The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"From Everlasting"
Part 3 - The Breach… the Best Robe
"From everlasting to Everlasting, Thou art God."
(Psalm 90:2)
Only once in God's eternal "from everlasting to everlasting" existence has the loving fellowship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit been breached.
"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to His own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:4-6).
"He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21).
Not only did the Lord Jesus Christ bear our sins on the cross of Calvary. He was "made… to be sin for us." What does this mean? We do not know. How could we? How could God ever explain to us that the Son of His eternally loving devotion became the object of His wrath and rejection? All we can know is that such a horror of judgment happened so that such a holiness of justification might be freely imparted to all who trust the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many years ago, Frances and I visited one of the oldest cemeteries in our city. We came upon a headstone on which read this inscription:
"And lest the shadow of a spot should on my soul be found, He took the robe the Savior wrought, and cast it all around!" (from the hymn, "Awake My Heart, Arise My Tongue!, by Isaac Watts).
The hymn writer referred to the robe of Christ's righteousness, provided as a gift to all who believe in His redeeming Person and work. Like Joseph of old, the Savior's robe was stripped from Him when wicked hands nailed Him to the cross of Calvary, and when Divine hands smote Him with wrath and forsakenness for our sake (Genesis 37:23). Unlike Joseph, the Lord's spiritual garment would become available to those whose sins made necessary His suffering the wrath of God. Indeed, because and only because Christ was "made… to be sin for us" will we forever be deemed righteous in the sight of God - "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). When God sees the believer, He sees the robe of His Son and our Savior's pristine righteousness. Thereby, He receives us no less than He receives the Lord Jesus. "Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us… righteousness" (I Corinthians 1:30).
"Bring forth the best robe and put it on him" exulted the merciful father of the returning and repentant son (Luke 15:22). Our Heavenly Father says the same of all who come to Him by way of the Son He sent to suffer His judgment on the cross of Calvary. Another hymn writer asked the question, "What wondrous love is this?" He could not provide an answer for this "love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19). Nor will eternity suffice in providing explanation or understanding of God being willing to suffer a breach in His "from everlasting" triune Being of love in order to save us from our sins. How indeed could He ever explain this to us? It is enough that we know, and that we allow this truth beyond our knowledge to overwhelm our hearts with wonder. The amazed awareness then leads us to seek a life that glorifies the God who gave the Lord Jesus to His wrath and forsakenness so that He might give Him to our hearts. Yes, the breach in God's "from everlasting" triune devotion of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit on the cross of Calvary made possible our bearing the robe, the Best Robe of our Savior's perfect righteousness as the freest gift ever given, purchased by the highest cost ever remitted.
"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
(Matthew 27:46)
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!"
(Revelation 5:12)
Weekly Memory Verse
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!
(Revelation 5:12)
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