2010-09-24
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week the Holy Spirit led me to write about Christ’s body broken and blood shed for us to establish a new covenant in order to give us the chance to be saved. By coming to faith in Jesus Christ, we are adopted by God has His children [RO 8: 14-16]. I couldn’t help but mention the story of the suffering Servant depicted as long ago as David’s time [about 1010-970 BC] in PS 2: 6-9 and again by Isaiah in IS 53: 1-12 written about 300 years before Christ’s birth. That should give us some evidence of God’s plan being in place during OT times and even before. We also must remember the clear prophecy in JER 31: 31-34 of a new covenant, which was written some where during Jeremiah’s ministry in 627-582 BC. Now, let’s look at what the NT has to say about the fulfillment of this covenantal prophecy.
Our first encounter with the actual statement of God’s main task for His Son, Jesus Christ, comes in JN 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. But God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” We see into God’s heart-attitude here and His love for His human creation. He knows that we deserve to be condemned, but He wants to give us the chance to hear the truth, believe in Christ, and be saved with our faith and repentance of sin. In the story of Christ’s raising of Lazarus, he tells a distraught Martha that her brother will be raised in JN 11: 23, but reveals information that has to come as a great surprise. Listen to their conversation through verse 27 to see what I mean. “’Your brother will rise to life,’ Jesus told her.” “’I know,’ she replied, ‘that he will rise to life on the last Day.’” Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even through he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’” “’Yes, Lord!’ she answered. ‘I do believe that you are the messiah, the Son of God, Who was to come into the world.’” It would be easier for Christians with our modern conditioning to understand this now, but consider Martha, who is a product of traditional Judaism. Traditional Jews and others from non-Christian backgrounds have a much longer, more difficult spiritual road to travel in order to first understand the meaning of this with its tremendous ramifications. This is surely true more than for someone raised from birth in a Christian home.
We are to make the connection between: Messiah-new covenant-fulfillment through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. JN 14: 6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except though Me.” This statement surely was seen by some, especially those steeped in the rituals of traditional Judaism, as heresy! Others with more malleable hearts, hearts more open to the Holy Spirit, still had a lot to learn and come to believe in it. When Peter went before the Sanhedrin [Jewish Ruling Council] full of the Holy Spirit, he said, in AC 4: 10 -12, “Then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this [lame]man [who was healed] stands here before you completely well through the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth-Whom you crucified and Whom God raised from death. Jesus is the One of Who the Scripture [PS 118: 22] says, ‘The Stone that you the builders despised turned out to be the most important of all.’ Salvation is found through Him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.” Once Peter, John, and the formerly lame man left the Council room, the rabbis and teachers began discussing the matter. They asked, in AC 4: 16-17, “Everyone in Jerusalem knows that this extraordinary miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it. But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn these men never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus.” We all know what happened after that, but it’s interesting to see what kind of skepticism, concern about ostracism, and fear of loss of power was inherent in this approach by the members of the Sanhedrin. The spread of Christianity follows, once again demonstrating that God’s will shall be done!
The actual fulfillment of this Covenant of Grace [new covenant] begins with the Last Supper and Christ’s words in 1 COR 11: 23-25, “For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever, you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.’” Once again, we know that God’s will is carried out in the arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, sealing the new covenant [Covenant of Grace] in His blood. We hear from Paul, in RO 11: 25 and 33, some examples of God’s superior power, wisdom, and love. “There is a secret truth, my brothers, which I want you to know, for it will keep you from thinking how wise you are. It is that the stubbornness of the people of Israel is not permanent, but will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to God…How great are God’s riches! How deep are His wisdom and knowledge! Who can explain His decision? Who can understand His ways?”
PRAYER: O Lord, this walk through the blood-washed door with Passover first [EX 12: 1-42], being adopted by You as Your children [RO 8: 14-16], teaching about the Suffering Servant [PS 2: 6-9: IS 53: 1-12], prophecy of a new covenant to replace the old Covenant of the Law [JER 31: 31-34] let us know that You have always loved us so much that You have a plan in place to forgive our sins, both inherited and committed. Then, as we study the NT, we are able to see the fulfillment of Christ’s Atonement and the teaching surrounding this remarkable event that informs us of His significance to us. Christ is truly the Messiah for Whom both Jews and Gentiles alike have searched. It is why Paul was able to state, in RO 1: 16-17, “I have complete confidence in the Gospel; it is God’s power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles. For the Gospel reveals how God puts people right with Himself: it is through faith from beginning to end. As the Scripture [HB 2: 4] says, ‘The person who is put right with God through faith shall live.’” All over the Bible we find statements and events that demonstrate Your superior power, knowledge, wisdom, love, patience and compassion. We must open our eyes, our ears, our minds, and our hearts to Your Spirit, Who can dwell within those who truly believe in Christ and are willing to repent of their sins. Even the traditional Jews and present Gentile non-believers can walk through the blood-washed door that leads to faith. Here are some reasons we should understand, from Christ’s words in His Sermon on the Mount: MT 7: 7-8, “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to him, who knocks.” We understand that as believers we are called to witness to the truth of the Gospel, sharing how it impacts our lives [MT 28: 19-20]. This desire to bless us with faith comes from the Lord again, in REV 3: 20, “Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into his house and eat with Him, and he will eat with Me.” Dearest Abba, we thank and praise You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, for His great sacrifice on the cross, and for His most intimate moments with us on earth, particularly His presence and participation when we take communion. We pray in the mighty and holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: This precious message of Christ’s sacrificial love for us and God’s giving of the Covenant of Grace only begins with our coming to faith. Next week, we will begin to look at a new segment in this series, “Our Covenant,” called Heaven’s Very Gate with a view of our security in the covenant relationship. Don’t miss the underlying theme of this message, which is the many ways God demonstrates His love for every one of His human creation. His greatest desire is to bring as many humans to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Of course, many people will disappoint Him by choosing a lifestyle of sinfulness. Some will postpone salvation till the last part of their lives, causing God great frustration. But our God is so patient and loving that He tries everything righteous to bring people to Him. He tells us, in 1 JN 4 :4, “But you belong to God, my children, and have defeated the false prophets, because the Spirit Who is in you is more powerful than the spirit in those who belong to the world.” We also learn, in 2 PET 3: 9, “The Lord is not slow to do what He has promised, as some think. Instead, He is patient with you, because He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.” No matter how insignificant each of us thinks he is, the Lord wants all of us to be saved, blessed, given the Holy Spirit, be justified, and eternally forgiven. Not one person is rejected by Him until He has tried every righteous thing He can do, and that person has been given every chance available. Praise and thanks be to the Lord!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15