09 The Redeemer's Design

The Redeemer’s Design

"Christ has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust — that he might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18 Every sinner is unjust. He has not rendered unto God his due. He has not answered the end of his creation. His thoughts of God have been unjust. His conduct toward God has been unjust. His conversation about God has been unjust — he has not spoken of God that which is right. This is true of us all. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

We have sinned against our fellow men, and have been unjust toward them; but our greatest sins have been against God. We deserve his wrath. Our sins have aroused his displeasure. The consequence of our sins, if things had been allowed to take their course — would have been dreadful. Our condition must have been awful — if Jesus had not intervened for us. But he voluntarily undertook the sinner’s cause. He came into our world to be the sinner’s Substitute. He . . .
assumed our nature,
took our place,
was charged with our sins,
suffered in our stead,
and died in our place.

"Christ has once suffered for sins." His sufferings were unparalleled.

He suffered the most painful privations. He was the only-begotten Son of God. He had existed with the Father, in the possession and enjoyment of inconceivable happiness and glory. But he left that state. He gave up that blessedness. He came into the world. He was the son of a poor woman. He grew up among poor children. He learned and worked at the trade of a carpenter. He spent thirty years in poverty and seclusion. When he commenced his ministry he was dependant on his followers for temporal supplies. He testified himself, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests — but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." He experienced hunger, thirst, cold and weariness.

He suffered also from the violent, long-continued, and base temptations of Satan. For forty days at one time — without rest, food, or fellowship with man — he was plied with every powerful solicitation to evil, which Satan could invent. At the close of his life below, all the powers of Hell appear to have been let loose upon him, he endured, he suffered, he overcame all their arts and influences.

He suffered from shame and reproach. The slanders of his enemies, the reflections upon his Heavenly Father, and the contempt with which they treated him . . .
went to his heart,
wounded his spirit,
and oppressed his soul. At length he cried out, "Reproach has broken my heart: the reproaches of those who reproached you, have fallen upon me."

He suffered the greatest agony of mind. When sin was laid upon him. When the cup of wrath was presented to him. When the sword of divine justice was drawn against him. When his Father frowned on him as the sinner’s Representative — he was in an agony. His soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death. He was agitated beyond expression. His spirits were in a fearful storm. The blood oozed through his skin, and fell in large drops to the ground. His sufferings were then unspeakably great, inconceivably dreadful! In addition to the sorrows of his soul, he endured the greatest pain of body. He was dragged about from place to place in chains. He was struck by the hands of his crude and unfeeling creatures. He was crowned with thorns, which were forced into his temples. He was scourged with thongs and knotted wire. He was compelled to carry the heavy cross. His hands and feet were nailed to it. It was thrust into its socket with such violence, that his bones were dislocated. He hung suspended on that cross for six hours. His father hid his face from him. His enemies railed at him. Satan and his host assaulted him. The sorrows of death compassed him, the pains of Hell got hold upon him. At length,
having suffered the due desert of our crimes,
having emptied the cup of wrath,
having fulfilled all that was written of him in the Old Testament,
having made a full atonement for our sins,
having satisfied divine justice, and
having procured eternal salvation for all who shall believe in him
— he resigned his spirit into his Father’s hand.

Never were any sufferings, like the sufferings of Jesus!
The purity of his nature,
the tenderness of his sensibilities,
the character he sustained, and
the hand from which those sufferings came
— all served to increase their acuteness! His sufferings were penal — the punishment of sin.

They were substitutionary — for our sins.

They were satisfactory — he suffered but once. There was no need of repetition, for now God can be just — and yet the justifier of him that believes in Jesus.

"Christ has once suffered for sins — the just for the unjust." Jesus was just. The Just One. He did no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. But he took the place of the unjust. He became answerable for them.

"Christ has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust — that he might bring us to God." The design he had in view, was "that he might bring us to God." We are all afar off. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Justice appeared to forbid our return to God — he therefore undertook to satisfy justice, and by so doing remove every legal impediment out of the way. He engaged to bring us back, he being our Shepherd and we his wandering sheep: therefore he bore our sins, endured the punishment of them, and made satisfaction for them in his own body on the tree. Jesus suffered to bring us to God, who is now seated on a throne of grace.

Reader, the design of the sufferings and death of Jesus was . . .
that we might be accepted of God,
that all our sins may be instantly pardoned,
that we confessing our sins, and pleading what he did and suffered — might be justified, and be treated as though we had never sinned,
that our God may call us his dear children, and indulge us as such, without compromising any of the principles of his government, or allowing any ground for reflection on his law.

What obedience was required of us — Jesus did.

What punishment we deserved — Jesus suffered.

What we need to reconcile us to God — Jesus procured.

What he procured — he now presents to us. The voice of the gospel to the sinner is, "Come unto God." My dear friend, your God is willing to receive you. He bids you come boldly to his throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy, and find grace to help you in time of need.

If your sins stare you in the face,
if the thoughts of God’s justice discourage you,
if conscience accuses you,
if Satan suggests that there is no mercy for you,
if ten thousand fears and doubts harass you —
turn from the whole to this precious truth, "Jesus has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." Do you feel that you are unjust? It was for such he suffered. Do you see that your sins are numberless, and feel them to be a great burden? Remember that he died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. Therefore he is able also to save to the uttermost, all who come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. Go to God by Jesus, that is, depending on his sacrifice and death, pleading his precious name, expecting to be accepted for his sake — and your God will receive you and grant you his blessing. Our God has a throne of glory — and Jesus will bring us to that. He brings us to the throne of grace as sinners — to be pardoned, accepted, and blessed: and he will bring us to the throne of glory as saints — to be filled with his love, satisfied from his fullness, and glorified with him forever.

Consider the conduct of Jesus, how noble! How vast his love! How deep his sympathy! How tender his compassion! How great his condescension!

Mark the cause of our return to God. The Shepherd dies — that his wandering sheep may be restored. The Savior suffers — that sinners may come to God, and arrive in glory with certainty, safety, and honor.

Observe the safety of the believer: Jesus has suffered for his sins; he died in his stead; and he now lives that he may be forever glorified. Let us keep this great truth daily before our minds, it will surely . . .
strengthen our faith,
weaken our fears,
encourage our hearts, and
give us courage against our foes!