[IN GOD’S IMAGE 35 – NEW COVENANT CHART]
This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli
Last time we looked at Jesus fulfilling the role of mediating the New Covenant at the last supper.
• Now after washing the disciple’s feet, and instituting the New Covenant with the symbols of the bread and wine, Jesus, in a remarkable discourse after supper, gives the disciples an insight into what the Godhead has in store for mankind once the broken communion between God and man has been restored.
• John 17:20-24“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
• So we see the promise is not just for the disciples, it is expanded to include future generations of those who believe in Jesus Christ.
• V.21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.
• Here Jesus spells out the ultimate purpose God has for mankind, to share in the intimate life and love of the Godhead itself.
• This is where the term “perichoresis” comes from. The Godhead experiences a relationship so intimate the best description humans can come up with is “mutual indwelling.”
• The purpose of making us in God’s image is so we can participate in this same intimate relationship.
• Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
• And what is the promise to those who believe in Jesus Christ? “to be with me where I am, and to see my glory.”
• Not only to be with and see Jesus’ glory, but as we learn later on, to be given a glorified body to participate fully in the spiritual community of heaven (Romans 8:17).
This is why the New Covenant is so far superior to the Old Covenant as the author to the book of Hebrews points out.
• Hebrews 8:6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
• Besides the fact the Old Covenant was temporary whose effectiveness relied completely on the fulfilment of the New Covenant anyway, the New Covenant was far superior in that the saving priestly ministry of Jesus is superior to Moses’ and Aaron’s; the Mediator, Jesus, is superior; and the promises, spiritual blessings, are superior.
• The New Covenant comes into effect the next day when Jesus literally sacrifices His body and blood as the penalty for our sins.
Why did Jesus need to become human?
• In the 11th Century, Anselm of Canterbury asked the question, “Why did God the Son become man?”
• The answer to this question takes us to the heart of the entire Bible and all theology.
• The scriptural answer is, the incarnation took place for our salvation. Did not the angel remind Joseph of this fact when he said, She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).
• The incarnation of God’s Son is for the primary purpose of atonement.
• In the incarnation the Son becomes like us but He must also act for us.
• Christ has to identify with us in order to die for us as our covenant head.
• God’s goal is restoration but this is not possible without the forgiveness of sin and this requires atonement for sin.
• God must satisfy His own righteous demands against us which is why we need a Savior.
Below we summarise six points for the biblical rational for the necessity of Christ’s incarnation and atonement.
1) As the offended party, God necessarily demands just satisfaction from us for our sins against Him.
2) In grace God chooses to forgive us not by overlooking but by punishing sin in humanity.
3) The Father and Son agree that the Son will become a man and take the punishment for our sins.
4) The Son comes into the human race by incarnation thus qualifying Himself to become the last Adam and our mediator.
5) Christ offers to God an incarnational obedience and sacrificial death on our behalf as our covenant representative and substitute.
6) The life death and resurrection of the incarnate Son satisfies God’s own righteous demand.
• From these summary points it becomes clear that the incarnation and the atonement are necessary for our salvation.
• Now we can look at the completed chart on the covenants between God and mankind.
Chart on the New Covenant. (See chart below).
