Treasures in heaven are laid up only as treasures on earth are laid down.

Story: Unlimited Resources

A few nights ago I was walking along a street near the Chicago river when a hold-up man suddenly stepped up in front of me and demanded my money. I had spent my last cent that morning for breakfast so of course the robber found no money on me, but in my purse he found this check, which I always carry, on the 'Bank of Jesus.' Because it was dark, the man could not see what the check was; so he asked me if it were good. Seeing an opportunity to witness for the Lord, I replied that if he had the proper endorsement he would be a wealthy man. Then going to the street light, I explained the check to him and told him that if he would let the blood of Jesus cover his sin, that he would have access to the resources in Jesus' bank. At first he was angry, then he was greatly convicted, and kneeling with me behind a signboard he accepted Jesus as his Saviour. He was filled with joy. Then throwing his gun in the river he took me to a restaurant and gave me a much-needed meal. The next morning I found a good job and am more than sure that the resources of Jesus' bank are unlimited. There is enough for all enough for me and enough for my new friend, the ex-hold-up man.J. R., in The Dawn

Four great treasures in this passage:

The First Treasure:

I. A PRECIOUS REDEMPTION V. 7a

a) The meaning of redemption.

To purchase ownership to buy out of the market place handing a slave a legal document granting him complete freedom free, not for sale any more.

Loosed from the curse of the law loosed from the judgment of God.

b) The means of redemption the blood of Christ

John MacArthur in 1976, said in an article entitled Not His Bleeding But His Dying : It was His death that was efficacious..., not His blood.... Christ did not bleed to death. The shedding of blood has nothing to do with bleeding.... it simply means death..violent sacrificial death. Nothing in His human blood saves .... it is not His blood that I love .... it is Him. It is not His bleeding that saved me, but His dying. Hebrew 9:22, without shedding of blood is no remission, and I John 1:7, the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin?

I asked Dr. MacArthur to clarify his statement and belief concerning the blood of Christ and the sacrificial system. His ministry directed me to his issues clarification page and I copied the following, I recently went hunting, and the only thing that I ever shot was a big elk, and I went over and watched the elk die. You have this, at least I did, this tremendous sense that life is going out, as you watched that blood come out of that animal--that was the picture in the sacrificial system, and that was the picture on the cross, that Christ was giving His life--being poured out symbolically, in a sense, as His blood came out, His life came out, not just symbolically, but really His life came out when His blood came out since the life of the flesh is in the blood.

So I believe in the literal death of Christ, the literal shed blood of Christ, that He was fulfilling the pictures and symbols of the Old Testament in dying a sacrificial death.

Now, what I said some years ago was that I do not believe that was something in that blood itself that saves people, in other words, in the chemicals of it--that's what I said. I don't believe, for example, the Roman Catholic Transubstantiation, where for example, the cup is turned into blood, you drink the blood and it ministers grace to you--I don't accept that. I don't accept something magic, and nobody else has in the history of Christianity that has been in the mainstream of the doctrine of Soteriology. We see that the death of Christ was an atonement for sin, He died a sacrificial bloodshed death, but there is nothing in the blood to save or Jesus could have bled on people and not died. He could have cut His finger and that would have been enough if it is just the bleeding.

So, I said that, some years ago, and then it was taken out of context, and it was put into a magazine that I didn't believe in the Blood of Christ and that was just enough for people who wanted to attack me to have some ammunition.

While we do not agree with and support all John MacArthur says and teaches, we do appreciate that his position on the blood of Christ is clear.

Someone said, One drop of the precious blood of Jesus could wash away all the sins that have ever been committed in this world.

Ian Paisley, The liberals think that a little bit of water will get them to heaven. Only the precious blood of Christ will get me to heaven.

Dr. Joseph Parker of London, the noted English preacher, who for many years proclaimed the Word of God in the great City Temple, tells in his autobiography that there was a time when he gave too much attention to the modern theories of his day. Men were reasoning and speculating and undervaluing the Word of God and he found himself, as he read their books and mingled in their meetings, losing his grip intellectually upon the great fundamental doctrine of salvation alone through the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. But he tells us that there came into his life the most awful sorrow that he ever had to bear. His devoted wife, whom he loved so tenderly, was stricken, and in a few short hours was snatched away from him. He was unable to share his grief with others, and walking through those empty rooms of his home with a breaking heart, his misery felt for some footing in modern theory and there was none, And then, he said, addressing a company of his Congregational brethren, my brethren, in those hours of darkness, in those hours of my soul's anguish, when filled with doubt and trembling in fear, I bethought myself of the old gospel of redemption alone through the blood of Christ, the gospel that I had preached in those earlier days, and I put my foot down on that, and, my brethren, I found firm standing. I stand there today, and I shall die resting upon that blessed glorious truth of salvation alone through the precious blood of Christ. Amen!

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7 AV)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14 AV)

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

The Second Treasure:

II. AN ABUNDANT FORGIVENESS 7b - 8

a. The forgiveness of sins

Strong gives the following definition of sins

1) to fall beside or near something

2) a lapse or deviation from truth and uprightness

2a) a sin, misdeed

This forgiveness is not only what we were in Adam, but what we did in Adam.

Forgiveness is the perfume that the trampled flower casts upon the heel that crushed it.

Our Lord is in the cleansing business, not the whitewashing business

Our God is ready and willing to pardon, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Every sinner who asks for forgiveness receives a quick and speedy pardon- washed white by the effects of the shedding of Christ's precious blood at Calvary.

b. His forgiveness is according to the riches of His grace

C.I. Scofield's Summary of Grace.

(1) Grace is "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man. . . not by works of righteousness which we have done" Tit 3:4 , 5.

It is, therefore, constantly set in contrast to law, under which God demands righteousness from man, as, under grace, he gives righteousness to man Ro 3:21, 22; 8:4.

Law is connected with Moses and works; grace with Christ and faith Joh 1:17; Ro 10:4-10.

Law blesses the good; grace saves the bad Ex 19:5; Eph 2:1-9.

Law demands that blessings be earned; grace is a free gift De 28:1-6; Eph 2:8; Ro 4:4,5.

c. It is administered in abundance with wisdom and prudence.

Barnes says, Which he has liberally manifested to us. This grace has not been stinted and confined, but has been liberal and abundant.

In all wisdom. That is, he has evinced great wisdom in the plan of salvation; wisdom in so saving men as to secure the honour of his own law, and in devising a scheme that was eminently adapted to save men. .

And prudence. The word here used (fronhsiv) means understanding, thinking, prudence. The meaning here is, that so to speak, God had evinced great intelligence in the plan of salvation. There was ample proof of mind and of thought, it was adapted to the end in view. It was far-seeing; skillfully arranged; and carefully formed. The sense of the whole is, that there was a wise design running through the whole plan, and abounding in it in an eminent degree.

His forgiveness is as far as the East is from the West.

The Third Treausre:

III A FUTURE HOPE v. 910

a) The mystery of His will revealed.

Scofield: A "mystery" in Scripture is a previously hidden truth, now divinely revealed; but in which a supernatural element still remains despite the revelation. The greater mysteries are:

(1) The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven Mt 13:3-50.

(2) the mystery of Israel's blindness during this age Ro 11:25 (with context);

(3) the mystery of the translation of living saints at the end of this age 1Co 15:51,52 1Th 4:14-17

(4) the mystery of N.T. church as one body composed of Jew and Gentile Eph 3:1-11 Ro 16:25 Eph 6:19 Col 4:3.

(5) the mystery of the church as the bride of Christ Eph 5:28-32.

(6) the mystery of the in living Christ Ga 2:20 Col 1:26 , 27.

(7) the "mystery of God even Christ," i.e. Christ as the incarnate fullness of the Godhead embodied, in whom all the divine wisdom for man subsists Col 2:2 , 9 1Co 2:7.

(8) the mystery of the processes by which godlikeness is restored to man 1Ti 3:16.

(9) the mystery of iniquity 2Th 2:7 Mt 13:33.

(10) the mystery of the seven stars Re 1:20.

(11) the mystery of Babylon Re 17:5 , 7.

b) The Mystery of the church clarified

1) The Church carefully designed and founded by the Lord Jesus Christ

2) Its Program. the great commission has been spelled out five times variously in Matthew 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16; Lk 24:44ff; John 20:21-22; Acts 1:8. The church's single most important and super mandate is to preach the gospel to every creature of the world. A church that fails in this mission is a church not walking in light of the New Testament admonition and purposes for the church.

3) Its Rapture. confusion abounds in reference to the promises to the church. The rapture is clearly taught and assures us of our future in glory preceding the horrendous wrath of God on unbelieving Israel and the world during the Great Tribulation 1 Thess 

4-5; 11 Thess 2. The Great Tribulation will begin sometime following the rapture and will last for seven years. The first half will lead to the confederation of world systems including the establishment of the Jewish Temple and its sacrificial system operational. At the half way point, the antichrist will put a stop to the system and will reveal his hatred and opposition to the Jewish people and all that worships the true God of Heaven.

The Fourth Treasure:

IV. A PRESENT INHERITANCE V. 11-12.

a) Heirs to the greatest things To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:4 AV)

b) Heirs of the greatest work Matt. 28:1920

b) Heirs of the highest honour That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Eph 1:12 AV)

CONCLUSION:

Through and in Christ we have a precious redemption, an abundant forgiveness, a future hope and a present inheritance.

Truly Christ Saves, Keeps and Satisfies.

As you ponder the truths of this message, allow me to invite you to appropriate the wonderful redemption by faith in Jesus Christ. 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. Eph 2:8-9

What must I do to be saved?

Acknowledge that you are a sinner and in need of the forgiveness of sins.

Turn from your sin to serve the living and true God,

Accept the gracious offer of salvation by asking the Lord Jesus Christ to cleanse you and to make you a child of God.

Thank Him that He has done that for you just now. Rom 10:13

Please let us know of your decision so we can be of further help and guidance to you. May God bless you as you begin your new life in Him.