GRACE GAZETTE
Volume VIssue 40
Published occasionally for Zion’s mourners
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12::12-13

THE DESTRUCTION OF SIN

These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. 2 Samuel 21:22

One of my most beloved bible stories as a child was the account of David slaying Goliath. I can remember being taught that it was an illustration of how we could do great things for GOD if we just let HIM use us. How that GOD's power could triumph if HE could only find men to serve HIM like David did. Of course, the underlying message was always there to tell us what an awful thing it would be if no one submitted themselves unto the LORD in "faith" like David, what would the LORD be able to do then? Many still teach the same today.

To most people this account is only a "story", probably just a legend or a moral tale of good triumphing over insurmountable odds. It is used by the "psycho-babblers" as a motivational tool to stir up people to action to fight against their fears and the giants in their lives. Those who only see such things miss the whole reason that this event is recorded in the scriptures. It is true enough that David "believed GOD", that he acted in the interest of the glory of GOD, and that he was triumphant over the enemies of the house of Israel. It is true enough that one stone in the hand of a lad who operates in the power of GOD can put ten thousand to flight. It is true enough that GOD uses faithful men. But the glorious truth that is exhibited in this display of the champion of Israel defeating the champion of the Philistines is the demonstration by type and foreshadow of the destruction of sin by our CHAMPION, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

The scripture tells us in I Samuel 17:40, "he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine." David is a type of the REDEEMER of Israel which the LORD surely is. He only needed one stone to bring Goliath down but the record tells us that he selected five and put them in his bag to use as necessary. Now in this particular account (chap.17) we are not told why David chose five stones but I believe that the answer is revealed in the context of the text we have selected (see II Sam.21:16-22). Surely David knew that Goliath had a brother and three sons and in his mind he knew that at some point in time he would face them all. As we see revealed in v.22 he was ultimately triumphant over the whole family of Goliath, slaying them and removing their power from ever being a threat to the house of Israel.

When the LORD JESUS CHRIST suffered, died, was buried, and rose again from the dead HE did not just make salvation a possibility nor did HE complete a part of a legal transaction in the behalf of those whose CHAMPION HE was (and is). HE completely and utterly destroyed sin and rendered it powerless to ever again bring its fear and reproach upon those in whose place HE stood. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Col 2:14-15) "Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his house." (Mat 12:29)

In the slaying of Goliath, David cut off the head of this giant who we see as representative of sin itself. The need of sinners is not just to be delivered from the penalty of sin but from the very curse and power of it. So the LORD JESUS CHRIST is indeed the deliverer of HIS people as HE took our sin upon HIMSELF "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." (2 Cor. 5:21) As HE bore our sin, HE imputed HIS righteousness to us. When HE departed from the field of battle, the victory was won and the display of HIS glory was manifest. David was not content just to destroy Goliath but all of those of Goliath's family were felled by him as well. Sin is a many headed monster, like an octopus with tentacles which would weave themselves into the very mind and heart of GOD's people if left alive. But HE has slain their enemies and forever delivered the sons of GOD from sin's power to:

Load us with guilt and condemnation. In the Old Testament sacrifices men were reminded of sin every time the sacrifice was made. "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God." (Heb 10:12) HE has removed any reason for GOD's children to feel guilt and condemnation by the offering up of HIMSELF once and for all. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom 8:1) When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit they were immediately brought under this condemnation. Their guilt caused them to hide themselves from GOD and to sew fig leaves together to cover their nakedness. HIS righteousness has forever been given to us for a covering even as HE covered Adam and Eve with coats made from the skins of animals. HE has taken away our shame.

Separate us from GOD. Our sins had indeed separated us from HIS presence and like Adam and Eve; made fearful to approach unto HIM. But HE has broken down that wall of partition which was a sign of our separation and HE has rent the veil of the temple in twain signifying that the way into the holiest of all was made. "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight." (Col 1:21-22) "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Cor.5:18)

Dominate our lives. "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Rom 6:11-14) HE has not left us to our own devices. Sin cannot have dominion over the reborn sons of GOD because HE has delivered us from its domination. When we were the servants of sin we were free from righteousness. We went about to establish our own. Now being made free from that darkness by the power of GOD we are made to see that our only righteousness is in HIM and that HE is our perfect righteousness, therefore sin cannot dominate us.

Make us fearful of death. HE has triumphed over death becoming the firstfruits of them that sleep that HE might "deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Heb 2:15) Death is spoken of as the last enemy that shall be destroyed, not because CHRIST has yet to triumph over it but because we have not yet been called upon to die in these mortal bodies. In the hour of our weakness HE will give us strength to testify. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor.15:55-57)

mam