THE WORK OF CHRIST
THE WORK OF CHRIST
We have to see the completeness of the work of Christ (1) for God, and (2) the completeness for-man. It was complete for God when Christ said, “It is finished”. Death must come in, too — it must come in for our side for we were under death. Death adds nothing to the removal of sin. The first death has reference to the separated condition of soul and body; the second death has reference to their being united — soul and body in hell.
When Christ was made sin He was exposed to all that was called for on the part of God on account of sin. This must not be toned down. He actually bore and suffered what was due to God on account of sin. He suffered at the hand of God. “After death the judgment”. This latter is what Christ bore.
Christ entered into death when sin was removed, and therefore when He entered into death instead of being shame it is glory and honour to God. He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself — a sacrifice — that is, He devoted Himself, gave Himself up to it absolutely, that is, to remove sin from the eye of God.
[p. 304] When being made sin is the question, it is the sin- offering that is in view. In the sin-offering even the fat was burnt. The strength and perfectness of the Victim was consumed to the glory of God. Sin calls for wrath on the part of God; so if Christ was made sin He came under the wrath of God. This is of fundamental importance, and I would allow of no toning down. Now the wrath of God has been revealed against all unrighteousness. This could be said when Christ had gone under and borne the wrath of God.
Man was under the sentence of death, and what could expiate death save death? Blood and water were the witness that the man was gone — the state, the offending state, was gone. The offending state could not be removed until what produced the state is removed. Sin is removed first and then the state is removed, and this so that man might enter into a new state.
We have to see that what gave effect and character to the death of Christ was that His death took place when there was no sin under the eye of God, and therefore it was to the glory of God. In the type the carcase was burnt after death — in Christ the order is reversed. He bore the judgment before He died. Nothing could meet God but the removing of the state.