Beyond Er's Fate: The Universal Need for Redemption
1 Chronicles 2:3b
And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.
If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering, “What did Er do that was so bad that the Lord killed him?” There are other references throughout both the old and new testaments where the scriptures reveal to us the specific “sin unto death” that had occurred. Among those are complaining (Num 11:1), disobedience (Gen 19:26, 2 Sam 6:6-7), lying (Acts 5:3-5), and refusing to give God the glory for what He had done (Acts 12:22-23), just to name a few. However, our concern should not be what sins we can get by with today, and what sins we should avoid!
Our concern should be that we sin not at all (1 John 2:1)! Rom 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” The word “sin” simply means “miss the mark”. Although one could argue that some come closer to hitting the mark of holiness than others, it can also be said that none but Christ have hit the bull’s eye! Therefore, unless we are made perfect by the blood of Christ before God, then we are all guilty unto death! Rom 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Before Christ, we are walking dead men, but after Christ, we have been quickened, or made alive! Eph 2:1 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” See also Col. 2:13! Allow me to remind you that there is a death worse than physical death; it is spiritual death. Rev 20:14-15 says, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” So, before we conclude that we’re not as bad as Er of the Bible, thinking we have escaped the wrath of God, we should ask ourselves this question and this question alone; are we under the blood of Christ? 1 Peter 4:18 asks, “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
The truth is, we don’t stand a chance without the righteousness of Christ being bestowed upon us! Philippians 3:9 says, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Get it under the blood, and you’ll have nothing to fear!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.
If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering, “What did Er do that was so bad that the Lord killed him?” There are other references throughout both the old and new testaments where the scriptures reveal to us the specific “sin unto death” that had occurred. Among those are complaining (Num 11:1), disobedience (Gen 19:26, 2 Sam 6:6-7), lying (Acts 5:3-5), and refusing to give God the glory for what He had done (Acts 12:22-23), just to name a few. However, our concern should not be what sins we can get by with today, and what sins we should avoid!
Our concern should be that we sin not at all (1 John 2:1)! Rom 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” The word “sin” simply means “miss the mark”. Although one could argue that some come closer to hitting the mark of holiness than others, it can also be said that none but Christ have hit the bull’s eye! Therefore, unless we are made perfect by the blood of Christ before God, then we are all guilty unto death! Rom 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Before Christ, we are walking dead men, but after Christ, we have been quickened, or made alive! Eph 2:1 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” See also Col. 2:13! Allow me to remind you that there is a death worse than physical death; it is spiritual death. Rev 20:14-15 says, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” So, before we conclude that we’re not as bad as Er of the Bible, thinking we have escaped the wrath of God, we should ask ourselves this question and this question alone; are we under the blood of Christ? 1 Peter 4:18 asks, “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
The truth is, we don’t stand a chance without the righteousness of Christ being bestowed upon us! Philippians 3:9 says, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Get it under the blood, and you’ll have nothing to fear!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill