Hebrews 8:3-5
The Past, Present and Future
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. (Hebrews 8:3)
For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: (Hebrews 8:4)
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. (Hebrews 8:5)
Man, in Aaron, was chosen of God to offer sacrificial gifts. These were atoning gifts of animal sacrifices. These animals represented the flesh. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. (Genesis 6:7) Sin was such a rip in the creation of God that the whole creation came under the curse. Even the animal kingdom was drawn into the sin of Adam, and through these thousands of years, animals have had to deal with and suffer because of Adam’s transgression.
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19)
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (Romans 8:20)
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22)
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)
As we consider the length and the breadth of the curse that Adam brought upon us, who is sufficient for these things? Only One, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. We are buried in baptism unto His death, and we are raised in newness of life by His resurrection. It was His flesh that bore the transgression of the whole world so that we might be free in Christ.
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3)
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (Romans 6:5)
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6)
For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Romans 6:7)
Each and every one of these sacrificial gifts had to be pure, without spot. They were the foreshadows of the One who was the righteousness of God, and would give Himself on Calvary’s cross as a sweet savor to God the Father. He was the fullest of all sacrifices, and He was the only One who could atone for mankind. In the position of God’s beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ became the fullest of the sweet savor unto God by fulfilling the righteousness of God.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (Ephesians 5:1)
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2)
The Righteousness of God
The revelations that Moses received on mount Sinai were not only from God, but given in God’s presence. Although God veiled Himself to protect Moses, He showed him the shadows of heavenly things. He revealed Himself as a covenant God. And under His covenant His chief end was to draw mankind unto Himself. The difficulty of this was the righteousness of God. God is righteous, and therefore, He cannot deny His own righteousness. The core of our Creator is His own righteousness. And man, because of the sin of Adam, is void of all righteousness. Yes, finally face it, in man is no good thing! The void of sin is so great that all mankind is alienated from God, and has an enmity in their hearts against God. Therefore, it is impossible for God to deal with man in His righteousness without a substitute to uphold His own righteousness. Without Jesus Christ God would have to destroy all of mankind. He would have to judge them for all the transgressions of mankind. He would have to destroy all flesh. In Genesis 6:7, God is contemplating that very act of judgment, instead, Noah found grace in God’s sight, in the sight of the covenant God that would send His Son to be the propitiation, the mercy-seat, for sin.
God’s righteousness has to be imputed. It has to be an impartial gift of God to man. For mankind cannot attain righteousness without the substitutionary gift of God’s dear Son for the sin of mankind. And this gift in Jesus Christ fulfills all God’s righteous claims against Adam and against mankind. Although the Lord Jesus was manifested in the flesh to reconcile man to God, His life on earth was a reflection of who He is in heaven. On earth He would not be like every man. He would be a supreme Man with no faults completing the righteousness of God by the death of Himself on Calvary’s cross. This was the atonement. The very day of His death fulfilled all the animal sacrifices in Israel’s day of atonement. The atonement was by One who was sinless, and One who was not under Adam’s curse of death; however, He would submit Himself to death to take away the sin of the world. And only then could God impart righteousness to man as a free gift, and free man from sin and death.
In the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross, the Lord did two main things: He upheld His own judgment against mankind in His own flesh, in His sonship He took away all judgment that was due to man. The second part, because of the first, made it possible for Him to impart His righteousness to man. This righteousness comes by man’s belief in the Son of God: the sacrifice for sin. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) The gift of God’s love through His beloved Son could not be given unless God’s righteousness was upheld; therefore, the gift of God’s love was in His righteous Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Merely the love of God could not atone for sin. The gift, in His beloved Son, had to be righteousness to give the free gift of God’s love. Christ was that love offering, and this is the proper translation and understanding of John 3:16. So that as many as received Him, He has given them the power to receive His love in the free gift of His righteousness through the vehicle of His righteous Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Only then can the Father put on the new robe to the lost sinner that is redeemed by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only then can the redeemed sinner receive the ring of heirship and sonship as we enter into being joint heirs with Jesus Christ. God’s righteousness puts us in this position that we may be called the sons of God.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1)
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)
The gift of salvation had to come from above for every perfect gift comes from above from the Father of lights and perfection. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17) Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18) There is no variableness nor shadow of turning in the Almighty. Even before His creation, the decisions of creation had to agree with His own righteousness. Every thing had to be according to the very center of God which is His own righteousness. And when this is understood then there is a rest to every soul of the new born babe in Christ. The gift had to come from heaven; therefore, Christ had to descend as the gift. This would be the sacrifice of Himself. Man could not ascend to heaven, for man was shut out of heaven, man was cut off from God’s righteousness, therefore, Jesus Christ had to bring us into God’s righteousness. Being a part of the very righteousness of God by imputing righteousness to man, God then sees that man in God’s righteousness. All the attributes of God are upheld by His righteousness. It is His righteousness that gave Christ the power to atone for the sin of mankind. It is the very righteousness of God that establishes the endless life, and the power of that endless life in Jesus Christ. All these things are embraced by God’s righteousness. And the imputed gift of righteousness can only come in one way — through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The Core of God’s Righteousness
Why is it important for us to understand the very core of God’s righteousness? Simply this, without it there is no salvation, without it we cannot have an endless life, without it we cannot enter into heaven, and without it we cannot enter into the eternal state where righteousness will dwell. The Holy Spirit has been given to show both the world this judgment of God, and the judgment of sin, and also to reveal God’s righteousness by revealing God’s dear Son, Jesus Christ.
In the work of salvation it is the Lord Jesus who becomes the center of God’s righteousness, and through the Son of God, God can change a person to a new creation, and give His righteousness to that new creature in Jesus Christ. The modern religionist thinks that he can change himself, but there is no way for anyone to become his own atonement. Adam could not correct his sin, for sin put a void in the whole creation, and sin took everything away from Adam in his relationship with God Almighty. Adam was left in a world alienated from God; therefore, only on God’s part could mankind be reconciled to God for man (in himself) had no vehicle of reconciliation. The reconciliation had to come through the perfect righteous gift of God’s love in the Person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have the Holy Spirit’s word that God was IN Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. This compares to our section in Romans Chapter 8. He reconciled the WHOLE world unto Himself.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:18)
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19)
The Work of Reconciliation
This work of reconciliation through the Lord Jesus Christ upholds that perfect gift that was given of God to reconcile us unto Himself. Every thing had to come from God, and the religionist cannot accept this. They want to have a part in something that they know not of, for mankind does not understand the depth of His own sin. Only God understands the darkness in which mankind fell into when Adam sinned. Man had nothing, and still has nothing to give to God. Man’s sinful state separates him completely from God. It was God who acted on behalf of mankind in the work or act of reconciliation by the death of the cross. God satisfied Himself in His own righteousness. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11) What a magnitude of suffering that God’s dear Son, God’s righteous servant, had to experience through the pain and travail of His own soul to justify those He would call, and is still justifying them today as He calls them out of darkness to His marvelous light. They can only be justified because God’s righteous servant was, in fact, God in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself through the core and fulfillment of His own righteousness.
The Redeemed — Jew and Gentile
Many finish with the truths that are found in Isaiah Chapter 53, and completely ignore Isaiah Chapter 54. In Isaiah Chapter 54, we have more than just the redeemed of Israel, for we get the redeemed out of the world for they are a new creation in Christ. And the life that they now live they live in Christ. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) When the world looks upon the face of the redeemed, in the world’s unbelief, they see the redeemed as barren, they see the redeemed that are not of this world, and because of the world’s darkness they do not see the fruit that is within the new born creature in Christ. The gospel embraces both Jew and Gentile. Paul declared himself as one of the first fruits of the grace of God which has been multiplied many times over thousands of years that God’s grace has been proclaimed. In verse 5 of Isaiah Chapter 54, we have a divine relationship with our Maker in the new creation. We are embraced by God as a husband for it is God who has formed us, and quickened us through His Spirit, For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. This takes us to the gospel of John, it is no longer blood or the will of the flesh, or the will of man, but our creation is through the Holy Ghost of God, and this creation is because of the finished work of Christ on the cross upholding God’s righteousness. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13) Isaiah 54:5 brings the words of the Lord Jesus to mind, that in heaven the redeemed are neither given in marriage nor taken in marriage. In Isaiah 54, we see the Almighty as the husband of the redeemed, who is the Lord of hosts. And the Holy Spirit is particular for He follows that with the LORD of hosts is his name. There is only one Redeemer, and this Redeemer is embraced by Isaiah as God’s righteous servant that saw the travail of His own soul; who is, in fact, the Holy One of Israel, and this is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit follows this up with the millennial description of the Lord of lords, and King of Kings in the phrase, The God of the whole earth shall he be called. Isaiah 54:5 is a wealth for both Jew and Gentile who are saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. We have, as the Redeemer, the promise of the new covenant to Israel in verses 7 and 8 of Isaiah 54.
For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. (Isaiah 54:7)
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:8)
This same covenant is brought forth in Hebrews Chapter 8, verses 8 thru 10. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: (Hebrews 8:8)
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. (Hebrews 8:9)
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Hebrews 810)
Compare Hebrews 8 with Isaiah 54:13 and 14. And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. (Isaiah 54:13) In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. (Isaiah 54:14)
Notice that in Isaiah Chapter 54 in verse 14 that all these promises to Israel are established by righteousness: God’s righteousness imputed to the nation. Notice how Isaiah Chapter 54 finishes in verse 17: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. And also notice these words as the Lord describes their righteousness as His righteousness. Here again we see God’s imputed righteousness to the servants of God.
In the book of Hebrews, Chapter 8, verse 8 thru 10, we have the future covenant with the house of Israel that will be given to them based on the sacrificial death of God’s dear Son, and it is anchored by the fact that God’s dear Son upheld the righteousness of God. He will impart THAT righteousness to the children of Israel under the new covenant of His millennial kingdom, of course, this is looking into the future just as Abraham (who received the righteousness of God) looked forward to the cross and the Christ of the cross. Abraham rejoiced to see the day of the Lord. Today, we look back to the cross and we behold, by the Spirit of God, the sufferings of our dear Savior.
Every Promise Based on God’s Righteousness
The Son of God is a title that embraces the righteousness of God. The name Jesus Christ is the manifested name fulfilling the righteousness of God. In John 8:56 Abraham, by faith, saw Him who was invisible for the Lord Jesus manifested Himself many times to Abraham, and gave Abraham the foundation of the promise to Israel, and also to the Gentile world, but it was based on God’s righteousness. When describing the Lord’s priesthood in Hebrews Chapter 7, the Lord Jesus is called the KING of righteousness, and the KING of peace. Righteousness must come first! And then peace follows. On the foundation of God’s righteousness every promise to Abraham, every promise to Israel, every promise to David will be fulfilled based on God’s righteousness. The very statement that Abraham ‘believed God’ and it was accounted to him for righteousness reveals that righteousness was foretold in the element of Abraham’s faith. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) For faith is the substance of the things hoped for, this is dependent solely on God’s righteousness. When God’s righteousness is in the eye of the beholder, it brings forth the evidence of things not seen. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
When considering Romans Chapter 3, we need to pay close attention to verses 23 and 24. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24) The word ‘all’ in verse 23 leaves no void, for all are guilty before God. Therefore, faith must bring forth the evidence of things hoped for, and that being grace. As sin brought forth death, now grace gives life in Jesus Christ. I remind you that He is the KING of righteousness, and He sits on His throne of righteousness in Hebrews Chapter 1:8 and 9 — But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Hebrews 1:9)
God’s Righteousness Centered Around Jesus Christ
If we have been paying attention, we will see that the righteousness of God is centered around Jesus Christ. Abraham was freely justified before God through the reconciliation which was in Jesus Christ. We see this in Romans, Chapter 3, verse 25, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. We have the atonement for sin in the word ‘propitiation’ and this atonement is through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ in HIS fulfilling the righteousness of God for the propitiation made Jesus Christ Himself the mercy seat, and God’s mercy had to be upheld by His own righteousness.
Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25)
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
The mercy seat is the vehicle and the place of all God’s grace. This included the patriarch Abraham. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:23) To all saints, we have the throne of grace in Hebrew 5:14 and 16, this brings the past saints, the present saints, and the future saints to the throne of grace by the throne of righteousness in Hebrews Chapter 1. It is in James that we see the forebearance of God before the cross, and the fulfillment of the plan of redemption foretold before the very act of Christ’s death upon the cross. This is quite evident in Isaiah 53 and in other Scriptures.
I almost hate to use this phrase, but God is a God of ‘equal opportunity’ of past, present, and future saints. In the death of God’s dear Son on the cross of Calvary for the sin of the world, the Lord Jesus encompassed the past, the present, and the future. The words ‘it is finished,’ encompassed time and eternity. The Sovereign of grace, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the vehicle that links every saint, hand in hand, with Jesus Christ our Savior. This same vehicle of grace links us to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
With Abraham — God imputed His righteousness foreseeing the atonement of His Son on the cross. Abraham believed God, and saw that day of atonement, and was glad. He was glad in the fact that it was for his own redemption, and for the future seed of Israel. Therefore, in every gift that was offered by the priesthood in Israel was a shadow of the divine gift that was offered on the cross in God’s dear Son, our beloved Savior. As Abraham believed, we also believe God, and God’s righteousness by His dear Son is imputed unto us. Through our great high Priest, the Minister of the sanctuary that God pitched and not man, all the Old Testament priesthood is dissolved, and therefore, there is now only one Priest. He is the Minister of the sanctuary, and He has God’s righteousness which no other priest could obtain. The Lord’s priesthood is a priesthood of heaven, and not of the earth; yet, He, as the divine Priest, taught in the temple (which was only the responsibility of the earthly priesthood). However, Christ, being the divine Priest, had the authority to teach under His covenant relationship with the nation of Israel. The self assumed authority (the priesthood) asked Him, By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority? And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? (Matthew 21:23) We are blessed to know, through the scriptures, as we saw Him in Isaiah Chapter 54, that He is the authority Himself.
After the cross, He is a Priest forever after the order and oath of Melchisedec. His heavenly priesthood is joined to His earthly priesthood in those who believe in Him. Hebrews 7:26 is a wonderful link to the cross, for He (as the Priest) presented Himself as sacrifice to God for the sin of the whole world. Only a divine Priest could bring the divine Lamb or offering. And remember, this offering had to ascend to a divine place, and that is heaven.
God took the past of Adam, the present of Adam, and the future of Adam and put Adam to death on the cross once and for all, as Christ vanquished sin by His own righteousness. On God’s part, the Lord Jesus declared that no man would be able to take His life from Him. He would lay it down of Himself, this would be as Priest and as Sacrifice, and thus, encompassing the past, present, and future.
As we go through Chapter 8 of the book of Hebrews we will deal with the future which is the covenant with the house of Israel, but don’t confuse the covenant with the house of Israel in Chapter 8 with the covenant of the New Testament in Chapter 9, verse 15. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15)
The Baptism of Repentance and the Baptism of Death
The conclusion of the New Testament is found in verse 26 of Hebrews Chapter 9, For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. God sees Calvary as the end of the world. Why? Because the past, and the future were drawn to that point in time to finalize God’s redemptive work in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He had appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. This brings us back to God’s righteousness in the death of Himself. We see that at the beginning of the Lord’s ministry at the Jordan that John was baptizing the people of Israel to a baptism of repentance until the Lamb of God appeared. The Lord had previously said unto John that He would give him a sign concerning His Son Jesus Christ, and at the Jordan this was fulfilled. From both earth and heaven God would be revealed in His beloved Son. This was the thing: the Lord Jesus was not there to be baptized to John’s baptism of repentance because Christ had no need of repentance for He was the righteousness of God. The Lord Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized unto His own death. There was no need of repentance for the Lamb of God because He was holy, and undefiled, there was no blemish upon Him, nor in Him. He was not a part of Adam’s race.
The baptism that WE (Christians) are baptized to is NOT to John’s baptism of repentance. We are baptized into the Lord’s death, and once again, I refer you to Galatians 2:20. (The act of repentance must come before salvation. It is one of the tools of the Holy Spirit of God to reveal to mankind his condition before God. And then present a Savior to reconcile that person to God through the baptism of death into the Lord’s death which brings forth eternal life. This is not the outward baptism after salvation by man because you are brought into the Lord’s death at the very point of your salvation. When you take water baptism, you are announcing to the world that you have died with Christ, but your death is prior to your baptism). Once again, being brought into the Lord’s death is totally dependant on His righteousness. Consider the words that He spoke to John as documented in Matthew 3:13-17.
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (Matthew 3:13)
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (Matthew 3:14)
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. (Matthew 3:15)
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (Matthew 3:16)
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17)
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33)
I put these two sections of scripture together to show the supernatural occasion of the Lord’s baptism, and the supernatural dealing that God had with John the Baptist. Even before John’s birth the Lord knew him in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary entered the room bearing the Lord Jesus. Throughout John’s life God dealt with him supernaturally. In John Chapter 1, he is a man sent by God, also in the gospel of John in verse 33, we have the evidence of God’s foretelling the circumstances of the Lord’s baptism, and that the Spirit of God will descend on the Lord Jesus to designate Him as the One whom God had foretold to John. This supernatural occasion is to fulfill ALL righteousness showing that the Lord’s baptism was a baptism unto death which He would fulfill on the cross at Calvary. (Matthew 3:15) Later, the Lord speaking to His disciples spoke of that baptism.
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. (Matthew 20:22) And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. (Matthew 20:23)
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? (Mark 10:38) And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: (Mark 10:39)
The Lord was speaking of His baptism of death on the cross of Calvary, and He also stated to them that they would enter into that baptism for all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ enter into His baptism of death. In the baptism of His death, He would see the travail of His own soul. (Isaiah 53:11) This was under the hand of the judgment of God against the sin of man which God had made His Son sin for us. The sin of the whole world was laid upon the Lord Jesus, and this brought about the travail and agony of His soul. This is exactly why in John 1:29 we read that it is the Son of God, as the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. God now could and would uphold His righteousness by presenting a sacrifice for sin in His beloved Son,and fulfilling the depth of the sacrifice on the cross of Calvary so that as many as receive Him they are given the power to become the sons of God because they are brought into the judicial judgment of God against the sin of man by the sacrifice of God’s beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In God’s mercy He upheld His righteousness by the death of His Son to fulfill the statement that Christ said unto John. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. (Matthew 3:15) This not only justifies man, but it completely justifies God in dealing with man, and with man’s sin. For after the death of the Lord Jesus no one could accuse God of not being just, and the Justifier of all who believe. The devious question by man is, What about the unsaved? How is God justified in them? The answer is their debt was paid in full at Calvary; however, they will not cash the check. Remember that God was IN Christ reconciling the WORLD unto Himself. God left nothing undone. He set one condition: believe in His beloved Son, and yet, mankind still rejects Him. The first tree had a condition given by God: this condition was not to partake of that tree or die. The second tree had a condition: partake and live. The world had nothing to do with this justification. This part of sacrifice and death for sin was ALL of God, and it was for God, for Christ was a sweet savor in His sacrifice unto the Father. ‘This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.’
God’s Righteousness Centered and Complete in Christ
Christ upheld God’s righteousness on the cross, past, present, and future. This covered the entire priesthood of Aaron and Aaron’s descendants, however, they were only a shadow of things to come for the true heavenly Priest, the true high Priest would descend from heaven in complete obscurity before mankind. He came to present Himself as a Priest bringing a Lamb to the slaughter, and that Lamb would bear the iniquity of us all. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) It is God who has made the way for mankind, and this was a way of escape from the judgment of sin that God cannot tolerate because of His righteousness. Therefore, it was up to God, not man, to pay the price of sin in His own death. But, there is more, for the sin of the whole world was laid upon Him. He is a holy and righteousness God. How painful to His own soul was this act of mercy. (Isaiah 53:11) This was the pain of travail under His own judgment for sin, and that sin was never a part of Him.
Consider these verses that the Holy Spirit has given us concerning the purity and sinlessness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before we begin to consider that the doctrine of grace depends not on man, but on God alone, and the doctrine of grace is secure in the throne of grace. The throne of grace is secure because of Him who sits upon that throne, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, let us examine the purity of the One upon the throne of grace.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
The Lord’s temptation was real, but so was His righteousness. This placed Him above man, and separated Him from man in Adam. Christ in all His majesty was without sin. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1 Peter 2:22) Peter, through the Spirit of God, reaffirmed the purity of Christ’s earthly walk, and emphatically proclaimed that there was no guile in His speech or words. The truth was in Jesus Christ. For Christ did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, He spoke the very words of truth, and confirmed them by using the holy Scriptures, and proclaimed that heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
(Matthew 24:35)
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
(Mark 13:31)
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
(Luke 21:33)
We have three verses testifying to the power, and the authenticity, and to the very proof of the words that the Lord Jesus spoke. Not only do we have the words of the Lord Jesus, but we have the words of the Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 the Holy Spirit tells us this, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. There are volumes of thoughts in this one verse. Sin could not contaminate Christ for He had no affinity with sin, and therefore, He knew no sin. Yet, God made Him sin for us on the cross of Calvary so that mankind through the sacrificial death of Christ might be made the righteousness of God IN HIM. Righteousness belongs to God, and not to mankind; however, God imputes His righteousness to those who believe through Christ who has fulfilled all righteousness. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5) In Him was, and is, and ever will be no sin. He had no sin nature — No sin DNA — No Adam. For in Him was life and that life was the light of men. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) Where righteousness dwells sin cannot abide, for He was manifested to take away our sin. And in Him is no sin, He is the perfect sacrifice, and He is the final sacrifice for sin.
Let us now go to mount Sinai to the very top of the mountain of our faith. We find the top of this mountain in Hebrews 7:26. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. The Holy Spirit takes us higher than the heavens, and gives us the finality of the One who is pure, and the place of His purity: heaven itself. For we have such a high Priest in Jesus Christ, the righteous who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. Can we go any higher than this? The Prince of righteousness is now higher than the heavens, and God the Father sees us in His Son who is the brightness of God’s glory. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3) He outshines all that is of man. He takes man out of the way and creates a new creation, a new creature out of man’s darkness, and gives that creature His own glory of righteousness. The believer, through faith, enters into God’s grace. This grace is sealed by, and in, God’s righteousness. This righteousness has come from God the Father through His most righteous possession, His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; since His righteousness is the center of the Person of God, Christ is made higher than the heavens, and this can only be applied to Him who is the highest Himself. The old earthly priesthood in Aaron was only a shadow of the highest Himself. All that was given to Moses was given as an example of the heavenlies and the One who sits upon the throne of righteousness. The tabernacle and all the articles within were given for our learning. The Lord declared that we should search the scriptures for the scriptures testified of Him; therefore, He is the true Minister of the true tabernacle which is not made with hands. He has entered into the sanctuary in the power of God in the power of an endless life.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, (Hebrews 7:15)
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16)
For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 7:17)
All eternity is secure in that endless life. All the power of God is seen in that life. For by the Lord Jesus were all things created both in heaven and in earth. He has given His creation His life, and He has taken that life again in the power of His endless life. No one could take His life from Him. He laid it down of Himself so that He might take it again. He is the only One who has the power of life, and this endless life is in the core, the very core, of His righteousness. Amen.
Copyright 2018, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)