Christ’s resurrection must have come as a SHOCK to everyone who was faced with the living Savior, even though Jesus in virtually every recorded instance tried to break the (Good!) News gently: incognito in the Emmaus road episode (Luke 24:13-35), “Rejoice!” (Matthew 28:9), “Fear not!” (Matthew 28:10), “Peace to you!” (Luke 24:36, John 20:19, 26), and with Mary Magdalene at the tomb (John 20:11-18). We can now hardly imaging the shuddering effect such an encounter must have had on his first observers. A shock of this nature, instead of inducing a mental disorder or physical disease (as well it might under different circumstances) brought “pangs” of exuberant joy and continual praise! A healing shock wave ensued! [9/19/08]
The worthiness of the Lamb cannot be divvied up and parceled out as “merits” to those in need. That’s not how it works. Messiah’s worthiness in the eyes of God (and now in our grateful estimation too, calling forth exuberant praise!) was the grounds for his judicial award from God. That award—Messiah Jesus’ inheritance from God as reward for covenantal obedience to His directives and voice—THAT’S WHAT IS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL WHO QUALIFY (i.e., by steadfast faith). This being the case, a theology of merits is unnecessary…which may explain why Scripture never spins one out. The “merit” or worthiness of Jesus’ faithfulness is FOR HIM ALONE, AND TO HIS RENOWN! Yet we are GRACIOUSLY OFFERED THE BENEFITS OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IF WE ENDURE IN FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE, COMMENCING WITH THE GIFT OF HOLY SPIRIT, THE DOWN PAYMENT OF OUR ENJOYMENT OF THE FUTURE INHERITANCE! [9/19/08]
“Yet Jesus lifts up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You hear me. Now I was aware that You are hearing me always, but because of the throng standing about I said it, that they should be believing that You commission me’.” (John 11:41-42) During Jesus’ “sojourn” on the cross, he was always only an instant—a split second—away from rescue from on high. Yet he never lifted a finger from the cross to request Heaven’s “Special Forces” to extricate him from his fatal predicament. [9/19/08]
This means he was in a constant and continual mode of FORGIVENESS throughout his ordeal. Nor would he allow his Father to avenge him; concerning his Roman executioners he pled: “Father, forgive them for they are not aware what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). And what exactly were they really doing? Not merely slaying an innocent man, but shamefully, painfully killing THE SON OF THE OWNER OF THE UNIVERSE ITSELF, ITS RIGHTFUL HEIR AND MASTER!
This is what makes the cross of Jesus Christ the locus of God’s GRACIOUSNESS the NONPAREIL of FORGIVENESS, the PROOF POSITIVE OF HIS LOVE! And the Resurrection is the DEMONSTRATION OF THE FATHER’S COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH HIS SON’S LACK OF WRATH AGAINST HIS FOES. This is where “the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD” got spotlighted with definitive and benignly shocking force for all the world to know…if they would believe His chosen witnesses. However, He did provide plenty of room for them to be shouted down by those who love darkness due to their habitual vicious deeds. Such persons, in God’s wisdom, deserve not to give credence to the authoritative testimony and to perish in their stubbornness instead. God will not drag the wicked into His splendid Kingdom, but allows them to twist the evidence for their own sordid ends…and, sadly, lose out completely for it. [9/20/08]
The Premial Atonement 