30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 29 God’s gift of salvation in Jesus
📖 Luke 16:19-31
01Jun2020 - *God’s gift of salvation in Jesus* - _Luke 16:19-31_ - Bible reading: _II Corinthians 5:21_
_Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented._
We have established the three reasons for the evil in our world. The bad news.
1. Man is dead (Though dead he is still the ruler over God's creation)
2. Man has now become the arbitrator of good and evil from the place of death.
3. Satan is inflicting death into the whole of creation, through man, who has become a vassal of Satan
We have understood the predicament of man and we have seen that man’s predicament is fatal and terminal. Man is not able to save himself. Man was in need of a Saviour.
God, because of His nature of love was stepping in to be man’s Saviour and provide a comprehensive solution for man and for the whole of creation, which is languishing. As much as God is love, He is also just and so the justice of God too had to be fully met in the solution of love that God was providing for man and for the whole of creation.
What is the good news that will solve the bad news?
To understand and appreciate the good news, we will take up each of the three reasons, for the evil in our world, one by one, and see the solution of God to these three reasons. Remember the solution of God was both God's love as well as His justice.
To settle the payment of man’s death, which was caused because of man’s sin, which happened when man was tempted and he fell, Jesus had to identify with the same situation and be victorious over sin, so that He could pay man’s death.
First, He came in human flesh _(John 1:14)_ .
He came in the same flesh of Adam, which he had before the fall. He was tempted at all points like us and yet was without sin. He was also being our High Priest, who could sympathise with our weaknesses for He became as vulnerable as us but lived without sin. _Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin._
In this solution, Jesus was also providing a way by which, from now on, we could overcome sin in our flesh. _Hebrews 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted._
In living without sin in His flesh, Jesus dealt a mortal blow to this whole problem of sin in the flesh that had taken hold of man. _Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,_ The Law was our tutor to bring us to Christ but the Law could not empower our flesh to overcome sin. Jesus provided this solution for us through His flesh. When we appropriate His flesh, by faith, we are able to experience victory over sin in our flesh.
Jesus could now be our substitute and take our death upon Himself. _II Corinthians 5:21 For He _(God)_ made Him _(Jesus)_ who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him._ He became sin for us. The entire sin of every human being, from the beginning of time to the end of time, was placed on Jesus, who knew no sin. He is our Substitute to pay for our sin, by His death. By becoming our Substitute, He was also our Propitiator to God, to meet His righteousness.
Thus, God was manifesting His love as well as His justice in Jesus. _I John 3:5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin._
*Thought to ponder*
```How great …thou art!```