Honor Sacrifice

"He's never owed anyone anything, and certainly not Satan."

THE ONLY REASON for God’s redemption of man was His SO LOVE for us. It is commonly said the devil stole man’s dominion when he deceived Eve and so God had to “buy it back” from him. There is no truth to this, and in fact, it goes against the Scriptures. It was not possible for Satan to steal man’s dominion. When he sinned and Jesus saw him fall “as lightning” (Luke 10:18), he lost all he’d been created to do and the authority that went with it. He became nothing and was consumed with violence. A great prophet said Satan was jealous of man, made in God’s image and after his likeness, and this caused him to sin. This could be. I’ve always found it a fascinating suggestion, but there is no biblical proof. This does not make it untrue, however.

But returning to my original thought, God redeemed man out of His own sacred honor, a word meaning “to buy back” and “to ransom”. He sent Jesus solely because He SO LOVED the world. He’s never owed anyone anything, and certainly not Satan. This error in thought comes because of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, but we must remember Jesus’ own words about Satan. In John 8:44, He says, “For he is a liar, and the father of it.” Satan lied saying he had power and the glory of kingdoms. He lied saying he’d give them to Jesus if He’d worship him (Luke 4:6-7). Jesus replied with who He is: “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve (Luke 4:8).”

Jesus is who is worshipped. He is the Lord thy God.

He became the Lamb of God, the sacrifice for our redemption strictly because God would show He is honorable. God set the rules and required Himself to honor them. That there needed to be a sacrifice was God’s doing, and the manner of it was so high that only He could do it. There’d be no one but God capable of following God’s rules as He set them in motion. Animal sacrifice was but a picture of the final outcome. Animals have no spirit like God, though they are innocent in all their actions. They can be perfected physically and be “without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:19).” They cannot lay down their will but are chosen to be sacrificed. It is the laying down of the human will which was only completed in Jesus’ death. Though man condemned Him, He only died because He placed His spirit in the Father’s hands (Luke 23:46). Man did not even need to break His legs to cause His death. He was already dead (John 19:33).

The cost Jesus paid for redemption was paid by Him and was done because God SO LOVED the world. It was done IN sacred honor. It was also done FOR honor. God died on the cross in order to return His honor to man. God’s honor was not damaged by Adam’s fall. SIN AND DEATH DID NOT MAKE GOD LOOK BAD. IT MADE US LOOK BAD. And there was no way to become honorable again. It wasn’t possible. We would die and die and die and continue to suffer sickness and disease and accidents without any way to return ourselves to being God’s. But He is LIFE. When death had done all it could possibly do to Jesus, when it had taken His breath and His body began to decay, God breathed LIFE in it. It isn’t just that you cannot kill God. This is another miss-statement by some. You cannot kill God; that’s true. But Jesus chose to be human forever. He is perfected, or glorious as is stated in Philippians 3:21, but He is forever human.

Jesus became human forever to overcome death with life, something only a sinless human could do, something only God could be. He is the way to live forever, filled with Life, as God has created us to do.

Satan was condemned on the cross as being the origin of sin. He is guilty of every sin ever committed. He is why the world was violent (chamas) in Genesis 6 and a flood was needed to cleanse the earth. Every murder, every suicide, every crime of deceit and hatred, is his guilt. He is to blame for causing angels to sin and fall from the Light. There is no more possible threat of this. God has seen to it that Satan is “rendered useless” (Hebrews 2:14) and his works are “dissolved” (1 John 3:8). All he thought he was capable of, and the size and quantity of his works in men before Jesus’ death, are finished.

We are free of him and stand now with God in heavenly places. We are God’s children, Jesus’ brothers and sisters and friends. Eternity is ours. And health, all our needs met, and an abundance of joy and peace. Here, in us, is God’s love on display. We are now, through Christ, all He is.

“Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the final lot in eternity was cast conclusively in o ur favor, and we became legal possessors of a fabulous inheritance. It is an inheritance that is incapable of decaying or suffering the effects of wear, tear, and age—and that is timeless, indestructible, eternally impeccable, never-ending, never to be depleted, exhausted, or diminished, and which is right now being guarded, preserve, and protected in Heaven for you. And like that ever-guarded, pet, preserved, and protected inheritance in Heaven, you, too, are being defended, guarded, kept, protected, safeguarded, and shielded by and in the power of God.” (1 Peter 1:4-5, RIV)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com