28. The Representative Principle Series

[IN GOD’S IMAGE 28 – THE REPRESENTATIVE PRINCIPLE]

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

Last time we looked at three important reasons why Jesus needed to be both human and divine in order to be our Savior.

• First, God’s justice demands a response, a price had to be paid for our many sins.

• As our Creator and God, Jesus was the only one capable of paying the price for the sins of all humanity.

• Second, as God is the one offended by our sins, Jesus had to be fully God in order to be able to forgive our sins.

• Third, Jesus had to be a human being in order for Him to be a true representative of humanity.

• It was only God who could fulfil these three criteria otherwise Jesus would not be our Savior.

Now we need to spend some time on why Jesus had to be fully human and that brings us to the “Representative Principle.”

• This principle is critical to understanding Jesus’ role in saving us.

• The apostle Paul in Romans 5 explains this principle.

• Romans 5:17-19 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

• Here we see the comparison being made between the first Adam and the second Adam and the subsequent consequences of their actions (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).

• V.18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.

• Notice how the consequences of each Adam’s actions affect all people for either good or bad.

• It’s interesting to note how some commentators try to skate around this verse to make it sound like Adam’s actions affect “all people” while Jesus’ does not.

• This is usually done in an attempt to avoid being labelled a Universalist, in other words to avoid giving the impression all will eventually be saved.

• We will address that question at a future time. Suffice here to say, it isn’t necessarily true that just because one’s sins have been forgiven, doesn’t automatically mean they will be saved.

• The other problem of trying to slide around this issue is to make the claim that Adam’s sinful actions have a far greater effect on mankind than Jesus Christ saving actions.

• Yet this scripture clearly says, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

• To insist Christ’s actions don’t affect all people is tantamount to saying God is unable to correct the damage done by Adam.

• The whole gospel message is precisely the opposite. It’s the good news that through Jesus Christ, God is more than able to undo the damage done by Adam.

• V.19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

• This representation principle is foreshadowed in the role of the high priest on the Day of Atonement when he went into the Holy of Holies as the representative of the whole nation of Israel.

• However in this case we see the true High Priest’s fulfilment of what the Day of Atonement foreshadowed for the nation of Israel, will now affect true forgiveness of sins for the whole world

• And instead of presenting the blood of an animal to God, this High Priest, this Lamb of God, offers His own blood as an act of sacrifice.

• Much of the Christian message rightly focuses on this saving aspect of Jesus’ mission to save the world.