Now may the God of peace who brought up our
Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood
of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do his
will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:21,22)
Last week we looked at the first mention of the word "covenant" in
the Bible, specifically that given to Noah before the flood. This week we look
at the last Bible mention of the world "covenant" in the Book of
Hebrews to illustrate a few points.
First, Noah was not a Jew, but really the seed of mankind after the flood.
Through Noah all the peoples of the earth trace their ancestry. In this final
covenant mention, while stated in a book written to members of the early church
of Jewish extraction, we again have an application to all of God's people of
all generations. In the first instance, the covenant is the introduction to a
death sentence for sin. In its final form we see death as a transition into a
new life, a life of peace, and it is a benediction, it is finished.
Through the ensuing thousands of years, we see the same basic principles restated
many times and in many ways, but the same basic covenant remains. God is the
one who makes the covenant and it is God who keeps the covenant. In the first
issuance, the Word is given as a man and his family, while they and a boat full
of animals are saved through a watery funeral for the rest of terrestrial life
on this earth. The New Testament word for covenant is really testament or will,
such as "Last Will and Testament." This is the world of the Christ
who died for sins he didn't commit, whose "will" we are apportioned
as heirs. The Bible is divided into what we call the Old and the New
Testaments. We do not divide it into the first and the second testaments,
because that would, or could imply that there could be a third or a forth
testament. We have a first Adam who sinned and the Last Adam who was without
sin, but who took our sin, suffering that death destined for us. (1 Corinthians
15:20-24; 42-49)
Notice the reference to the God of peace, who through all the violence of
death brings about peace. Notice it is not a peace of annihilation, or
nothingness. It is a peace of life. We use the Hebrew word "shalom"
for peace but here it is the Greek, "eirene" (i-ray-nay), which
probably comes from the verb "eiro" (to join). So we see through
these covenants that through death, God again joins mankind in peace, through
Jesus Christ. This is where the use of a translation that uses the term
propitiation is important. Because propitiation again underlies the covenant
between two parties. This time it is God the Father who accepts the sacrifice
of is only Son as propitiation, for the sin of mankind. The sin of you and me.
Atonement doesn't necessarily convey that relationship, but is more a statement
of fact.
If the God of peace raised Jesus from the dead, what is there for us to fear
in death? Just as important in this context, what is there that we have to fear
in this life? I say again, what is there that we have to fear in this life?
Fears in this life are brought about as we, as mentioned last week, attempt to
bring God down to a size we can comprehend. As has been said many times and in
many ways. "Your God is too small!"
In the Old Testament era it was the blood of an innocent lamb that was used
to cover the sins of the person bringing the sacrifice to be burned on the
altar. This foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who's blood sacrifice
through that propitiation again, takes away my sin. In Christ I am a sinless
creation. It is not as "just as if I had never sinned" for that
denotes a previous state. In Christ I am a new creature, a new creation and the
old has passed away forever. When we understand that this whole covenant
system, taking place in time and space over thousands of years, is all pointing
toward my reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ, then and only then can I
begin to comprehend the blessings available to me and everyone else through
God's love.
This Jewish religion of the Old Testament was based upon the sinner being
aware of his sin and offering an acceptable sacrifice to cover that sin. The
religion of the New Testament is based upon the sinner being aware of his sin
and realizing that there is no offering or sacrifice he can bring that will
remove the blot of sin. That removal can only come through faith in Jesus Christ,
the lamb of God who takes away my sin. In Christ, I was made in the likeness of
the lamb, but I am expected to grow up to be a sheep of the Great Shepherd, not
to forever remain a lamb. For you see by trying to remain a lamb, we substitute
a foreign righteousness, that of an actual lamb (in this case self-righteous
self) in turn (again as last week) trying to promote ourselves into heaven.
We see then that our ultimate good work is to by faith alone, by grace alone
to trust in Christ alone for our salvation. How do we do that? In my opinion,
it is not like some on the religious right, and others elsewhere who would like
us to createa lamb sanctuary here on earth. This type of New Jerusalem is
really focusing on our understanding of it, and not on the sufficiency of
Christ. The evidence of this new covenant is in our willingness to for sake the
cloister, or lamb city, to walk toward an eternal city, a builder which is God
himself. That was the journey of Pilgrim's progress in Bunyan's book and is to
be our pilgrim's progress also.
The first deposit of that journey being accomplished is the indwelling of
the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit
is probably the most divisive issue in the church today. These little
paragraphs will not alleviate that problem, but hopefully will give a time for
reflection upon the work of the Comforter (the bringer of peace). First it is
the Holy Spirit that allows us the inward witness of salvation. That goes
beyond the mental assent, that many believe. It however, is connected to that
understanding of our mental capacity, because we cannot forever remain an
innocent lamb, but we must continue to grow into a sheep and eventually in the
likeness of the Great Shepherd himself.
Secondly, He provides the grace and the faith required to not only believe
on Jesus Christ for salvation, but we also must move beyond that, into every
good work as mentioned in our passage. Those steps are in cooperation with His
leading. Are those works without sin? Not in this life, but in Christ they are
made Holy. Again, in Christ they are made Holy. Therefore instead of not
trusting in Christ's Holiness, I can "quench the Spirit" by trying to
make sure I make my life Holy before I come to God. This can be done through emotional
or mental exercise. All move me closer or into myself and away from God. But as
Paul said, "Not that I have already
attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that
for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren. I do not count
myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians
3:12-14)
In Christ Jesus is our salvation and our calling, to proclaim the Good News
to be found only in Him, through our unique eternal personality in works
preordained for us to do. There can be no greater peace in this life than
knowing that we are somewhere along that trail, either camped for a season, or
walking forward. It is not a race to get there first, but a journey that takes
a lifetime. Amen.
This week I have a court case that has been pending over a traffic incident
that took place more than three and a half years ago. To know that it will soon
be finished adds a peace to my soul. Consequently, this weeks message is
shorter than normal. Praise God! I hope to continue to keep these shorter and
more focused upon the word of God. But that freedom that this is what and where
I am supposed to be is a great gift. Short term cash flow continues to be a
problem especially as it is the first of a new month. Please pray for those
funds. As far further development along this path is concerned, I believe the
key is the fostering of the growth of individuals into personalties to serve an
end greater than themselves. That ultimately is in the Good News of Jesus
Christ, as you all understand, but just how to get others to think outside the
box of there own self interest is always the challenge. That is why the workers
are always so few. Guidance on how that meets this pathway I find complex
beyond my understanding. Please pray for the wisdom required.
This week for our Benediction, please read again the Hebrews conventual gift
above.