The sermon "Behold The Blood Of The Covenant," preached by John Chapman, focuses on the theological significance of the covenant presented in Exodus 24 and its fulfillment in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. Chapman emphasizes that God's relationship with His people is fundamentally covenantal, supported by the sacrificial blood that ratifies such commitments. He references Exodus 24:8 to illustrate the seriousness and binding nature of God's covenant, which operates through the concept of blood sacrifice—a theme confirmed by the New Testament, particularly in Hebrews 9, where Christ is portrayed as the ultimate Mediator of a superior covenant. The practical significance of this sermon lies in the encouragement for believers to recognize their need for a Mediator, the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, and the direct access that believers now have to God through faith in Jesus.
Key Quotes
“We NEED TO MAKE MUCH OF THE COVENANT, WE NEED TO LEARN ABOUT IT, BECAUSE EVERYTHING GOD DOES AND HIS DEALINGS WITH US IS BY WAY OF HIS COVENANT, HIS COVENANT OF GRACE.”
“We have a GREAT NEED, AND GOD REVEALED THIS EARLY, OF A MEDIATOR TO STAND BETWEEN US AND GOD.”
“You see, but there's something else here, this blood, this blood that was TO BE SPRINKLED ON THE ALTAR AND THE PEOPLE. THIS BLOOD SHOWS THAT A LIFE WAS TAKEN AND A LIFE SPARED.”
“We have BOLDNESS and ACCESS into God's presence.”
The covenant of grace is God's binding promise to His people, established by the blood of Christ.
In Exodus 24, God establishes a covenant with His people that is foundational to understanding His relationship with humanity. This covenant of grace emphasizes that God's actions are always grounded in His promises. Through blood and sacrifice, such as in the covenant made with Moses, God depicts the vital role of Jesus Christ as the ultimate mediator. Hebrews 9 and 10 further elaborate on how this covenant is realized in Christ, who fulfills the requirements the law demanded. He enters the holy place and secures eternal redemption for His people, underscoring that God's dealings are based on His unchanging grace.
Exodus 24, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 10:14
Jesus is our mediator as He fulfills the role established in the Old Testament, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice.
The New Testament affirms that Jesus serves as the mediator between God and humanity, a role prefigured by Moses and the priests in the Old Testament. Hebrews 9:15 states that Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant, accomplished through His sacrificial death and resurrection. Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant, His singular offering is sufficient to atone for the sins of His people, granting them grace and direct access to God. This underscores the importance of His role; He stands as the perfect mediator, representing believers before the Father, which was established from eternity.
Hebrews 9:15, 1 Timothy 2:5
The blood of Christ is significant as it ratifies the New Covenant, providing permanent atonement for sin.
The significance of Christ's blood in the context of the covenant cannot be overstated. In Exodus 24, the blood is sprinkled on the people and the altar as part of covenant rituals. This foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus would make, as described in Hebrews 9. His blood, described as the blood of God, offers eternal redemption once and for all, contrasting with the annual sacrifices of the Old Covenant which could not permanently remove sins. The application of His blood symbolizes not only a cleansing from past sins but also an assurance of acceptance into God's presence, making the New Covenant a profound expression of God's grace.
Exodus 24, Hebrews 9:12, Acts 20:28
The covenant of works refers to the agreement God made with humanity based on perfect obedience.
The covenant of works is a term used to describe the initial relationship established between God and humanity, centered on the requirement of perfect obedience to His divine law. Foundationally in the Old Testament, it illustrates that no one can achieve the standard God demands; as it is written, 'No man can keep the law perfectly.' This covenant reveals humanity's inability to fulfill God's requirements. It serves as a contrasting backdrop to the New Covenant of grace, wherein Christ fulfills the law on behalf of those who believe. The failure of the covenant of works highlights the necessity of grace through Christ's redemptive work.
Romans 3:20, Exodus 24, Genesis 2
The covenant encapsulates God's commitment to His people and forms the basis of His grace and mercy.
Understanding the covenant is crucial for comprehending how God relates to humanity throughout Scripture. The covenants reveal God's unchanging promise to His people, framing His commitment not just as transactional but deeply relational. From the covenant with Noah and Abraham to the fulfillment in Christ, these agreements show His grace despite humanity's failures. The covenant of grace, culminating in Jesus' sacrifice, assures believers of their salvation and direct access to God. It fundamentally illustrates how God, in mercy, seeks to reconcile a wayward humanity to Himself, fostering a deeper appreciation for His character and redemptive plan.
Exodus 24, Hebrews 9, Hebrews 10
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