What the Bible says about Sacrifice of Christ
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Christ was ground in body and spirit. In this case, He was bruised so badly He was barely recognizable as a man (Isaiah 52:14) and was so sapped of strength that He could not bear His cross of crucifixion alone. Another was compelled to bear it for Him because Jesus was already figuratively ground and ready to be put on the altar.
The lesson for us is that service to our fellow man is self-surrender and self-sacrifice. The nearer our service approaches His degree of self-sacrificing service the more we will resemble what happened to Him. We, too, will find ourselves bruised.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Three): The Meal Offering
Christ's reign will and must continue until every enemy has been conquered, and the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For the rule and authority over all things has been given to Christ by His Father. But in that quotation, "All things are put under Him," it is self-evident that God, who reduced everything to subjection, is not included. When Christ has finally won the battle against all His enemies, then shall the Son acknowledge Himself subject to God the Father, who gave the Son power over all things, that God may be utterly supreme, that He may be everything to everyone. (I Corinthians 15:25-28)
If this quotation does not square with your Bible, do not be alarmed. It is an amplification of these verses pieced together from the Phillips, King James, Taylor, Moffatt, and Norlie translations. The Father is drawing the entire creation into a state where everybody and everything acknowledge Him as God. When this occurs, division, confusion, and warfare will not exist because all, everything, is at one with our Creator.
Our acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, repentance from dead works and receiving of God's Holy Spirit are the first major steps for each of us in seeking to become one with the Father. The next major step is the return of Jesus Christ, when we will inherit the Kingdom of God after the resurrection from the dead. The "all in all" of verse 28 is the very end point of the gospel.
Though I Corinthians 15:28 may appear to be something that happens in the distant future, the process has already begun in us. Understanding this as a reality is vital to our spiritual well-being. If we do not consider it to be real, we may be lured into neglecting our summons to this glorious destiny by letting ourselves follow distractions or grow irresponsible.
John W. Ritenbaugh
All in AllRelated Topics: All in All | Death as Last Enemy | God's Holy Spirit | Holy Spirit | Jesus Christ's Return | Jesus Christ's Sacrifice | Kingdom of God | Repentance | Resurrection | Return of Jesus Christ | Sacrifice of Christ
Because God accepts the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (and our faith in that sacrifice and our repentance), His anger against us is dissipated. He thus allows us to have access to Him.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Unity (Part 6): Ephesians 4 (C)Related Topics: Access to God | Christ's Sacrifice | Faith in Christ's Sacrifice | Repentance | Sacrifice of Christ | Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
The Word came as a man to die for the forgiveness of our sins (hamartia) without regard to classification! Hamartia is the general word used throughout the New Testament to describe sins of all kinds; it means "to miss the mark" or "to fail to reach a standard." Thus, John is saying that Christ's sacrifice covers all transgressions of law, whether or not we consider them to be physical or spiritual in nature.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Sin Is Spiritual!Related Topics: Forgiveness | Forgiveness of Sins | Hamartia | Jesus Christ's Sacrifice | Missing the Mark | Sacrifice of Christ | Sin | Sin is Spiritual