MEDIATING The NEW COVENANT-I—Hebrews 9:15-28
A. SECURITY Of CHRIST’s MEDIATION
Attention:
Lawyers rightly representing clients.
Need:
The author attributed sole Mediation of the New Covenant to Christ.
Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant/man’s redemption.
How/Why has Christ succeeded as Mediator of the New Covenant?
4 ways/reasons Christ has successfully secured the New Covenant.
1—Successful mediation of the New Covenant is secured by...
Christ’s DEATH(:15a)
Explanation: (:15a)
:15—“And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
For the above reason(:14), Christ is the sole Mediator of the New Covenant.
“Reason/Cause”—dia touto—=‘Thru this.’
“Mediator”—mesithv—1) One who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace & friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant; 2) A medium of communication, arbitrator. Strong—A go-between, i.e. (simply) An internunciator, or (by implication) A reconciler (intercessor). Used 6X.
The above reason being that the Christian’s conscience has been cleansed so that our so-called ‘service’ to God is no longer thru “dead works” but is thru true “service.” by reality rather than pretense.
This vital, life-giving Mediation of the New Covenant, was rightly affected via Jesus’ “death.”
“By means of death/Death having taken place/He has died”—yanatou genomenou—= ‘Death having taken place.‘ —yanatov—Strong—(properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively).—ginomai—Strong—To cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) To become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.).
Argumentation:
Isa. 53:4-12—“Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, & afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed & He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison & from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked-- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, & be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”
1Jn. 4:1-3—“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, & every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, & is now already in the world.”
Heb. 2:14-15—“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh & blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, & release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
1Pet. 3:18—“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,”
Rom. 5:6-8—“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Rom. 6:3-9—“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.”
Illustration:
1911 a horrific fire engulfed the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. in New York City/Most of the doors were locked/The fire escape collapsed under the weight of the young girls aged 13-23yrs. old/The elevators were too slow/Solidified occupational safety standards, support for labor unions, & creation of a fire prevention division/Death of these 146 brought about a change of law/Better Law/Enacts or secures a better way of approaching such future situations/Christ’s DEATH
Christ’s DEATH ensures your salvation...that you will never again have to be concerned about your own failure. Makes us realize we are indeed destitute spiritually without Him!
Application:
?The New Covenant been successfully mediated thru Christ’s DEATH?
?Do You have real questions about Jesus’ ability as the Mediator?
?Your Mediator Christ Jesus?
2—Successful mediation of the New Covenant is secured by...
Christ’s REDEMPTION(:15b)
Explanation: (:15b)
:15—“And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
Such a Divine death had to take place to redeem the “transgressions” which even God’s people had committed. They committed these transgressions while “under” the tutelage of(Gal. 3:23-24) the first covenant.
“Redemption/Ransom”—apolutrwsiv—1) A releasing effected by payment of ransom. Used 10X.
From—lutron—Strong—Something to loose with, i.e. a redemption price (figuratively, atonement).
“Transgressions/Sins committed”—parabasiv—1) A going over; 2) metaph. A disregarding, violating—2a) Of the Mosaic law, 2b) The breach of a definite, promulgated, ratified law, 2c) To create transgressions, i.e. that sins might take on the character of transgressions, & thereby the consciousness of sin be intensified & the desire for redemption be aroused. The passing beyond some assigned limit. It is the breaking of a distinctly recognized commandment. It consequently means more than amartia(“sin”—missing the mark). Strong—Violation. Used 7X.
From—parabainw—To go contrary to, i.e. violate a command.
“Covenant/Testament”—diayhkh—1)A disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid,the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, A testament or will; 2)A compact, covenant or testament. Strong—properly, A disposition, i.e. (specially) A contract (especially a devisory will).
See reference 8:6ff. comparing the Mosaic vs. New Covenants—“Better covenant.”
Argumentation:
Eph 1:7—“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
1Pet. 1:17-19—“.....conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish & without spot.”
Gal. 3:10-13—“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),”
Gal. 3:6-7—“just as Abraham “believed God, & it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”
Titus 2:11-14—“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness & worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, & godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope & glorious appearing of our great God & Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed & purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
Illustration:
Yesterday we went to the Bob Timberlake Gallery Showroom in Lexington/Article from Our State magazine about how he converted an old barn originally built in 1809 into his studio/The old barn had character & was nostalgic but it was completely missing its usefulness/It needed REDEMPTION
Application:
?The New Covenant been successfully mediated thru Christ’s REDEMPTION?
?Do You have real questions about Jesus’ ability as the Mediator?
?Your Mediator Christ Jesus?
3—Successful mediation of the New Covenant is secured by...
Christ’s CALL(:15c)
Explanation: (:15c)
:15—“And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant for the sake of the “called.”
The “called” are those who have been drawn by the Father....to approach him by faith.
This is the essential personal statement of the Christian doctrine of election. Has God chosen you? Are you faithful? Do you have saving faith?
Jn. 1:12-13—“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Jn. 6:44-45, 65—““No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; & I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard & learned from the Father comes to Me.”.....“And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.””
Are there unbelievers?—Most definitely!
Jn. 12:37-40—“But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes & hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts & turn, So that I should heal them.””
Argumentation:
2Pet. 1:5-10—“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, & to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours & abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, & has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call & election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;”
There is a separation between the “call” & “election.” All are called yet not all attain election(believer) status!
Rom. 9:22-26—“What if God, wanting to show His wrath & to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, & that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.””
1Cor. 1:9—“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Eph 4:4-6—“There is one body & one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God & Father of all, who is above all, & through all, & in you all.”
1Pet. 2:9-10—“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
Justification:
Rom. 8:28-30—“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; & whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
Rom. 3:20-26—“Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law & the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all & on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just & the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
1Cor. 6:9-11—“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus & by the Spirit of our God.”
Rom. 5:1-2, 8-9—“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, & rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”.....“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
Gal. 2:15-16—““We who are Jews by nature, & not sinners of the Gentiles, “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ & not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
Real Justification comes thru faith...that works!
Js. 2:20-26—“But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, & by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, & it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, & not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers & sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
If you have accepted that you are justified before God thru Christ, then you are indeed CALLed of God to His work!
Don’t think that James opposes Paul or vice-versa. Both are of the same conclusion. Justification is indeed by saving faith...And such a saving faith works!
Rom. 10:9-10—“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus & believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, & with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Illustration:
Freightliner is assembling a new line of trucks at the Cleveland plant/Contact you with news that they need your attitude & skill/They know you’re smart, you’d faithful to be on time & get the job done right/They know you are the perfect man for the doomaflotchy machine/BUT you have a choice...you can either 1)Answer the call, OR 2)say, ‘I’ve really got too many other things going now, Sorry but I can’t do it.’/Miss the opportunity to make your family very comfortable/Christ’s CALL
Application:
?The New Covenant been successfully mediated thru Christ’s CALL?
?Do You have real questions about Jesus’ ability as the Mediator?
?Your Mediator Christ Jesus?
4—Successful mediation of the New Covenant is secured by...
Christ’s INHERITANCE(:15d)
Explanation: (:15d)
:15—“And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
He has become Mediator of the new covenant so that the “called” may “receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
Argumentation:
Promise:
Jn. 3:3-7—“Jesus answered & said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb & be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water & the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, & that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
Acts 26:6-8—““And now I stand & am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night & day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?”
Gal. 3:18—“For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”
2Tim. 1:1—“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,”
Titus 1:1-2—“Paul, a bondservant of God & an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect & the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,”
1Jn. 2:23-25—“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son & in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life.”
1Jn. 5:10-12—“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, & this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Eternal Inheritance:
2Pet. 1:5-11—“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, & to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours & abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, & has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call & election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.”
Eph. 1:3-14—“Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy & without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom & prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven & which are on earth--in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Rom. 6:22-23—“But now having been set free from sin, & having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, & the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jn. 10:27-30—““My sheep hear My voice, & I know them, & they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, & they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; & no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. “I & My Father are one.””
Kingdom of God:
Present:
Rom. 14:17—“for the kingdom of God is not eating & drinking, but righteousness & peace & joy in the Holy Spirit.”
1Cor. 4:20—“For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.”
Future:
1Cor. 6:9-10—“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”
1Cor. 15:50—“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh & blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.”
Jn. 14:2-3—““In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go & prepare a place for you, I will come again & receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
*1Cor. 15:19—“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
Illustration:
Suppose...that you are the partial recipient of your rich uncle Bob’s estate/His estate includes many solvent businesses that are doing very well/You become partner’s with them & you never have to worry about being fired or where your next meal is coming from, or whether your children will be able to follow their dreams/An inheritance that changes your life for the better/Christ’s INHERITANCE
Application:
?The New Covenant been successfully mediated thru Christ’s INHERITANCE?
?Do You have real questions about Jesus’ ability as the Mediator?
?Your Mediator Christ Jesus?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
MEDIATING The NEW COVENANT-I—Hebrews 9:15-28
A. The SECURITY Of CHRIST’s MEDIATION
Successful mediation of the New Covenant is secured by...
1. Christ’s DEATH(:15a)
2. Christ’s REDEMPTION(:15b)
3. Christ’s CALL(:15c)
4. Christ’s INHERITANCE(:15d)
Presented 09/18/2011am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
