“Some seek knowledge for
The sake of knowledge:
That is curiosity;
Others seek knowledge so that
They themselves may be known:
That is vanity;
But there are still others
Who seek knowledge in
Order to serve and edify others:
And that is charity.”
-Bernard of Clairvaux
Today is the Passover in the Jewish calendar. (And it’s snowing outside!) The Passover commemorates the Exodus and Red Sea Crossing of the nation of Israel in fleeing Egyptian bondage (of 400 years) — see Exodus 12:33-14:31 . The Passover was the last great miracle/plague of Yahweh for His people. It all took place almost 3,500 years ago. (If any wish to explore the veracity of the Red Sea crossing and where it was, I highly recommend Exodus Revealed , a recent documentary of explorations tying together the biblical narrative and the archaeological evidence.)
Sadly, most of the maps in our Bibles are fashioned after a liberal view of the events, thinking the crossing was of the "Reed Sea," a marshy shallow lake/sea near the eastern border of Egypt. (There’s not much reason for this, perhaps other than the fact that is a hostile environment in the Middle East and very difficult to enter these areas to explore and investigate further.) This also places Mt. Sinai in what is thus commonly called the Sinai peninsula, while it is very likely in Arabia, east of the Red Sea crossing of the Gulf of Aqaba. It is fascinating to see how the landmarks do in fact line up in placing the Red Sea Crossing there, and Mt. Sinai in Arabia (see map above right). Our maps have not normally matched a true reading of the passages, but rather acquiesced to the liberal view that no supernatural miracle could have happened.
From their explorations (for the documentary Exodus Revealed ), the explorers and archaeologists also found fossilized shapes that are obviously in round (chariot-wheel) shapes, a few of the images. These cannot be touched for legal and archaeological reasons — they would disintegrate in their hands. Coral has fastened itself to some wooden or metal object, in wheel shapes — and will not do that unless it has a substance of that type to attach to. The documentary illustrates the geometry similarities of the wheel shapes to the actual Egyptian chariots under one specific Pharaoh in history. Also of note is the topography and geography of this specific location on the Gulf of Aqaba. The depths of the sea on either side of the proposed crossing spot plunge to more than 1000m, yet here it is perhaps 50m deep — a prime spot for God to do a miracle and recede the waters for the Jewish people to cross, and the Egyptian soldiers in pursuit to be washed away afterward (Exodus 14:21-31 ).
Rooted in historical fact, the Passover was meant by God to establish the nature of redemption from bondage, in a vicarious or substitutionary. The people of Israel were no more righteous in thought, word and deed than the Egyptians. Rather, they were by faith in Yahweh, the Creator of all, passed over. The innocent (passover lamb) died in place of the guilty, and the people were freed to serve their God. Substitutionary atonement, purchasing redemption.
Jesus Christ came as the authentic Lamb of God, who takes away our sins (John 1:19 ), and He is the ultimate Passover sacrifice (). Jesus earnestly desired to eat one final Passover meal with His disciples before He suffered. The bread was symbolic of His body, broken for them, and the wine in the cup of His blood, shed and poured out for redemption (Luke 22:14-23 ; also see Matthew 26:17-29 ).
Perhaps no doctrine about Christ’s finished work on the cross has come under as much attack as penal substitutionary atonement . Yet, if we abandon this precious truth, we abandon Christ and His Gospel. God treated Jesus like He was us, receiving the fullness of His just wrath, so He could see us as if we were Jesus, perfect, innocent and righteous (2 Cor. 5:21 ). Let us not abandon substitutionary atonement, for because of it God will not abandon us.
Because of Christ’s atoning work of propitiation on the cross, believers in Jesus the Messiah can be considered white as snow (cleansed and forgiven), as God told Isaiah would be the case 700 years prior:
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool…” [Isaiah 1:18]
Jesus did all of this, while were yet sinners, dying for the ungodly, the righteous in place of the guilty (Romans 5:6-8). We must only glory in His glorious atonement.
“It is Christ set forth in His blood who is a propitiation; that is, it is Christ who died. In dying, as St. Paul conceived it, He made our sin His own; He took it on Himself as the reality which it is in God’s sight and to God’s law: He became sin, became a curse for us. It is this which gives His death a propitiatory character and power; in other words, which makes it possible for God to be at once righteous and a God who accepts as righteous those who believe in Jesus. . . . I do not know any word which conveys the truth of this if ‘vicarious’ or ’substitutionary’ does not, nor do I know any interpretation of Christ’s death which enables us to regard it as a demonstration of love to sinners, if this vicarious or substitutionary character is denied.”
- James Denney, quoted by J.I. Packer in “What Did the Cross Achieve? The Logic of Penal Substitution” reprinted in In My Place Condemned He Stood: Celebrating the Glory of the Atonement (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2008), 75.
Two weeks ago we wrapped up Winter term here at Cornerstone (and now have begin Spring term). In our NT 133 class we ended with John’s writings, first the Gospel of John and then his letters: 1st, 2nd and 3rd John. (My good friend, Director Adam Poole taught 1st John as I was away; I was both envious and joyful for I know his character, ability and passion for exposition of the Word. The students are extremely blessed to have him as their leader.)
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In John’s writings we saw the glory and beauty and love of Jesus on display for all the world to see, know and love. And yet we read of people questioning and rejecting Him. Sadly, the same plays out today. If the world only knew the beauty and love of Jesus, He would be their Savior. In this way God demonstrated His love for the world, the He freely gave His Son, that those who believe (trust) in Him should not perish but receive eternal life (John 3:16 ). God’s judgment is in The Light of the World (John 1:4-5 ) coming into His world, yet people loved darkness rather than the light (John 3:19a). In this metaphor Jesus speaks of light and darkness, a duality of sorts that shows those who are drawn to Christ and those who reject Him. The consistency of their character (inner person, affections) comes forth in the outworking of their life (works, behavior). People reject Jesus not solely on intellectual grounds (not enough reasons) but because truly their deeds are evil or done in darkness (John 3:19b). This was a sobering reality to consider and a display of God’s grace.
In 1st John the Apostle writes “God is light” (1 John 1:5a). It speaks of His holiness, and His brilliance, the beauty of His glory, and the demands of His justice. Truly, “in Him is no darkness at all” (v. 5b). Flowing from that verse comes the freeing statement, “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another” (v. 7a). On what basis? Because we have lived perfect and morally upright lives? No. The answer is given in the last half of verse 7: “and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all unrighteousness.” What a glorious truth!
Somehow there are people who consider themselves good, as in not needing forgiveness from God (or others) and thus not needing a Savior, Jesus. The Apostle spoke to that same group more than 1900 years ago: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (v. 8). Self-delusion is the worst, for all other see reality but self does not. Coming to grips with our weaknesses, our sin, our depravity and bent towards destructive selfishness is the first step towards a cure. The same concept is restated in verse 10: “If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Sandwiched between those two is one of the greatest sentences in all the world:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
When we confess we agree with the ultimate reality of the situation, and pour out our heart to God for we have wronged Him and others. The words are not the primary part, for form ever follows function. Am are sorry for offended God, or sorry because there are consequences? God is not into mere moral reformation, but a genuine transformation of our affections. That we as we know, love and enjoy Him we are grieved when obstacles come into the way and we take the bait of temptation, damaging our intimate closeness which must be restored.
It seems that John is borrowing from the Old Testament imagery of the sacrificial system and coming to the only true and living God at His tabernacle or temple. At the altar the sacrifice is made, the innocent in place of the guilty, and atonement is extended, yet the priest would move past that to the bronze laver, to cleansing, a washing away of all unrighteousness. Having been cleansed, they could now enter the Holy Place and then the Holy of Holies, worship God in (temporary) innocence. All of this Jesus did in the most perfect way, once for all securing eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12). Praise God that even those sins we do not yet realize are atoned for in Christ, and He cleanses us far beyond our understanding.
What a motivation to remain in fellowship with Him (that is what atonement is, it is at-one-ment - the term being coined by John Wycliffe, I believe, to be a representative English translation word for what is taking place as described in the Greek NT). As one with the Triune God we can walk in His light, enjoy His radiance, glory and beauty and share it with others.
God is faithful and loyal to His covenant, and unconditional love comes to us in Jesus Christ, for He is our unwavering Advocate (1 John 2:1-2). Because God punished His innocent Son as we deserve, treating Jesus like He was us, He can now treat us like we are Jesus (see 2 Cor. 5:21). He is not only faithful, He is also just and we know that He shall never do wrong, for in Him is perfect justice. God was the just One and the justifier of guilty people declared innocent (see Romans 3:21-26).
Here’s a short commercial revealing the reality of light and how it is possible to be at home in darkness and seek to repel light. Let us not hide from God’s marvelous light. I found it a great illustration: