The Sin Bearer – Part Three

The Sin Bearer

Part Three

This is the third and final of a message series on the theme of Christ the Sin Bearer. These messages are written to all those going through struggles and persecution who need an anchor for the soul in the trial and test of their faith. It’s written to the hurting, the dying, and to the LOST, whose only hope is found in the one who Bore our Sins on the Cross 2,000 years ago. When He died, He changed our condition, paid the sin debt we owed and healed our spiritual diseases. We must always anchor our hope as we pass through tribulations in this life and stand fast by the Cross of Christ. If that is gone, as Charles Spurgeon put it so long ago, “the star is extinguished whose light cheers the downtrodden, shines on the injured and brings light to the oppressed.”

Text: 1 Peter 2:24-25 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. [25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

The apostle in this passage writes of three things that the Lord did for us as the Sin Bearer. We have taken a look already at how through the sacrifice of Christ, He bore our penalty and shame in His body; He changed our condition through the power of the Holy Spirit, who works when our faith is placed solely in the death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah.

A third thing that He did when He died for us is HEAL our spiritual diseases. Peter said, “By Whose stripes we (YOU) were healed.” For we all were like sheep going astray but are NOW returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.

We WERE healed at Calvary and remain so, as long as we place our faith and trust in Christ, and anchor it there, never removing it to other things – be it religious things, the Law, or any humanistic doctrine or formula. It is not a thing that must be accomplished in the future; it has been done already.

Man’s problem is sin. And because of sin, sickness has come into the world. Many people ask why people suffer and there is death in the world. It’s a simple answer, yet complicated one. The simple answer is that suffering, sickness and disease came as a result of the fall. Paul speaks of this in Romans 8:

Romans 8:19-20 - For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. [20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, [21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Paul said the creature, or creation, was made subject to vanity, meaning Adam’s fall signaled the fall of creation, and became subject to the results of sin, which is sickness and death. God is the One who passed sentence because of Adam’s fall, but at the same time gave us a “HOPE” and that HOPE is CHRIST, who will rectify all things!

In Adam, we die; in Christ, we live! The deliverance of the creation was done and made permanent by Christ at the Cross. We are healed because of what HE did at the Cross. The spiritual disease that infected man upon Adam’s transgression can now be healed through faith in what our Lord did 2,000 years ago at Calvary’s tree.

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) [18] 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. [19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. [20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: [21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

The complicated part of this answer is that while there is healing for our spiritual diseases at the Cross, which in turn usually means physical healing as well, not everyone gets healed in this life physically. We are in a fallen state and because God is sovereign, we cannot automatically assume, as some foolishly do, that there is a magical formula out there to make God agree to heal everyone who is sick.

Physical healing is part of the atonement just as salvation is. Peter said, HIS STRIPES healed us; it’s a past tense statement. But we all know that not everyone will receive this healing, no more than everyone will ultimately be saved. Hell is full of souls right now of people who never had a born-again experience with God. Salvation was affected at Calvary as well as healing, but not everyone accepts or believes that, thus not everyone receives it.

The questions over why not everyone gets healed is not the purpose of this message. That is for another message, another time. But in laying this foundation, I feel led to bring it up. Why you may ask? Because there may be someone reading this right now very discouraged because they have not received physical healing in their bodies even though they have asked and prayed and had others asking and praying. Some have probably had hands laid on them according to James 5:16-17, which is scriptural and you need to do that by faith!

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: [15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. [16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. [17] Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. [18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. [19] Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

But sometimes, even when the elders are called, healing doesn’t come right away. When this happens some get disillusioned and bitter with God. A lot of that comes from faulty teaching over the past decade or so that has told the Body of Christ we can just confess and demand God to heal us and He has to. Neighbor, it’s not quite that simple. I wished it were. I wished there were no more hospitals, no morgues, and no homes for the disabled and elderly. I wished we all walked in perfect health throughout all our lives with no serious illness. As much as I wish for that, as most would, that is not really the real story of life, even as a believer.

I personally have been blessed with good health through the years. I have never really had a serious health issue. I turned 40 a month or so ago and the Lord has blessed me with a healthy body. Without a doubt, I have not taken care of it like I should have times and I’m working on that as I write this. But I know others in their 40s that life has not been as kind.

I’m no expert on this issue. But all I CAN say to those who are sick and in need of healing is this – KEEP BELIEVING! Keep your faith anchored in the cross and believe that God is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2] For by it the elders obtained a good report. [3] Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things that are seen were not made of things, which do appear. [4] By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. [5] By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. [6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

He takes pleasure in bringing healing to our bodies and spirits for HIS GLORY, not the glory of some so-called faith healer so he can line his pockets with the offerings and tithes of the gullible. God heals us today for the same reason Christ healed those during His earthly ministry. His concern for us is SPIRITUAL, not a temporal fix to a situation that may lead us away from God instead of bringing us TO God.

Listen to me. What is worse? Being sick on this earth and your soul one day seeing heaven, or walking in perfect health on this earth and your soul being lost and going to hell? I don’t think you have to have a degree in Biblical studies to answer that question!

Faith in “our faith” is not faith. Faith in Benny Hinn laying his hands on you and you being healed is not true faith. Faith in the fact you have read the Bible backwards and forwards is not true faith and will not get you anything from God. The OBJECT of our faith must be CHRIST and the atonement He purchased for us at Calvary. He is the SIN-BEARER, the One by Whose Stripes We Are Healed!

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. [25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

We must never forget that. If you’re battling discouragement today, take heart. God still loves you. I don’t know why He has or hasn’t healed you. But regardless of what happens, you’re still His child if you keep believing in Jesus and Him Crucified! Look to the Cross! Look to the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our Faith. We must be like the three Hebrew children before the fiery furnace. They believed God COULD and He WOULD deliver them – BUT IF NOT – they were never going to stop believing. Millions perish in hell because when the “if not” comes, they grow bitter and angry at God and pull away in disbelief.

No matter what happens, we must keep believing, keep hoping, keep praising Him and keep loving HIM! If He never heals us, He’s already done enough to warrant our praise for ALL eternity!

And let me say this before we move onto the meat of this message. This does not give one a ”self-pity,” “poor-poor pitiful” me card to carry around that so many use to moan and groan about their condition. True faith never complains to God or others about the state one is in. We rejoice – whether we’re suffering or we’re on the mountaintop. We rejoice – whether we’re sick or in perfect health. We rejoice – whether there is not enough money in the bank to buy a loaf of bread or we have millions. Though we are perplexed, we keep praising HIM! We praise God. We lift our hands to heaven and say, “Thank you Jesus!” We believe! We keep LOOKING to the Cross! We keep anchoring our faith in Christ and Him Crucified!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: [19] Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; [20] Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. [17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Sin had made us so brutish that “you were like sheep,” the apostle said. We are only fit to be compared to beasts, and to those of the least intelligence. The Scripture compares the unregenerate and lost to a “wild donkey’s colt,”

Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. [3] And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the Lord.

The Psalmist compared himself to a huge animal. We are nothing better than beasts until Christ came to us and changed our hearts and lives!

But after Christ comes, we are not beasts after that!! A living, heavenly, spiritual nature is created within us when we come into contact with our Redeemer. We still carry around with us the old brutish nature, but by the grace of God it is put in subjection and kept there. Our fellowship now is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ!

We WERE like sheep, Peter said, but NOW we are men redeemed with a price unto God through Christ and Him Crucified!

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

We are cured also of our tendency to wander, which is so common among sheep. “You were like sheep going astray” – always going astray, loving to go astray, delighting in it, never so happy as when were wandering away from the fold.

We wander still, but not as sheep wander. We now seek the right way and desire to follow the Lamb!

These are they, which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the Firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Our Lord’s cross has securely nailed our hands and feet. Now we cannot run greedily after iniquity. Instead, our soul says, “return to the Lord.”

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.

Because of what the Sin-Bearer has done, we no longer have to go astray. David said the “LORD IS MY SHEPHERD,” in Psalms 23. There are 14 blessings of the sheep listed in that eternal song of the Spirit <DAKE>:

4. Guidance to still, deep, waters of rest and refreshing (cp. John 4:14; John 7:37-39)

6. Guidance in paths of right for His name's sake, which gives no cause for stumbling, falling or going astray

7. Safe passage through the valley of the shadow of death—the deep, waterless, gloomy, wild, beast-infested, rocky, dangerous ravine so common in Palestine (Psalm 23:4)

8. No fear of evil because of the Shepherd's constant companionship, watch, and protection

9. The comfort of the Shepherd's rod and staff (club and crook, the only two things carried by shepherds for defense and help—the club for the sheep's enemies and the crook for the sheep's protection)

10. Prepared and full tables of food to feast on in the presence of enemies (Psalm 23:5). They feast in safety while the Shepherd watches, fights, and protects

11. Heads anointed with perfumed oil. This preceded feasts of ancient times (Psalm 104:15; Matthew 26:6-7; Mark 14:8; Luke 7:45-50)

12. Cups running over. Not only plenty of food, but plenty of wholesome drink

13. Confidence that such goodness and mercy will follow them to the end of life (Psalm 23:6)

14. Faith that in the next life they will dwell in God's house forever (John 14:1-3; Hebrews 11:10-16; Hebrews 13:14; Rev. 21-22)

As a result, there are 30 “perfect” things of the Sin-Bearer’s ministry as our Shepherd <Dake>:

13. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death—perfect trust (Psalm 23:4)

But listen to me. If we keep going astray, the Lord will do to us what any good shepherd would do the sheep who would not cease to stray. The shepherd would go out time and time again to find the sheep, but the day would come when the shepherd would place the sheep’s leg in his caring hands and break it to keep it from wandering. At that time, the Shepherd would place the sheep on his shoulder and carry it until the leg healed. Once healed, the sheep had gotten the message that the Shepherd loved and cared for him, but didn’t want him to go astray again. When we go astray, we put our eternal souls in jeopardy. And THE GOOD SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS LOVES US ENOUGH TO BREAK OUR LEGS SOMETIMES TO KEEP US FROM STRAYING FROM HIS TENDER CARE!

Another spiritual disease of ours was an inability to return. Dogs, and even swine, are more likely to return home than wandering sheep. But now, beloved, though we wandered, we have returned and still do return to our Shepherd. Like Noah’s dove, we have found on rest anywhere outside of the ark; therefore, we return to CHRIST, and He graciously pulls us into Himself.

Genesis 8:8-9 - Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; [9] But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.

If we wander at any time, we bless God that there is something sacred within us that will not let us rest, and that there is a far more powerful Something above that draws us back. We are like the needle in a compass: touch the needle with your finger, force it to a point to the east or to the south, and it may do so for a moment; but take away the pressure, and in an instant it returns to the magnetic NORTH. We must go back to JESUS in the same way!

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

By the virtue of our Lord’s death, an immortal love is created I us that leads us to seek His face and renew our fellowship with Him.

Our Lord’s death has also cured us of our readiness to follow other leaders, many of who are false and satanic. If one sheep goes through a gap in the hedge, the whole flock will follow. We are accustomed to following ringleaders in sin and error. We have been too ready to follow custom and to do what is considered proper and respectable. But NOW we are resolved to follow none but CHRIST, JESUS according to His Word:

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

We must be resolved to follow NO human leader. Listen, that’s why we have the mess we do doctrinally in the Body today. Human leaders are trying to usurp the power of the HOLY GHOST in bringing in their own damnable heresies and doctrines that millions follow without question. Our dependence for truth is on CHRIST JESUS and HIM CRUCIFIED and the light of the HOLY SPIRIT, who is called the SPIRIT OF TRUTH!.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. [8] And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] Of sin, because they believe not on me; [10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; [11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (KJV)

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (KJV)

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (KJV)

I Jn 4:6- We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

While we were wandering, were were like sheep exposed to wolves, but we are delivered from this by being NEAR the Shepherd! We were in danger of death, in danger from the devil, in danger from a thousand temptations, which, like ravenous beasts, prowled around us. Having ended our wandering, we are now in a place of safety. When the lion roars, we are driven closer to the Shepherd, and we rejoice that HIS STAFF protects us.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

What a wonderful work of grace has been brought upon us by the Sin-Bearer! We owe ALL of this NOT to the teaching of Christ, though that has helped us greatly; not even to the example of Christ, though that inspires us to diligently imitate Him; but to HIS STRIPES: “by WHOSE STRIPES you were healed.”

We preach Christ Crucified because the crucified Christ has saved us. His death is the death of our sins. We can never stop trusting in Christ’s substitionary Sacrifice, for it is the power by which we hope to be made holy. Not only are we washed from guilt in His blood, but by that blood we also overcome sin. As long as breath or pulse remains in us, we can never conceal the blessed truth that He “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might LIVE for righteousness.” May the Lord help us to know much more of this man than you can ever read on this website. My heart is bubbling over with joy right now thinking of what our Lord has done for me. I pray you know this Christ we preach about today. He loves you and has come to set the captive free. He has come to set at liberty those who have been bruised. He has come to preach deliverance to the captives. He has come to recover sight for the blind. He has come to preach the gospel to the poor. He IS the Sin Bearer, the One whom has bore our sins in His own body so we may have and inherit eternal life.

It’s getting late neighbor. The sands of time quickly pour out as we race to eternity. Choices are crucial in this perilous hour before the return of Christ. We have such an awesome responsibility to carry a precious, priceless message to a lost and dying world. As A.W. Tozer said it so long ago, “how dare we tinker with eternity’s greatest investment in humanity - the gospel of Christ”?