Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• My text is found in 1 Cor 1:23-24
  • At Tabor - we preach crucified
  • Salvation - the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf
  • There are several things bound up in His redemptive work
  • Several words are used: propitiation, redemption, justification, reconcilation
    • The late John Stott provides images to help us understand these things
    • Propitiation - to the temple, redemption - to the slave market, justification - to the law court, reconciliation - to the family
    • Book - the Cross of Christ
• My aim: to preach Christ crucified

Propitiation

• Imagery of the temple court and sacrifice
• It means - "the removal of wrath by the offering of a gift"
• Three passages in the New Testament were this word is used
  • Rom 3:25, 1 John 2:1-2, 1 John 4:10
• It takes us to the mercy seat - explanation
  • The pacification of the wrath of God
    • This can cause a problem for many who believe God is only a God of love
• Sin provokes a settled/steady reaction from a Holy God
  • This is seen in the Old and New Testament
  • Ex 32:9-10, Ps 7:11, Rom 1:18, 1 John 2:1
• Jesus is our mercy seat, our atonement, our propitiation
  • Heb 9:5
• God in His grace has provided Christ as our propitiation
• Quote from John Stott

Redemption

• Imagery of the slave market
  • From the ceremonial to the commercial, from the religious to the business
  • Jesus made a payment/transaction upon the cross
• It means to 'buy back'
  • Example of pawn broker
  • Old Testament example of a slave and a kinsman redeemer
  • Old Testament example of Gomer - Hosea 3
• Jesus is our kinsman Redeemer - Mark 10:45
  • He paid the price (on the cross)
  • 1 Pet 1:18-19, 1 Tim 2:5-6, John 8:34-36
• The price of redemption was paid to God
  • We were in debt through the law
  • Jesus came to pay our debt for us
  • He has paid in full
• Our chains fell off - because Christ paid our price

Justification

• Imagery of the law court
  • We are all in the dock - guilty as charged
    • Rom 3:23
    • We are condemned
    • Isaiah
  • If we trust in Christ - we are cleared of all charges
    • Acquitted
    • Isa 53:11
• How can man be righteous before God - Job 9:2
  • By grace alone
  • Rom 3:24, Eph 2:8, Rom 5:1,9
• Do you know the power of His blood?
  • Example
  • We are in the dock and the charges have been proved
  • Receive the salvation of God in Jesus
  • Be justified by faith

Reconciliation

• Imagery of the family
  • Example of the estranged daughter
  • Are you aware of your estrangement to God?
• Jesus is the great reconciler
  • At Calvary
  • He was bringing people back to God
    • 1 Peter 3:18, 2 Cor 5:18
• What He has done for us - we want others to know
  • 2 Cor 5:20-21
  • Sinner - come back to God
    • Like the prodigal son
• Christ has brought God to us - in placating His wrath
  • Rom 5:10
  • Personal example
  • We have been given the spirit of adoption - the right to call God Father
  • Quote from song: 'Arise my soul arise'
  • Luke 15:20
• Do you know this reconciliation?
  • God can save you

Closing Remarks