an offense. That's at Issachar means there is recompense. Amends have been made. Whatever's due, it's been supplied. by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for those that the Lord has everlastingly loved in Christ Jesus the Lord. Issachar, recompense. It's been paid.

Now, this mighty spiritual Issachar, the Lord Jesus Christ, is said, according to these words, now just 14, 15, Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens. Now, here's what I know when I think of knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ is being spoken of. He is a strong ass couching down between two burdens. I know that there is one of great strength Because the scripture says Issachar is a strong, and it means great strength.

He is the one who is of great strength, who is able to bear a burden, a burden that I owe and every man, woman born in Adam owes. But by the grace of God, that burden There's been compensation made for it. There's been recompense made for it. And so here's the Lord Jesus Christ spoken of. Issachar is a strong ass. The Lord Jesus Christ is a strong, able, and the word strong there means a bone, B-O-N-E, a bone.

And also, it means skeleton. Now, let me ask you something. I looked at those words and I started thinking about that. A bone, skeleton. What's holding up your body? Well, you say muscles. That's right. But you got a skeleton. And that skeleton is what's holding all of this together. The muscles are tied to it. But without the skeleton, those muscles would just fall down. That skeleton, and that's what that word Issachar is a strong ass.

Here's now that word ass. There's another one. I can assume I know what that means. But here's what the word actually means. The word ass there is a word that refers to color, C-O-L-O-R, color. And actually, it means ruddy, R-U-D-D-Y. It means a healthy red color.

Issachar is a strong ass, the scripture declares, couching down between two burdens. So here's the Lord Jesus Christ. Now get it in your mind. Here's the Lord Jesus Christ, the great spiritual It's a car. And he is one that we look upon and see that because of him, compensation has been made by someone who is strong, mighty, and able.

And this word ass, it means that he is one of health. Hell, ruddy means a healthy color. You know, if you look at somebody and they're just, they're pale and they, you know, you say, you know, your color just ain't right. You just, you feel okay. But if they've got good color to them, that color is indicating something. If you're sick, you're just a little under the weather or something, and you're pale, You look at somebody, they got a little tinge of yellow to them, you say, you know, something ain't right here.

But this spiritual Issachar, he's a strong ass, couching down. Now, I, on this, on this word here, ass, meaning a healthy color, putting all those words together, I want to, I want to hold your place right there. Turn with me to numbers. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Numbers chapter 19, Numbers 19. I thought what a precious passage. Numbers 19, I want to read verses 1 to 10.

The scripture says, And the Lord spake unto Moses, unto Aaron, saying, This is the ordinance of the law, which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a heifer, a red heifer. You bring before me a healthy, a healthy heifer, one that's able, sufficient to carry a burden. With that spot, Without blemish, can you see already, you can see the picture here of the Lord Jesus Christ, it's red heifer.

He said, without blemish and upon which never came a yoke, and ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest that he may bring her forth without the camp and one shall slay her before his face. And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times. And one shall burn," now grab hold of that word right there we just said, you shall burn the heifer in his sight, her skin, her flesh, her blood, With dung shall he burn, and the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, scarlet, cast it upon the midst of the burning of the heifer. Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall wash his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, bathe his flesh in water, shall be unclean even till the evening, and the man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and lay them without the camp.

It shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation. It's a purification for sin. And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and shall be unclean till the evening, shall be for the children of Israel and to the stranger that sojourneth among them for a statute forever.

Now here's what Scripture says. This ass, it's talking about one that's got healthy color, he's healthy, he's strong, He's a burden bearer, one that's able. He said, I want you to take him. This is going to be the sacrifice that's given. You take that heifer. You kill that heifer. No spot, no blemish. And you burn him. And you take the ashes of that heifer, that calf, and you spread them around the calf.

And that's gonna be a picture, a sign of something. Now keep those words in your mouth, in your mind there. Turn with me to Hebrews 9, 12. That was Hebrews 9, verse 12, 14. Hebrews 9. Here we are in the Old Testament now. This was of the law. This was what God told Moses. This is what I want you to do. I want you to take a heifer, stick that heifer, put your hands on him, burn him, take those ashes, sprinkle them around the camp. There's a picture. There's a picture. Picture of what?

Well, Hebrews chapter 9, verse 12 to 14 tells us. Hebrews 9, verse 12. by the blood of goats and calves, by his own blood, he entered at once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, self, having purged your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Back here in the Old Testament, Genesis 49, God was telling his son, he said, I want you to take a calf.

This is what I want you to do. You take that calf, healthy, ruddy calf, healthy, good color, good color to it, healthy one. I want you to take that calf and I want you to burn him for a sacrifice. I want you to take those ashes and spread them around. That's a picture of what it was going to take for God to put away sin. You're going to have to have a healthy substitute, healthy sacrifice. You burn him. You burn him. And you take those ashes, you sprinkle them around. Then in Hebrews it says this, if the blood of bulls and calves, the ashes couldn't put away sin, it was going to take one thing.

It was going to take the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ who made himself a sacrifice for sin. Now how comforting can we already see in this beautiful passage of Jacob's blessing upon Issachar, the one who was going to make amends for it, going to make amends for his people. Oh, I tell you how comforting it is to have him seen and beheld the accomplishment of the eternal will of Almighty God. Back in Genesis 49, here we're continuing the blessing. Issachar, the Lord Jesus Christ, he's a strong ass, couching down between two Couching down. Now what was he doing?

When I first read that word, couching down, I think of squatting, I think of, you know, but here's what it is. Lying down and stretching out like an animal which has his feet gathered in. I thought how nice it is, you know, have you ever felt how good it is to, when you come in, you're tired, and you're thinking of one thing, you know, if I could just lay down for just a few minutes, look, just give me 15 minutes, which means I'm gonna sleep as long as I want to, and just lay down, and you think, do you know how good this bed feels? You think, oh, it feels so good, I'm just gonna lay down, stretch out, Pull my feet up under me. Just relax.

Here's what scripture says. Issachar, he's that strong ass. He's couching down. And here, couching down for what? Between two burdens. Now the Lord has finished the work. that was demanded of Almighty God. He has satisfied God, and he's done this. He's couching down, he's relaxing. That's what that word, couching down, just relaxing, he's resting. Everything is done, everything is satisfied. And he's resting in his people that sees him resting. those that have trusted him and laid down all their hope of glory in him. Lord, whatever you've done and applied to me, by faith I can do the same thing. Lord, if you who represent me, those that the Lord represents, you know how you can know how the Lord It's done all that He's done for you. Here's what it is. I trust you. I trust you. I'm not trusting in my faith in you. I'm not trusting in my works. I'm not trusting, I'm not trusting in anything. Here's what I'm doing. Lord, I believe that you have answered for me.

And Lord, oh, in the words, I cannot get away from the words of that dying thief, I think. This dying thief, now, here he is. He could probably think back on all he's gone through in his life and all of it. He was a thief. Now, I don't know the depth of what he did, but I can tell you this. I know that everything that he had ever done, he couldn't go back and start realizing, well, you know, I went to church and I went this and I did this and I did You know, made rededication and I redid, you know, uh-uh. He had one hope. Lord, when you enter into your kingdom, would you remember me in mercy? Would you remember me?

Lord, this is all I've got. This is all I've got. I don't have anything else. I have nothing else. I can look back on my actions and thoughts, and I'm thinking, what a mess. What a mess. And that's what every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ thinks of himself. Paul the Apostle says, in me, I know in my flesh, there dwelleth, what? No good thing. There's not one thing that I can think about in me.

There's not one thing But in my heart, Lord, that you've given me faith to believe you, I believe you. Lord, would you remember this sinner? Would you have mercy on me? Would you have mercy? In my hand, no price I bring simply to the cross, what was accomplished at the cross.

That's the only thing I've got. And here is, here is this, Man, Issachar, a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, verse 14. Issachar is a strong ass, couching down, resting, relaxing between two burdens, two burdens. I looked up the word burden, and here's what it means. It means an ash heat. A heap of ashes. That's what the word burden means. It means a heap of ashes. The Lord told Moses, he said, you take a heifer. You take a heifer. And you take that heifer for a sacrifice. And you burn him. You burn him. And you take the ashes and you sprinkle them for the congregation.

And Almighty God said, this is the way in which you're going to worship me. Back in Numbers, we just read that a few minutes ago. And when I read this, what a burden is. He was resting between two burdens. He was resting between, it also means a fireplace. Fireplace or a heap of ash, that's what it means. Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ rests in this. Lord, you have suffered the fire of God's judgment on my behalf. And what I'm doing, I'm trusting you. That burden by which God was satisfied, this heap of ash, You're talking about just that dust, that was a picture, that was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What did I owe? What did I owe? Well, being a sinner, I said a moment ago, the wages of sin is death. The Lord Jesus Christ laid down his life for the sheep for those chosen in him that's what he said I lay down my life for the sheep for all those given him for the foundation of the world and with him bearing the guilt I lay down my life for the sheep with him bearing my guilt before God and Almighty God pouring out Wrath, where sin was found.

Christ was made sin. I can't say this enough. He was not a sinner. He was not a sinner. He was made sin. And I told you before, I can't understand the depth of it, but I can tell you this. He obediently bore the guilt of all of his people in his own body, and he was without sin. He was their sin-bearer, and he was not disobedient. Sin is transgression of the law, and he did not transgress the law.

Great mystery there, but I can tell you this, he bore, the scripture says, two burdens. What did he bear? He bore, number one, he bore the sin of his people. And with him bearing the sin of his people and dying under the wrath of Almighty God, which was what was pictured when Moses was told, you take that animal, that heifer, and you burn him and you take the ashes of that heifer and you sprinkle it on, you know what that says?

Justice has been satisfied. That's the picture. Wrath has been poured out. And that pile of ash in the Old Testament back in Numbers that was sprinkled, that was a picture, that was a type. Christ has borne our sin. But here's the second thing I needed. He had two burdens. I had to have my debt before the law paid. And here was the second thing. Almighty God had to give me a righteousness, had to impute his righteousness. I had to have my debt paid and I have got to be perfect before God.

God has got to look upon me and there's no blame, there's no guilt, there's no infraction of the law. There's none. He looks upon me And in Christ, in Christ, in Christ, I have no sin. In Christ, I have no sin. In me, I'm nothing but sin. But in him, if he imputes righteousness unto me, if he gives me, robes me in his righteousness, I am in Christ holy. I'm holy. Now that's the gospel. That's the gospel.

That's the good news. The good news is not that I've been baptized. Good news is not that I've rededicated my life. Good news is not that I've done some, you know, nice works. Here's the good news. Almighty God on my behalf has paid my debt and imputed, robed me in his righteousness. Now that's good news, that's the good news. Hold your place, I'm almost done here.

2 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 5.21, we've read this so many times, I'm gonna read it again.

2 Corinthians 5.21. Here's what the scripture says.

2 Corinthians 5.21, for he that is God the Father made him sin for us.

For us who? Well, according to the word of the Lord, he laid down his life for the sheep. I laid down my life for the sheep. He died for a particular people, those given him by the Father. He hath made him sin for us who knew no sin. Why? that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. In Him. Back in Genesis 49, I'm going to just read this second verse. Verse 15. And he saw he who Not Issachar, this is a picture of Christ. And he saw that rest, rest, to be able to rest, settle down. He saw that rest was good. Let me ask you that believe. Is it not good to you that God has put away your sin? You that believe Him, trust Him. and not yourself. Is rest is not good, is that not good for you? To be able to relax.

I can go to bed at night, knowing, thinking back, you know how times when I didn't even know all of a sudden something come on me, I didn't even know what was happening. Some of you that were there when these little incidences happened to me, it weren't little, They were incidents, but not little. I didn't even know what was going on. I didn't even know it before I knew it. I think I could have been gone and never knew I left this world.

Scripture says he saw that rest. That I can rest before God. And I can sing with joy. Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin had left the crimson stain, he washed it, white as snow. He saw that rest was good, good. David said, behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together. You know how good it is to be able to just be together with you this morning and know that there's a group of people that's come together and all they want to do, all they want to do, this is all they want, don't entertain me, I don't want to be entertained.

You tell me one more time what God has done for me. You tell me that again and it's fresh every morning. The mercies of God, they're new every day. How many times have you heard the gospel preached? And every time you hear it, you think, you know what? That's good. That's good. Tell me again. I pray God bless this to our hearts.

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Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about spiritual debt?

How do we know that Christ is our substitute?

Why is understanding grace important for Christians?

How does Jesus' sacrifice relate to Old Testament sacrifices?

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Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about spiritual debt?

How do we know that Christ is our substitute?

Why is understanding grace important for Christians?

How does Jesus' sacrifice relate to Old Testament sacrifices?

Sermon Transcript

About Marvin Stalnaker

Comments

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