Sovereign Grace Doctrines
Concerning 'THE GOSPEL' - JESUS CHRIST
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The most serious crimes are known as capital offenses, those which are worthy of the death penalty. Historically, adultery and murder are among the two most commonly recognized thusly. Adultery betrays the most sacred trust and violates the basic unit of society, the family. It therefore is a capital offense in those societies in which honor and order are most valued. Murder, the most egregious of crimes, robs one of his very life and violates the "image of God" (Genesis 9:5f). It therefore is a capital offense in those societies in which life itself is most valued, especially those in which God Himself is revered.
Men and women may be quite unwilling to forgive capital criminals. A husband or wife may refuse to forgive an adulterous spouse. Many persons refuse to forgive the murderer of a loved one. In the eyes of men and women, such crimes are unforgivable.
The worst crime ever committed was the murder of Jesus Christ. Upon what basis do we assign His murder the worst?
1. It was the worst sort of murder: "first degree murder," "premeditated murder," "cold-blooded murder," "murder with malice aforethought." And it was the murder of one who was admittedly innocent. Even the priests and Sanhedrin who presided over his religious trial, which was a "kangaroo court" conducted under circumstances which violated their own law, realized that their false witnesses against Him only proved themselves to be liars. The only charge of which they found Him worthy of death was telling the truth: admitting that He is "the Christ, the Son of God" (Matthew 26:57-66). And Pilate, the Roman procurator who presided over His civil trial, said of Christ, "I find no fault in this Man" (Luke 23:4 & 23:14).
2. It was an even worse sort of murder: attempted deicide! Deicide is the act of killing a divine being. The murderers of Jesus Christ had ample evidence that He is the Son of God, and therefore God the Son. Their murder of Him was therefore an attempt to murder God Himself! They were incapable of murdering God, as He is an eternal being who cannot die. They therefore did against Him that which was utmost in their power. They murdered the body in which God dwelt, that of Jesus of Nazareth, and thereby shed the blood of God (Acts 20:28).
God freely forgave the repentant perpetrators of this worst crime. Their conversion is recorded in Acts 2:36-41ff, in conclusion to the sermon of Peter the apostle on the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ: "[Peter said,] 'Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.' Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'
"And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. ..."
Here is good news for us today who are the worst of criminals. If God mercifully forgave the repentant perpetrators of the worst crime ever committed, surely He will forgive those today who are guilty of such severe crimes as adultery and murder, but who afterward repent.
And we all are adulterers and murderers in the eyes of God! We became adulterers when we sexually lusted after another (Matthew 7:27f). And we became murderers when we became angry toward another without cause (Matthew 7:22f).
We therefore exhort you to acknowledge your guilt, repent of your sins, and be converted.
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
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