MEASURE UPON MEASURE – THE GLORIOUS CONCLUSION – THE RESTORATION OF GOD - Part 17
One more chapter remains, and that is to wrap up all that has gone before. It is advisable to read all that preceded this last conclusion. The whole lot is the wonderful story of redemption and the window on the full work of Christ at Golgotha.
CHAPTER 7 - THE CONCLUSION
Throughout the preceding chapters we have looked at six consequences of Adam’s sin and traced the earthly pathway as it was trodden by the Son of God. We then looked at the ensuring blessings multiplied to us through the conquering, victorious work of the Lord Jesus on Calvary.
The consequences resulting from the act of Adam and Eve’s willful disobedience were considered. They chose to believe the liar in preference to the Creator. John, thousands of years later, spoke about the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life as what characterises this world system. Adam and Eve succumbed to all three facets of the devil’s encroachment.
They first saw the fruit was good. It looked tantalising, inviting, deceptively innocent. That was the initial step in their ultimate downfall. Secondly they hungered after it as something good to eat. The flesh desired it, hankered after it, craved for it until they had committed their full mental assent to proceeding with the act. At this stage they had crossed the line of no return. Thirdly, they wanted to be like God with the knowledge of good and evil and it was with that temptation that the devil kept them attentive. {{Genesis 3:6 “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate, and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”}}
This third aspect was the most dangerous of all, for that was the rearing of the ugly head of pride, and pride was the motivation behind Lucifer’s downfall. Pride in its arrogance proceeds from the devil. There was no more resistance. They now followed the devil’s leading. All caution and opposition to the evil one had been abandoned. The fruit was grasped and eaten, but it brought a cancerous famine to their souls.
Sin entered the human race with Adam’s disobedience. Adam and Eve had only ever known the tranquility of their environment but that became SERENITY RUINED. There was no turning back for him once the act of rebellion was completed. To him and through him the terrible results of sin’s blossoming became soon evident. Judgment was pronounced and the couple, created in the perfection of God’s handiwork, were expelled from the flawlessness of the garden where they had once known unclouded fellowship and communion with God, their Creator and Sustainer. Then through the world, SIN’S RESULTS were stamped on every individual.
Redemption came through the Lord Jesus Christ as he journeyed down the SAVIOUR’S ROAD. His years of ministry were spent in touching people afflicted with the dreaded consequences of sin. As the great Physician and Shepherd, He ministered in the world to counter the sorrow and pain, the guilt and shame of the human race. That was the prelude to the outpouring of Himself for the sins of mankind. The Saviour’s Road wended itself steadily, yet with the utmost conviction of determination right to the foot of the cross. It was there that in the giving of Himself, He appropriated to Himself all our sins and He bore them. Additionally, He identified with the consequences of those sins. He died for us but every atom of God’s wrath was sustained and by enduring the cross, all the wrathful cup was drained.
Then there was the consideration of the outflowing blessings which have been bestowed upon all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ. The blessings were outlined but only the major or basic ones were considered. Even so they are so deep and so wonderful that we, the recipients, are elevated to a dimension that it was not possible for Adam to comprehend in the days of his flesh. Our blessings are in the heavenlies. They are blood-bought and they are eternal. They set our hearts aglow and we rejoice in the Redeemer who concluded the great work of salvation. We wait for His coming when these blessings will be fully realised.
God has mapped out a total plan of redemption for the world and this plan continues to be worked out, but in our present dispensation there is joy in knowing that our salvation has been secured.
Eternity has been secured,
Our salvation’s been procured,
Through the cross which He endured.
This is our peace.
God continues to be at work for our good. We have looked at chapter 53 of Isaiah on two separate occasions and there now remains for us, one last passage to meditate on. It is verses 10-12. {{“But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. [11] As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied. By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. [12] Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.”}}
This small passage is packed with prophetic revelations and sets out so definitively the sufferings and accomplished work of the Lord. Verse 10 says Jehovah was pleased to bruise Him and we saw what was laid upon Him in previous chapters. It was awful yet it pleased the Lord to do that. It could only be because of the finality of the work and the omniscient harvest resulting. The Lord Jesus willingly offered Himself as the guilt offering and we looked at that in Chapter 1.
Isaiah 53 Verse 11 begins in a similar vein to Paul’s statement about enduring the cross for the joy that was set before Him. Two central truths are here presented. The Lord bore our iniquities, and His work is justification. He was made sin for us and now has justified us from all things. We looked at that when we were in Romans.
Much there is in verse 12 but I will confine the comments to two thoughts. The first one is that He [willingly] POURED OUT HIMSELF to death. Without that there was no hope for the human race. Christ has for all time redeemed the ones who would accept Him in faith; the basis being the finished work sealed by His death. The second is, “and INTERCEDED for the transgressors.” It is that work of intercession, or of substitution that has meant so much for us. He did it for me. He became guilty for me, He was put to shame for me, He was separated from His Father for me, He was the Man of Sorrows for me, He was cursed for me, He died for me and He endured the judgment of God for me. That is what this passage is all about.
He who was rich in Glory
Came down to earth below
In love, O wondrous story!
To lowest depths did go.
Jesus, the spotless Victim,
Died there upon the tree,
That we might know God’s favour,
From judgment ever free.
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How dark that night of sorrow
Through which the Saviour passed!
And deep the stormy waters,
And fierce the tempest blast;
But O the mighty Saviour,
Victorious o’er the grave,
Has risen in glorious power,
And lives the lost to save.
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The darkness all is ended,
The night for ever past;
To God’s right hand ascended,
He’ll come again at last,
To call His ransomed people
To yonder glory bright -
Made like to His own image,
To dwell with Him in light.
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We can only touch the fringe of His redemptive work but we are overwhelmed by the out-flowing resultant blessings freely bestowed. Our noble blessings are shed upon us and dispensed to us through the Holy Spirit. Now we can only access them in a measure, understand in a measure and appreciate in a measure. That will all change one day. Whether we pass through the veil of death or cross over Jordan, as the hymn writers picture death; or if we are raptured and change mortality to immortality, there will come a point when we will be with the Lord. Then we will access in full, we shall understand in full, and we shall appreciate in full.
When we are with the Lord and everything is changed, then we shall be bathed in the blessings that Adam could never have imagined for we shall see HIM AND WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM. Everything we are then, will prove the work of redemptive grace. Will Adam and his wife be there in the redeemed throng? I feel they definitely will for they knew the height from which they had fallen and I believe the grace of God extended to them and they availed himself of the provision of God He showed them for their acceptance. Between Adam and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb stands the cross and it forever will be the central and eternal pillar of our salvation. Christ redeemed the Church, His blood-bought Bride.
John speaks of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19. All of us comprise that Bride, all clothed in the fine white linen of the righteousness of Christ.
Each shall the Saviour’s likeness bear,
A royal crown each brow shall wear,
And robes unsullied white.
The everlasting song shall be
To Thee, O Lamb of God, to Thee,
Mid scenes of purest light.
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Our joy unhindered then with Thee,
Our eyes undimmed, Thy glory see,
Whilst worthy praise we give.
As we await that cloudless day,
Our burning hearts with rapture say,
He died that we might live! (G. W. Fraser)
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Shortly after that the hand of God again sets itself in the creation of the new heavens and the new earth. Then the holy city, New Jerusalem descends from heaven as the dwelling place of the Lamb’s Bride. That city is unbelievably massive and is glorious and indescribable in its precious beauty. As Adam was the crowning pinnacle of the original creation, so the New Jerusalem will crown the new creation. In both we see the handiwork of the creator God. We see also the perfection and the majesty there but there is one striking difference - the new heavens and the new earth are permanent. They will never be disrupted by evil again. As Genesis introduces the beauty of God’s original creation, so Revelation features the culmination of all things in God’s new creation. We shall look at the finality of all things and in reference to that, what can be said of the consequences of sin?
THE FIRST CONSEQUENCE OF SIN – GUILT AND SHAME
Genesis provides the account of GUILT and SHAME coming through one man and so passing to all. Let us look at this one verse from {{Revelation 22:5 “And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever.”}}
The lamp of this glorious city is the Lamb Himself and it is beautifully lit by the glory of God. His glory radiates in wonderful light and by that light we will live and worship. That radiance shall never detect a shadow of imperfection there, because all is now the divine work of God’s all surrounding holiness. No more will there be any running to seek a hiding place from God in the darkness of sin, so the shame of guilt might be hidden. All is purity and holiness in that city’s light. We will share the Lord’s holiness with no hint of guilt or shame.
THE SECOND CONSEQUENCE OF SIN - SEPARATION
In Genesis 3, through one man came SEPARATION upon all. Revelation declares separation gone forever. Chapter 21:1 states there will no longer be any more sea. The sea has always been a symbol of separation. Again let us look at verse {{Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them.’”}} God shall dwell among us. That will mean no separation forever. How we will want to cleave to Him! In Revelation 22:4 we have, {{“And they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.”}}. In that way our Saviour identifies with us in the closest of union. Such will be the joy and openness and love there, that our former separation will never be remembered.
THE THIRD CONSEQUENCE OF SIN - SORROW
Through one man came SORROW and sorrow has blighted the human race in misery. Revelation 21:4 says, “And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”}}. Every tear of human rejection and misery will be wiped away by the loving hand of the Lamb. He shall tenderly attend their eyes and all sorrow and mourning and crying and pain will be healed and will never be known or remembered forever. The New Jerusalem radiates the glory of God but so shall all the saints who dwell there in His glorious love and light. Inexpressible joy will be their theme.
THE FOURTH CONSEQUENCE OF SIN – THE CURSE
Through one man came the CURSE and so man and earth have demonstrated the veracity of that cursing. Revelation 22:3 deals with this one: {{“And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him.”}} Within that city of God the blessings of God will be constantly evident. How much different will be this new state when compared with the one Adam was placed in! It will be total perfection, total glory. Also gone will be the curse from the earth and the New Jerusalem will also prosper the earth (Revelation 22:2).
THE FIFTH CONSEQUENCE OF SIN - DEATH
Through one man came DEATH and death passed upon all men. Revelation 21 v 4 (already quoted) stated very forthrightly, {{“And there shall no longer be any death.”}} There will be no decay or imperfection or death forever and ever. The Lord will be always, “The Resurrection and the Life”.
THE SIXTH CONSEQUENCE OF SIN – CONDEMNATION AND JUDGEMENT
The last consequence is JUDGMENT and CONDEMNATION . Revelation 21:24-26 provides some insight into the abolition of this final consequence: {{“And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it. And in the daytime (for there shall be no night there) its gates shall never be closed; and they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it.”}} The Genesis account of the beautiful garden where the dreadful consequences of man’s sin were realised, closed with the description of the flaming sword that barred the way forever for man to enter there again. That sword sealed the judgment from God against man’s sin. In the coming blessed age, the gates of the New Jerusalem, the dwelling place of the saints who are the Bride of the Lamb, shall never be closed. There will be full access and acceptance because the way to God’s presence will never be barred or restricted.
Lastly, what of the Tree of Life, which was encountered in the Genesis record? Well that Tree now has its location along either side of the river flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It is mentioned in Revelation 22:2.
JESUS RESTORED WHAT HE DID NOT TAKE AWAY
We began this study by considering some passages from the Psalms. We centered in on the God of Restoration by examining the expression, “THEN I RESTORED THAT WHICH I DID NOT TAKE AWAY.”
The last part of the verse from the NASB is, {{Psalm 69:4 “What I did not steal, I then had to restore.”}} The NIV translates it as, {{“I am forced to restore what I did not steal.”}} But I like best the way it is put in the AV, “THEN I RESTORED THAT WHICH I TOOK NOT AWAY.”
The Saviour came to walk the sorrowful path on this earth. We looked at that as the Saviour’s Road and there was no deviation from it. The garden was where we used the term, Serenity Ruined, where Sin’s Results were painfully spawned. How wonderful it was to see the work of restoration, where blessing upon blessing was multiplied; God’s grace to us revealed - Measure upon Measure.
Thus the work of God has come full circle but to think of it that way is inadequate. We have entered into such magnificent treasures, such unforeseen blessings, such an eternal relationship that we can do no more other than recognise the person of our Lord Jesus Christ and fall at His feet in worship. We love Him because He first loved us. Praise Him forever and ever.
{{Revelation 22:20 “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.}}
The mighty God who dwelt in light
Unreached by mortal eye,
As man came forth the foe to fight,
And won the victory.
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In perfect light was sin laid bare,
And met its utmost due;
While perfect love in triumph there
Revealed salvation too.
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Who but the sinless One could be
Sin-off’ring meet for God?
And who in heaven or earth but He
Could cleanse me with His blood?
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Delivered from the wrath to come,
I soon shall see His face;
And praise, in God’s eternal home,
The glory of His grace. (Unknown Author)
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ONE LAST ADDITION
Here is a small posting I found from someone that has some bearing on what has transpired in this writing I have done:
His was :-- The Cup with its bitterness (John 18:11)
Ours is :- The feast with its fullness.
His was :- The Hour with its darkness (Mark 14:35 & 41)
Ours is :- Eternity with its brightness.
His was :- The Work (John 17:4)
Ours is :- The Rest.
His was :- The Baptism into death (Matthew 20:22; Luke 12:50)
Ours is :- The Resurrection to life.
His was :- The Cross
Ours is :- The Glory
Trust the Lord will use this outline for the encouragement of some member of His Body today.
These chapters I wrote is an effort, enabled by God, to outline the redemptive work of The Lord Jesus Christ who has restored all things for His glory. It marries the start of Genesis and the end of Revelation. (Ron Ferguson)
