Emmanuel, The Mediating God for The Guilty
Matthew 1:21-23; 1 Timothy 2:3-6
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:21-23). Emmanuel is the Mediator between God and man. Christ is always in agreement with the Father and because ‘God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity’, Christ came to show man his sinfulness and reconcile him back to God. Man is guilty because he has gone astray and the Son of God would not condone sin as His Father would not condone sin but He came to set us free. He condemns sin but He came to reconcile the sinners back to God. Forgiveness does not imply that he did not condemn sins. He told the woman caught in adultery, “neither do I condemn thee go and sin no more.” If you are guilty you must come to the Lord with the understanding that God condemns your sins but He has sent Emmanuel to reconcile you back to God.
- THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND THE GUILTY SINNERS
Romans 3:10-19; James 2:10-11; Luke 19:5-10; 1 Timothy 2:3-6
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Romans 3:10-19). All have sinned and would remain in sin without the grace of God. People could seek God for selfish reasons but without salvation and conversion their ‘seeking’ does not count in God’s sight. There is no point in talking of salvation without talking of man’s sins. We must acknowledge our sinfulness and give our bad news and guilt to the Heavenly Father who has sent the Mediator between Himself and the guilty sinners. God condemns evil, lying, and destructive words from man’s mouth and Christ condemns whatever the Father condemns. When reconciling two parties, we condemn the evil both parties have done to each other but we try to plead for their reconciliation. Sin makes us guilty and condemned before God and Jesus condemns what the Father condemns. God expects a total transformation from our sinful lives as we encounter Emmanuel. God condemns sins but He does not condemn the sinner to everlasting destruction because He has provided propitiation for our sins. Our responsibility is to accept the mediation and reconciliation Emmanuel provides and refuse to go back to evil and sin. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. (James 2:10-11). God expects total obedience to His word and He wants us to respect His principles and nature, that is why He sent the Mediator not to tolerate our sins but to save us from them.
2. THE MINISTRY OF GRACE TO GREAT SUFFERERS
Psalm 107:17-20; Isaiah 53:4-7; Matthew 8:5-17; 1 Peer 2:24-25
It is an established fact that sin brings suffering. Even medical science warns of the disastrous consequences of alcoholism, smoking, anger, and promiscuity on healthy living. Sickness makes people suffer because of their sins. Guilt produces suffering and anyone who dies in sin will suffer eternally. This is why Christ came with the ministry of grace, for our sins and their consequences to be taken away. “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Psalm 107:17-20). Men and women are fools when they do not consider the consequences of their sin and evil. They kill themselves slowly as a result of their transgressions. If preachers just talk about healing without talking about the source of sickness it will be like someone trying to mop up a flooded floor without turning off the origin of the flow of water. The reasonable thing to do is to turn off the source of the sickness and receive a permanent solution. God will deliver from sickness, and from the sin that causes the sickness. God’s grace gives us a double miracle of salvation and healing. Every yoke of bondage is broken as we receive the ministry of grace from Jesus and continue in obedience to the Lord.
3. THE MULTIPLICITY OF GOODNESS FO GRATEFUL SEEKERS
Exodus 18:9-11;Psalm 23:1-6; Acts 10:38,43; Psalm 68:10-11
The seekers who are grateful for their sins and the source of their sufferings are exposed to God and will receive the multiplicity of God’s goodness. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23:1-6). God leads the sincere and grateful seekers through the path of righteousness and He protects them from the evil in the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus, the son of David will deliver you from the lion, bear and Goliath trying to destroy your life. When you surrender to His Lordship, He protects you from all evil and removes the fear of men from your heart. Everyone who follows the Lord receives a surprise of miracle and mercy every day. As you give your life to God, there is a surety and certainty that God’s goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. Your salvation, healing and deliverance will remain with you as you follow the Lord all the days of your life.
