In continuation of last week’s article in Matthew 5, I will start where I left off: with verse 1 and Jesus’observation of the people.
Jesus had a people ministry, and his entire earthly life was built around the people His Father had sent Him to save. John 3:17 puts His purpose in His own words; “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
The entire world of humanity was lost and under the penalty of death; “For the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23a) because “For that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:12.
God will accept nothing but perfect righteousness for those who will enter into his heaven, and that leaves mankind out. We cannot be righteous on our own, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
Titus 3:5.
Jesus was the one sent from God to be the perfect sacrifice for sin. His prophetic name Emmanuel means “God with us.” God, in all his perfection has come down to sinful man to pay the debt of sin because his heart has never been to condemn us, but to save us: 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
In 1 John 2:1, 2, the apostle John gives further truth to the love of God for us, and how far he was willing to go to save us. Hear these words, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2. And He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
The payment has been made for everybody.
Those who won’t receive it are those who don’t want it.
The word “propitiation” is defined as “to satisfy the wrath of God against sin,” or “to turn away God’s wrath.” God’s love and forgiveness is offered to all.
The last invitation in the Bible is found in Revelation 22:17, and it still applies today, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”