In a previous (September issue) article entitled If I Be Lifted up, we investigated the ways in which Christ was lifted up. In that article, we noted that He was lifted up sacrificially on the cross. He was lifted up authoritatively at His transfiguration. He was lifted up bodily at His resurrection. And, at His ascension, Christ was lifted up as King of Kings.

By way of introduction, it is important for us to again note Jesus' statement, which is included in John 12:32. There, Jesus said, "I... will draw all men unto me." In the last article, we noted that Jesus did not use the word if in such a way as to convey doubt concerning whether or not He would be lifted up. Rather, He stated an if-then condition--that he would "draw all men" because of His death (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 20; Acts 13:29-37; 1 John 1:1-3). The fruit realized as the result of Christ's death would redeem "all men" (both Jews and Gentiles) from guilt and penalty for sin. Remember, "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

In order for sinners to realize these great spiritual blessings, they must, of necessity, obey the gospel of Christ (Hebrews 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). Therefore, the phrase, "draw all men" means His message, the gospel, would attract both Jews and Gentiles unto Himself (Galatians 3:19-29). That message would have both drawing and saving power, and His death on the cross would be a sufficient sacrifice for sin (John 6:44; Romans 1:16). The nature of this drawing would be peaceful. It would serenely attract, or "call," requiring total obedience and commitment to Christ and His cause (Luke 14:26; Matthew 19:29).

In this month's article, we will investigate some of the spiritual blessings made possible because Christ was lifted up. If you have not read the September article, please do so.

Because Christ was Lifted up...

Sinners can be freed from sin. Sin has multiple dangers. It entangles, separates, and destroys, usually in that order.

Sin Entangles!

In the parable of the sower, Jesus used agricultural principles to illustrate sin's entangling nature. Many become entangled in drug and alcohol addiction, gambling, pornography, and such like.

In 2 Peter 2:19-22, Peter used graphic language to describe sin's entanglement.

In Matthew 13:22, Jesus offered another view of this entanglement; He said, "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." This person has allowed the concerns of his physical life to overcome him, thus crowding and choking out his desire for spiritual things.

Have you ever noticed a newly converted brother or sister in Christ who, immediately following his or her conversion, is very energetic, but after a short period of time, falls away and becomes unfaithful.

In Matthew 6:19- 34, Jesus began his teaching on the vanishing and corruptible nature of physical treasures, in contrast to the everlasting nature of heavenly treasures, which are the real, true riches. In this section of Scripture, the focus is on the heavenly treasures, which will endure unto eternal life. This requires that Christians put the Lord's commandments and His kingdom's riches FIRST in their lives.

Sin Separates!

Another consequence of sin is separation from God. Isaiah said, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2) God does not hear the sinner's prayers (John 9:31).

God does not depart from us; rather, by sinning, we depart from Him. The Hebrew writer warned, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." (Hebrews 3:12) When man departs from God, he fails to abide in His teaching and obey His commands (the doctrine of Christ); hence, the only outcome is sin. Since God is the very essence of truth and righteousness, man's separation from God is, in and of itself, sinful.

Sin Destroys!

Consider Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. When he realized the horror of his sin--betraying "the innocent blood,"-- he hung himself (Matthew 27:1-8).

Many who realize the consequences of their sin turn to suicide instead of to God. Some choose to live lives of self-destruction and succumb to addictive practices. Rather than repenting and confessing their sins and accepting the consequences, they choose destructive paths that result in the eterna1 loss of their souls--the ultimate loss!

Sin has destroyed countless lives, reputations, and souls. Its danger lies in the fact that it always takes you farther than you wanted to go, keeps you longer than you wanted to stay, and costs you more than you wanted to pay!

In His letter to the Romans, Paul gave us the answer to the problem. He wrote, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)

Later in the same chapter, Paul, a former persecutor of the Lord's faithful saints (Acts 9:1-2), instructed the Roman brethren to be servants of righteousness, rather than servants of sin.

The heart's reformation becomes possible when we obey "from the heart" the "form," or pattern, of teaching--the gospel of Christ. When alien sinners do this, Christ raises them up to walk in "newness of life."

The humbly obedient will be exalted! The word exalt is from the Greek word hupsoo, which means to elevate literally or figuratively, or to lift up. Jesus said, "and whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:12) Man cannot lift up himself. Only God can lift up man; He lifts those who humble themselves in obedience to Him. The apostle Peter wrote, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7) God's honor is supreme (John 12:26). People who sever themselves from God desire honor and exaltation from other people.

Those who honor God will, as did Jesus, the apostles, and many faithful of old, receive men's wrath. The persecution of the Godly illustrates this evident truth (Hebrews 11). When the faithful humble themselves before God and, in the face of persecution, continue to serve, He will lift them up. Since man's ways are at odds with God's commands, the Godly "shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12; Psalm 34: 19) In God's sight, it is honorable to suffer persecution "for righteousness sake." (1 Peter 4:12-16; Matthew 5:10-12)

We can be lifted up through deception. There are numerous ways to be deceived. We've all been deceived at one time or another. God's book warns about deception and its dangers.

1. We can be deceived by false teachers. Simon the sorcerer deceived the Samaritans. Luke wrote about this deception, mentioning Simon who, "beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, 'This man is the great power of God.' And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries." (Acts 8:9-11).
   
   I am reminded of fake healers (not faith healers), such as Oral Roberts, Benny Hinn, and others. These, as did Simon, bewitch and deceive their followers, alleging that they have power to heal and do great things. I am firmly convinced that these men make merchandise of those who respond to their calls for help with support for their ministries. They, so to speak, fleece their flocks of deceived followers (2 Peter 2:3). In 2 Peter 2, Peter described the tactics and nature of false teachers.
   
   Oral Roberts claimed to have the ability to heal. One can't help wondering why, in 1980, he needed to build his City of Faith Medical and Research Center. Why didn't he just heal the sick? Why did he need a hospital?
   
   
2. Some are deceived by false doctrine. How many have been deceived by the tenants of Calvinistic theology? Practically every man-made denomination holds to some Calvinistic idea. We need to consult our Bibles and examine these man-made doctrines and commandments; any honest person can see that they are false. When examined in the light of Divine Scripture, doctrines such as Adventism, Premillennialism, Catholicism, and every other ism prove to be false to the core.
   
   
   • The apostle John warned of the danger of not abiding in the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9-11).
     
     
   • Jesus warned of the rotten fruit of false teachers. Said the Savior, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:15-20)
     
     
   • But, "He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." (2 John 9)
     
     
   Where is your abode? Is it in the doctrine of Christ, or the doctrines and commandments of men, which will be rooted up by the heavenly Father (Matthew 15:13)?
   
   

We can overcome the dangers of worldliness. The apostle John warned, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2:15-17) The pleasures and lusts of this life cannot bring true joy and happiness.

Many strive to win large lottery sums. They think that winning the big jack-pot will solve all their problems. Much to the surprise of some who have won huge lottery jack-pots, their winnings brought unexpected troubles and heartaches. Everything physical is subject to thievery, deterioration, and corruption (Matthew 6:19)

Paul, speaking of Demas, said, "for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world ... (2 Timothy 4:10). Demas forsook Paul and God's honorable work "for this present world."

In Matthew 16:26, Jesus asked a noble question: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" The answer is obvious; there is no profit; nothing is as valuable as one's soul. This is true because our souls are made "in the image of God." (Genesis 1:27) They belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:19), and they are eternal.

The dangers of worldliness come in manifold forms: Language (Ephesians 4:29); Success (Matthew 16:26); Fashion (1 Peter 3:3-5); Recreation (Ephesians 5:11-12); Entertainment (Romans 6:13).

Further, worldliness can destroy: Nations (Proverbs14:34); Churches (Revelation 2:20); Homes (Ephesians 5:22-27); Christians (2 Timothy 4:10); The Hope of heaven (Revelation 21:8,27).

The apostle James warned against friendship with the world. "From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:1-4)

Later in this same chapter, James revealed the solution to the worldliness problem. Rather than submitting to the lusts of the flesh, which make us God's enemies, he exhorted us to submit to Him. James wrote, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:7-10)

The faithful will be raised in the last great day. God has assured His faithful children that He will raise them on the last great day! Because Christ, by His resurrection from the dead, became the "firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20), the faithful (Christians) have the assurance and guarantee that they will be raised from the dead and meet the Lord.

Paul assured the Thessalonian saints of this resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:14). Paul assured us that the righteous would be raised to meet the Lord. He wrote, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Jesus also taught the resurrection of the dead (John 5:28-29).

The Bible clearly and explicitly teaches that only the faithful will dwell eternally with the Lord. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul spoke of the final resurrection, our glorious bodies, which will be of the Lord's choosing (1Corinthians 15:38), and our victory over sin--if we remain steadfast.

Said Paul, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?' The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:51-58)

In this article, we have looked at only a few of the many spiritual blessings made possible because Christ was lifted up. Others could be considered, but time and space do not permit. May we live faithful lives in Christ so that we will be in the number permitted to dwell eternally with the Lord in Heaven. Let us remember the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus who said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me." (John 6:44-45)

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Brother McClure has written two excellent articles discussing the subject of Christ's being lifted up. Allow me to list a few other benefits we enjoy because our Lord was willing to freely offer Himself on Calvary's tree:

1. We have fellowship with Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:7).
   
   
2. We have been reconciled to Him within the body of Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16).
   
   
3. We have become part of Abraham's spiritual seed (Galatians 3:28, 29).
   
   
4. Each has become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
   
   
5. We have become partakers of His love (Ephesians 5:1, 2).
   
   
6. We now have an Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1, 2).
   
   
7. Not only are our sins forgiven; they are also forgotten (Hebrews 8:12).
   
   
8. We have truly been justified (Romans 5:9).
   
   
9. We are part of God's kingdom (Colossians 1:13, 14).
   
   
10. We can refer to God as our father and call on Him in prayer (Matthew 6:8).
    
    
11. We are recipients of ALL spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).
    
    
12. We now belong to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20).
    
    

Many more things could be added to this list of benefits we receive because of Christ's death on the cross. Let me conclude with one final thought. Why was God so willing to pay such a high price-His Son's life? This demonstrates our great worth and value to God. He loved us, not because we deserve or are worthy of such consideration, but simply because of His deep feeling for sinful men! Let us always be grateful to God for holding us in such high esteem. We have a wonderful opportunity--to give back to Him Who freely gave so much to us. (KMG)