We’re All “Doin’ Time!”            Want to get “Bailed Out?”

                                            Hebrews  13:3, Isaiah 61:1-2

                        burneyfam.com       Pastor Gerry       Crossroads Church, Box 1533, Ukiah, Calif. 95482        707-467-8400 

Most people when asked, “What is done with a person guilty of a crime ? would answer: “They are put in jail.”  In fact, in ancient times, most people guilty of a crime were not put into jail.  They were put to death – or sentenced to a death work camp. 

One of the first things a person would like to do when they find themselves in jail, is to get bailed out. 

God’s Word tells us we are all sinners (Rom. 3:23).  In fact, God’s Word tells us that we are all sinners, even at conception, before we are even born (Psalm 51:5, 58:3, Jer. 1:5, John 3:18, Rom. 5:12 – we are all condemned already).  And, God’s Word tells us that we all are sentenced to death (or, life on earth until death), just like prisoners put on work gangs, until they died.  There is, of course, one big difference between man’s way, and God’s way: God provides a bail-out plan, even for the worst of crimes. 

In Gen. 2:7-17, we read that Adam and Eve were created in Paradise (Eden) to fellowship with God for all eternity.  They were condemned to death, and separated from God and Paradise, because they committed the crime of disobeying God (Gen. 3:1-7).  Along with Adam and Eve, one-third of the heavenly host were also deceived by Satan, and disobeyed God (Rev. 12:4).  In Job 38:1-18, God gives a picture of the re-creation of the earth after the Fall, with the host of heaven (sons of God) witnessing this event (this is not the original creation – words used here are:  change, make, turn aside, darkness, and death).  In Isa. 14:12-19, God describes Satan’s prisoners as the “stones of the pit.”  In Ezek. 28:12-19, God describes Satan in Eden with the “stones of fire.”  In Ezek. 31, God describes Satan in Eden as a tree, along with all the other trees in Eden, some of which are cast into the “pit.”  We, just like Adam and Eve, are condemned to death on this earth (the wages of sin is death – Rom 6:23, John 3:18).  We, in fact, are all sinners, separated from God, and in reality, are now serving time as prisoners on this earth.  Whether we realize it or not, this life is a prison sentence to death, because of our sin against God. 

Our crime against God is serious.  Here on earth, we are all sentenced to serve time separated from God.  And, what is even worse, we are all sentenced to separation from God for all eternity.  This is our sentence.  But, some of us are looking to be bailed out!  In fact, many of us here have already been bailed out, and we are able to dwell with God once again.  God is with us when we are “born again” (John3:1-7).  We’re just waiting for the final judgment to come, so that we can return to God’s kingdom in Paradise. 

We may not see the similarity between jail and earth at first.  Jail is separation from society.  And, being born into this life here on earth is separation from God.  This earth, for the time being, is Satan’s domain (Job 1:7, 2 Corin. 4:4, 1 Jn 4:4), that is, until the day when Jesus returns to judge Satan, and all those who deny Jesus.  And, I believe, this is about to happen very soon now.  The end times are upon us.  For those who do not think we are in the end times, may I suggest that each of us is in our own personal end-time, because death is only a heartbeat away…tick,  tick, tick...... 

In Isa. 14:12-17, referring to Satan, God’s Word tells us that Satan doesn’t want his prisoners (those who were deceived and have fallen – Adam, Eve, Satan, and each of us – Rev. 12:4), to go home (back to God’s Kingdom).  We are prisoners here on earth, sentenced to die, separated from God.  Satan doesn’t want any of us to go back home to God’s kingdom -- Paradise. 

Jesus, in Luke 4:18-20, tells the world that He (Jesus, God in the flesh – Philip. 2:5-8, John 1:1-18), has come to proclaim freedom to the prisoners (the confined).  This piece of Scripture, that Jesus is reading, is a quote from Isa. 61:1-2.  Here, Luke tells us that Jesus read the first part of the quote, but did not finish the quote.  The whole quote is:  “He has come to proclaim freedom to the prisoners, and also the day of vengeance of God.”  Jesus came 2,000 years ago, and proclaimed freedom to the prisoners (freedom to all of us who will trust our lives to Him).  Jesus also tells us that He will return, very soon now, to bring justice to those who will not trust themselves to Him.  Those who do not love Jesus will remain separated. 

God loves us, and has predestined (Eph 1:4-5, 11), or set in place, a plan to save us, to reconcile with us, so that we can return home.  This plan requires that sin be removed from us, so that we can join together with God, once again.  God cannot dwell with sinful beings for all eternity.  So, some way to remove our sin is necessary, in order for us to be joined together with God. 

It is impossible for any of us to ever be good enough to remove our sin from ourselves.  We are sentenced to die, and remain separated from God.  Nothing I, or any other human can do, can make a way for me to live eternally with God.  No doctor or hospital can keep me from death, or restore me to God.  Therefore, only God can grant me eternal life, and reconciliation, back into His Paradise. 

Now, God could not just grant everyone a pardon, and accept our sin as o.k. (be tolerant, in other words).  God does not tolerate sin.  Therefore, He is not tolerant, as so many people seem to think He is, or think He should be.  God is not tolerant, and God does not ask us to be tolerant of sin either.  But, God is very, very, patient (longsuffering), waiting while we change (repent), and God expects us to be patient while other people change.  This is a very slow process, and requires much patience. 

Because God is just, we have been sentenced to death - separation (Gen. 2:17, 3:19).  This judgment must be carried out.  All will die (Heb. 9:27).  But, God loves us.  And, God has provided a way for our reconciliation, if we will trust in Jesus -- God in the flesh (Rom. 6:23, John 14:6).  

Only God is able to pay the price to do away with our sin.  But, God in heaven cannot somehow pay the price of death while in heaven, because God exists in heaven in an eternal state.  Therefore, He cannot die for us while in an eternal state.  We, on the other hand, are not gods.  We were all created by God.  Adam and Eve (even though they were created to be eternal and dwell with God, in Eden), were (after they disobeyed God and fell), given mortal flesh bodies, and banished to this fallen earth, and they eventually died.  We also have now been given these mortal flesh bodies, and have been born into this dying planet, to die ourselves.  We have been sentenced to death for our sins, just as Adam and Eve were. 

In order for our eternal God to be able to die (so as to pay for our sins), He had to leave His eternal place in heaven, and take on mortal flesh, just like us (Philip. 2:5-8, John 1:1-18, Heb. 2:9, Col. 2:8-9).  Just as Adam and Eve, all of us sinners must be born into this mortal flesh life to serve our sentence and die. Or, hopefully, find a relationship with God -- be reconciled -- be “born again” (John 3:4-7).  God wants us to live with Him in Paradise for all eternity, and has provided a plan to save us from eternal separation -- from isolation -- being alone in hell -- forever (Isa. 66:24, Dan. 12:2, Matt. 25:46, Heb. 6:1-2, 2 Thess. 1:9, Rev. 14:11, 20:10). 

God, in effect, is providing a “bail-out” plan for us.  This bail-out plan allows us to be restored to a relationship with God.  The Bible calls it being reconciled (joined back into a relationship with God, like we had in Eden).  So, for those who develop a relationship with God, we are like being bailed out -- restored to God, even though we still continue to live in this fallen world.   Is anyone is interested ?   Being bailed out of jail, is being allowed to go back into society, while still awaiting the judgment.  And, under God’s plan, those who trust their lives to Jesus (those who are “born again” as Jesus describes it in John 3:4-7), are essentially “bailed out” as we are restored to our relationship with God, while still awaiting the final judgment to come. 

God, having bailed out those of us who trust in Him, has also promised us forgiveness, and restoration to Paradise, for all eternity.  God tells us in John 6:37-40, that none who trust in Him will be lost.  The price to pay for our sins (to bail us out), has already been paid (paid by the death of Jesus – 2,000 years ago), and paid in full. 

God became flesh (only for a short period), for the purpose of dying to pay for the sins of all those who would trust in Him, so that we could be restored (reconciled), to God and His Kingdom for all eternity.  God did not have to do this.  But, this is how much God loves His creation.  God loves us enough to sacrifice for us.  And, it is a free gift (Eph. 2:8-9). 

Want to get bailed out of this life sentence of death ?  Trust in Christ  -- He has already paid for our release.   Want to remain in jail, and remain condemned to death, eternal separation, and isolation forever?     That’s easy……. just ignore God.                      Heb. 13:3