The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-11-15
TExT-Rom. s.e-u

die. Yet it is extraordinary when We
consider the person, character and
history Of the n who died. He was
God and man, divine and human, Gre
ator and creature. His life was abso-
lutely lawless. If Enoch and Elijah
left this world without passing
through death, might not Christ have
done likewise?
Further, this death is extraordinary
when we consider that Christ could
have avoided It, He knew all about
the plots and plans that were LAID
for his arrest and death. He could
nave foiled them. Legions Of angels
were at his disposal. But he submit.
ed to this death; therefore his saCri.
fee was a willing, voluntary sacrifice.
We must remember, too, that it was
no ordinary death, for others have
suffered as tragic and ignominious
deaths as this. 1t was extraordinary,
however, because of its relation to
mankind and because of the person Of
the one who died. Jesus himself said
that his death was a ransom for all
men; the apostles claimed that he
died the just for the unjust and for
the sins of the world. This could not
be said Of the death of any other per,
son in the world. Paul had seen Ste.
phen die a martyrs death, but he did.
not associate forgiveness Of sin with
Stephens death; yet this is what is
claimed for the death of Christ.
II. The people for whom Christ
died. They are described as sinners,
ungodly, enemies. These terms are
Rll-inclusiVe, descriptive enough 10
take in all the fallen and SHINING ones
of men. Speaking broadly, this text
asserts that Jesus Christ died for the
whole human rae of sinners.
1t Ia here said that he died for
them, and by this Is meant that he
died In their stead and In their be-
half. Some one may say 81 did not
need any n to die for me-" But
we know so little as to what was
necessary to be done in our behalf;
we are so ignorant concerning these
things; our own reason can be trust
ed so little; that it Is better for US to
believe what Jesus and the Apostles
say with reference to the necessity of
Christ's death.
The death Of Christ %postulates that
something infinite needed to be done
for us. Had there been no dark, dire
need, God would not have made the
sacrifice of his son. 1t Is clear from
our text that Christ died to do for US
what we, because we were weak and
without strength, could not do for
ourselves.
III. The purpose Of Christ's death
First, we are justified by his death.
The atonement provides the ground '
upon which O righteous God can pro-
nounce a repentant sinner innocent,
free, and treat him accordingly. This
means that when a man acknowledges
the claims of Jesus Christ, and sub
mits himself to him as his personal
savior, the guilt and penalty of his
sin are removed forever. We may not
understand or realize how this fact
becomes a fact and yet we may real
ize 1t Is a fact. Thousands use cleo.
tricity every day who do not under
stand 1t. So we are told what is o
great mystery-that because Christ
died we who believe in him do re-
ceive absolution for our sins.
Second. We are reconciled to God
through the death of Christ. Sin IS
a barrier between God and man.
There can be fellowship between GOO
and man only as this barrier is re-
moved. Even the love of God cannot
remove this barrier apart from the
sacrifice of Christ. Again, we are not
saved by understanding, but believ'
ing this great truth. Men may basE
in the rays of the spring sunshine, and
yet be ignorant of astronomy. All
enemity existing between God and the
sinner is removed by reason OF the
death of Christ.
Third. We are saved from wrath
through Christ's death. The modern
mind rejects the idea Of wrath alto
gether and says 1t exists only In the
minds Of ~theologians. According 70
the scriptures, however, there is 2
wrath of God as well as a love of Goo
Love and wrath are not Incompatible
God cannot overlook the
wickedness OF men; and since 1t ~
practically impossible to separate
between the man and the sin that
he cherishes, pain, wrath and anguish
must DO visited on the sinner. Inc
death of Jesus Christ remove TINS
wrath and the believer in him passes
out Of death into life, the penalty 0.
tho second death or the wrath OF 600