Was Jesus Angry?

Was Jesus Angry? 

Some people attempt to justify their anger under the banner of righteous indignation. They often point to the behavior of Jesus when He drove the moneychangers from the temple. They conclude, “I can be angry because Jesus was angry.” God teaches us the important difference between righteous indignation and ungodly anger.

Why did Jesus get so furious here? What profound truth was He defending, and what does this act of righteous anger teach us about God’s character and our own spiritual lives? Beloved, we are about to investigate this powerful and often misunderstood event, exploring the Temple’s purpose, the nature of Jesus’s holy anger, and the timeless lessons it holds for all who seek to walk in His ways. (Biblewithlife, May, 2026)

LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE EXAMPLES OF CHRIST (Matt. 21:11-17).

  1.  It is True That Christ Expressed Anger on Occasions.

       A.  Christ’s Expressions of Anger Consistently Rejected Sinful Behavior in Others.

             — QUOTE: “Jesus became angry with his disciples when they forbade children to be brought to him (Mark 10:14) and with the hardhearted member of the Capernaum synagogue (Mark 3:5). Similar expressions of anger were directed at the Sadducees (Mark 12:24-27), the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 23:13-36), and Peter (Matt 16:23) and on each occasion represented his rejection of unrighteousness.”   — Evangelical Dictionary of Theology

       B.  Our Lord’s Actions in the Cleansing of the Temple on Two Different Occasions Were Expressions of Anger.  Let's look at one incident more closely.

             1.  Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called the house of prayer,’ but ye have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them (Matt. 21:12–14; see also Mark 11:15–17; Luke 19:45–46). 

The Temple in Jerusalem was more than just a building; it was the sacred center of Israel’s worship, a house of prayer for all nations (Isa. 56:7). But in the time of Jesus, it had been corrupted by greed and human systems.

             2.  Mark added in his account that Jesus would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple (Mark 11:16). Immediately upon the removal of those who were buying and selling, Jesus engaged in his healing ministry.

             3. His righteous indignation was completely without sin and without any diminishing of His spiritual anointing and power. Jesus’ anger in the temple is worth considering closely:

·        He found it filled with merchants and temple money changers.

·        He was upset that the temple, a place of worship, was being used for commercial activities.

·        Jesus literally overturned the tables of the money changers and drove out those selling animals.

·        He quoted scripture, emphasizing that the temple should be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves.

·        His actions demonstrated a call for reverence for God and purity in worship practices.

·        This event highlighted the conflict between genuine spiritual integrity and commercialism of temple related sacrifices and offerings.

Jesus walked into the Temple and found it filled with merchants selling sacrifices (doves, sheep, and oxen) and money changers. While these services were necessary for worship (as travelers needed to exchange their foreign money for temple currency and buy animals for sacrifice), the religious leaders had moved these services into the Temple courts themselves, turning a place of worship into a profitable marketplace. They were taking advantage of the poor and making a profit from the very act of worship.–Biblewithlife, May, 2026

   2.  It is True That Christ Used a Whip to Drive People Out of the Temple (Jn. 2:13-17).

Jesus was in the Temple with a whip whirling and eyes blazing as He cleanses the temple. Jesus is obviously angry. But is it justified?

John 2:13-17,  And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, [14] And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: [15] And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; [16] And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. [17] And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

       A.  Jesus did use a whip, and his actions did overturn the tables of the money changers.

       B.  Throughout the incident, Jesus' actions were calculated and measured. No riot resulted. Nobody was out of control.

   3.  It is Not True that Jesus Actions Were Sinful.

Throughout the scene, Jesus' behavior was:

      A.  Without Real Violence. We have no record of any person being hurt, but the Savior was forceful and assertive.

      B.  Without Resentment. For example, Jesus did not call upon His disciples to continue the behavior. Nor did He cite any past wrong done to Him as a reason for what He was doing.

      C.  Without Bitterness. Jesus had no held-over feelings against those who were cast from the temple. He did not use a piece of information to threaten or intimidate someone with it. He never mentioned these matters again. (C. Stanley)

Jesus' actions were vented not merely against the individuals themselves but against their actions-behaviors and attitudes, and against the system that allowed buying and selling in God's house of prayer. In every way, Jesus acted in accordance with righteous indignation–holy rejection of sinful practices.  (See Eph. 4:26.)

   4.  Jesus Was Indignant or Angry in a Righteous Way.

He did not sin in what He did or the way He did it.

       A.  Righteous Indignation Is a Healthy Response to Evil.

It is an agitation in the spirit against something that is wrong in God’s eyes, without any partiality toward or against the perpetrators of the wrong. The behavior or circumstance is wrong, apart from the personality of any person. While God detests the sinful act; he still loves the sinner! 

       B.  Righteous Indignation Is Expressed in a Measured and Calculated Way. It does not bring physical or emotional harm to another human being. It is thought through in a rational way, and it is behavior that has been pre-approved by God through prayer. (C. Stanley)

Throughout the Scriptures, we are admonished to speak God's truth boldly and to do so in love. I believe that is what Jesus was doing in the temple those occasions. His words bore great conviction because they were statements of truth. When we speak the truth boldly, we can expect results, too.

       C.  When You Take an Action or Speak the Truth with Righteous Indignation, you must be prepared to reap the consequences that may be associated with the act. Jesus certainly did. The chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people sought to destroy Jesus after He took this action in the temple. (See Luke 19:47–48.) God stayed their hand until Jesus’ ministry among the people was complete, but very soon after, Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified. Jesus was prepared to die for the good that He had done, including this act of cleansing the temple. (C. Stanley)

If you truly act in righteous indignation against evil, then you must be prepared to put your life on the line for what you believe and do. The angry person doesn't do this. To the contrary, an angry person tends to act in hopes of destroying the enemy and then to live with a sense of smugness at the victory. The angry person isn’t at all interested in suffering or dying for the very person who has done wrong in his eyes.

Jesus's anger in the temple is a profound theological statement about God's character, His holiness, and the sanctity of His presence.

A Demonstration of God's Holiness

Jesus's zeal for His Father's house was a demonstration of God's holiness, a holiness that cannot tolerate sin, injustice, and greed. God's presence is sacred, and it must be approached with reverence and purity. Jesus's actions were a powerful reminder that our worship must be sincere and that we cannot turn a place of prayer into a place of greed.

The Atonement: A House of Prayer

Jesus's cleansing of the Temple was a prelude to the ultimate atonement that He was about to make on the cross. He was cleansing the Temple, the house of prayer, to prepare it for His ultimate sacrifice, a sacrifice that would open a new and living way to God's presence. The tearing of the veil (Matthew 27:51 KJV) was the ultimate act of cleansing, a sign that the way into the Holy of Holies was now open to all who believe.—Biblewithlife, May, 2026

THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE ANGRY WITHOUT SINNING.

Ephes. 4:26, Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

   1. Anger Can Be a Holy Response to Sin.

Mark 3:5, And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 

         A.  Jesus was angry about the Pharisees' uncaring attitudes. Anger itself is not wrong. It depends on what makes us angry and what we do with our anger. Too often we express our anger in selfish and harmful ways.

         B.  By contrast, Jesus expressed his anger by correcting a problem -- healing the man's hand. Use your anger to find constructive solutions rather than tear people down.

         C.  We may react to sin in the way that Christ did-in holiness and without desire for personal vengeance (Rom 12:19-21).

   2. Anger Does Not Have to Lead to Sin.

Mark 11:17, And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.  

        A.  Jesus became angry, but he did not sin. There is a place for righteous indignation. 

        B.  Christians are right to be upset about sin and injustice and should take a stand against them. 

        C.  Unfortunately, believers are often passive about these important issues and instead get angry over personal insults and petty irritations. Make sure your anger is directed toward the right issues.

   3. Anger Is a Danger Signal.

Matthew 5:22, But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

        A.  Moses said, "Thou shalt not kill [murder]" (Ex 20:13), Jesus taught us to avoid anger because it is committing murder in your heart. The Pharisees read this law and, not having murdered, felt righteous. Yet they were angry enough with Jesus that they would soon plot his murder, though they would not do the dirty work themselves. 

        B.  Killing Is a Terrible Sin, but Anger Is a Great Sin Too Because it Also Violates God's Command to Love. Anger in this case refers to a seething, brooding bitterness against someone. It is a dangerous emotion that always threatens to leap out of control, leading to violence, emotional hurt, increased mental stress, and spiritual damage.

        C.  Anger keeps us from developing a spirit pleasing to God. Have you ever been glad that you didn't strike out and say what was really on your mind? Self-control is good, but Christ wants us to practice thought-control as well. Jesus said we will be held accountable even for our attitudes.

Jesus's righteous anger in the temple is not a license for us to act in anger, but it is a call for us to stand for holiness and justice in our own lives and in the world around us.

The Sanctity of God's Presence

Our hearts are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus's actions in the temple are a powerful reminder that we must not allow greed, bitterness, or sin to desecrate the temple of our hearts. Our worship of God must be sincere and our hearts must be pure.

The Nature of Righteous Anger

Jesus's anger was not a sinful act. It was a righteous, holy anger against injustice. This is a profound lesson for us today: anger can be a just response to sin, but our anger must be a righteous anger, an anger that is controlled by the Holy Spirit and that seeks justice, not vengeance.

The Call to Stand for Justice

We are called to stand for holiness and justice in a world that is filled with greed, injustice, and corruption. We are called to be a voice of truth against the lies of the world, and to be a people who are a testament to God's holiness and righteousness.—Biblewithlife, May, 2026

 

Why Does God Forgive People?

 

Why Does God Forgive People?

ROM. 3:21-26

SUBJECT:  THE FOUNDATION OF FORGIVENESS

THEME: The Only Thing That Motivates God to Forgive Fallen Humanity is His Great Love and the Fact That All Sin Was Paid for in the Death of Christ. God Pardons Us When We Receive His Grace, and Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice Provides the Basis, or Foundation for Forgiveness.                                                                                

RELEVANCY: God’s wants you to experience complete forgiveness of your sins and to receive full restoration in your relationship to the Lord God. If you are looking for forgiveness based on your pleas, promises, and performance, then I can guarantee you will remain in sin and guilt. If you accept Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf, you will receive the fullness of God’s life-giving forgiveness.

INTRODUCTION:

1.  At the base of every modern skyscraper you will find a foundation or platform on which it is built.  Often this would involve digging down deep into the ground to ensure that a good substructure or basis is established. This will prevent the skyscraper from sinking into the ground, tipping over, improving the structural integrity, and strengthening the building. It provides a more stable basis. Simply stated a good foundation must be laid if that building structure is to last. (Dr. C. Stanley)

2.  Likewise, when it comes to building our lives we must have a solid foundation, some things that will not give away during the pressures of life. In the matter of our salvation, it is vitally important that it be based on the correct foundation. A failure to lay a reliable foundation will certainly result in an eternity in the lake of fire. This is extremely important to us.

3.  God’s foundation for Forgiveness is the finish work of Jesus Christ. One of the key words in our text is the word “Propitiation”.  Which basically means to satisfy justice.  God accepted the blood of Christ as the complete and satisfying sacrifice for all human sin, thus establishing the only method of reconciliation between God and Man. Again, God expressed his entire righteous anger against our sin on Christ on the cross to the point of death, paying what we owed in full. This gift of the sacrifice of God’s own Son to atone for our own sin must be received to be forgiven. The finished work of Christ is the reliable, dependable, eternal, trustworthy, unfailing, and guaranteed foundation for our forgiveness of sins. Romans 3:25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [fair complete payment] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission [forgiveness] of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

MESSAGE:  

I. What Does Not Motivate God to Forgive (Rom. 3:21-23).

What if someone asked you, “Why does God forgive people?” I have encountered many people who have given me answers implying that God has to forgive people for this reason or that. God doesn’t have to do anything! God certainly does not forgive us for any of these reasons:

A.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE WE ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

We all know that we aren't good. Even Jesus said, “There is none good but One, that is, God” (Matt. 19:17). We live in a fallen world, and we are born in a fallen state. The apostle Paul taught the Romans,

Romans 5:12-14, 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: [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 to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

The Bible truth is clear; we are Adam’s heirs. We are born in a sinful state, separated from God and in need of God’s forgiveness and reconciliation to Himself.

B.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE WE PROMISE NEVER TO SIN AGAIN.

In all probability, we will sin again, and God knows it even if we won’t admit it to ourselves.

C.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE WE GO TO CHURCH OR GIVE MONEY TO WORTHY CAUSES. Our works, as noble as they may be, have nothing to do with our salvation. We see this clearly in Ephesians 2:8–9: “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.”

D.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE HE IS HAVING A GOOD DAY AND FEELS KINDLY TOWARD HUMANKIND. God is not capricious, bestowing forgiveness on one day and withholding forgiveness on the next. God’s nature doesn’t change; He isn’t ruled by whim; He doesn’t operate according to an emotional barometer. When things go well, some people comment, “God was smiling on me today.” The fact is, God is always smiling on us. (Dr. C. Stanley)

E.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE WE ASK HIM TO FORGIVE US.

   1.  God forgives us when we ask Him to forgive us, but He doesn’t forgive us because we ask Him. That would imply that God is in a state of unforgiveness toward us until we ask, which simply isn’t the case. God is always extending an offer of forgiveness to us.

   2.  Our plea for forgiveness doesn’t move God to action; He has already moved toward us—all the way from Heaven right to the place where we live in our sin—and He is waiting for us to turn to Him and receive the forgiveness He offers.

F.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE HE IS A GOOD GOD AND WOULD NEVER SEND ANYBODY TO HELL. That’s one of the foremost heresies of our time. I hear it often: “God is a good God, and He’d never condemn a person to an eternity without Him.” That isn’t what the Bible teaches. John 3:16—the salvation verse that tells us that “whosoever believeth” will have everlasting life—is followed by these words: John 3:17-19, For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  [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. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

   1.  Our actions condemn us. Primarily the sin of unbelief! 

   2.  God doesn't desire that any should perish, but He will not override our will.

   3.  If someone chooses to reject God's offer of forgiveness, then he or she has chosen his/her eternal destiny without God.

APPLICATION: If you have been offering these reasons to God as to why He should forgive you of your sin then please stop today because you are wasting your time and energy. God is the one who establishes the basis for Forgiveness and this rest within His own Holy nature! There is nothing that we could do to motivate God to forgive us! (Dr. C. Stanley)

II.  What Motivates God to Forgive? (Rom. 3:24-25)

The motivation for God’s forgiveness lies totally within God Himself. He forgives us because He has a basis to forgive—the propitiation of Jesus Christ. But, what are the specifics?

A.  GOD IS MOTIVATED BY HIS LOVE; FORGIVENESS IS ROOTED IN GOD’S LOVE.

1 John 4:8-10, He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. [9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. [10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God forgives out of His unconditional, eternal love. John tells us that God’s very nature is love, and forgiveness flows from His nature (1 John 4:8–10). We are forgiven because it is God’s will to forgive.

B.  GOD IS MOTIVATED BY HIS GRACE; FORGIVENESS IS BASED ON GOD’S GRACE.

Romans 5:15, But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Rom. 5:17, 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.)

C.  GOD IS MOTIVATED BY HIS MERCY; FORGIVENESS IS GROUNDED IN GOD’S MERCY.

Ephes. 2:4-5, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

APPLICATION: Since God’s Forgiveness is rooted in His very Nature and since He is the unchanging God, then we have a consistent unchanging bases for forgiveness. God does not change in his nature. That means if He forgives you for what you view as a little sin, then by the same motives He will forgive a big sin.  Just as He forgave you for your few sins, He can forgive the worst criminal ever known by the same motives.  The quantity nor the quality, nor the impact of our sins neither encourage nor discourage God from forgiving us.  Forgiveness is based in His very nature, He is Merciful, Loving, and Gracious these are the principles that motivate Him to forgive.  (Dr. C. Stanley)

Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

How does it make you feel to know that God forgives because He wants to forgive, and not as a result of anything that you do?

III. God Sets the Rules for Forgiveness (Rom. 3:24-26).

Because forgiveness is totally at God’s initiative and subject to God’s will alone, we must ask, “Has God established any rules or protocol for forgiveness?” He certainly has.

A.  THE HOLY NATURE OF GOD WILL NEVER CHANGE.

We must recognize that God is a holy God, which means He is separate from humankind in nature. God has no capacity for sin, and He cannot have fellowship with sin. God is totally pure, righteous, and without fault. He cannot coexist where sin is present.

Light and dark do not exist simultaneously. In a similar manner, your sin cannot exist in God's presence. God consumes or destroys sin just as light consumes darkness. And in that, we find a picture of our vulnerability before God when we are filled with sin. We are subject to being consumed by Him, having the innermost being vaporized by His fire of righteousness. In a word, we are subject to death.

Hebrews 12:14, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

B.  GOD’S PERFECT PROVISION IS JESUS CHRIST.

Romans 3:25, 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;

God made a provision, however, for us to be cleansed of sin so that we might have fellowship with Him. Literally, Jesus satisfied the wrath of God against us sinners and our sin…and it was God himself who “hath set forth” this reality. God presented Christ as the atonement, and that provision was in the form of a blood sacrifice. Through the cross God demonstrated His righteous nature though he endured our sin for a season. No doubt, someone will say, “But I don't like this idea of blood.” The idea of blood sacrifice was not our idea—it was God’s idea. It is not within our prerogative to choose another means for reconciliation with God. God sets the rules in this matter, and God established Christ’s blood sacrifice as a means of reconciling us to Him.

1.  There Is No Forgiveness Without Blood Sacrifice.

This theme is in the Bible from cover to cover.

Hebrews 9:22, And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

      a.  When Cain and Abel made sacrificial offerings to God, the offering that was accepted by God was the blood sacrifice of a lamb. (See Gen. 4:2–5.)

      b.  The sacrifices that atoned for sin under the law of Moses were blood sacrifices.

      c.  In like manner, the blood of Jesus shed on the cross of Calvary is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement for our sins. Each of the words in the previous sentence is important to our understanding of the forgiveness made available to us through the death of Jesus Christ. (Dr. C. Stanley)

1 Peter 1:18-19, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

  2.  We Must Accept God’s Provision and Not Seek to Establish Our Own. (See Rom. 10:1-5) 

Romans 3:24, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

“Being justified freely,” describes the worldwide opportunity for every precious soul. God has made it possible for us to be justified—declared righteous and sinless—by His grace. Such salvation is only through faith and reliance on God’s pure unmerited favor, not through our good deeds or performance.

C.  GOD’S RULES FOR FORGIVENESS SATISFY HIS REQUIREMENTS.

   1. Rule #1: The Sacrificial Death of Christ.

Jesus gave His life on the cross as a sacrifice. He wasn’t merely put to death by the Romans or the Jewish leaders. On the contrary, Jesus appeared in history to “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26). Jesus gave His life, as an act of His will conforming to the Father’s will, as the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). While religious and political leaders of that time bear their responsibility for the murder of Christ (Acts 2:22-24, Jesus was on a mission to sacrifice himself for our sin.

        a.  A Dying Sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:26, For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.   

        b.  A Predetermined Sacrifice.

Rev. 13:8, And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

His death was not an accident nor a mere act of the will of the Jewish and Roman officials.  It was the will of God as determined before the world was created that took place on Calvary 2,000 years ago.  It was God radically making provision to rid His universe of sin!

    2.  Rule #2: The Substitutionary Death of Christ.

1 John 2:1-2, My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

          a.  He Died in Our Place.

Jesus took your place and mine on the cross. He died in your place and in my place and in the place of everyone you know.

          b.  The Penalty for Sin Is Death.

And we are all sinners. Unless God, pure and righteous, take our place and suffered the penalty for our sin, we would have to bear that penalty ourselves. The apostle Paul explained this in Romans 3:10–18 by citing several verses from the Old Testament: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: [14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: [15] Their feet are swift to shed blood: [16] Destruction and misery are in their ways: [17] And the way of peace have they not known: [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.   

    3.  Rule #3: The All-Sufficient Death of Christ.

       a.  The Work That Jesus Did Was Definitive.

We no longer need to offer blood sacrifices in acknowledgment of our sin. We need only have faith in Jesus Christ and accept what He has done on our behalf. The writer of Hebrews says that God took away the first means of blood sacrifice that He might establish the second means, the sacrifice of Jesus. (Heb. 9:15-28)

       b.  His Sacrifice Was Made Once and For All Time.

The sacrifice of Jesus was the only one necessary. The phrase that is used is a powerful one: “once for all.”

Hebrews 10:10-14, By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

     4. Rule #4: The Atoning Death of Christ.   

Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

          a.  Atonement is a word that means “reconciliation”—at-one-ment. Jesus' death on the cross made it possible for the gap between God and people to be bridged. Romans 5:1 speaks of atonement in terms of peace.  

         b.  Christ’s Death is THE Atonement.

Romans 5:11, And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

What Jesus did on the cross, He never needs to do again, and neither does anyone else ever have to suffer and die as He did. He is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement (Romans 5:20-21; 6:10-11). Christ died for us. Jesus came so that you and I might transfer our guilt to Him, and accept, by faith, that He is the guiltless One who has received our sin and taken it to Himself.

CONCLUSION:  If you are expecting forgiveness based on your pleas, promises, and performance, then you will remain in sin and guilt. But, if you accept His blood sacrifice on your behalf, you open yourself to receiving the fullness of God’s life-giving forgiveness.

The Only Thing that Motivates God to Forgive Fallen Humanity is His Great Love and the Fact That All Sin Was Paid for in the Death of Christ. God Pardons Us When We Receive His Grace and Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice Provides the Foundation for Forgiveness. Beloved, this is the only reason why God forgives people.

1.  If you need God’s forgiveness you may come and receive Christ and his work!

2.  If you think you have gone too far to be forgiven, you need to remember forgiveness rests in the nature of God, not in the quality and quantity of your actions.

Abel's Excellent Sacrifice 2

Hebrews 11:4

Though life is punctuated with serious challenges, confidence in Christ is never misplaced. Faithful responses enable us to continue obediently to ultimately triumph in our difficulties. Even when faced with mortal danger, forsaking Christ is not an option; we must insist on faithfully living by faith.

In Hebrews 11:4, we see a believer of real courage and commitment—Abel.

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.

Abel speaks to believers today as the first martyr for the faith. His essential message is be faithful to the “excellent sacrifice” even unto death. To enlarge further Abel is still saying trust the offering God provides, approach God only through blood sacrifice, and worship God His way—in truth.

Abel’s Excellent Sacrifice Pleases God (Heb. 11:4).

By faith we must hold on to the truth that God is pleased with the “excellent sacrifice” and this warrants a steadfast faith free of any acquiescence! So, what can we learn from Abel that we may be faithful also? Let’s examine further…    

His Performance

Once again it was God who had revealed to Adam and his descendants the true way of worship—how we can truthfully approach a holy God as fallen sinners. Abel accepted this; he fully embraced God’s way to God. Abel obeyed God by faith and “offered a more excellent sacrifice.” His trust and faith were evidenced through his careful adherence to the model God gave. Therefore, he offered the “more excellent sacrifice” without any alterations, embellishments, or modifications. He deemed God’s provision as fully adequate, relevant and satisfying. “More excellent” describes the sacrifice as being more appropriate and fitting, better and more acceptable—superior.

                                                             

The superiority of Abel’s sacrifice to Cain’s, is noted both in what was offered, and in how it was offered. Abel’s sacrifice was offered from a genuine heart as to the Lord, but Cain’s only in show to spotlight himself. The sacrifice of Abel was in faith, while Cain’s was anchored in his performance—human prideful efforts. Abel looked through his sacrifice to the supreme sacrifice of Christ upon Calvary; such was not the case with Cain—only his efforts mattered to him. Abel’s sacrifice was a lamb (a firstling of his flocks), a type of Christ, the Lamb of God; the Lord Jesus who is the firstborn of every creature. Jesus is the “Excellent Sacrifice”! Beloved, there is absolutely no way our efforts can compare to the awesome work of God on our behalf through Jesus Christ.

                                                     

The superiority of Abel’s sacrifice to that of Cain’s, is evident because God regarded it, and not Cain’s (Gen. 4:3). There are two thoughts we should emphasize, first is that the offering of sacrifices was a divine institution, and they were early types of Christ. Secondly, there are two kinds of worshippers, spiritual and carnal ones, whom God can easily distinguish because His perception penetrates to the heart of men. 

Faith in Christ must precede righteous works of service. Faith is evidenced by our service and devotion demonstrating that we are indeed saved individuals. We cannot serve to be saved or to remain saved; redemption-salvation is not an award to be earned. Salvation is purely by God’s unmerited favor towards undeserving people who acknowledge their sinfulness and cling to Christ’s “more excellent sacrifice” by faith. (Adapted from John Gill)

This is precisely what the Apostle Paul described repeatedly in his New Testament writings,

Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2Cor. 5:16-21)

You see, it is faith and trust in the reconciling work of God for us and not confidence in our works to please God. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself; what can we possibly offer to compare with Calvary and the empty tomb?

Abel understood this, and he exhibited faith by approaching God with the blood of a sacrifice. Cain, I am afraid to say, never got this. His sacrifice was one of vegetables or fruits and was therefore bloodless. Abel illustrates faithfulness to the truth of salvation by grace through faith—this is his performance. Beloved, weather the subject is salvation, sanctification, service, or glorification, it is always by grace through faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Likewise, we too are called to be faithful to this gospel. Cain exemplifies man’s futile attempt to save himself by good works and mere religion. Cain’s way simply does not work no matter how long and hard one may try; man-made religion will always fail those who trust themselves. Why not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? God accepts what Jesus did for us sinner…why don’t you (1 John 2:1-2)?

His Principle

In principle, Abel was a righteous man because of faith in the “excellent sacrifice” (Matt. 23:35).  The Lord Jesus described Abel as “righteous.” God testified to the fact that he was righteous when He received his gift/offering (Heb. 11:4). To his spiritual account righteousness was imputed purely on the bases of his faith (see Romans 4). We are not justified because of our character, religious zeal or good works (no matter how noble or exceptional), but solely because of the excellence of the sacrifice of Christ. All we did was believe, receive and accept Him and His work on our behalf (see Galatians 3).

In addition, Abel’s obedience cost him his life. Cain was not a child of God (1 John 3:12) because he did not have real faith. His works were evil and his brother’s righteous. Abel was killed by Cain because those who love works-righteousness tend to intensely hate the unadulterated grace of God. There is a deep-seated resentment—an aggressive form of jealousy that renders those in its grip murderous. In other words, self-righteous people literally despise the truth that we cannot save ourself and that we must cast ourselves on the love and mercy of God. They cherish deeply the distinction of great ‘spiritual’ vigor, zeal, commitment, and achievements. If they don’t really have anything to be proud of they will resort to pointing out the faults and failures of others to make themselves appear superior and to garner more respect. Such hypocrites are most concerned with their reputation, and first seek to condemn those who do not measure up to their expectations. Grace seems too soft, too easy, too permissive, and too lenient to accept; they find grace utterly offensive and repulsive. This is the best religion can produce…. Cain was religious but clearly not righteous.

Today true righteousness and salvation is only made available through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, the resurrected Lord.

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:24-28, KJV)

Beloved, salvation is never by religious works of righteousness that we have achieved, but exclusively according to God’s incredible mercy—He saved us (and not we ourselves) through the regenerating grace and the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit of God (see Titus 3:5, 6). All of this is extravagantly made available to us through our Great and Mighty Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul says to the Galatian churches, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16, KJV)

His Proclamation

Abel still speaks to us today as the first martyr of the faith and his testimony is perpetuated: through his faith he yet speaketh. Though Abel is dead, he still witnesses to us that the life of faith is the life that counts.

Good men die, and some of them die a violent death, as did Abel, yet he speaks in the Scriptures….—John Gill

If you don’t have a cause that is worth dying for, you very likely don’t have anything worth living for.—Unknown

No, the persecution of genuine followers of Jesus Christ is not new and every generation of godly Believers can expect to experience its share of injustices, prejudices, misunderstandings and disadvantages. Christians of every generation have needed the encouragements faithful Abel affords. Let us likewise be faithful to the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ. It is Christ who died, was buried, and rose again the third day as the Scriptures predicted He would hundreds of years before it transpired (1Cor. 15:1-8). Yes, life presents many challenges, but confidence in Jesus Christ is never misplaced. Even when faced with mortal threats forsaking Christ Jesus is not an option. Be faithful to the very end. These persecuted Hebrew believers needed assurance the Christian way, worship, and witness is truly a matter of faith; its foundation is the very Word of God from the earliest accounts. We all can rest assured God fully approves of the life of faith. The cross of Christ is always central to our way, worship, and witness. Stay true, Beloved, stay true to the “more excellent sacrifice.”