36. From Law To Grace Series

[IN GOD’S IMAGE 36 – FROM LAW TO GRACE]

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

Last time we looked at Jesus fulfilling and living up to the requirements of the Mosaic Covenant on behalf of Israel.

• But Jesus’ life and death was not meant only for the salvation of Israel. It was a sacrifice intended for the salvation of the whole world.

• You will remember from our discussion on the various covenants that although the Mosaic Covenant was terminated and replaced by the New Covenant, there was another covenant still in effect.

• This was the covenant God had made with Abraham.

• A key part of that covenant, was the promise made to Abraham that through his offspring, all nations of the earth would be blessed.

• Genesis 22:17-18 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

• Who was this offspring by whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed? Jesus Christ.

• Paul confirms this promise made to Abraham.

• Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

• This promise needs to be kept in mind as we examine the proceedings leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.

The choosing of the nation of Israel to be God’s special people was a blessing to the Israelites.

• God delivered the nation out of Egyptian slavery. He provided for them as He led them through the desert. And He gave them victory over the nations occupying the Promised Land.

• Had they obeyed God rather than being a stiff-necked and rebellious people, they would have continued to enjoy God’s blessings.

• However, being chosen as God’s special people also came with a burden.

• Not only did they have to remain obedient, a big ask for humans, but they also carried the burden of being “representative” of all nations.

• We have looked at this “representative” principle before in relation to the “first Adam” and the “second Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45, Romans 5:12-20).

• We also discussed how Israel preferred to maintain a distance between themselves and God when they asked Moses to go up on the mountain and communicate with God on their behalf (Exodus 20:19).

• The difficulty of this relationship was only intensified the closer a holy God tried to draw nearer to His people as it only magnified their sinfulness.

• The giving of the law for instance imposed an added burden on the people as it only magnified their sinfulness (Romans 7:7-9).

• But now with the incarnation, God came to dwell amongst them.

• And we see the terrible nature of man’s sin contrasted with the love and grace of God especially from the religious establishment as they plotted to kill the Son of God.

• Such is the deceitfulness and wickedness of the human heart that it blinded them from even recognising the Messiah in their very midst.

But this had to happen if God was to fulfil his promise to Abraham in bringing about salvation to both Israel and the world.

• Israel in the corporate sense is used by God to represent all the nations of the earth.

• It would not have made any difference which nation God chose, as all, because of our fallen evil nature, would have done exactly the same thing.

• But by choosing or electing Israel to be representative of a rebellious mankind under the judgment of God, it also enabled them to be included in the resulting grace of God in being complicit in the most hideous crime of putting the Son of God to death.

• It is no accident that in Jesus’ ordeal in leading up to the crucifixion, representatives of all humanity is implicated in the execution.