The Ultrasound Of Divine Love In Salvation

Psalm 139:13-16 "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them."

Jeremiah 1:4-5  "Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Galatians 1:15-16b "But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles."

Introduction: Ultrasounds

We have four wonderful children. I can recall when I first saw each one while the doctors and nurses performed an ultra sound of my wife's womb. It is truly a remarkable moment when your child's image appears on that little tiny screen. In the latter weeks of the pregnancy, she and I could discern features that resembled each side of our respective families. As I would get those first images in my eye and mind, I can honestly tell you that love swelled up in my heart. 

That little one inside my wife's womb was ours. Even though I hadn't the chance yet to hold that little one, feel its fingers squeeze my own nor hear its cooing; nevertheless, I loved him or her. By the day of birth, the love was already there. It is fair to say that my experience of pre-loving and seeing my children's images on the ultrasound was a faint analogy of what the Bible calls "God's foreknowledge". 

In the above opening passages, we find reference to God having "foreknown" David, Jeremiah and the Apostle Paul. We see those first glimpses of Biblical "ultrasounds", as each man describes how God foreknew each of them before any days of life had begun. 

Certainly God had chosen to use them as His vessels of communication. God had already known about David, Jeremiah and Paul before they were born, before they were conceived - before time began. Today's post will aim to connect the Biblical teaching on God's "foreknowledge" to His particular love for particular people (like David, Jeremiah, Paul and other believers).

Biblical Ultrasound #1: David 

When we think of David for example, did God decide to set his affection upon David before David had even thought about loving God? Both the Old and New Testaments affirm that David was sought by God for the purpose that He might raise Him up to be a man after His own heart (see 1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 7:46; 13:22). 

God already had David in the sonar screen of His omniscience. Sometimes reference is made to what is called God's "supercomprehension" - which means that God knows each of the creatures in ways that not even that creature could possibly know. God knew what each of His free-will creatures would do in particular places and times. 

As we already saw in Psalm 139, God had already marked out David's days. God foreknew David, which is to say, God fore-loved David. And yet, we also know too that David was a man that loved God and was clearly acquainted with what it meant to love God from an early age. David loved God because God had first loved him. God's foreknowledge of David did not preclude David's own free-moral agency from genuinely pursuing God. God's grace and Divine calling on David's life gave the context and the means for David's human responsibility to respond and freely follow. 

God's reasons for loving David are never stated beyond the fact that He loved and favored David. We know from reading David's life in 1 & 2 Samuel that some horrendous sins would be committed along the way. Yet, God ever loved him. Followers of Jesus Christ can also say the same thing about themselves. God's love for any of His people is not based upon what that person would or would not do, but rather what God wanted to do in that person's life to redeem them from darkness to life (see Romans 8:28-31).

God's covenant with David, which would bring about the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, was based upon God's covenant love for him (2 Samuel 7:13-16; Romans 1:3). God's fore-loving of David did not preclude nor negate any free-decisions David would make. As noted already, despite making some very terrible choices, David was still used by God and God's ultimate purposes for Him were still brought to pass. These realities can be also said of every person who has believed and repented of their sins throughout redemptive history (see 1 John 4:19).

Biblical Ultrasound #2: Jeremiah 

What of Jeremiah? What was God's thoughts toward him? The rest of Jeremiah 1:6-8 unfolds God's thoughts toward him: 

"Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth. 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 8 “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord."

Or later on another book authored by Jeremiah, namely Lamentations 3:21-25

"This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him."

God never left Jeremiah's side. Jeremiah was chosen and foreknown by God before Jeremiah had been born, before time itself had began (see Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4-5). God's love toward Jeremiah was pre-eternal. Such love called and drew Jeremiah out of the mass of humanity. He gave Jeremiah a call, a purpose and a promise to ever be with him. Such comforting thoughts uphold salvation in both the Old and New Testaments. 

Biblical Ultrasound #3: Saul/Paul 

We then consider the Apostle Paul. Paul, introduced in the New Testament as Saul of Tarsus, was freely and knowingly persecuting Christians (see Acts 9; 22;24). There was nothing in Saul's (i.e Paul's) life that made him commendable or worthy of God's choice to save him and to call him as the Apostle to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:13-14; Philippians 3:4-6). God's choice to love and show mercy to Paul was for the sake of His Son and loving character.  

Certainly Saul/Paul had done nothing to merit such love. He persecuted Christians and breathed out threats against Christ's people. God's grace broke in and Jesus made Himself known to Saul/Paul. 

In so far as God had foreknown and chosen Paul, it is nonetheless still true that Saul/Paul was responsive to Christ's call to him. In Galatians 2:20, we find Paul's will and God's will intertwined with one another in the living out of the Christian life:  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

God's foreknowledge and purposes of grace include the free-moral agency of the persons upon whom such purposes come. Time and time again, Paul could only give credit to God as to why he responded to the Gospel, whilst blaming those who reject Christ as being responsible for their own condemnation (see Acts 13:46).

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 reminds us of God's purposes of grace in things like election and foreknowledge as being totally compatible with human responsibility: 

"Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility."

Closing thoughts

Today we considered three examples of God's people whom were foreknown or fore-loved by God. Such a Divine initiative in vocation and salvation is God's eternal love directed towards His people before they ever existed or even before time began. Such pre-eternal love is person-specific, and includes the free-moral decisions of that person. God not only knows the ends of all things, but included means (such as human responsibility) in His decision to bring about our world populated by human free-moral agents. Why is it that any follower of Jesus Christ loves God? because God first loved them (Romans 8:29-31; 1 John 4:19). The great 19th century Baptist preacher C.H Spurgeon once noted:

"If there are some whom God will save, then I know also who they are, for He tells me they are such as repent of sin, confess it, forsake it and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

P2 Blessed Assurances Paid For At The Cross - Romans 8:36-37

Romans 8:31-32 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"

Introduction:

In our last post we considered the blessed assurances that flow from Christ's finished work on the cross as spelled out in Romans 8:31-32. We observed how God has an unquestionable commitment to the child of God who trusts in Christ in saving faith. We then noted too how Christ supplies unending representation for the Christian before the throne. These first two assurances were explored. Today we want to consider a third marvelous blessed assurance, namely...

Unbreakable Relationship between God and the Christian. Romans 8:35-37

Note what we read in Romans 8:35-37
"Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." The seven underlined words represent increasing levels of "worse-case" scenarios (at least for us living in the 21st century). The Bible Knowledge Commentary notes:

"These things—stated in increasing intensity—do not separate Christians from Christ; instead they are part of the “all things” (Rom. 8:28) God uses to bring them to conformity to His Son. Then Paul quoted Psalm 44:22 to remind his readers that in this life the people of God must face much affliction (cf. John 16:33) including even martyrdom for some. In the early days of the church one or more Christians were martyred every day, or faced the possibility of it. Their persecutors valued Christians’ lives as nothing more than animals to be butchered."

In looking at these seven negative experiences, one can note some observations:

1. We find two sets of three and a final, ultimate negative experience: martyrdom at the sword. 

2. Of the two sets of three, we find in each set two negative experiences that occur as a result of circumstance (tribulation, distress and famine, nakedness) with each followed by a respective negative event caused by other people (persecution, peril). 

3. Paul's listing here is said in light of what is clearly his meditation on Psalm 44, from which he quotes Psalm 44:22

The unbreakable link between God and the Christian is not only cemented at saving faith by the sealing ministry of the Spirit (see Ephesians 1:13-14); but continues on through the preserving work of the Father (1 Peter 1:5) and the continuing mediation of the Son on the believer's behalf (Hebrews 4:15; 7:24-25). 

Will there be those times in the Christian's life where life, trials, sin and spiritual warfare weakens them enough to yield to short seasons of sin? Yes. We see it for example in Peter's life, when he was giving into the hypocrisy of the Judaizers in Galatians 2. Yet, Peter did not remain in such hypocrisy, as evidenced in what we read of his expositions on the Gospel and Christian life in his two epistles of 1 and 2 Peter. The Baptist Faith and Message notes in its comments on the doctrine of perseverance or what is more popularly known as "eternal security":

"All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."

Closing thoughts:

What assurance can we find as believers when everything else seems not so sure? In Romans 8:32-37 we find a major assurance for salvation - the glory of the cross. The glory of the cross is like a multifaceted jewel in these verses. We saw the unbreakable relationship between God and the Christian. Note the following glories of the cross that follow from these considerations:

1. Riches of the Father's grace. 8:31-32
2. Representation by Christ. 8:33-34
3. Royalty of God's Sovereignty. 8:35-36
4. Reality of the believer's victory 8:37

P1 Blessed Assurances Paid For At The Cross - Romans 8:31-35

Romans 8:31-32  "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"

Introduction:

Romans 8:28-39 is composed of many "blessed assurances" of salvation. In this particular section of Romans 8:31-36, we discover three wonderful assurances that comprise the bedrock of all Christian assurance - the cross of Christ. Charles Stanley writes on page 9 of his classic book: "Eternal Security" - 

"If our assurance hinges on anything but the finished work of Christ on the cross, we are in trouble."

What Paul has to say about the assurances of salvation in Romans 8:32-39 flows from the Savior's cross. 
Albert Barnes in his commentary notes on this section:

"The argument for the security of all Christians is here derived from the fact, that God had shown them equal love in giving his Son for them."

Barnes then notes:

"The most humble and obscure believer may derive consolation from the fact that Christ died for him, and that God has expressed the highest love for him which we can conceive to be possible."

Today's post wants to begin looking at this section and note a couple of assurances of salvation that result from Jesus' accomplished work on the cross.

God's Unquestionable Commitment to the Christian. Romans 8:31-32

Note what we read in Romans 8:31-32 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" In that underlined phrase of verse 32, "freely give", we can find it rendering one Greek verb which, according to one Greek dictionary, means: "to give or grant graciously and generously, with the implication of good will on the part of the giver—‘to give, to grant, to bestow generously." 

Think about that definition: "good will on the part of the giver". God's thoughts towards His people whom are redeemed in saving faith come with His good intentions. Thankfully, we need not speculate as to how we can know whether or not God truly wants to supply the Christian with all they need for godly living. 

Why I should ever doubt God's good intentions toward me as a Christ follower is baffling in light of His clear demonstration of such by the giving of His One and Only Son. God demonstrated such by giving the unparalleled gift His His one and only Son! This truth gives me such comfort! As we will see in later verses of Romans 8:31-39, we cannot look ultimately to circumstances, people or material possessions for the assurances needed for daily Christian living. 

This unquestionable commitment of God to His people, as so demonstrated in the giving of His Son and spelled out here in Romans 8:31-32, receives the following observation from the Bible Exposition Commentary:


"The argument here is from the lesser to the greater. If when we were sinners, God gave us His best, now that we are God’s children, will He not give us all that we need? Jesus used this same argument when He tried to convince people that it was foolish to worry and fear. God cares for the birds and sheep, and even for the lilies; surely He will care for you! God is dealing with His own on the basis of Calvary grace, not on the basis of Law. God freely gives all things to His own!"

As Jesus notes in Matthew 6:26-31 -"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!" 

So the blessed assurance of God's unquestionable commitment was paid for at the cross, but notice the second blessed assurance we find flowing from Christ's finished work...

Christ's Unending Representation of the Christian. Romans 8:33-34

Note what we read in Romans 8:33-34
"Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us." Some questions are worth asking of the two underlined words in the text. First, who is the accuser being spoken of in Romans 8:33? Undoubtedly, the accuser, the prosecuting attorney that would try to indict believers (i.e God's elect) is none other than the Devil. The Bible Knowledge Commentary notes: 

"Satan is identified as “the accuser” of God’s people (Rev. 12:10; cf. Zech. 3:1). His accusations are valid, because they are based on the believer’s sinfulness and defilement. But Satan’s accusations will be thrown out of court, because it is God who justifies. The Judge Himself declares the accused person righteous on the basis of his faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:24; 5:1). As a result all accusations are dismissed and no one can bring an accusation that will stand."  

Second question, who is the "who" in Romans 8:35. God the Father is the Judge, and has appointed judgment to the Son appointed judge, since into His hands has been given all authority (see Matthew 28:18). Romans 3:25-26 reminds us: "whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Therefore, the One who is supplying the assurance of Christ's credited righteousness knows full well about our past and yet, because of what Christ achieved, sees the believer, not in light of rightful condemnation, but rather in the richness of Christ's work on the cross and the credited righteousness which is His to bestow. 

Not only does this text focus upon the right-standing of the Christian before God, but mainly on the unending representation Christ exercises on behalf of believers before the throne. Hebrews 7:24-25 notes: "but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." It is interesting to note that in Romans 8:26-27 we see the earthly intercession of the Holy Spirit for the Christian in prayer whilst we see Christ's heavenly intercession for the Christian to persevere to the end. 

Closing thoughts:

So we have noted two assurances of salvation paid for by Jesus on the cross: God's unquestionable commitment to the believer and Christ's unending representation on the believer's behalf. In the next post we will consider the third and last assurance that flows from Christ's accomplished work on the cross as spelled out in Romans 8:31-37.  

How The Christian Can Know God Is For Them - Romans 8:28-32

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Introduction:

Let's be honest, if you are a Christian reading this post today, I'm certain you have asked from time to time: "Is God really there for me?" or "How do I know that God still cares"? The mistake you and I make too often is to gauge God's love for us by the kinds of circumstances in our lives. A person can be in the will of God and yet still experience cancer, loss or disappointment, as well as times of abundance and ease. What specifically does Romans 8:31 mean when it mentions "these things" demonstrating the fact that God is for the Christian? 

As we fan out from Romans 8:31, I believe we can find three demonstrations of the fact that God is indeed for the Christian in Romans 8:28-32: 

1. The purpose of God for the Christian. Romans 8:28

2. The plan of God for the Christian. Romans 8:29-31

3. The promise of God for the Christian. Romans 8:32

So let's briefly look at each of these three things that demonstrate that God is truly for the follower in Jesus Christ.

1. The purpose of God demonstrates God is for the Christian.

Notice what Romans 8:28 states: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Paul emphasizes God's Sovereignty operating in the believer's life - i.e, God "causes" all things. God is the Orchestrator of human affairs. Even when mankind sins, God can still use the foolish decisions of sinful men to achieve His ultimate purpose. 

Were it not for the Ultimate purpose of God at the end of this verse, the entirety of life and salvation as we know it would fall to the ground. God is for you dear Christian because of the purpose He has for your life. This speaks of the goal God has established for you dear Christian to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. The end has been set by God, and whatever God begin He finishes, guaranteed (Philippians 1:6). However, how does one know God's purposes are sure? This is where the purpose of God in Romans 8:28 is connected to the plan of God in Romans 8:29-31.

2. The plan of God demonstrates God is for the Christian. Romans 8:29-31

For years Bible teachers have referred to these verses as the unbreakable golden chain of salvation. The point of Romans 8:29-31 is to unfold what is meant by God's purpose in Romans 8:28. Sadly, so many Christians skip over Romans 8:29-31 to hasten to Romans 8:32. However unless we grasp God's grand plan and design of Christian salvation from beginning to end, we will have no basis for assurance. 

Romans 8:29 introduces us to the anchors of God's plan: foreknowledge and predestination. These words are not revealed in scripture to scare us, but rather to comfort us. Foreknowledge could just as easily be rendered "fore-loving" or "pre-eternal love". God knows where you're at before you ever arrive at where you're at.  

Predestination deals with God's purposes in Christ. Quite literally, predestination has to do with God "marking out" the boundaries of each and every individual Christian's life before they were born. Foreknowledge speaks of God's loving intent for each believer before they were born and predestination can be likened unto a set of blue prints. 

In roughly 100 places in the Bible we find the truth of God's elective purpose of grace, whereby He chose every Christian based upon His choice for them in love, in eternity (Ephesians 1:4-5; 2 Peter 1:1-2). Why would God begin planning each believer's salvation in eternity? Paul tells us the point of plan: "to become conformed to the image of His Son". 

The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 explains for us God's elective purpose: "Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility."

In Romans 8:30 we then see the so-called "golden chain" of salvation laid out in full length. We've already mentioned foreknowledge and predestination. The third link of the chain is God's calling. The Holy Spirit comes to people in their sins and calls them to leave their love affair with unbelief and trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation. 

The fourth link, justification, has to do with God's judicial declaration over the sinner at saving faith: "not guilty". Let the reader be reminded that justification can only occur when the sinner believes. Salvation is taught consistently in scripture as including both God's Sovereignty (election, foreknowledge, predestination, calling) and human responsibility (justified). No man can be saved lest God draws them and yet, at the same time, no man can be saved until He repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Then the final link of God's plan of salvation is what Romans 8:30 calls "glorification". This speaks of the believer's completion in Heaven, from the removal of their sin once they leave this world in death to when their perfected soul and spirit is united with a glorified resurrected body at Christ's return (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 

Why labor these verses? because God's plan for every Christian stretches literally from eternity past to eternity future. We know God is for the Christian because of His purpose and plan but also notice lastly....

3. God's promises demonstrate that He is for the Christian. Romans 8:31-32

Romans 8:31-32 states - "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" How do we truly know whether or not God is for us? Read again that above underlined portion of Romans 8:32 - how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" How much does God truly love His people? He loves them so much that He gave His only Begotten Son (John 3:16). God's promises are yes and amen in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20-22). Why is it that we doubt God so often? because we get our eyes off the cross. God's purpose and plan is tied to all that was achieved at the cross and empty tomb. 

Whenever we doubt Jesus' love for us: look to the cross and empty tomb, look to the scriptures. Emotions are o.k, but not infallible. The Bible alone is inerrant and infallible and the cross and empty tomb are the only proofs that everything that pertains to our salvation is true. As you read down to the end of Romans 8:33-39, you discover that everything Paul wrote about in Romans 8:28-32 is the guaranteed foundation of Romans 8:33-39. 

Closing thoughts:

In closing, remember that we know God is for the Christian based upon His purpose, plan and promises for each child of God. May we go and tell every person that they too can have the same opportunity as we if they will but respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and know that in Christ, God will always be there for them. 

It's always better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man

Psalm 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."

The opening passage of today's post is appropriately the middle verse of our English Bibles. The Bible is unquestionably God centered. Wherever you turn in the books of the Bible, you will find verse after verse depiciting either man's ultimate need as being God in Jesus Christ or the glorious revelation of this God. Take the prophecy of Jeremiah for example. In Jeremiah 40-42 we see what happened to the people of Judah who were left behind following the exile of the majority of Jewish people into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. 

Jeremiah the prophet was left to live among the poorer people spared by Nebuchadnezzar to remain behind in and around Jerusalem. Not everyone was happy to be remaining and much fear was brewing among the remnant of Jews as to whether they would be taken to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had assigned a governor by the name of Gedeliah to watch over the people. To compound the already jittery climate of fear, Gedeliah was assassinated by a wicked man named Ishmael who was part of an intricate plot conceived by the Ammonites, a pagan people who dwelled in the land. Ishmael's wickedness was demonstrated when in killing a bunch of men he had them thrown into an old, dried up well in the city. 

Mankind is no better than a well full of dead corpses when attempting to preserve himself in the face of judgment . Jeremiah the prophet comes along and warns the people and the leaders among them not to fear, but to dwell in the land around Jerusalem, for God is willing to grant favor and sustain them. Jeremiah warns those who have it in them to flee to Egypt to not go, lest they suffer by the hand of the king of Babylon from whom they are trying to escape. 

Despite the prophet Jeremiah's warnings, certain leadership convinces the people that they have no other choice but to flee to Egypt. They choose to trust in man rather than God. Jeremiah and others are forced to go with them, showing that God has a remnant whom He uses to bear witness and call others to repentance. 

When we briefly turn to the New Testament, the book of Hebrews urges the reader to look to the excellency and supremacy of Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 2 we see the first of five warnings in the book issued to those who claim to know Jesus with their lips but do not possess the necessary saving faith in their hearts. Anyone who refuses to heed God's voice does so because it was in them to do so as a result of their willful choice. (Acts 13:46; Hebrews 2:3) Anyone who turns and believes on the Lord does so because of God's grace working in the person whom He has given to run into the arms of Jesus. (John 10:27-29; Hebrews 2:13) The writer then details all that God did in the sending of His Son, and how Christ alone provides salvation and the grace necessary to fight and overcome temptation. 

So in this brief look at two books of the Bible, what can we glean? It is always better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

P4 How can I know that I'm a Christian - Christians long for Christ's return & love being led by the Holy Spirit

1 John 5:13 "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."

Introduction:
We have looked at five assurances or fruits that one can look for when evaluating the genuineness of saving faith in their lives. How can I know, that I know, that I know that I'm a Christian? Thus far we have seen that true Christians hate worldliness, love God's word, loves Jesus, God's people, obedience and prayer. Today we will conclude the assurances of salvation by noting that true Christians long for Christ's return and want to be led by the Holy Spirit.

True Christians long for Christ's return
1 John 3:1-3 states - "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

It is no accident that the Christian's pre-occupation with Christ's return should grow over time, since satisfaction with the things of this world gradually pale, and longing to see Jesus should increase. It can seem at times we are more caught up in the here-and-now than in the sweet-by-and-by. Yet God's grace prompts us, reminds us, to long for His return. This is why God's love is the motivation. If we will but "see, behold" God the Father's love, we will then long for the second coming of Jesus.

True Christians want to be led by the Holy Spirit
As Christians, we will either be "self-led" or "Spirit-led". Ephesians 5:18 uses the language of "filling" to remind us of the repeated need for the Spirit's leading: "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit". At salvation, the Christian gets all of the Holy Spirit they will ever need. From that point onward, the issue becomes: "how much of me does the Holy Spirit have?"

1 John 4:13 states - "By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit." The battle between "self" and "The Holy Spirit" is a daily affair. Will I let my emotions and my thinking guide me, or will I order my emotions and thoughts under God's word. The Holy Spirit living inside every Christian is "God in us", pointing to Jesus, who is "God with us", who bids us to love The Father, "God above us".

What happens if I cannot gain assurance of salvation?
My prayer is that as you look at your heart, that these various assurances will clarify for you whether or not you are truly a Christian. The basis of your salvation rests not in how you feel, but rather in God's written word - the Bible; and in God's Living word - Jesus Christ. Have you by faith trusted in Christ alone by faith alone? More importantly, are you right now, at this moment, relying upon Jesus Christ as your Savior, Lord and Treasure? If you cannot answer these questions in the affirmative, Romans 10:9-10 is the plainest verse I know for settling the issue: "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

P3 How do I know I'm a Christian? Christians love to pray, love obedience and to be with God's people

1 John 5:13 - "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."

Introduction:

Assurance of salvation is the Christian's level of confidence in knowing that they know that they know they are saved. In today's blog we continue by noting three additional fruits, or grace driven attitudes that should be evident in the person's life who claims Christ as their own. So far in this series we have noted the following ways one can assess their level of assurance of salvation:

1. Do they hate sin

2. Do they love closeness with God more than comforts in life

3. Do they love the word of God

Today we continue by noting three other things that true believers in Jesus Christ will typically love.

True Christians love to approach Christ in prayer
1 John 2:1 tells us: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous". What is an advocate? An advocate is someone who is willing to represent our concerns to one who can do something about it. Knowing that God can hear me, and knowing that I can hear God, can make prayer transform into something that I look forward to. Note what David states in Psalm 42:3: "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?" David could not wait to pray. True Christians will grow over time to appreciate Christ in prayer.

True Christians love to obey God
1 John 2:3 notes - "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments." Do I find obeying the Lord a drudgery or a delight? Undoubtedly Christians experience up and down times in their Christian walk, where some days seem easier to obey God than others. Yet it is in the area of following the Lord's leading where I truly gain the confidence of assurance. For if I walk out the light God grants me in a given area of obedience, God pledges to grant me greater light to walk by (please compare 1 John 1:7-8). It has been well said by older saints that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone apart from works. However, following our committment of faith, we are being saved by a faith that is never alone. 1 John 5:3  plainly states: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome."

True Christians love being with other Christians
1 John 2:10-11 makes this observation - "The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes." The verbs underlined in this verse indicate a "continual, ongoing, persistent attitude". More often than not the Bible measures the genuineness of one's love for Christ by how much ongoing love they have for other Christians. Why? Because loving the brethren gives us practice for loving those who are not Christians. If anything, loving other Christians is the most basic level of expressing God's love to other people.

Unless hindered by circumstances out of one's control (such as illness or emergency), the Christian ought to make church attendance a priority. Grace-driven motives makes church attendance not a matter of a check-off list item, but rather an event whereby I reinforce my love for Jesus by being around other Christians. Hebrews 10:25 states - "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

Come back tomorrow, dear reader, as we will look at further assurances of salvation described by 1 John. May the Lord bless you this Lord's day.

Saturday 4/25 P2 How do I know that I'm a Christian? Christians love closeness to God and love His word

1 John 5:13 "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."

Introduction:
Yesterday we noted that assurance of salvation refers to "knowing that I know that I know that I am a Christian". We also observed that a true believer in Jesus Christ is known by what he or she loves, and what he or she hates. We saw yesterday that a true Christian will hate sin. From this point onward, 1 John gives us affirmations of assurance based upon various things that the Christian loves. Truly if we say we love Jesus Christ, then it will be exhibited by loving the things that He loves. As we progress into 1 John, let me mention the key verse of the letter, 1 John 5:13 "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." What areas indicate, bear witness, give evidence that I truly am saved from the wrath to come, and have a true heart of faith in Jesus Christ? Below are a couple of key areas that a true child of God should see more and more love.

1. True Christians will ultimately love closeness to God above comfort in this life
1 John 1:7-9 states: "but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Positively speaking, to fear God means that I will make it my aim to not let anything get between me and my closeness with the Lord. John is especially fond of describing the believer's walk in terms of "walking" and "light". 

Here is a good diagnostic question to ask? Do I find the pattern of my life gravitating more towards those things which will build me up in my relationship with Christ, or do I go for those things that will gain me favor in the eyes of men?

As we noted yesterday, there will be those moments when the true Christian may choose the things of this world above the things of Christ. However, the true heart of faith cannot persist in such a state. That is why verse 9 is included, since a true believer will correct their course and ultimately strive towards the light. Their love for Jesus, ultimately, is greater than anything they could have towards the world.

2. True Christians have a growing love for His word
1 John 2:3 states - "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments." Jesus says a similar statement in John 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” The way I regard the written word of God is directly related to how I regard the living word Jesus Christ. Love for the scriptures is the response of a human heart that is open to and touched by the work of God's Divine Grace. When I find myself wavering in my love and passion for the word, I find the words of Psalm 119:18 helpful " Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law." We need God's grace to enable us to love the things He loves. A true believer, over time, will not only learn to love the scripture, but to live to love the scripture. Why? Because it is the written word of God that points the Christian to their first love, Jesus Christ.

More tomorrow...

Friday 4/24 P1 How do I know I'm a Christian? True Christians hate sin

1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
In today's blog, and over the next few days, we aim to explore specific statements from the New Testament book of 1 John that will answer the question: "How can I know, that I know, that I'm still a Christian?" Doubt is a form of unbelief about what God has done for us in the past, worry is a species of unbelief about God's ability in the present and fear is a type of unbelief regarding what God can do in the future. Many Christians walk around with troubling doubts, worries and fears about their salvation. Dr. Adrian Rogers notes: "Yet many Christians don't know they're saved. They go around with their shoulders all bent over--drooping, wondering, and worrying. They remind me of question marks with their heads bent over, rather than exclamation points standing straight and tall and saying, "I know whom I have believed!"
Rather than being shouting Christians, they're doubting Christians. Rather than having a "know-so" salvation, they have a "hope-so" salvation." Thankfully, scripture gives us clear guidance on this matter.

The book of 1 John - blessed assurance
The book of 1 John has 105 verses with over 70 statements about assurance of salvation. In fact 1 John 5:13 is the key verse describing the purpose of the book: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." This little word "know" refers to certainty gained by observation and experience. The word "know" and it's synonyms are found some 25 times in John's short book. Thus assurance of salvation can be defined as: "I know, that I know, that I'm a Christian." As noted already, Christianity is not a " hope-so salvation" or "maybe salvation", rather the Bible's testimony for the true Christian is that they can have a "know-so salvation".

Assurance is demonstrated by what a Christian loves and hates. 1 John aims to help you know, have confidence, have certainty about your relationship with Jesus Christ. How does John reinforce that? By setting forth specific instances of things the true child of God loves, and those things that a true child of God hates. Below we will begin exploring these assurances of salvation by noting first what a true believer will hate. Look for these attitudes, expressions in your own life, and by faith and God's word test to see if you know, that you know that you're a Christian.

A True Christian Hates Sin 1 John 2:15-17
1 John 2:15-17 states: "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever."

What in the world is "the world"?
The world in this verse is not in reference to the planet earth. Rather the term "world" describes the system of unbelief by which non-Christians operate. When a person is "worldy", they are adhering to the common held convictions shared in the unbelieving world that is in rebellion against God. 

It's one thing to be tempted and even at times go through seasons where we want to slip back to the former way of life before salvation. But the "love of the world" described here in 1 John 2:15-17 is a continual, on-going perisistence in a system of unbelief hostile to Christ.

Three components of "the world"
Note the three components of the world: lust of the flesh, the eyes and pride of life. If I persistently love what is seen above Christ whom I can't see, then I need to re-evaluate my profession of salvation. The flesh is a particular attitude that strives to embrace the world. Am I continually embracing that which is outside the known will of God? If so, I need to check whether or not I received Christ by faith in the first place. (2 Corinthians 13:5) What about the boastful pride of life? Am I more concerned with possessions than possessing Christ? Questions such as these help us test where we are at in our walk. Either I have come to possess Christ by faith, and thus will exhibit fruit that matches with what I profess; or I'll discover I am only professing Christ with my lips, and thus need to possess Him by faith.

Ultimately the true Christian cannot persist in worldliness
If I find myself caught up in the world, does that mean that I am not Christian? It all depends where I run to after I discover worldliness. If I keep running into the arms of the world, with no regrets, then I need to evaluate whether I'm merely a "professor" rather than a "possessor" of Christ. However, if come running to Christ, asking for forgiveness, acknowledging that I not merely did a bad thing, but offended God's very character in me, then I have just demonstrated evidence of true salvation.

Is there hope for Christians who dabble in worldliness?
1 John 1:9 states: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Notice the dual promise: "forgiveness" and "cleansing". 

Let me state this a plainly as possible: A true Christian cannot lose there salvation nor will a true Christian ultimately ever want to lose salvation. There will be those seasons in a Christian's life when they might very well fall for the enticements of this world. Ask the great apostle Peter, who doubted Christ three times. He clearly was worldly. But what does the scripture tell us in John 21? When Jesus came to Him, He in repentance told Jesus "yes Lord, you know that I love you" three times. Jesus restored Him, cleansed him from the affects of his denials, and Peter became the premier leader in the early church.

These ways of evaluating our heart are crucial to our Christian growth. Thankfully the scriptures, not our feelings, are the chief way we know whether or not we are Christians. Right after the passages describing the world, John states in 1 John 2:21 "I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth." As we draw assurance from the scriptures, our emotions and our thoughts will line up behind the scriptures, like little children behind a parent. For it is in the scriptures I meet and commune with the very Jesus I not only profess to know, but know that I know that I know.

More tomorrow....

Richness of Fruitfulness in the Christian life - Preserved in salvation

John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."

Introduction:

God has called the Christian to a fruitful life that ought to be characterized by growing onward and upward in Him. This type of life is not guaranteed immunity from trouble (see John 16:33) nor seasons of challenge and trials (1 Peter 1:6-7). Nonetheless, the fruitful life is empowered by God to bear forth fruit in the midst of troubles, challenge and trials and learns to be a blessing to others. Frutifulness ought to be desired by all Christians, however it seems so often that we would rather settle and get by the skin of our teeth than bear forth fruit. Thankfully, the Father's task of bearing forth fruit has not been left entirely in our hands. By His Sovereign work and illuminating the Christian's will to desire spiritual growth, fruitful Christianity can turn out to be the type of life that is rich in joy and faith in the Lord. Today's post will be dedicated to unfolding the richness of fruitfulness in John 14:23-15:16. What is there about fruitful Christianity that makes it truly enriching? 

Fruitfulness is enriching because the Christian is preserved in their salvation

As Jesus continues on his his final remarks and teaching of his disciples in the Upper Room on the eve of his crucifixion, the topic with which He is concerned about unfolding is that of fruitfulness. Fruitful Christianity is enriching because of the fact that God has guaranteed the preservation of salvation. Notice three reinforcing thoughts that demonstrate the richness of being preserved in one's salvation.

1. God preserves us to be a home for His presence. John 14:23-25

 John 14:23 reads - "Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him." The word underlined "abode" is found in only one other place in the New Testament, John 14:2, and is translated by the phrase "dwelling places". John 14:2 reads - "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you." The words underlined in both passages speaks of a "permanent dwelling place". Henceforth whenever the Father and Son take up residence inside the Christian by way of the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit, that work is permanent, preserving and persevering.

2. God preserves Christians by the Helper - the Holy Spirit

As Jesus is outlining His teaching on the fruitful Christian life, He is careful to bookend His discussion with this major truth about the preservation and perseverance of the Christian to the end. Popularly known as "eternal security", preservation of salvation speaks of God "preserving" all true believers to the end. Some Christian groups teach that it is possible for a Christian to lose their salvation and have even appealed to Jesus' teaching here in John 14 and 15 as proof. Is that true? To attempt to prove their point, such teachers will appeal to passages such as John 15:2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit." But is Jesus speaking about loss of salvation or is He teaching about someone who never had salvation?" The point of the wider context of fruitbearing in John 14:23-15:11 is summarized well by Dr. Wayne Grudem: "The point of the imagery is that those who bear fruit thereby give evidence that they are abiding in Christ. Those who do not (bear fruit) are not abiding in Christ." If Christ is in me, and I in him, then I will bear fruit. The argument of this blogger and the scripture is that the nature of Christ's abiding is a permanent one.

The Christian is not left alone to fend for themselves. Jesus teaches this point in John 14:26-27  "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." The Person of the Holy Spirit is God in us as Christians. Because of this Mighty "Helper", all true Christians are guaranteed preservation in their salvation. Other texts speak of the Holy Spirit sealing the Christian until the day of Christ's return. (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30)

To know that as a Christian that I am preserved in my salvation and will persevere to the end does not give license for sin, but rather a license to avoid it at all costs. The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 states: "All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." The fact that God in the Person of the Holy Spirit is indwelling the Christian as a permanent resident is the clear teaching of John 14:23-31. So the believer's preservation of salvation is truly what makes fruitfulness rich. God preserves the Christian to be a home and His preservation of the Christian is due to the Helper, the Holy Spirit. Now let's consider one final thought...

God preserves the Christian to have a fruitful life to the end

As we noted a moment ago, the preservation of Christian salvation functions as book ends in this text. John 15:16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you." The underlined phrase in John 15:16 reinforces this first rich truth of fruitfulness in the Christian life - namely that no matter how tough seasons of life may go, the Christian will ultimately abide and remain due to the promise of their fruit remaining. God preserves every Christian to have a fruitful life to the end. Having something means you have received it at some beginning point and that it is your. With regards to how this works in the teaching of eternal preservation of salvation, Dr. Adrian Rogers notes: "Somebody once said, if you could have it and not know it, you could lose it and not miss it. But the truth is, if you have salvation, you know it; and if you have it and know it, you can never lose it."

When Jesus said He chose the disciples prior to their choosing him, that means then His choosing of them was the basis for their preservation. The Lord saw these disciples as completed and perfected already, even though they throughout the course of their lives were being pruned and going through process. Included in God's election or choosing of the Christian are the details of their bearing fruit and producing good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 is typically quoted as a standard biblical definition of salvation - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." However, very few go on to the next verse, which speaks of the richness of fruitbearing and the eternal salvation of the believer. Notice Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." To demonstrate how Ephesians 2:10 shows the preservation of the believer's salvation as being related to fruitbearing to the end, consider the following logical argument:

God's knowledge of future events is 100% guaranteed

God planned good works for every Christian and knew already their future outcome

Hence, the guarantee of the Christian persevering to the end in fruitbearing is 100%. 

Closing thoughts

Today we considered the richness of fruitfulness in the Christian life as it relates to preservation in salvation. We noted three headings from John 14:23-30 that underscores how we know that Christians are preserved in their salvation.

1. God preserves Christians to be a home for his presence. John 14:23-25

2. God preserves by the Helper - the Holy Spirit. John 14:26-27

3. God preserves Christians to be fruitful to the end. John 14:28-30; 15:16

God's provisions, your needs

Deuteronomy 25:1-3 “If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, ² then it shall be if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall then make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of stripes according to his guilt. ³ He may beat him forty times but no more, so that he does not beat him with many more stripes than these and your brother is not degraded in your eyes.

In today's blog we want to look at a principle I find frequently throughout the Old and New Testament: "God's provision before the need".1 

How is it that God provides before the need?  How was it that He provided for His people, Israel, back in the Old Testament concerning their needs? Furthermore, how do the provisions recorded in passages such as Deuteronomy 25-26 reveal the greatest need of mankind: salvation?  To answer these questions, I want to first of all list mankind's three ultimate needs, followed by the specific provisions for specific needs in Deuteronomy 25-26, with a final section showing how God was going to meet man's ultimate need through His ultimate provision - Jesus Christ. 

Mankind's Ultimate Needs
The Bible tells us of three ultimate needs for everyone born into this world:
1. Payment for sin.  Romans 3:23, 6:23
2. Personal Savior. Matthew 1:21, 1 Timothy 1:15
3. Promise of resurrection. Job 14:14; Heb 2:14

Specific Provisions  in Deuteronomy 25-26
Now just tuck those ultimate needs in the back of your mind, because in a moment we will return to them.  In Deuteronomy 25 we want to highlight three provisions God was prescribing for His people.  These laws may appear random and irrelevant, however all scripture is Divinely inspired and is profitable. (2 Timothy 3:16). 

The first provision is a legal provision (Deuteronomy 25:1-4).  The need was going to be for a justice system in the promised land once the Jews crossed over after Moses' death.  How would they know how to punish offenders, and what standards would they use to exercise justice?  God spells that out by not allowing criminals to be beaten with more than 40 lashes (one of the chief punishments in the ancient world).

The second provision was a relational provision (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).  Lets say you were a woman who had not born a child for your husband. Suddenly he dies, leaving you a widow.  In a culture where carrying on a person's name meant everything, God prescribed that the nearest male relative to the dead husband marry the widow to carry on the dead man's bloodline.  The Book of Ruth illustrates this prescription most clearly, with Ruth the Moabitess losing her first husband, and later on being wedded to that man's nearest of kin - Boaz.  This relational provision, spoken of elsewhere in the Old Testament, is what we call "The Kinsman Redeemer".  Such a provision ensured the continuation of a man's name and bloodline, as well as ensuring the widow provision and protection.

The third provision is a promise provision, found in Deuteronomy 26:1-11.  God had promised Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan as an inheritance.  Once Moses died, those descendants would cross the Jordon River under Joshua's leadership into the promised land.  In order to demonstrate to themselves and to others that they were heirs to God's promise, God prescribed the "law of the first-fruit".  Simply put, whatever crops they grew, the first stalks of corn or wheat would be brought to the priest at the temple.  After rehearsing the redemptive account of God's delivery of their ancestors out of Egypt, the people would have proof from that "first-fruit" of God coming through on His redemption of them, and that better days for them were to come. 

So with these legal, relational and promise provisions, the Jews would be ready for their new lives in the promised land.  Understand that these provisions were granted by God before the people entered into the promised land.  This pattern of God's provision before the need also revealed God's plan of salvation through provisions to meet man's ultimate needs.

God's provisions meet the ultimate needs of man
Man's first ultimate need is payment for sin.  Whenever you read that legal provision in Deuteronomy 25:1-3, do not dismiss it as a random law.  Its purpose was to be in place and to point to what Jesus would do in meeting the need for payment of sin.  Jesus was flogged in preparation for the cross.  Isaiah 53:5 predicts - "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed." 2 

Man's second ultimate need is a Personal Savior.  God prescribed a personal provision ensuring the continuation of man's bloodline by means of his near of kind marrying his widow.  The book of Ruth illustrates Deuteronomy 25:5-10 most wonderful with the story of Boaz' redemption of Ruth and his loving marriage to her.  The outcome?  Read the end of Ruth and you will find a genealogy leading to King David! What's the big deal?3  God's provision of an immediate need in Deuteronomy 25:5-10 prepared to meet the ultimate need of sinners - the Personal Savior. 

Now what about man's third ultimate need - Promise of  resurrection? Will death have the final word? Men like Job in Job 14:14 ask the perennial question: "if a man dies, can he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes." Recall how God had made a provision of promise for His people in Deuteronomy 26:1-11 by way of the "first fruits".  They could testify God's promises to them both then and for the future were true and real because of the evidence of crops.  For the Christian, how can it be determined that the Bible is true and Christ is who He said He is? Furthermore, what tells the sinner that the salvation being offered to them is genuine, life-giving hope? Twice in 1 Corinthians 15:20,23 we are given the answer: Christ's resurrection from the dead is His first-fruit, evidence for the promise of resurrection and eternal life.  Moreover, Christians themselves are termed "first-fruits" or "previews" of better things to come in Christ. (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 16:15; James 1:18; Revelation 14:4).

Conclusion
God's provisions of these laws give us language whereby we can understand and appreciate the New Testament provisions of payment for sin, Personal Savior and Promised resurrection.  For every New Testament doctrine there is at least one, concrete Old Testament parallel.  Without Jesus Christ, the Bible would be another religious book.  However because of Christ, the New Testament in the Old is enfolded, and the Old Testament in the New is unfolded.  Scripture is God's Living Book!   It is God's Word, period! May you and I see that God indeed provides before the need arises. 

Endnotes_____________
1. Whenever you read through sections like Deuteronomy, you have to keep in mind that Moses was preaching a series of three sermons and a final set of instructions to a new generation of Israelites. Moses was in the final month of his 120 year lifespan, making one final appeal to the people of God before his death and their entryway into the promised land.  Deuteronomy's many laws, instructions and historical references may on first glance appear irrelevant to the 21st century saint. However whenever we see the verses of the Old Testament as pointing the way to Jesus Christ, rich gems can be mined. 

2. Isaiah wrote those words 700 years after Deuteronomy 25:3 and 700 years before Christ's flogging recorded in Matthew 27:26. Coincidence? Hardly! Christ received injustice at the hands of wicked men to satisfy the justice of God. (Acts 2:24; Romans 5:6-10)

3. Matthew 1:1-17 gives us the full bloodline of the Savior, starting with Abraham, down through people like Boaz and Ruth, through David to Christ Himself.