(vs22) “By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant”
It is better because it saves the soul, while the law and the priesthood of Aaron, does not (vs22). It is built upon promises of God's faithfulness for Christ's sake, rather than commands that we can never obey. Rather than punishing, this “better” covenant forgives and gives, continually. It is God dealing with us graciously, giving us the Son, and every benefit along with Him (Rom 8:32).
The new covenant is better because it reconciles sinners to God, brings down blessing, saves us miraculously, and never loses power for any reason. It is better, even as Christ is a better sacrifice than bulls and goats.
Secondly, we need Christ's intercession because of sin (vs23-25). We read, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those whom come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”. We can't approach God's holy throne on our own, because His promise is to punish sin and sinners. Yet, when the Lord Jesus brings us to God by His sacrifice, then we can be received. We never need to think the heavenly door is barred, when Christ presents His life willingly sacrificed as the remission of sins. God's Son is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens”, so that He may approach God, as Priest, on behalf of others who've sinned (vs26). And, we may approach God, as priests, fully accepted, in the sufferings and obedience of God's Son.
If you can grasp access to God by Jesus Christ as your perfect reception from a willing to bless God, then you have all that you need to come boldly, come often, and come for what we need.
Thirdly, Christ gave Himself for us (vs26-28). When you look at the misery of your failures, the stench of your own transgressions, and the vows that you've so quickly broken, you may say, “How on earth could the God who promises wrath, who flooded the world in Noah's day, who reigned fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah, receive me? How can I, who've promised to do better, and only did worse, come to God Almighty for anything except a smack and a beating?” The answer is the COST of His Son's blood, as He gave up His life. He didn't give blood at the Red Cross, but He DIED, expending Himself completely, laying down His precious life, giving ALL that He had. Leviticus 17 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and 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” (vs11).
When I see God's Son, dying under God's wrath as atonement for sin, I say, “Enough. I will arise to God. I will believe that I'm heard. He gave everything, and it is enough to get me to God, no matter who I am”. Faith SEES glory in Christ, receives His promises, and enjoys the benefits of God reconciled to us through the suffering of His Son, so that He can justly and freely bless.
Children of God. You have a GREAT High Priest. Use Him!
No comments:
Post a Comment