Dichotomy

Cross Series

“Dichotomy”

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Eph. 1:7

Perhaps the world’s greatest dichotomy is the death of Christ for the life of sinful man.  There was never, and never will be, a greater exchange.  1Peter 3:18 says it like this: “…For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,…”  No other exchange compares. The trading of a high speed sports car for a pair of used walking shoes is an unfit example what happened the day Heaven gave its Highest for earth’s lowest.

Would someone please read Romans 5:7-8?

Grace for Sin

I used to say, “God must have seen great value in us, for He gave His best for us.”  When in fact, God saw the worst in us, therefore, it was of necessity that that He gave His best for us. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” What we see here in this verse is another example of divine dichotomy. “his love” for “yet sinners”.  Eph 1:7 is clear that this great exchange was totally 1 sided. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

This verse tells us why Jesus died on the cross in exchange for the remission of sin: it wasn’t our worth, but rather His Grace.  In other words, it wasn’t our sin that caused Heaven to give its best. It was God’s Grace that caused Heaven to give its best.  Which is to say, Calvary wasn’t a response to sin, but rather in response to Love.  Nothing about man could persuade God to do something He did not want to do. Therefore, it was His great Grace that prompted God to do the unthinkable. Romans 5:20 says, “…where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”

Sacrifice

The world will never know the measure of Heaven’s sacrifice until it knows the worthlessness of man. This is why the Bible refers to Christ’s death as “sacrifice”.

Eph. 5:2 “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” (“offering” speaks of His willingness. “sacrifice” speaks of the measure of His love for us.)

Read Hebrews 9:24-26

What is our response to His sacrifice of Himself? Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.”