When the apostle Paul speaks of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ in Philippians 2:8, he distinguishes that death from all others by referring to it as "the death of the cross." "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:8) How is Christ's dying the "death of the cross" different from any other death? Many things make the death of Jesus Christ unique.

1. It was the death of the man Christ Jesus who was none other than God manifest in the flesh. He Himself is that unique Person being at the same time in one person God and Man. The dying man Emmanuel which is "God with us."

2. It was the death of a sinless man, the only sinless Man. He who knew no sin and was holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners. The spotless Lamb of God.

3. It was a substitutionary death. He is dying for someone else as a representative Man, so that all those He represented died with Him and in Him. In this last Adam, they died to sin, to the law, and to every connection and association with the first Adam.

4. It was a definite death, God telling us who it was that He died for. Yes, they were all sinners but it was not for all sinners. Christ distinguishes them as "the sheep" and "my sheep." It was a death He died giving Himself for and in order to purchase the Church with His own blood. It is a death for His friends, for the children the Father gave Him, His elect people.

5. It was a successful death. In His death, Christ actually accomplished the eternal purpose of God and redemption of His people, putting away their sins, made manifesting the justifying work upon which all their salvation depended.

6. It is a death from which He was raised, beheld as risen by many witnesses. He was received up into glory because He satisfied God in every way and honored Him in all His attributes.

7. It is a death for which He was rewarded. Having purged our sins, He was seated at the right hand of the majesty on high where He now sits, the Intercessor of His people in His redemptive glory.

The preaching of Christ crucified is the preaching of the "death of the cross." This is the gospel His people believe. He humbled Himself that He might as a man render this particular obedience to God: "the death of the cross."

Gary Shepard

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19

There was a condemnation that came about due to Adam's fall. We see this in Romans 5:18. When we speak of our condemnation in Adam, we have to speak of it within the context of the everlasting covenant of grace made before the world began and our justification in Christ. It is asked - Were God's elect ever condemned? Were God's elect ever charged with their sin? Yes, but only as they were considered in their Representative and Surety, the Lord Jesus Christ. This sentence of condemnation comes upon all men, all the sons of Adam without exception, even upon the elect of God themselves; though it is not executed upon them, "but" on their surety, the Lord Jesus Christ. Sin was never charged to their person's individually apart from being considered in Christ. It is not as if God condemned them as individuals and then changed His mind at the cross. The sins of God's elect were charge to them IN CHRIST. Christ was always legally responsible for the sins of His elect. Christ became a Surety for His people from everlasting, engaged to pay their debts, bear their sins, and make satisfaction for them. He was eternally accepted as such by God His Father, Who viewed His elect eternally IN CHRIST on the ground of the payment and satisfaction that Christ made on the cross. The cross is not a testimony to the changing mind of God but a testimony to the eternal mind, will, and purpose of God from the beginning. (2 Tim 1:9) "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

We cannot lose sight of the elect of God being in Adam, but we also cannot lose sight of the elect being in Christ according to the everlasting covenant of grace. As one old writer said "we fell in Adam but we did not fall out of Christ". As we still look at condemnation, let's look at (John 3:18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. We must also understand that our believing or not believing does not make us condemned or not condemned. Our believing or not believing only gives evidence of our being condemned or not condemned. Also look at (John 5:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Christ took care of the whole sin problem on the cross, when He died for His sheep and established righteousness for them, and if you are in Christ, if Christ represented you in His cross death, "there is therefore now no condemnation". Jim Casey

COME GOD OF GRACE AND GLORY

Great God of glory, One in Three,

Incline your ear and hear our plea.

From this appointed worship place

We cry up to your throne of grace.

We stand with merit not our own

But that of Jesus Christ alone.

We ask you now to fully bless,

By His own blood and righteousness.

We call not knowing what we need;

But that your will be done we plead

Your will and pleasure have long stood

To bring you glory and us good.

Send now your word and Spirit near

To give us faith through what we hear;

And as your chosen, ransomed race

We praise the glory of your grace.

88.88

Gary Shepard