MEDIATING The NEW COVENANT-II—Hebrews 9:15-28
A. SECURITY Of CHRIST’s MEDIATION
*B. The DEATH Of The UNDERWRITER
Attention:
Many Government promises are Underwritten with nothing more valuable than the paper they are written on!
Establishment of a private charitable foundation which outlives us by many years.
“A foundation (also a charitable foundation) is a legal categorization of non-profit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes.”—Wikipedia
[source Wikipedia]The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation(Gates Foundation)— “it must donate at least 5% of its assets each year. Thus the donations from the foundation each year would amount to over $1.5 billion at a minimum.”
1. Core Operations
2. Global Health Program
3. Global Development Program
4. United States Program
GHP—“The approximately US$800 million that the foundation gives every year for global health approaches the annual budget of the United Nations World Health Organization (193 nations) and is comparable to the funds given to fight infectious disease by the US Agency for International Development. The Foundation currently provides 17% ($86 million in 2006) of the world budget for the attempted eradication of poliomyelitis(polio).
The author attributed sole Mediation of the New Covenant to Christ.
Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant & thus man’s redemption.
How/Why has Christ succeeded as Mediator of the New Covenant?
Ways/reasons Christ has successfully navigated the New Covenant.
Previously in Hebrews we discovered that the Successful mediation of the New Covenant is secured by...
A. SECURITY Of CHRIST’s MEDIATION
Today we will find that the Successful mediation of the New Covenant is secured by...
B. The DEATH Of The UNDERWRITER(:16-28):
The Mediation of the New Covenant is Underwritten with Superior things...
1—Mediation of the New Covenant is underwritten with a...
Superior FORCE/Blood/Sacrifice(:16-23)
Explanation: (:16-23)
:16—“For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”
:17—“For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.”
Wherever there exists a covenant(will/“testament”), in order for it to be legally enacted or put into effect, the one who has drawn it up must die prior to its enactment. It is a will which dispenses one’s holdings according to the will of the desceased. No “testament”/covenant/will is valid or becomes active while men[those who willed it] are alive.
There is no “power” in such a testament while the “testator” is living. Its intention is to be put into force at death.
Some might say this is an invalid argument since Jesus is indeed alive. However the point in this is that He literally died putting the ‘will,’ as it were, into effect. There is no provision among men regarding resurrection because Jesus’ resurrection is a unique one-time for all-time event.
“Testament/Covenant/Will”—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, a covenant, a testament—2a) God’s covenant with Noah, etc. Strong—properly, A disposition, i.e. (specially) A contract (especially a devisory will).
“Necessity”—anagkh—1) Necessity, imposed either by the circumstances, or by law of duty regarding to one’s advantage, custom, argument; 2) Calamity, distress, straits. Strong—Constraint (literally or figuratively); by implication, Distress.
“Testator/One who made it”—diatiyemai—V.—1) To arrange, dispose of, one’s own affairs—1a) Of something that belongs to one, 1b) To dispose of by will, make a testament; 2) To make a covenant, enter into a covenant, with one. Strong—To put apart, i.e. (figuratively) Dispose (by assignment, compact, or bequest). Used 7X.
From—dia—&—tiyhmi—= ‘Thru placing.’
“Force/Valid”—bebaiov—Adj.—1) Stable, fast, firm; 2) metaph. Sure, trusty. Strong—from the base of basiv (through the idea of basality); Stable (literally or figuratively). Used 9X.
“Power/Strength/Force”—iscuw—1) To be strong—1a) To be strong in body, to be robust, to be in sound health; 2) To have power. Strong—To have (or exercise) force (literally or figuratively).
“Lives”—zaw—Strong—a primary verb; To live (literally or figuratively).
:18—“Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.”
As in the example of a last will & testament, so even the “first”(old) testament could be enforced “without blood,” that is, without a death. It was put in force thru the death of an innocent animal which was unable to fully satisfy the demands of the testament.
The law itself made no difference if it was not put into effect! The means of putting that into effect was the death of an animal(although a dissimilar & thus temporary substitute).
“Dedicated/Inaugurate/Put into effect”—egkainizw—1) To renew; 2) To do anew, again; 3) To initiate, consecrate, dedication. Strong—To renew, i.e. Inaugurate.
:19—“For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves & goats, with water, scarlet wool, & hyssop, & sprinkled both the book itself & all the people,”
:20—“saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.””
The above precept is clearly seen in Moses’ sprinkling “the book” & “the people” with the blood of calves & goats. These actions are stated thru ...
Ex. 24:7-8—“Then he took the Book of the Covenant & read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has said we will do, & be obedient.” And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, & said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.””
Ps. 51:7—“Purge me with hyssop, & I shall be clean; Wash me, & I shall be whiter than snow.”
“the book of the testament or covenant. This sprinkling of the book is not mentioned in the twenty-fourth chapter of Exodus.”....“Paul, by inspiration, supplies the particular specified here, not in Ex 24:7. The sprinkling of the roll (so the Greek for "book") of the covenant, or testament, as well as of the people, implies that neither can the law be fulfilled, nor the people be purged from their sins, save by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ (1Pet 1:2).”—JFB
“The Greek "diathece" means both "testament" & "covenant": the term "covenant" better suits the old dispensation, though the idea testament is included, for the old was one in its typical relation to the new dispensation, to which the term "testament" is better suited. Christ has sealed the testament with His blood, of which the Lord’s Supper is the sacramental sign. The testator was represented by the animals slain in the old dispensation. In both dispensations the inheritance was bequeathed: in the new by One who has come in person & died; in the old by the same one, only typically & ceremonially present.”—JFB
Jesus brought this connection to the forefront as He related His blood was a necessary prerequisite to the initiation of the new covenant—
Mk. 14:24—“And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.”
Mat. 26:28—““For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
“Precept/commandment”—entolh—1) An order, command, charge, precept, injunction—1a) That which is prescribed to one by reason of his office; 2) A commandment. entolh is more specific[than nomov], being used of a particular command. Strong–Injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.
“Law”—nomov—1) Anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command. Strong—from a primary nemw(to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); Law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (Regulation), specifically (of Moses [including the volume]; also of the Gospel), or figuratively (A principle).
“Calves”—moscov—1) A tender juicy shoot—1a) a sprout, of a plant or tree; 2) Offspring—2a) of men: A boy or a girl, esp. if fresh & delicate, 2b) of animals: A young one; 3) A calf, a bullock, a heifer. Used 6X.
“Goats”—tragov—1) Male goat.
“Scarlet”—kokkinov—1) Crimson, scarlet colored. A kernel, the grain or berry of the "ilex coccifera"; these berries are the clusters of the eggs of a female insect, the "kermes"(resembling the cochineal), & when collected & pulverised produces a red which was used in dyeing (Pliny); 2) Scarlet cloth or clothing.
“Wool”—erion—Wool. Used 2X.
“Sprinkled”—rantizw—1) To sprinkle; 2) To cleanse by sprinkling, hence to purify, cleanse. Strong—To render besprinkled, i.e. Asperse (ceremonially or figuratively). Used 4X.
:21—“Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle & all the vessels of the ministry.”
Everything about the tabernacle & its “ministry” utensils was cleansed by sprinkling with blood.
“Likewise/Moreover/In the same way”—omoiwv—1) Likewise, equally, in the same way.
“Vessels/Everything used”—skeuov—1) A vessel; 2) An implement—2a) in the plural—2a1) Household utensils, domestic gear, 2a2) The tackle & armament of vessels, used specifically of sails & ropes; 3) metaph.—3a) A man of quality, a chosen instrument, 3b) in a bad sense, An assistant in accomplishing an evil deed. Strong—A vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively [specifically, a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband]).
"Vessel" was a common Greek metaphor for "body" since Greeks thought of souls living temporarily in bodies.
“Ministry/Ceremonies”—leitourgia—1) A public office which a citizen undertakes to administer at his own expense; 2) Any service; 3) Biblical usage—3a) A service or ministry of the priests relative to the prayers & sacrifices offered to God, 3b) A gift or benefaction for the relief of the needy. Used 6X.
:22—“And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, & without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
In fact, by the very “law” of God to Moses for Israel, very nearly most everything was purified using the blood of animals. It was by blood that an object’s impurities were covered(though incompletely) & thereby allowed.
Mat. 26:28—““For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
The above is true because, as stated earlier in his premise(:12-15), the author declared the blood of Jesus to have enabled & made available eternal redemption for all mankind.
Thus there is no such thing as pardon from God’s hand in the absence of “shedding of blood.” There absolutely must be the “shedding of blood” in God’s scheme of forgiveness & salvation. This is because the life is in the blood:
Gen. 9:4—““But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.”
Lev. 17:10-14—“‘And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, & will cut him off from among his people. ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, & I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ “Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’ “Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts & catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood & cover it with dust; “for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.’”
“Almost/Nearly”—scedon—Adv.—1) Near, hard by; 2) Well nigh, nearly, almost.
“Purified/Purged/Cleansed”—kayarizw—1) To make clean, cleanse; 2) To pronounce clean in a levitical sense. Strong—To cleanse (literally or figuratively).
“Shedding of blood”—aimatekcusia—N. f.—1) Shedding of blood. Strong—An effusion of blood. Used 1X.
“Remission/Forgiveness”—afesiv—1) Release from bondage or imprisonment; 2) Forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty. Strong—Freedom; (figuratively) Pardon.
From—afihmi—to send forth, in various applications.
:23—“Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.””
Seeing as almost all things(of the ritual/ceremonial worship) are purified with blood(:22), then their purification of these “copies” speaks to “the heavenly things themselves.” Thus the “heavenly” originals are to be purified with “better sacrifices.”
Heb. 8:4-6—“For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy & shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”
This is the focal point of 9:13—10:18....The Superior Force with which the New Covenant is underwritten!
“Copies/Patterns”—upodeigma—1) A sign suggestive of anything, delineation of a thing, representation, figure, copy; 2) An example: for imitation—2a) Of the thing to be imitated, 2b) for a warning, Of a thing to be shunned. Strong—An exhibit for imitation or warning (figuratively, Specimen, adumbration). Used 6X.
“Heavens/Heavenly”—ouranov—1) The vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it—1a) The universe, the world, 1b) The aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds & the tempests gather, & where thunder & lightning are produced, 1c) The sidereal or starry heavens; 2) The region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal & consummately perfect where God dwells & other heavenly beings. Strong—perhaps from the same as orov (through the idea of elevation); The sky; by extension, Heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, Happiness, power, eternity; specifically, The Gospel (Christianity).
“Heavenly”—epouraniov—1) Existing in heaven—1a) Things that take place in heaven, 1b) The heavenly regions, 1c) The heavenly temple or sanctuary; 2) Of heavenly origin or nature. Strong—Above the sky.
“Better”—kreittwn—Adj.—1) More useful, more serviceable, more advantageous; 2) More excellent. Strong—comparative of a derivative of kratov; Stronger, i.e. (figuratively) Better, i.e. Nobler.
“Sacrifices”—yusia—Strong—Sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively).
Argumentation:
Col. 2:8-19—“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy & empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, & not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; & you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality & power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses & the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities & powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility & worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, & not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished & knit together by joints & ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”
1Pet. 1:17-19—“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, 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.”
Rev. 5:7-9—“Then He came & took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures & the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, & golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe & tongue & people & nation,”
Mat. 26:27-28—“Then He took the cup, & gave thanks, & gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Illustration:
Fatal disease: Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease(SCID)./It arises from a single malfunctioning gene(genetically inherited) that results in a defective enzyme, adenosine deaminase (ADA). To cure the patients(at least in theory), a sample of marrow cells must be removed from their bodies, a virus is used to “upgrade” the cells with working copies of the gene, & then the cells are injected back into the patients’ bodies. After taking residence in the body these enhanced marrow cells were able to proliferate within the patients & supplant the original malfunctioning immune system with a functioning one/Superior FORCE/Blood/Sacrifice
Hymn: ‘POWER In The BLOOD’
Would you be free from the burden of sin? There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; Would you o’er evil a victory win? There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
Refrain: There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r In the blood of the Lamb; There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Would you be free from your passion & pride? There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide; There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow? There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow; There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
Would you do service for Jesus your King? There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; Would you live daily His praises to sing? There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
Application:
?Your Covenant with God Underwritten with a Superior FORCE?
?Your Covenant with God underwritten with Superior things?
2—Mediation of the New Covenant is underwritten with a...
Superior PRESENCE(:24)
Explanation: (:24)
:24—“For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;”
The “better sacrifices” of :23 are had/centered in “Christ’s” having “entered” “into heaven itself.” His ministry was not to the “copies” but to the “true” heavenly original.
Note the plural regarding “holy places.” This refers to both the Holy Place & the Most Holy Place,” of the first & second parts of the tabernacle(:2-7).
Having done thus, Christ now “appears” in God’s very presence. There He ministers “for us” believers.
“Made with hands”—ceiropoihtov—1) Made by the hands i.e the skill of men. Strong—Manufactured, i.e. Of human construction. Used 6X.
“True”—alhyinov—1) That which has not only the name & resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine; 2) True, veracious, sincere. Strong—Truthful.
“Appear”(See :26—fanerow)—emfanizw—V.—1) To manifest, exhibit to view; 2) To show one’s self, come to view, appear, be manifest; 3) To indicate, disclose, declare, make known. To manifest to the sight, make visible. Strong—To exhibit (in person) or Disclose (by words). Used 10X.
“Presence”—proswpon—Strong—The front (as being towards view), i.e. The countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, Presence, person.
“For”—uper—Prep.—Genitive—1) In behalf of, for the sake of; 2) Over, beyond, more than; 3) More, beyond, over. Strong—a primary preposition; "Over", i.e. (with the genitive case) Of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, For the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case Superior to, more than.
Argumentation:
Heb 9:11—“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater & more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.”
Heb 1:1-4—“God, who at various times & in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory & the express image of His person, & upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
So why do people worship angels, demons & idols when God speaks thru His Son, Jesus who is the Christ?
Heb. 12:1 -2—“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, & the sin which so easily ensnares us, & let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author & finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, & has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Mk. 16:19—“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, & sat down at the right hand of God.”
Jn. 16:28—““I came forth from the Father & have come into the world. Again, I leave the world & go to the Father.””
Eph 1:15-23—“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus & your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom & revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, & what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead & seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality & power & might & dominion, & every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, & gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
1Pet. 3:21-22—“There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven & is at the right hand of God, angels & authorities & powers having been made subject to Him.”
Heb 7:25—“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
1Jn. 2:1—“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
Illustration:
Sam’s Jeep Cherokee/Its been Cut down, Added to, & Abused/The abuse resulted in the battery continually going dead overnight!/We took it to 2 mechanics/The 2nd one found a short in the door locking mechanism which was draining the battery/Superior PRESENCE
An Ambassador is representative of our Govt./His-Her job is made effective only in the PRESENCE of the one with which our govt. is at odds or has an interest/Being seen & Having actual conversations/Superior PRESENCE
We had trouble with ?a medical bill? recently/My wife did the calling/She demanded to speak with a person rather than an answering machine or go online/Adds a whole other dimension to eradicating the problem, making it profoundly better/Superior PRESENCE
Application:
?Your Covenant with God Underwritten with a Superior PRESENCE?
?Your Covenant with God underwritten with Superior things?
3—Mediation of the New Covenant is underwritten with a...
Superior ANNULMENT(:25-26)
Explanation: (:25-26)
:25—“not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another--”
:26—“He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.””
Since His ministry is now in heaven, Christ does not have to offer Himself as would the high priest(offering blood for his own sins) of the earthly copies on the Day of Atonement, continually year by year.
Thereby He also does not offer “the blood of another.” And if Christ did(follow in the action of the earthly high priesthood), then He “would have had to suffer often” or rather, over & over again. And He would have had to do this since the very beginning of creation(“foundation of the world”) itself.
This is because even if Christ Himself were to offer such a sacrifice—“of another”— it would remain inconsequential as the “blood” offered would not have been His own Divine atoning blood.
One can deduce from the use of “often” rather than daily that the author is referring to the High Priest’s ministry on the Day of Atonement.
However, for us (today/“now”) Christ has indeed in these last consummating days(“at the end of the ages”) come to be done with “sin” by means of “the [perfect]sacrifice of Himself.” He only needed to offer Himself “once” to accomplish such “putting away” of “sin.”
“Offer”(See :7, 9, 14, 28)—prosferw—1) To bring to, lead to; 2) To be borne towards one, to attack, assail. Strong—To bear towards, i.e. Lead to, tender (especially to God), Treat.
“Often/Again & again”2X—pollakiv—Adv.—1) Often, frequently. Strong—multiplicative adverb from poluv; Many times, i.e. Frequently.
“Another/Not his own”—allotriov—1) Belonging to another; 2) Foreign, strange, not of one’s own family, alien, an enemy. Strong—Another’s, i.e. Not one’s own; by extension Foreign, not akin, hostile.
“Suffer”—pascw—1) To be affected or have been affected, to feel, have a sensible experience, to undergo. Strong—To experience a sensation or impression (usually painful).
“Foundation/Creation”—katabolh—1) A throwing or laying down; 2) A founding (laying down a foundation). Strong—A deposition, i.e. Founding; figuratively, Conception.
“World”—kosmov—Strong—Orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, The world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]). Thayer—kosmov has very frequently an unfavorable meaning, denoting the inhabitants of the world, mankind in general, as opposed to God. See Eph 2:2, where both words occur together.
“Once”(See :27, 28)—apax—Adv.—1) Once, one time; 2) Once for all. Strong—One (or a single) time (numerically or conclusively).
“End/Consummation”—sunteleia—1) Completion, consummation, end. Strong—Entire completion, i.e. consummation (of a dispensation).
“Ages/World”—aiwn—1) For ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity; 2) The worlds, universe; 3) Period of time, age. Aiwn is usually better expressed by age, it is the world at a given time, a particular period in the world’s history. An exceptional meaning for the plural of aiwn is found in Heb 1:2 11:3, where it denotes the worlds, apparently in reference to space rather than time. Strong—properly, An age; by extension, Perpetuity (also past); by implication, The world; specially (Jewish) A Messianic period (present or future).
“Appeared/Manifested”(See :24— emfanizw)—fanerow—V.—1) To make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way. Manifest, as opp. to what is concealed & invisible. Strong—To render apparent (literally or figuratively).
“Put away/Do away with”—ayethsiv—1) Abolition, disannulling, put away, rejection. Strong—Cancellation (literally or figuratively). Used 2X.
“Sin”(See :28)—amartia—Amartia meant originally the missing of a mark. When applied to moral things the idea is similar, it is missing the true end of life, & so it is used as a general term for sin. It means both the act of sinning & the result, the sin itself. Strong—A sin (properly abstract).
Argumentation:
Appeared:
Jn. 1:1-11, 12-13, 14-18—“In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God, & the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, & without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, & the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, & the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, & the world was made through Him, & the world did not know Him. He came to His own, & His own did not receive Him. 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. And the Word became flesh & dwelt among us, & we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace & truth. John bore witness of Him & cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” And of His fullness we have all received, & grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace & truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
Gave Himself:
Lev. 16:21-22—““Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, & all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, & shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; & he shall release the goat in the wilderness.”
Php. 2:4-11—“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, & coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself & became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him & given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, & of those on earth, & of those under the earth, & that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Ga 1:3-5—“Grace to you & peace from God the Father & our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God & Father, to whom be glory forever & ever. Amen.”
Put Away Sin:
Isa. 53:4-6, 11-12—“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 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.”
2Cor. 5:21—“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Gal. 3:13-14—“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”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Eph 5:2—“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us & given Himself for us, an offering & a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
1Jn. 2:2—“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, & not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
1Pet. 2:21-25—“For to this[suffer for doing good] you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd & Overseer of your souls.”
1Jn. 3:5-6—“And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, & in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.”
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.”
Rom. 8:1-10—“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin & death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life & peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
Illustration:
Song: Written 1739(@32 yrs.), by Charles Wesley on the anniversary of his conversion to Christ—‘O For A THOUSAND TONGUES To SING’
He[Christ] breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.
When I was a kid we lived at 305 Brookwood Dr. in Granite Quarry/We had a septic tank at the bottom of our lot/It was always bubbling up in the yard/Daddy always complained about it/Then the city of Granite Quarry installed a sewer system!/Daddy was elated!...No more nasty sewage problem!/Superior ANNULMENT
Application:
?Your Covenant with God Underwritten with a Superior ANNULMENT?
?Your Covenant with God underwritten with Superior things?
4—Mediation of the New Covenant is underwritten with a...
Superior APPOINTMENT(:27-28)
Explanation: (:27-28) The better appointment is to Salvation
:27—“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”
To further enforce the once-for-all sin-annulling magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice of Himself, the author now states the importance of personally accepting that sacrifice.
Which is....No matter what men may do or say or what energies they may invest in whatever project big or small, they must all face the fact that God has reserved a time for them to “die.” This one-time “appointment” is not to be denied because in the aftermath of death there immediately comes the judicial determination of one’s future. Thereby physical determination in death coincides/is concurrent with spiritual determination. There is One who judges & all has been assigned to Christ Jesus(Mat. 28:18; Jn. 3:35; Jn. 5:26-27).
There is a judgment for each individual(after the cross) which occurs at the time of one’s death. However there is also the final ‘Great White Throne’ judgment(Rev. 20:11-15) of all people of all time at the end of all things. This is just prior to the descent of the new heaven & new earth(Rev. 21:1ff.).
Mat. 28:18—“And Jesus came & spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven & on earth.”
Jn. 3:35—““The Father loves the Son, & has given all things into His hand.”
Jn. 5:26-27—““For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, “& has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.”
“Appointed/Destined”—apokeimai—1) To be laid away, laid by, reserved; 2) Reserved for one, awaiting him. Strong–To be reserved; figuratively, to await. Used 4X.
“Die”—apoynhskw—To die. Strong—To die off (literally or figuratively).
“Once”(See :26, 28)—apax—Adv.—1) Once, one time; 2) Once for all. Strong—One (or a single) time (numerically or conclusively).
“After”—meta—Prep.—1) With, after, behind.
“Judgment”—krisiv—1) A separating, sundering, separation—1a) A trial, contest; 2) Selection; 3) Judgment—3a) Opinion or decision given concerning anything—3a1) esp. Concerning justice & injustice, right or wrong, 3b) Sentence of condemnation, damnatory judgment, condemnation & punishment; 4) The college of judges (a tribunal of seven men in the several cities of Palestine; as distinguished from the Sanhedrin, which had its seat at Jerusalem); 5) Right, justice. Strong—Decision (subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension, A tribunal.
:28—“so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.””
Thereby, Christ Himself “was offered”(done intentionally as are ceremonial sacrifices) only “once” but thru His perfect sacrifice of His own blood, “the sins of many” were judged & borne to the grave, thereby effectively & decisively doing away with the condemnation they once harbored for us.
Who offered Christ? This is a subtle indication that it was the plan of God to offer His Son for the sin(s) of the world.
The “sins of many” are borne because not all will accept Christ’s sacrifice for themselves. For those outside of the “many,” the personal condemnation of one’s own sins remain unmet/unpropitiated/unatoned for.
Lev. 5:17—““If a person sins, & commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty & shall bear his iniquity.”
1Cor. 15:16-19—“For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
Jn. 8:21, 24—“Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, & you will seek Me, & will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.””.....““Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.””
Jn. 9:39-41—“And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, & that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, & said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”
Acts 13:38-39—““Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; “& by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
There are those people who, having accepted Christ’s bearing of their sins before God, “eagerly wait for Him.” These are the blood-bought sons of God. They are the saved. Those who have been called out of darkness to reside in His glorious light.
To these who wait Christ Jesus will indeed “appear” again for a 2nd time. However His 2nd coming will be with a different purpose. This is foundational Christian doctrine.
Having dealt decisively with “sin” by His 1st appearance via the cross & resurrection, He will thereby return without having to accomplish the same thing again regarding to sin....“not to bear sin”—NIV.
Jesus’ 2nd coming will occur with regard to finalizing the “salvation” of the sealed/promised/guaranteed saved elect.
1Cor. 15:49-58 —And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh & blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, & the dead will be raised incorruptible, & we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, & this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, & this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”[Isa. 25:8] “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, & the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Acts 1:10-11—“And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.””
There are both present & future aspects to salvation.
*1Jn. 3:2-3—“Beloved, now we are children of God; & it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
Col. 1:9-14—“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, & to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom & spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work & increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience & longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness & conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
Rom. 8:16-25—“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, & if children, then heirs--heirs of God & joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans & labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
“Offered/Sacrificed”(See :7, 9, 14, 25)—prosferw—1) To bring to, lead to; 2) To be borne towards one, to attack, assail. Strong—To bear towards, i.e. Lead to, tender (especially to God), Treat.
“Bear/Take away”—anaferw—V.—1) To carry or bring up, to lead up—1a) Men to a higher place; 2) To put upon the altar, to bring to the altar, to offer; 3) To lift up one’s self, to take upon one’s self.
“Sin”(See :26)—amartia—Amartia meant originally the missing of a mark. When applied to moral things the idea is similar, it is missing the true end of life, & so it is used as a general term for sin. It means both the act of sinning & the result, the sin itself. Strong—A sin (properly abstract).
“Eagerly wait/Look for/Waiting”—apekdecomai—1) Assiduously & patiently waiting for. To expect fully. Used 7X.
“Appear”—optanomai—1) To look at, behold; 2) To allow one’s self to be seen, to appear. Strong—To gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable.
“Second Time”—ek deuterou...ofyhsetai—Adj.— Christ will ‘Appear a second’ or ‘secondly.’ No specific word for “time” as translated.
“Apart from/Not to bear”—cwriv—Adv.—1) Separate, apart—1a) Without any, 1b) Besides. Strong—At a space, i.e. Separately or apart from (often as preposition).
“Salvation”—swthria—1) Deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation—1a) Deliverance from the molestation of enemies, 1b) in an ethical sense, That which concludes to the souls safety or salvation—1b1) Of Messianic salvation; 2) Salvation as the present possession of all true Christians; 3) Future salvation, the sum of benefits & blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated & eternal kingdom of God. Strong—Rescue or safety (physically or morally).
Argumentation:
2Sam. 14:14—““For we will surely die & become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.”
Eccl. 12:13-14—“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God & keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”
Mat. 12:35-37—““A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, & an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, & by your words you will be condemned.””
Mat. 25:32-36, 41-46 ““All the nations will be gathered before Him, & He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ‘for I was hungry & you gave Me food; I was thirsty & you gave Me drink; I was a stranger & you took Me in; ‘I was naked & you clothed Me; I was sick & you visited Me; I was in prison & you came to Me.’”.....““Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil & his angels: ‘for I was hungry & you gave Me no food; I was thirsty & you gave Me no drink; ‘I was a stranger & you did not take Me in, naked & you did not clothe Me, sick & in prison & you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, & did not minister to You?’ “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””
Acts 17:29-31—““Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art & man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man[Jesus] whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.””
Rom. 14:10-12—“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”
2Cor. 5:9-10—“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
Rev. 20:11-15—“Then I saw a great white throne & Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth & the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small & great, standing before God, & books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, & Death & Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death & Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Illustration:
Something Not appointed for my judgment
My neighbor’s dog, ‘Mattie’—an imposing cross between a pit bull & a labrador/Approaches our house with tail wagging/She does not eat our dog, ‘Little Bit’(Yorkie mix)/We are always nice to Mattie because she is the best natured dog I know/She is fit to live around us/Mattie has a Superior APPOINTMENT
Likewise Christians have a Superior APPOINTMENT to those without Christ!
Application:
?Your Covenant with God Underwritten with a Superior APPOINTMENT?
?Your Covenant with God underwritten with Superior things?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Action:
Mediation of the New Covenant is underwritten with a Superior...
1. FORCE/Blood/Sacrifice(:16-23)
2. PRESENCE(:24)
3. ANNULMENT(:25-26)
4. APPOINTMENT(:27-28)
Presented 10/09/2011pm to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC
