Why was God on a Tree? – Expiation

Romans 6:14-23 and Various
(Message given at Faith Church on March 25, 2007, 1:30pm)

We have been asking the question, “Why was God on a Tree? And to answer we have been defining and explaining some very important theological words.

First, we looked at Redemption – Son of God was on a tree to legally free slaves from sin by Christ’s payment of price. Second, we looked at Justification – Son of God was on a tree to declare the unrighteous to be righteous by our unrighteousness imputed to Christ and Christ’s righteousness imputed to us. Third, we looked at Propitiation – Son of God was on a tree to divert the wrath of God onto Himself that was supposed to be for us.

In other words, Christ’s sacrifice is propitiatory, in that it has to do with regards to God’s wrath. And so we talked about the wrath of God, our number one favorite topic. But those of you who were here, you will remember that the wrath of God does not just exist for no reason. It is not as if God is like an angry guy taking out his frustration on anyone he comes across. No, the wrath of God is wrath against sin. Please keep that in mind; God is wrathful against sin.

Now, listen to this good news. When we say that Jesus is our propitiation (that He diverts the wrath of God onto Himself), the only way this can happen is if Jesus took our sins onto Himself.

That is why we are going to look at today, Expiation. Expiation literally means to make pious or holy by the removal of sin. You could say our sins, our wrongdoings are expiated; that it is taken away.

In other words, Christ’s sacrifice is expiatory, in that it has to do with regards to man’s sin. That it is taken away. And if you ask, where is it taken? A lot of people like to quote Psalm 103.

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12 (ESV)

And people quote it to say that sin is just removed and thrown far away from God. That interpretation is out of biblical context and with wrong emphasis. The emphasis is that sins (our transgressions) are removed far from US. Not that does not mean, however God just makes it disappear into thin air. Taken away far from us and put on Jesus.

This is what 2 Corinthians 5 means, when it says … “For our sake he made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11 (ESV)

This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:17 (ESV)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)

All this to say, our sin is expiated (or removed) and put on His body on the tree. Why was God on a Tree? The Son of God was on a tree to take away our sins and put onto Him. So when the wrath of God in on Jesus, it is because sin was imputed to him.

To have our sin “imputed” to Jesus on the tree is to deem the sin to His account. One teacher explains, “When unbelievers sin, the guilt of their sin is reckoned to their own account. That is, they bear the blame for their own sin. They own it. The actual corruption of the sin also remains with them. However, when believers sin, the actual corruption of the sin also remains with them, but the guilt is imputed to Christ. When sin is imputed to Jesus, it becomes “his sin” insofar as he owns the guilt and takes the blame for it.”

Think about this friend, on the cross, Jesus “became sin” for us by receiving our guilt. Jesus did not actually become corrupted by our sin and He start to commit sin. But He did take out sin so that the Father blamed Him for our sin. God considered Jesus guilty of our sins.

What a friend we have in Jesus. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. John 15:13 (ESV)

South Australian government has this thing called “expiation notice.” If you pay the notice, your wrongdoing is cancelled or taken away. Therefore there is no more guilt on you.

But let’s say don’t have the money to pay for it because you are bankrupt. And let’s also say that your friend found out and told you he will pay your notice. So in good faith, you give the expiation notice to him. When you do this, you are trusting him about two things.

First, you trust that he has the ability to pay for it. Second, you trust that he will pay for it. Otherwise, the police will come and put you in jail (at least something will happen to you).

Your friend would be a good friend because he is able; he does pay your expiation notice.

Let me change it up a little bit and use the story in another way. You and I have been served with an expiation notice. We have to pay the notice or we are going to die.

And we realize in our spiritual bankruptcy, we cannot pay for it. But Jesus comes along and says to us these incredible words. “I am your friend. I love you. Through faith in me, trusting that I have the ability to pay for it and I have paid for it, give me your expiation notice. I will take your sin. I will take your debt. And I will pay for it.”

And once Jesus was “guilty” of sin through expiation, God justly punished Him for that sin. This is the biblical understanding of expiation.

Now, let’s consider some important applications. There are so many but let’s consider three. Because of Expiation …

1. We are no longer slaves to sin.

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 (ESV)

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 (ESV)

We are now free from the slavery of sin.

2. We are slaves to righteousness.

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. Romans 6:15-19 (ESV)

a) Living passionately for the will of God.

So as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:2 (ESV)

b) Living passionately for the work of God.

Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:14 (ESV)

c) Living passionately for the glory of God.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (ESV)

And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:15 (ESV)

3. We are ultimately saved to eternal life.

When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:20-23 (ESV)

I have nothing against George Clooney but in a recent interview article he is quoted to have said that he would be okay to die tomorrow, because he is content with everything he has achieved in his life. Clooney said, “If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, I’ve had a pretty good run.”

Again, nothing against George and I do not even know if he is a Christian or not. But “George, have you dealt with the most important thing that you need to deal with in this life. Have you dealt with your sin and the fact that you are a sinner? If you have not by way of faith in the ONE who has and can expiate your sin so that you would stand righteous before God, you will stand before God as a sinner, period.”

Have you dealt with your sin?
Put your faith in Jesus Christ who can expiate your sin so that you would stand righteous before God.