Christ’s Suffering and Death

 
The Suffering and Death of Christ: God’s Personal and Decisive Plan to Break the Power of Evil By Pastor Dan Kennedy © June 6, 2010 www.pastorkennedy.com pastorkennedy@gmail.com Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:13-22 Evil things can happen to anyone and suffering invariably follows There are few things that catch the world’s attention more than horrific disasters or heartrending stories of personal calamity. Every day, news sources are rife with words or images documenting evil tragedy on every part of the globe. Life’s trials can also powerfully invade our own personal space, and we fall back reeling and shaking our head trying to gain perspective on what has happened to us. Evil things can happen to anyone and suffering invariably follows. Did I say that before? It’s true. Why do evil things happen and why do innocent people often suffer? I wish I could respond with answers that would surely heal hearts broken by evil and suffering, but, as we participate in Communion, today, we could be asking ourselves, “Was the suffering of Christ part of God’s Personal and Decisive Plan to break the power of evil?” This could give us more than a glimmer of hope for personal healing and an enduring hope of an eternity without evil or suffering. God’s Personal Plan to confront evil ironically begins with God giving His creation freedom to choose between good and evil. Without such choice what would His creation be? Robotic or zombies? Biblically, this freedom seemed to begin with the creation of very powerful and beautiful angelic beings, with the freedom of choice and the ability to be proud of how they had been created. One-third of heaven’s angels were banished because of the rebellious choices they made, led by a proud and deceptive archangel. With mankind, freedom began with the planting, in their lush garden, a certain beguiling but forbidden tree, known as the “tree of knowledge of good and of evil”, and then, access to that garden given to a banished and rebelliously proud enemy. Choice is not choice unless sometimes egregious and evil alternatives are allowed. We seem to cherish freedom of choice, but freedom to choose comes with a very deadly price tag, if that choice is selfish, proud, and disobedient to our Creator. Unbelievably, and from the depths of His love, God’s plan included His Personal ultimate Sacrifice for the Redemption of mankind, so mankind could be released from their own deceitfully crafted and eternally destructive choices. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son….” John 3:16 The Purposes for Free Will and the Powerful rise of Evil o Free Will and Accountability a) Free Will gives created beings (angels and mankind), the unique dynamic of personal choice and accountability – love and service. God has given the gift of free will, in the mysterious tension with His All-Powerful Sovereignty. Genesis 3:6 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 1 John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. b) Free Will is necessary so there can be universal, unbiased justice for personal reward and/or punishment. Romans 2 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality. See also Ezekiel 18. c) Free Will is necessary to appropriately affirm that God is totally Good, without attributing any evil or suffering to His Person or expressed will. Psalm 5:4 4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The whole Bible provides us with many passages calling God’s Children to Holiness and Righteousness…as a reflection of His Image. See also Appendix 1: The Righteousness of God. How often, do we in this human race, haphazardly or in vitriolic accusation, attribute and blame evil and/or suffering on God? “If God is All-Powerful,” we will say, “doesn’t He have the power to not make this happen?” This argument can be carried out to the ultimate level where every bad thing is actually God’s fault…and that He, in fact, is evil. Somewhere in the lie of that argument rises the deep deception of the logic of God’s enemy, the one who wanted to be like God and deceived an astounding number of God’s other angelic beings through his hypnotic reasoning and carnal spiritual cunning. God’s purposes for allowing free will, evil and suffering may be uncertain now, but one day, His purposes will be very clear and His reward very great for those who trust Him, by faith… through the least or most horrific events of life’s trials. o The Unspeakable Destructiveness of Evil. In the simplest of definitions, evil could be described as follows: Evil is anything, which rises up in rebellion or disobedience against a Holy God. “The Hebrew word for evil – ‘ra’’, comes from a root meaning ‘to spoil’, ‘to break in pieces’: being broken and so made worthless.” Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (348). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press. Evil “spoils” or “breaks and may make worthless” anything it touches in God’s good creation…evil is the foundation of man’s depravity. Suffering is the outcome and the result of evil. God allows evil and suffering for purposes that He alone fully comprehends and understands...and evil one day, will be justly dealt with, overcome, and be appropriately revealed to us. God is not evil and therefore does not initiate either evil or suffering. Suffering is the natural, terrible outcome of evil. Psalms 5:4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. A simple word study in the Scripture on “evil” and “sin” reveals how God hates evil (and sin), and requires His Children to do good, thus revealing His Holiness and Righteousness. If God were evil, He would not require His Children to be good. He would not send His Son as a sacrifice to redeem us from evil. See Appendix 1: The Righteousness of God. Jesus Christ broke the power of evil, through His Sacrificial Redemption on the cross. God will one day totally destroy evil. The Plan of Sacrifice – Sacrifice, from the beginning of time, provided the Picture of the Coming Redeemer, before the Mystery of God’s Redemption of the world, is fully revealed. At the creation of the heavens and the earth God had created all things “very good” and Adam and Eve had no depravity, but they did have a choice to either follow God’s will or disobey His will. Depravity did not choose disobedience for them; their will chose to disobey God because of a desire to have something, presented as desirable by satan (a primary angelic being who had, himself, chosen rebellion against God – because he wanted to be like God). This choice against God’s express will was supposed to make them more godlike – to have more choice! Instead, their disobedience plunged perfect mankind into global depravity. From the initial plunge into depravity, God began the process of providing the picture of Sacrifice, which would one day be revealed in the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. The following is a glimpse of Old Testament Sacrificial Pictures, fulfilled through the Coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ: • The sacrifice of animals to provide covering for Adam and Eve’s nakedness (Gen. 3:21). • The acceptable sacrifice by Abel (Gen. 4:4). • The acceptable sacrifices by Noah (Gen. 8:20-22). • The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12). • The Old Testament Sacrificial System (Leviticus). • John the Baptist’s proclamation of Jesus Christ (John 1:29): “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” *** The Protection of God’s Plan through His unrevealed Mystery, until the fullness of time. If God had not sovereignly chosen to hide His Plan of Redemption from the “rulers of this age”, most notably the principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:12), then, according to 1 Cor. 2:6-8, they would have not crucified the Lord of glory! 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Romans 16:25-27 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. The Importance of the Fullness of Time Time plays an important role in God’s economy, but God’s patience also plays a vital role. God the Father knows the exact time. The right time was chosen for Christ to be the Redeemer and the right time will be chosen for the end. 2 Peter 3 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Galatians 4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Ephesians 1 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In the fullness of time Christ came – one time, at just the right time, as the suffering Savior, to break the power of sin and evil, so we can have His forgiveness now, under His authority, and one day to be free of evil! 1 Peter 3 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit…. Hebrews 9 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. The Provision of the Sinless Savior who was tempted in every area, yet without sin. Jesus Christ lived a Sinless Life and Defeated the Power of Evil through His Sacrificial Redemption…and Resurrection. Once again, in the fullness of time, evil will be fully triumphed over and destroyed. Exodus 12 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish…. Hebrews 4 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Psalms 5:4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The Profoundness of the Redemptive Cross Jesus Christ Defeated the Power of Evil through the Breaking of the Power of Sin on the Cross. Jesus Christ came at just the right time in all of earth’s history: To make the forgiveness of sins possible (Eph. 1:7) To redeem those who were under the Law (Gal. 4:5) To suffer for our sins (1 Peter 3:18) To put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (Heb. 9:26) To appear in the presence of God on our behalf (Heb. 9:24) To bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18) To give us the opportunity to be adopted as sons (Gal. 4:5) To make us holy and blameless before an Awesome and Holy God (Eph. 1:4) To appear a second time, to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Heb. 9:28) To unite all things in heaven and on earth (Eph. 1:10) All this, to Break the Power of Evil, Redeem, and transform us so that we could become Children of the Most High, Holy God, and to live with Him forever! *** The Power of the Resurrection, and the Hope of Christ’s Second Coming! There has never, in the history of the world, been a validated resurrection, such as that of Jesus Christ. The power of Christ’s Resurrection certifies the hope of the believer in Jesus Christ’s Redemption and hope of eternal life. Ephesians 1 17 …the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. See also 1 Corinthians 15. Conclusion The suffering and death of Jesus Christ was God’s Personal and Decisive Plan to begin to break and, in the fullness of time, to totally break and destroy the power of evil. The Purposes for Free Will and the Powerful rise of Evil. The Plan of Sacrifice – Sacrifice, from the beginning of time, provided the Picture of the Coming Redeemer, before the Mystery of God’s Redemption is fully revealed. The Protection of God’s Plan through His unrevealed Mystery, until the fullness of time. The Importance of the Fullness of Time. The Provision of the Sinless Savior who was tempted in every area, without sin. The Profoundness of the Redemptive Cross. The Power of the Resurrection, and the Hope of Christ’s Second Coming! If we are struggling with evil – either as that which entraps us personally, or as those who experience the terrible consequences of evil, which is suffering – remember that our only hope is in Jesus Christ: the One Who Personally Suffered and Died for Us and came to break now, and eventually forever, evil’s power. There will come a day when justice will prevail over evil: At the Second Coming of Christ and in His Eternal Reign. 2 Peter 3 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Appendix 1 The Righteousness of God 1. Is part of God’s Character. Ps 7:9; 116:5; 119:137. 2. Described as a. Very high. Ps 71:19. b. Abundant. Ps 48:10. c. Beyond computation. Ps 71:15. d. Everlasting. Ps 119:142. e. Enduring forever. Ps 111:3. f. The habitation of his throne. Ps 97:2. 3. Christ acknowledged. John 17:25. 4. Christ committed his cause to. 1Pet 2:23. 5. Angels acknowledge. Rev 16:5. 6. Exhibited in a. His testimonies. Ps 119:138,144. b. His commandments. Deut 4:8; Ps 119:172. c. His judgments. Ps 19:9; 119:7,62. d. His word. Ps 119:123. e. His ways. Ps 145:17. f. His acts. Judges 5:11; 1Sa 12:7. g. His government. Ps 96:13; 98:9. h. The gospel. Ps 85:10; Rom 3:25,26. i. The final judgment. Acts 17:31. j. The punishment of the wicked. Rom 2:5; 2Thess 1:6; Rev 16:7; 19:2. 7. Shown to the posterity of saints. Ps 103:17. 8. Shown openly before the heathen. Ps 98:2. 9. God delights in the exercise of. Jer 9:24. 10. The heavens shall declare. Ps 50:6; 97:6. 11. Saints a. Ascribe, to him. Job 36:3; Dan 9:7. b. Acknowledge, in his dealings. Ezra 9:15. c. Acknowledge, though the wicked prosper. Jer 12:1; Ps 73:12-17. d. Recognize, in the fulfillment of his promises. Nehemiah 9:8. e. Confident of beholding. Micah 7:9. f. Upheld by. Isa 41:10. g. Do not conceal. Ps 40:10. h. Mention, only. Ps 71:16. i. Talk of. Ps 35:28; 71:15,24. j. Declare to others. Ps 22:31. k. Magnify. Ps 7:17; 51:14; 145:7. l. Plead in prayer. Ps 143:11; Daniel 9:16. 12. Leads God to love righteousness. Ps 11:7. 13. We should pray a. To be led in. Ps 5:8. b. To be quickened in. Ps 119:40. c. To be delivered in. Ps 31:1; 71:2. d. To be answered in. Ps 143:1. e. To be judged according to. Ps 35:24. f. For its continued manifestation. Ps 36:10. 14. His care and defense of his people designed to teach. Micah 6:4,5. 15. The wicked have no interest in. Ps 69:27. 16. Illustrated. Ps 36:6. The Righteousness of God: Torrey, R. (1995, c1897). The new topical text book : A scriptural text book for the use of ministers, teachers, and all Christian workers. 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