His Mission and Our Mission

No Sin in Him

(1 John 3:5, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, September 11, 2016)

You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

The story of sin and the world

For more than twenty years, Exeter Presbyterian Church has been talking about sin and salvation. The story of sin is a fascinating one. You cannot get the salient facts on this unless you read the Bible. On September 22, 2016 we are scheduled to begin a Bible Survey class with the story of the world before sin, and then with the entry of sin into the world from Genesis 3. Without these opening chapters of the Bible, humanity would be left with no definitive answer to two of the most important questions of human existence.

1. Has there every been a time when there was no sin in the world?

Answer: Yes. (Genesis 1-2)

2. What went wrong?

Answer: Sin came into the world through one man. (Genesis 3, See also Romans 5.)

Of course, you can't stop there.

3. Is there any plan to remove sin from the world?

He appeared

Our verse today provides a perfect outline for the joyful affirmation of the church throughout the ages of the gospel of grace. The credible answer for the coming of a new world without sin begins with the appearance of a new man. He (Jesus) appeared. The coming of the God/Man, Jesus of Nazareth was very good news for all who would put their trust in Him.

The coming of the Son of God was the central event of all human history. All of the years prior to His coming were years of preparation for His arrival. All of the years since His death and resurrection have been years of mission. He came with a mission and He gave us a mission.

In order to take away sins

He appeared in order to take away sins. His coming tells us not only that God cared about the horror of sin and the trouble that sin brought upon a beautiful world; it tells us that God was prepared to pay the price to fix a broken world.

From the first day that sin came into the world, God began to teach His people that the shedding of blood would be required in order to take away sins. He announced that One who would one day come would have to shed blood. This was a great prophetic Word. He also instituted the first sacramental reminder of what would be necessary on that day. After the man and the woman made their own failed attempt to secure their own clothing in a world where nakedness was now connected with shame, God himself provided clothing for His beloved image-bearers through the death of an animal substitute.

This was not an isolated pragmatic action. An elaborate system of animal sacrifice was provided for Israel through the Law of Moses. That system was essential for the teaching of the Lord's chosen people. They would learn very well that without the shedding of blood there could be no forgiveness of sins. They would also learn that though the blood of bulls and goats could tell the right story for many centuries, a better sacrifice was needed to get rid of sin.

In Him there is no sin

Even when the sacrifice of animals told the story, it was necessary that these animals had to be without spot or blemish. Again, the central story of all human history was being artfully and powerfully told. John puts it this way in today's verse: “In Him there is no sin.”

In order for the mission of Jesus to succeed, it was essential that there be absolutely no sin in Jesus. Why? The punishment for sin is death. For Jesus to be a substitute for us, His death cannot be for His own sin. Jesus never missed the mark of perfect obedience to His Father's directives. And there was never a bigger and better bull's eye of love than His death for us. This is what the Father told Him to do, and this is what He willingly did. “You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.”

The Blessing of Gospel Unity

We have absolute unity at Exeter Presbyterian on these matters. One of our members is planning on a trip to visit family in Colorado. She wanted advice on a church out there. The nearest PCA church is two hours away. There is another church in that town that sounded good at first glance, but could I be sure that they believe what we believe? Thank you, God for our unity in Christ.

Our Mission

As a result of what Jesus accomplished, sin will be utterly taken away. But we do not yet see a world without sin. If Jesus defeated sin, why is it still here? We are called to proclaim the hope of a resurrection world where there will be no sin, and to live by the hope that we confess.

Is there any hope for us? Simply put, there is every hope. This view of the world that the Bible so clearly teaches us is the correct view. No other way that man proposes comes close to settling our hearts, explaining history, and revealing what is yet to come.

EPC has a good mission. “Nourishing souls in the hope of the resurrection.” Over the last twenty years we have lived life together. We have been prepared through the Bible and through life to go to the despised and hurting people that God puts right in front of our faces, and to offer the help of gospel friendship. The message that once was spelled out in aluminum letters at 29 Front Street across from the Exeter Post Office still works today at 73 Winter Street in what was once a public school, but now serves us well (with a new furnace) as God's house at 73 Winter Street. “Come grow with us.” Come and grow in Christian assurance regarding the mission of the Son of God to eliminate evil. Think of these two great victories that Jesus won for us on the cross.

1. Jesus defeated the penalty against us. God is satisfied. We have peace with God.

2. Jesus defeated the power of evil in our lives. By the hope that is ours, we are taking every sinful thought captive and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Are you up for this?

Old Testament Reading—Esther 2 – Queen Esther and Mordecai

Gospel Reading—Luke 9:7-9 – Herod sought to see Him