The Three R's

When I went to school years ago, the teachers used to say that we were studying the “Three R's”, which were:

Reading
wRiting, and
aRithmetic

Those “Three R's” have expanded over the years to include many other subjects. By the time I entered High School, we were learning trigonometry, calculus, biology, advanced physics, auto repair, and so on. How times change! But even though our knowledge has advanced to the point where today's children are learning computers and computer programming, those “Three R's” are still essential. Unless you know the basics, reading – writing – and arithmetic – then you can't hope to learn the more complex subjects.

As it is with human studies, so it is with Divine truth. We must learn the foundational truths of Christianity, and then, building upon these foundational truths, learn the deeper things of God. As the Bible says:

2 Timothy 2:15-16 (KJV) "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. {16} But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."

There are “Three R's” for the Christian, the believer who has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. These R's are “Reconciled, Redeemed, and Related”. Let's see what the Bible has to say about these things.

In order to understand the first R, Reconciled, we need to understand the need to be reconciled. The word “reconciled”:

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (KJV) "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled [Aorist Active Participle] us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; {19} To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling [Present Active Participle] the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

Is the Greek noun katallage {pronounced kat-al-lag-ay’}, or the verb katallasso {pronounced kat-al-las’-so }. The word means “to return to favor”. The word in itself implies an absolute truth that the world itself denies. It implies that man is, normally and prior to reconciliation, out of favor with God.

You will not hear this truth mentioned in liberal religion, nor in the print or electronic media – yet it is true whether it is politically correct or not. Man – in any walk of life apart from faith in Christ is an enemy of God. Read this Scripture:

Romans 5:8-10 (NASB) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. {10} For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled [katallasso, Aorist Passive Indicative] to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, [katallasso, Aorist Passive Participle] we shall be saved by His life."

Man is, in any state apart from the Blood of Christ, in any state apart from faith in the finished work of Christ, an enemy of God. The sacrifice of Christ on the Cross of Calvary brought us from a position of enemyship to a state of friendship with God our Creator.

Colossians 1:19-23 (KJV) "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; {20} And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile [apokatallasso {pronounced ap-ok-at-al-las’-so}, Aorist Active Infinitive, to reconcile completely, to return to favor from the state that we were in] all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. {21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled [apokatallasso, Aorist Active Infinitive] {22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: {23} If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"

Colossians 1:19-23 (NASB) "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, {20} and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. {21} And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, {22} yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- {23} if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister."

We who are Christians were the enemies of God, and have been brought into a state of peace with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus. We who are Christians are like the woman of ill repute who washed His feet with our tears, and dried His feet with our hair (Luke 7:46-47). We have recognized our fallen state and, kneeling at His feet, have been saved by His great Love.

Luke 7:50 (KJV) "And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

The Christian is the person who, realizing that he was sick, crept in the crowd and reached out to the Savior for healing. We, like the woman with the issue of blood, were separated from God because of our sinful birth. We reached out and, in faith, believed that Jesus could heal us – and He did:

Luke 8:48 (NASB) "And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.""

The Christian is the person who, frightened of what is to come, has hid himself in a room in fear. Then Jesus came to us in the midst of our fear, appearing in our midst, and said:

Luke 24:36 (KJV) ".. Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."

There is a greater peace available to the Christian who fully understands the gift of God that we have received through the Cross of Christ. Jesus left with us a fantastic peace:

John 14:27 (KJV) "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Much greater than many can even imagine. Because Adam failed to obey God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:7), man placed himself in a position where we literally became the enemies of God. How terrible such a state is! The Bible describes the eternal estate of those who die in:

Revelation 14.9-11 “ And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

And Jesus described the eternal and everlasting state of hell in:

(Luke 16.19-31) “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Jesus did not end His story by saying, “and the rich man was annihilated, destroyed, and his suffering ended when he finished paying for his sin”. No, Jesus teaches us clearly in this passage that hell is an eternal state of separation from God and torment for those who are the enemies of God.

Praise God that we have accepted Christ as Savior! Praise God that such an eternal state does not wait for us. We are reconciled to God by the Blood of His Son.

Redeemed

The blood of Christ also redeems the one who has accepted Him as Savior. To understand this principle you need to understand God's method in creation.

When God made man, Adam, He gave Adam dominion over all living things. The Bible says:

Genesis 1:26-28 (NASB) "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." {27} And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. {28} And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.""

Man was, in essence, the Federal Head of all creation. As long as man obeyed God, sin would not enter into creation. But if man disobeyed God, then the Federal Headship of Adam would cause sin to flood in to all creation. That is what happened. Adam sinned, and when He sinned as Federal Head of all creation, sin entered all of creation:

Romans 5:12-14 (NASB) "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- {13} for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. {14} Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come."

Adam was given absolute headship over all creation – and when he fell to sin all of creation – including Adam's progeny – fell into sin. Adam's fall brought both physical as well as spiritual death.

1 Corinthians 15:22 (NASB) "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive."

But Christ our Savior redeemed us, that is, He made payment for us with His very Blood. Man was enslaved, trapped to sin. Sin was in our very being, a master that commanded us. The Law of God, which is holy and righteous, did not make matters any better, for the Law condemned us and showed us that we were slaves to sin. We as unbelievers were in a hopeless estate – enslaved to sin, convicted by the Law of God, children of the devil by our very natures. In bondage, in a terrible estate.

Galatians 4:3-7 (NASB) "So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. {4} But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, {5} in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. {6} And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" {7} Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."

Praise God, the Blood of Christ redeemed us from both sin and Satan, Mosaic Law and fall of Adam. Because we are redeemed by the Blood of Christ:

Colossians 1:13-14 (KJV) "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: {14} In whom we have redemption [apolutrosis {pronounced ap-ol-oo’-tro-sis}, the ransom price, the price paid for the slave] through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"

We were not purchased from the slave market of sin with money, nor with silver or gold:

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NASB) "knowing that you were not redeemed [lutroo {pronounced loo-tro’-o } Aorist Passive Indicative, purchased] with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, {19} but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."

Romans 3:24 (KJV) "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"

Now that we are redeemed we who are Christians no longer belong to this world. We are God's own purchased possession:

Acts 20:28 (NASB) ""Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased [peripoieomai {pronounced per-ee-poy-eh’-om-ahee } Aorist Middle Indicative] with His own blood."

We belong to Jesus. Unlike Simon of Cyrene,

Matthew 27:32 (NASB) "And as they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross."

We should not have to be pressed into service, coerced, or forced into serving Jesus. We are His slaves, His servants, His purchased possessions, freed from death and sin to serve Him.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Because we are redeemed, we are freed from condemnation, and are freed to serve Jesus in this life. We take up our Cross daily and follow Him.

John 5:24 (NASB) ""Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

John 3:18 (NASB) ""He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Related

Finally, the Christian is a person who is now Related to God.

1 John 2:2 (KJV) "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

The word “propitiation” is the Greek hilasmos {pronounced hil-as-mos’}, which means “something that appeases or satisfies another, something that atones for a wrong”. The Blood of Jesus Christ atoned for our sins.

Romans 3:24-26 (NASB) "being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; {25} whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; {26} for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

God taught, from the very beginning, that sin can only be erased or eradicated by the Blood. God first provided a covering for Adam and Eve's sin by killing animals, and using the skins to cover their nakedness:

Genesis 3:7 (KJV) "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."

Genesis 3:21 (KJV) "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them."

The innocent animals had to die in order to cover man's sin. Yet this covering was only superficial. It covered the nakedness of man, the sinfulness that our eyes could see, but not the sinfulness that Adam released into his soul by disobedience.

Man was separated from God by sin. Man's “good work” of sewing fig leaves together was not good enough to cover up even man's outward evidence of sin – how could we ever hope to cover up that inward, sinful estate?

We could not.

God gave man the Mosaic Law to teach us that sin can only be covered by the blood of another. Year after year animals were sacrificed, blood was spilled to temporarily cover man's sin:

Hebrews 9:21-22 (KJV) "Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. {22} And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

But nothing happened of permanent value. God was using the animal sacrifices to teach us that there is absolutely nothing we could do to make ourselves clean before God. Adam sinned, man fell, we needed a Savior. Jesus Christ is that Savior.

Hebrews 7:25-27 (KJV) "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. {26} For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; {27} Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."

Jesus Christ offered Himself as our propitiation, as our covering for sin. Because of His Blood shed on the Cross we are now sons of God:

Romans 8:14-17 (KJV) "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. {15} For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. {16} The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: {17} And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

Galatians 4:4-7 (KJV) "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, {5} To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. {6} And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. {7} Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

Praise God for Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of Him we who believe have the “Three R's”: We are Reconciled, Redeemed, and Related.

I pray that you all know these three R's!

R You Saved?

There is one last “R” we need to examine today, and that is “R” you saved? Examine yourself, Beloved, lest you make the most terrible mistake of your life.

The Bible says there is only one way to Heaven:

Jesus Christ said of Himself:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)

Jesus does not point the way to Heaven: Jesus is the Way. You cannot work your way into Heaven. Good works cannot save you:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Trust Jesus Christ today! Here's what you must do:

1 Admit you are a sinner:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)

"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)

That's hard to do in this modern era, because the media – both print and electronic – all tell us “If it feels good, do it!” Yet this is not the truth. Doing what feels good has led up to disease of all kinds. AIDS and HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases have become commonplace. Abortion is the answer often given when a child is born out of wedlock. Many have begun to believe that sin is synonymous with f-u-n, but are paying the price for their foolishness.

The truth is, our God is holy, our Creator is righteous. The Bible says of Him:

Isaiah 6:3 (KJV) "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

Revelation 4:8 (KJV) "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

Which means that we must be clean if we are going to enter Heaven when we leave this life. How do we get clean? Do we wash ourselves? Do we try to work our way to Heaven? No, it's much simpler than that. We ...

2 Must be willing to turn from sin (repent):

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)

When we repent we turn away from the bad thing that we were doing and turn toward another pure thing. Repent by pausing in your sin – turn to Jesus. Stop relying on the things that you were relying on, and begin to trust in – reply on – Jesus.

3 Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Believe that Jesus paid the penalty for you, and begin to surrender your life to Him. Salvation is not what we do, but it is Whom we rely on. Rely on Jesus, call on Him for salvation. Ask Him to come into your life.

4. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Savior:

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

And, having invited Him into your life, believe that He has come. Surrender to Jesus! Trust in Him!

You can pray in any way that you wish, but a sample prayer follows to help you pour out your heart to Jesus. Just talk to God as you would to your Father, with respect but honestly, knowing that He knows your heart.

Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.

Now believe that God is faithful, and has done as He has promised.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

5 If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, or have lead someone to the Lord - as a new Christian you should recommend:

Read and study your Bible every day to get to know Christ better. Use the resources at bibleteacher.org. Ask an older Christian to guide you as you grow. Talk to a pastor. Come to Church.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105)

Talk to God in prayer every day:

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)

Be baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19)

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for  reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16)

Tell others about Christ:

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

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