June 7, 2009
Scrtipure:
John 3:14-16
Did you notice any repetition in these verses read? Two times it tells us that those who believe will not perish, but have eternal life. What is precious is that it’s not really a repetition; instead it’s speaking of two aspects of the work of Christ. Each requires faith, and those who believe are preserved from perishing (what they deserve) and given eternal life (what they don’t deserve). That’s grace. First Jesus is presented as the Son of Man. He was the eternal Son of God, but He became the Son of Man. As such He was lifted up on the cross and made in the likeness of sin. Just as Moses had made a brazen serpent and put it on a pole when the people of Israel had sinned and were being bitten by firy serpents as a consequence. The serpent on the pole was a type of Christ on the cross; for He was made like the curse — sin — to save us. God had to judge; He needed a sin offering. So the first aspect here is that of the sin offering meeting God’s righteousness. Christ was made sin so that we will be preserved from hell, and given eternal life. But what has been so prominently before us this morning is God’s love as seen in the Lord Jesus. God must judge sin, but He has made a way that He can show His love to the sinner. Oh, how He loved the world. He gave His only begotten Son who could best manifest that love by dying on the cross for us. Now, by faith, “whosoever beliveth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life”. In a few words we see the second aspect of Christ’s work on the cross. God’s love so wonderfully manifested. Here again, by faith, we are preserved from perishing, and given what we don’t deserve; eternal life. We can rejoice in the peace that it gives. Oh, how it should warm our hearts, to see how love won the day
Hymn 290 - Praise the Saviour, ye who know Him
Prayer
Last time we saw that Noah was bird-watching. Why was he doing that? He was monitoring water level. Finally, he was able to leave the ark. Read Genesis 8:15 & 16. When the time was right, God sent Noah and his family out of the ark; He had closed the door and now He opened it. All the animals that were in the ark came out too, v. 17.
We saw that Noah was a builder before the flood; but now he is building again, v. 20. What is an altar for? It’s used to burn sacrifices. And that’s what Noah did: he offered some of the clean animals to the Lord. Why did he do this? It was to thank God for keeping him safe during the flood. And, v. 21, God smelled a sweet savour from that offering. How could that be? Let’s read Ephesians 5:2. When the Lord died, there was a sweet savour that went up to God. That’s because what the Lord was doing was pleasing to God. Noah was giving thanks to God, and this pleased Him. That’s why God smelled a sweet savour. But what do you think God was thinking about when He was smelling Noah’s sacrifice? He was thinking about the real sacrifice that would take place years later: the Lord Jesus on the cross. This delighted God so much that He blessed Noah.
In v. 21, it also seems that God is talking to Himself. In ch. 6:5, He said that man was evil, and that hasn’t changed. But God’s heart has been changed by a sacrifice. We’ll look more at the blessings that Noah—as well as ourselves— received from God next time, Lord willing; but we can see some of them in v. 22.
It’s fascinating to see how the whole community is active here; it is the Christian community working for the Christian community. Last week, we looked at the sheep and fish gates, and those who built them.
In v.6, we read about the building of the old gate. It was built by Jehoiada (whose name means “Jehovah knoweth”) and Meshullan (“friend”); friend seems to give the impression that they were a team. What is the significance of the old gate? Read Jeremiah 6:16. The old gate speaks of age-long truth. As time goes on, so many depart from the old truths; the things of the world get in. Now, this doesn’t mean that we should be old-fashioned. But we must keep to the old truths. Over 150 years ago, Mr. Kelly decried the looseness of his day; what would he say today? We must hold fast to what we have, that we lose not our crowns.
V. 7 : Those from other towns helped in the building of the wall; these people built up to the house of the governor (Nehemiah).
V. 8 & 9 : There were many different people on this project. They all had different jobs, but they all built. Each of us has a different career, but we all have the responsibility to strengthen the wall. Even though we must all build according to the building code (the word of God), what we do specifically will differ. However, everyone’s work will be tried by the Lord in the end.
Hymn 369 - I claim for my own a king of a throne
Prayer