Why Jesus Came – Sermon Application #2
As we have been learning, studying Jesus’ purposes for coming into the world lead us to meditate on many wonderful truths about our salvation! We know that Jesus came to save us, but the glory of this salvation unfolds before us only as we continue searching the Scriptures. In Sunday’s sermon, we examined several marvelous purposes for Christ’s first coming, and we know that His purposes never fail!
Application to sanctification:
In the tenth chapter of John’s gospel, where Jesus is pictured as the Good Shepherd, we learn of another purpose for Christ’s coming. Jesus says, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (Jhn. 10:10). The essence of this abundant life is not found in perishing things and passing circumstances. Such thoughts are guilty of substituting a lie for Jesus Himself, for He is the Abundant Life (Jhn. 11:25, 14:6; 1 Jhn. 1:2, 5:12). The Bible says, “God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 Jhn. 4:9). To share in the life of Jesus─ as poured into us by the Spirit─ is the abundant life (1 Jhn. 1:1-3; 2 Pet. 1:4). As the Scripture says, “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Rom. 5:5). Christ’s purpose in coming then, was not limited to atoning for our sins, but was also to obtain the blessing of the Holy Spirit. In this way we are not only saved from eternal death, but we are saved daily from the death of all who do not live on Christ (1 Tim. 5:6; Rev. 3:1). As we learn to live on our True Life, we experience Jesus as our Abundant Life─ our “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Rom. 14:17).
Application to the doctrine of the atonement:
Pastor Vradenburgh reminded us of those glorious words which Jesus cried from the cross right before yielding up His spirit: “It is finished” (Jhn. 19:30). Our salvation, in all of its multifaceted entirety, is fully accomplished from the divine perspective. Our conscience may accuse us of much guilt, but so long as we are redeemed, the justice of God will hear nothing of it. It has already been satisfied─ propitiated─ by the blood of Jesus. As the Scripture says, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?” (Rom. 8:33-34). Just as God would be unjust to forgive sinners without blood, He would be unjust to condemn those who are blood-bought. For God to condemn the elect would require Him to condemn Christ, for they are His body; and to do that would require God to reject the cross─ the most pleasing sacrifice of His Beloved Son! Thus, no charge can be laid against the elect without nullifying the cross and condemning Christ. We can be assured that God will not do this.
Application to spiritual warfare:
We find another reason for Christ’s first coming in John’s first letter: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 Jhn 3:8). During His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated His power over trembling demons by casting them out and commanding them as He willed (Matt. 8:16, 29-32, 9:32-33, 12:22; Mark 9:17-26, 13:10-17). These demons well understood that Jesus was the Destroyer of their works. Notice what a demon said to Jesus on one occasion: “art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.” (Luke 4:34). The cross may have looked like a great victory for Satan, but it was rather his greatest defeat. Jesus “spoiled principalities and powers” and “made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2:15). It was “through death” that Jesus destroyed Satan who had the power of death (Heb. 2:14). As Pastor Vradenburgh said, “The death of Jesus was the death of death and the defeat of Satan.” In all of our spiritual warfare against these “principalities” and “powers,” we must fight from a position of faith in the victory of Jesus Christ!
