He went on the list so I could go off

In the past few weeks, tragedies like the horrors in Japan reveal the universal identification of man with man. When suffering happens, most people rally to support those in trouble, illustrating one aspect of how we are created in the image of God. He did it too.

Therefore I (Father God) will divide Him (Jesus) a portion with the many, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)

Jesus identified with us. His name was put on the list alongside us, not because He committed sin like we do, but because He chose that list. He did it so He could bear our sin.

Spurgeon writes that Jesus allowed Himself to be enrolled among sinners for several reasons. One is that He could better become our advocate. This means that He, as our counselor (in a legal sense) identifies with us as His clients. That is, when we as sinners are brought up before the judge, Jesus appears there with us to answer the accusation. He is our Advocate.

But Jesus makes no excuses for our sin. Instead, He points to his side, his hands, his feet. The Judge cannot bring anything against those whom Jesus represents because He pleads His death for our sin. The penalty has already been paid. The Judge must say, “Let them go free for this One has taken the punishment for all of them.”

If that were not marvel enough, another reason Jesus allowed Himself to be put on the list with us is so our hearts would be drawn toward Him. As Spurgeon writes, who can be afraid of one who is written in the same list along with us? We can come to Him without fear and confess our guilt. He who is numbered with us will not condemn us. Instead, He has done everything necessary to set us free.

Jesus was put in the transgressor’s list that our names might be moved to another list — the roll of acceptance. He was holy and written there first, the only One who never sinned. Yet we are guilty and written on that unholy list. With great love and sacrifice, Jesus allowed His name to be added to our list that our names might come off it.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself . . . . For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18, 21)

By making Himself sin, by being numbered with the transgressors, Jesus took upon Himself all of our sinfulness and guilt and it killed Him. In exchange, He gave us all of His righteousness, and that gives us eternal life. This is the amazing wonder of the gospel, the good news!

A few years ago, a couple of false teachers came to my door. I used my Bible to show them these verses and explained this “great exchange” that makes it possible for sinners to be saved. When I said that Jesus took our sin on Himself and gave us His righteousness, one of them grabbed my Bible and said, “Let me see that.”

The other one grabbed her arm and said, “Jesus would never do that” and pulled her away. She would die in her sin rather than accept that Jesus Christ loves her so much that He died for her. Stranger still, she would take others with her rather than let them discover this great exchange for themselves.

*****

God, Your plan of salvation is so utterly amazing. As I think about what I just wrote, I shake my head at the marvel of what Jesus has done for sinners. You died for me, but the power of Your sinless life means that You could not stay dead. This also is amazing; You live forever and continue to offer eternal life to all who will believe. I’m so grateful that You let me see this and give me faith that knows it is true. Jesus has done everything needed — and more — to save sinners like myself.

To Live is Christ — knowing what will last

Perhaps it’s my age, but frequently I’m thinking about things that will last beyond my life. I know that the stuff in my house will last longer than I do, but not by much. For instance, quilts have been known to last a hundred years more or less, but I don’t know if the quilts I make will last that long. My computer may not make it even a year or two from now. Wood, plaster, most of it eventually turns to dust.

However, people last. Jesus said everyone has eternal life. This could be a surprise to some, but He was clear that not everyone goes to heaven. Everlasting life is not about how long we live, but where we are after we die. 

Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:25–29)

An important note is that when Jesus talks about “good” and “evil,” His definition is different from what most people think. In His mind, “there is none good but God.” Jesus made this plain to those seeking eternal life. To be “good” our only chance is to have His goodness. This is the wonder of faith — it puts those who believe “in Christ” and changes them from the inside out, giving them something they did not possess without Jesus.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new . . . For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21)

I’ve called that the big trade. God took my sin and gave me His goodness. Because of that, Christians have the goodness of God and can do good.

So, people last. Some will experience eternal life separated from God. Others have eternal life with God. Those others are able to bear “fruit” that will also last forever. 

You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. So I command you to love each other. (John 15:16–17)

I know some of what that “fruit” is. It’s described in the Bible as both attitudes and the actions done with those attitudes motivating them.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control . . . (Galatians 5:22–23)

This fruit cannot be produced apart from faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Some try to imitate this fruit, but the difference is the source of it, the motivation behind it, and the results. The fruit that God wants will glorify Him, not promote me.

So with all that in my head and heart, the challenge is to live as this kind of person, someone whose life is chock-full of those things which will last forever — in eternity — with God. Since I can take only everlasting things with me into eternity, this choice is a no-brainer.

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