Marks Of New Covenant Members: Humility, Sincerity of Affection, Persevering in Trial, True Repentance and Eager Anticipation

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Sermon Scripture

Genesis 44:1-34

Genesis 44:1–34 ESV

Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’ ” When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.” He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city. When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.” Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.’ “When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since. If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.’ “Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy’s life, as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”

Joseph who is a type of Christ, in receiving his brothers back (saving them) took steps to:

Humble them

Try or test their true affections

Used the test of affections to judged the sincerity of their repentance

Should we who are far greater offenders towards Christ in our repentance expect any less of a demand than that of humility, test, and sincere affections? Indeed as old as the word repentance so is that which goes with it: humility, testing, and sincere affection. He who is truly repentant finds freedom in this for just beyond them is a glorious full reconciliation.

Learn Humble Submission:

Acknowledge the righteousness of God.

even in afflictions where we see ourselves as wronged by men we must own that God is righteous, and finds out our iniquity.

Surrender yourself as a servant.

Note the change in Josephs brothers. Friends we cannot judge what men are by what they have been formerly, nor what they will do by what they have done: age and experience can make men more wise and better. The same brothers who sold Joseph would not abandon Benjamin. But notice the difference between foolish acts of selfish injustice and betrayal and righteous acts of sincerity, loyalty and wisdom. The prior seeks the position of self, while the latter submits in humility in the service of and for the good of another.

Now let our minds turn to Christ our Savior:

Is it not He who has taught us that the first shall be the last and the last the first?

Is it not Jesus who demonstrated what this means? Did not the Shepherd become the sacrificial Lamb and the Lamb the Risen King?

Has this not now come to us in covenant form?

Is not the Lord now seeking amongst us who is humble, of true affections towards Him. persevering in trial and sincere in repentance?

Are we not as Josephs brothers? Are we not all guilty before the eyes of God needing to find favor, needing a mediator?

There is an excellence demonstrated in the brothers of Joseph having wronged him, now finding him (Joseph) who is righteous and has such great affection for them and their Father to now be in the position of Lord over them. This excellence is only realized by them in their repentance. If repentance had not been theirs then the blessing and revelation of what was before them would have gone unknown as well.

So it is with us and Christ as our High priest. Their is a great excellence, a beauty that is put in place here that is where we see how and what we come to (though deserving of nothing) in repentance, that is a true and better covenant.

Hebrews 8:3–5 ESV

For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

Hebrews 8:1–2 ESV

We find ourselves now before the establishment of the Lord, not the tangibles of man, not the coniving of man. We by the grace of God, have a high priest (though we betrayed Him) who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. God established this for His specific purpose just as he did with Joseph.

First in revelation before us the author lays out the necessary parts of Christ priesthood or what is is that belongs to Christ office, what He is ordained to do.

Hebrews 8:3–5 ESV

(v.3-4) Every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices (guilt offerings, peace offerings, thank offerings…)

Christ as the antitype, had himself to offer, his human nature upon the altar of his divine nature, as the great atoning sacrifice that finished transgression, and made an end of sin once for all; and he has the incense of his own righteousness and merits too to offer with all that his people offer up to God by him, to render them acceptable. We must not dare to approach to God, or to present any thing to him, but in and through Christ, depending upon his merits and mediation; for if we are accepted, it is in the Beloved.

Christ that he should have somewhat to offer; and he, as the antitype, had himself to offer, his human nature upon the altar of his divine nature, as the great atoning sacrifice that finished transgression, and made an end of sin once for all; and he has the incense of his own righteousness and merits too to offer with all that his people offer up to God by him, to render them acceptable. We must not dare to approach to God, or to present any thing to him, but in and through Christ, depending upon his merits and mediation; for if we are accepted, it is in the Beloved.

This priesthood is now executed in heaven, in the holy of holies, the true tabernacle which the Lord has fixed. As such the type having finished the work of sacrificing here, must go into heaven to present his righteousness and make intercession.

Hebrews 8:6–13 ESV

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

4 Points of the Covenant:

It is a better covenant

it is a more clear and comfortable dispensation and discovery of the grace of God to sinners, bringing in holy light and liberty to the soul. It is without fault, well ordered in all things. It requires nothing but what it promises grace to perform. It accepts of godly sincerity, accounting it gospel perfection. Every transgression does not turn us out of covenant; all is put into a good and safe hand.

It is established upon better promises

a more clear and comfortable dispensation and discovery of the grace of God to sinners, bringing in holy light and liberty to the soul. It is without fault, well ordered in all things. It requires nothing but what it promises grace to perform. It accepts of godly sincerity, accounting it gospel perfection. Every transgression does not turn us out of covenant; all is put into a good and safe hand.

it is a more clear and express, more spiritual, more absolute. The promises of spiritual and eternal blessings are in this covenant positive and absolute; the promises of temporal blessings are with a wise and kind proviso, as far as shall be for God’s glory and his people’s good. This covenant contains in it promises of assistance and acceptance in duty, promises of progress and perseverance in grace and holiness, of bliss and glory in heaven, which were more obscurely shadowed forth by the promises of the land of Canaan, a type of heaven.

It is a new covenant (that God long ago declared that He would make with all the house of Israel, that is the Israel of God)

more clear and express, more spiritual, more absolute. The promises of spiritual and eternal blessings are in this covenant positive and absolute; the promises of temporal blessings are with a wise and kind proviso, as far as shall be for God’s glory and his people’s good. This covenant contains in it promises of assistance and acceptance in duty, promises of progress and perseverance in grace and holiness, of bliss and glory in heaven, which were more obscurely shadowed forth by the promises of the land of Canaan, a type of heaven.

It was promised in , and accomplished in Christ

This will always be a new covenant, in which all who truly take hold of it shall be always found preserved by the power of God. It is God’s covenant; his mercy, love, and grace moved for it; his wisdom devised it; his Son purchased it; his wisdom devised it; his Son purchased it; his Spirit brings souls into it, and builds them up in it.

The Articles are extraordinary

He will put his laws into their minds and write them in their hearts. v10

He will be to them God. He will be all that to them and all that for them, and they shall be to him a people, to love, honour, observe, and obey him in all things; complying with his cautions, conforming to His commands, demonstrating His example.

We shall grow more and more acquainted with God. From the least to the greatest, we shall each personally know and even in private be instructed by God. v.11

God will be merciful to our unrighteousness, to the pardoning of sins. The pardoning is not based on merit of man, but from mercy found in God. v12. The fulness of this parden extends to all kinds of sins, unrighteousness and iniquities. The permenance of this parden is final and fixed so that God will remember our sins no more, that is He will not recall his pardon.

This is the excellency of the new dispensation, the new covenant and these are the articles of it. This is our great cause for rejoicing that the former dispensation/convenant is done and has vanished away.

Now in chapter 9 the apostle, having declared the Old-Testament dispensation done and vanishing away, proceeds to let the Hebrews see the correspondence there was between the Old Testament and the New; and that whatever was excellent in the Old was typical and representative of the New, which therefore must as far excel the Old as the substance does the shadow. The Old Testament was never intended to be rested in, but to prepare for the institutions of the gospel. As such the writer explains,

I. Of the tabernacle, the place of worship (v. 1–5).

The apostle, having declared the Old-Testament dispensation antiquated and vanishing away, proceeds to let the Hebrews see the correspondence there was between the Old Testament and the New; and that whatever was excellent in the Old was typical and representative of the New, which therefore must as far excel the Old as the substance does the shadow. The Old Testament was never intended to be rested in, but to prepare for the institutions of the gospel. And here he treats, I. Of the tabernacle, the place of worship (v. 1–5). II. Of the worship and services performed in the tabernacle (v. 6, 7). III. He delivers the spiritual sense and the main design of all (v. 8 to the end).

II. Of the worship and services performed in the tabernacle (v. 6, 7).

III. He delivers the spiritual sense and the main design of all (v. 8 to the end).

Hebrews 9:28

Hebrews 9:28 ESV

so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Hebrews

Now as we read through this we will end up at chapter 9 verse 27-28. These verses will sum up the appointment of God concerning men and the appointment of God concerning Christ. Each appointment will have two main points and will define the gospel and your eternal destiny.

Hebrews 9:27–28 ESV

Man is appointed to die once and man is appointed to face judgement.

Christ is appointed/offered once to bear the sins of many and Christ will appear again, not to deal with sin but to save those who eagerly await Him.

Now what happens between these two appointments is the revelation of those who eagerly await Him. It is the revelation of those who are humble in spirit, sincere in effection, persevering in trial, and of true repentance. It is the revelation of those who are truly, eagerly awaiting His return. Those who have in sincerty entered into covenant with Him through the blood of Christ by which having Him as their God and being His people.

Now the question is how do we feed such a soul within us?

How do we move to be the older, wiser brothers of Joseph as opposed to the younger betraying brothers of Joseph?

Having been given the grace of God in Christ Jesus, having been given the covenant of God, how do we live as a people of God rather than a people of self?

As it is the humble that shall inherit the earth, that shall know the salvation of God - it is vanity, pride, and envy which becomes the great enemy of salvation.

In Solomon gives his cure for vanity in the first part and in the second he admonishes our preparation for death and judgment.

I want to leave you with this, because it sums up the spirit which I believe all three passages are encouraging within us as the church of Christ this morning. :

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 11:1–4 ESV

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

Our reward dear friends, our fate for living humbly in the care an protection of God, for living in a spirit of well doing rather than personal gain, for living with God as our God rather than self as our greatest care is certain and liberating. While to not do so…to seek your own gain, though you may become full of earthly treasures and as high as a cloud, just as a cloud empties itself of rain and then vanishes away, so will be the course of your riches and your life.

So then church, let us rejoice in our high priest, let us take delight in the new covenant and let us live as a humble and liberated people. No longer seeking the things of this earth but rather in sincere affection let us persevere through every trial, turning away (repenting) of wordliness and in great eagerness awaiting the return of our Savior, when and where He will not come to deal with our sin (for that has already been dealt with) but will rather be our salvation! - Amen

Hebrews 8:1–9:28 ESV

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Ecclesiastes 11:1–4 ESV

Ecclesiastes 11:1-4

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