The Substitutionary Spiritual Death of our Lord.
Point 3. The Difference between Real and Substitutionary Spiritual Death.
You cannot relate the real spiritual death of Adam (when he died spiritually and he had a real spiritual death – you cannot relate the real spiritual death of Adam) to the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross except through (the principle of) cause and effect.
That's the subject of Rom 5:12‑21.
Adam was the “cause” of spiritual death to the human race; Christ being judged for our sins was (actually) the “effect” or the solution to spiritual death in the human race.
The Solution could not be spiritually dead the way Adam was; (Adam was spiritual dead but our spiritual death is different than the Lord Jesus Christ – the solution) the Solution had to remain perfect.
The substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross (that) resulted in the “potential” of salvation for the human race through personal faith in Christ.
CONDEMNATION MUST PRECEDE SALVATION
The blessing of God began with God condemning us – rather than making us perfect.
The substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross (that) resulted in the potential (why do I say potential? – because maybe you will be saved – maybe you will not – what does that depend upon? – one word ?– VOLITION ) of salvation for the human race through personal faith in Christ.
- There is faith.
(Then we have what is called rationalism and im going to explain that in a moment)
- There is rationalism.
(number 3 – there is empiricism)
- There is empiricism.
Faith is the only thing we have that is non‑meritorious.
EPH 2:8 – in the original language the bible says – “for grace you have been saved – through faith and that is not of yourselves” – “it is the gift of God” –
The power is in the One that you are trusting in when we enter into the perception of (what we call) “faith”.
There are three systems of (what we call – human) perception or how we can perceive, understand and learn things:
(first of all)
- (There is) Faith.
(Then we have what is called rationalism and im going to explain that in a moment)
- (There is) Rationalism.
(number 3 – there is empiricism)
- (There is) Empiricism.
Rationalism means we rationalize – we use our brain – our intellect to try to discover what is true and what is not.
Empiricism is the basis of what we experience and we develop certain principles that we believe are true.
- Faith. (what is faith?)
Faith is a non‑meritorious system of perception based upon confidence (actually in the knowledge and) in the authority and the veracity of another or something else.
Faith depends upon what we are trusting in or who we are trusting in.
- Rationalism. (what is Rationalism?) Rationalism is (simply) reason from the source of knowledge in itself, superior to and independent of any other source of perception.
Rationalism requires a more than average I.Q., from which systems of philosophy are often developed.
: 1CO 1:18 For the word of the cross (or the doctrine of the cross) is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1CO 1:19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”
1CO 1:20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age?(notice he is talking about rationalism) Has God not made foolish (the what?) the wisdom of the world?
1CO 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, (you can’t come to know God through rationalization or wisdom – you have to come to know Him through means of faith) God was pleased through the foolishness (notice this) of the message preached to save those who believe.
1CO 1:22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
1CO 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, (they don’t understand why Christ had to be crucified) and to Gentiles foolishness,
1CO 1: 24 but to those who are the called, (you and I are the called) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1CO 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.
1CO 1:26 For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
1CO 1:27 but God has chosen (who?) the foolish ones of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak ones of the world to shame the things which are strong,
1CO 1:28 and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify (or embarrass) the things that are,
1CO 1:29 so that no human (may what? - so that no human) may boast before God.
1CO 1:30 But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
1CO 1:31 so that, just as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, (boast where? In themselves? Nope-) boast in the Lord.”
- Empiricism. (what is Empiricism?)
Empiricism is knowledge from perception by observation and (by what we experience -) experience rather than by theory.
We can only truly know God by means of what we call “faith”.
You have to operate in faith because faith is what brings glory to God.
Faith is the only system of perception that gives glory to God because - faith depends upon - not the person who has the faith - but it depends upon - the One you are having faith in.
COL 2:6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, (how did we receive JESUS CHRIST? – by means of what? – Faith- than he says-) so walk in Him,
Perception by faith (therefore) is always non‑meritorious. (we can’t take credit for that - can we? – because what gives our faith value – as we just illustrated for you- with the moonies and the JWs who have a lot of faith- but what gives our faith value is Who we are trusting in and what we are trusting in )
(And) It (faith) depends on the authority, veracity, and ability of someone else. Faith requires authority.
Faith also means a system of doctrine or a creed perceived by faith;(for example) i.e., what is believed.
The substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross resulted in the “potential” of salvation for the human race through (having what? -) personal faith in Christ.
Before salvation faith is in the living Word, the Person - THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. After salvation faith is in the “Written” word – the Word of God.
In substitutionary spiritual death, Christ had to be forsaken by God the Father, (because He was our substitute and God says – Im going to forsake you if you sin --- and He couldn’t make an exception because of His justice – it would not have been complete – had He done so – so - God the Father had to forsake His Son -) but He (God the Son – JESUS CHRIST) also had to remain perfect.
He had to remain holy and perfect -- fulfilling the Levitical offering -- without blemish – without spot --(meaning - without sin) and we call that: The Doctrine Of Impeccability Of Jesus Christ.
Rom 5:12 "Therefore, just as through one man (who is that one man?) [Adam] sin entered into the world (it doesn’t say sins – why does it say sin? – sin represents the sin nature in the singular) [that's Adam's original sin] and death (what kind of death?) [real spiritual death] through that sin,
so (when it says death – its talking about real spiritual death) [real spiritual] death spread to all mankind, because all [mankind] sinned (or was held accountable) when Adam sinned."
Adam's spiritual death was real (it was a real spiritual death – it wasn’t substitutionary) and passed down genetically to every member of the human race except Jesus Christ.
Our Lord's spiritual death resulted in making eternal life available to all, and was a substitutionary atonement.
Rom 5:13 "For until the Law (this is like from adam – moses – Abraham isacc enoch, etc..) [personal] sin was in the world, but [personal] sin was not imputed where there is no law."
Our sins were not imputed to Christ on the cross until 1500 years after the Law came.
Even though real spiritual death existed from Adam to Moses, and from Moses to Christ, our Lord did not come to die for the sins of the world until the Mosaic Law had been in effect for 1500 years.
GAL 3:24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor (our teacher – our school master) to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.
Rom 3:20 "Because by the works of the Law (if you fulfil the law and follow the commandments) no flesh shall be justified in His sight, (you will never be justified by following the commandments) for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin."
Rom 5:20 "Now the Law came in as a side issue, in order that the transgression of Adam might increase [multiply], but where [personal] sins increased, (what increased?) the grace of God increased in greater abundance."
Rom 5:21 "that, just as the sin nature ruled in the sphere of spiritual death [real spiritual death],