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Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
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All Joy and Peace in Believing 
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One Thing I Do 
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We Must Broaden Our Vision
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Our God He is Alive
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"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins.

(Matthew 26:28) 

 

 


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University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

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The Remission of Sins

by James W. Adams

 

The universality of sin is a fact which no man who admits the existence of evil would think of denying. Man's inability to liberate himself from its guilt, love, and dominion is a fact equally as well known and as universally acknowledged. Experience and observation unquestionably confirm the statements of inspiration: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23); and "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).

The recognition of evil logically demands a recognition of righteousness. To admit the existence of evil is to give tacit recognition to a standard by which thoughts, words, and deeds are determined to be good or evil. To recognize such a standard is to agree that it is the law of life. If men are to submit to such a law, it must possess authority. To possess authority, it must be infallible. Men are not likely to submit themselves to a law of life that can give no evidence of being infallibly correct. Imperfect beings cannot give to the world a perfect law of life. An infallible law could emanate only from a perfect being. This accounts for the moral decadence and corruption of heathen religions and the devotees of all ideologies that are fundamentally atheistic.

The very existence of evil in the world, therefore, demands the existence of God and a standard of life emanating from Him. Christians worship the one, true, and living God and subscribe to the Bible as His word or law of life. All evil results from sin -transgressions of God's law of life as revealed in the Bible. Law, however, is impotent unless it provides for the punishment of the transgressor. If law may be violated with impunity, its authority is subverted and its majesty degraded. God's law of life has ever provided for the punishment of the transgressor. The prophet said, "The soul that sinneth it shall die" (Ezek. 18:20). Paul said, "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). Eternal death is the penalty which has ever attached to Heaven's law. Since all have sinned, each responsible being is a condemned transgressor. The facts in the case are clear. The guilt of the transgressor is established. The sinner, therefore, is under condemnation and waits but for the judgment for the inflicting of the penalty.

He is helpless of himself to do ought that would justify his salvation. Only the intervention of Divine power can save him. God cannot disregard transgression and, at the same time, uphold the majesty and power of His law. Yet, infinite love yearned for the salvation of the creature who bore the image of his Creator. From this infinite yearning and heavenly passion, the scheme of human redemption was born. God's law could not permit transgression with impunity, but could and did admit of pardon through a substitute offering for sin.

Naught could adequately serve in this capacity save that which was absolutely sinless. Only a perfect being, hence only a Divine victim, would suffice. For this cause, Jesus "who knew no sin" came "in the likeness of sinful flesh," as the Word of God "made flesh" and by His sinless life and sacrificial death on the cross "condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:1-4). In this Res the explanation of such passages as these: "Christ died for our sins" (1 Cor. 15:3); "This is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Mt. 26:28); "The love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead" (2 Cor. 5:14); "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin" (Rom. 4:6-8).

Concerning Imputed Righteousness

Denominations, and some of my own brethren, have greatly erred in supposing that "imputed righteousness" is an imputation of the perfect, personal righteousness of Christ to the sinner. The personal righteousness of one person cannot be imputed to another. Paul clearly shows that the righteousness possessed by the sinner (through faith in Christ, jwa) is attained through forgiveness or pardon. He quotes David as saying, "Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven." Christ, the perfect human, the Divine victim, offered Himself as man's substitute on the cross to make possible man's forgiveness without vitiating Divine law. When the sinner accepts the offering of Christ through gospel obedience, he is pardoned, forgiven, hence is then righteous before God. He has sinned (hence stood condemned, jwa), but through forgiveness has become guiltless, therefore possesses "imputed righteousness."

Baptist preachers (and other Calvinists, jwa) suppose David's statement, "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin," to mean that the child of God can do any evil thing under the sun, and God will not regard him as being guilty whether he is ever penitent or not. The passage teaches nothing of the kind. God provides a plan for the forgiveness of His children as well as one for the forgiveness of the alien sinner. In no case does he propose to overlook and forgive unconditionally the sins of men (saints or aliens, jwa).

The Conditions of Remission of Sins

That Christ died for all, Paul says, is just as certain as the fact that all are dead (2 Cor. 5:14). The blessings of the sacrificial offering of Christ are made available to all, but they are not bestowed upon them unconditionally. Such would be tantamount to passing by sin without adequate punishment and would be subversive of the majesty, dignity, and power of Divine law, as much so as it would have been without the death of Christ. The sinner must see in Christ crucified the heinous character of sin, the awful penalty of transgression, and the glory and majesty of Divine law. In response to Heaven's overtures of mercy in Christ he must: Believe in Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of the world (the Divine victim) (1 Cor. 15:1-3); viewing the awful character of sin and its just penalty, he must be led to a state of deep penitence (Acts 3:19); he must make a public acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9,10); and he must submit himself to His rulership by being buried with him by baptism into His death unto the remission of his sins (Rom. 6:4; Acts 2:38).

Corroborative of these facts are the following incidents from apostolic history. Cornelius the Gentile was told, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43). You will note, this passage does not teach that the sinner receives remission of sins through faith only, but rather, he receives it through the name of Christ. In verse 48, Peter commands them "to be baptized in the name of the Lord.", The Jews in Solomon's porch were told, "Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out . . . " (Acts 3:19). Believers on the day of Pentecost were told, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38).

No person can consistently (or correctly, jwa) claim to be a child of God and enjoy the righteousness of God who has not complied with the Divine conditions of pardon. The assurance of our pardon (and a right standing with God, jwa) lies in the integrity of Divine promises. Hence, no person can have the assurance (of salvation, jwa) who has not met Divine conditions (upon which it is predicated, jwa). The child of God, having accepted Christ as his offering for sin (in primary gospel obedience, jwa) has Divine assurance of pardon for all sins committed after baptism into Christ (Gal. 3:27) upon the conditions of repentance, confession, and prayer (Acts 8:13-23; 1 John 1:9).

Guardian of Truth - May 7, 1987

 

 

  Other Articles by James W. Adams
Source of Wisdom

Guilty, So What?
Facing West
Red Sails in the Sunset

Splendid Discontent
Rascals are Always Sociable




 


 

The Northern Virginia Bible Study
Feb 25, 28 and March 1

The Apostles and the Local Church

Studies led by Larry Rouse

Download the current outlines:
Lesson 1 - Words
Lesson 1 - Words (With Full Scriptures Printed)

Lesson 2 - The Local Church and the Words of the Apostles
Lesson 2 - The Local Church and the Words of the Apostles (With Full Scriptures Printed)

Lesson 3 - What Is the Place and Purpose of the Contribution

Lesson 3 - What Is the Place and Purpose of the Contribution (With Full Scriptures Printed)

Lesson 4 - How Do the Apostles Words Instruct Us Concerning Doctrinal Differences?
Lesson 4 - How do the Apostles Words Instruct Us Concerning Doctrinal Differences? (With Full Scriptures Printed)

Click Here for Audio and Additional Resources


Click Here to Hear:

A Friendly Discussion on Mormonism

Held at the University church of Christ -
February 17, 2011


 

Monthly Bible Study in Lagrange
at the Eastside church of Christ in LaGrange, Georgia

Overcoming the Present Apostasy by Larry Rouse

 

Saturday October 9, 2010


9:30 AM
- How do We View the Bible?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

 

Saturday December 11, 2010

9:30 AM - How Do We View the World?

Outline
PowerPoint

 

 


University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
(7:00 PM)

 

Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

Click Here for Specific Directions



 

Overcoming the Present Apostasy

Sermon Series by Larry Rouse

Piscataway, NJ Nov 20-22, 2009

 

 

Friday Night 7:30

Lesson1 - How Do We View the Bible?

Outline
PowerPoint
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Saturday Night 7:30

Lesson 2 - How do we View the World?

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Sunday Morning 9:15
Lesson 3 - How do we View God's Order for Leadership?

Outline
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Sunday Morning 10:00
Lesson 4 - How Do We View the Local Church?

Outline
PowerPoint
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Sunday Morning 11:00
Lesson 5 - How Do We View God's Instruction on Fellowship

Outline
Audio

For Additional Information, Audio and Outlines Click Here

 


Recent Bulletins:

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 26, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 19, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 12, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 5, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Nov 28, 2010 Edition


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