Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. As the eternal Son of God, Christ
alone has the authority to enter into the presence of the Father,
being a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. As
a sinless man, he was the perfect sacrifice, needing not to sacrifice
for his own sins. For such a high priest became
us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made
higher than the heavens, who needeth not daily as those high
priests to offer up sacrifice. first for his own sins, and then
for the people's. For this he did once when he
offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests
which have infirmity, but the word of the oath which was since
the law, that is, in the chronology of men, since he was the Lamb
slain before the foundation of the world, maketh the Son who
is consecrated forevermore. The Mosaic law, while glorious
in its own right and purpose, has no power at all to deal with
sin itself. For Paul says, it was weeped
through the flesh. Any coded law to which man is
subjected must of necessity condemn him. Because men are sinners,
lawbreakers, and those who by nature despise the commandments
of God. They are not made to be sinners by the law, but it
is through the law that their sin is made manifest. The descendants
of Jacob were a blessed people, because unto them were committed
the prophecies and truth of God. Unto them was made manifest the
law of Moses and the remission of sin by blood. The Gentiles,
on the other hand, were left in ignorance of these things.
Yet they were all still condemned sinners, because they despised
the law written in their hearts, with the same passion that the
Jews despised the Mosaic law written on tablets of stone.
The Jews were sinners under the law, and the Gentiles were sinners
without the law. There is no law given which could
give life, nor is it possible that an outward adherence to
any law could ever cause a man to be justified before God. For
the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better
hope did, by the which we draw nigh unto God. The only thing
that the Mosaic Law could do is reveal sin and manifest the
just condemnation of all who were made the subjects of it.
Because of that, the sacrifices which were made by Aaronic priests
had no power over sin itself. In fact, their offerings, which
were made for sin every year, only served to remind men of
sin and could in no wise gild the guilty conscience peace,
for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should
take away sins. In order for a man to be made
free from sin, it is necessary that sin itself must be dealt
a death blow. It is not enough that a religious
ritual be fulfilled in the activity of earthly priests. No, the acts
must be laid to the root and the guilt of the sinner must
be removed, both in the heavenly record and in the sinner's conscience. This is reconciliation. The Lord
Jesus Christ has satisfied the law in the behalf of his elect
sons and has removed its power to condemn them. And you being
dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his
cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of
them openly, triumphing over them in it. On the one hand,
the sons of God have never stood in need of justification, since
they were loved and approved in Christ before they were ever
made the subjects of the law of sin and death. But it pleased
the Lord in order to demonstrate the riches of His grace to put
them under that law for a season, for the creature was made subject
to vanity. On the other hand, they have demonstrated their
own rebellion against His Lordship. Yet because they are his sons,
it pleased the Lord to deliver them from the law's condemnation.
But God commendeth his love toward us, and while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified
by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Christ
Jesus the Lord is that better sacrifice. He is both just according
to the law, which He gave to men, and the justifier of all
those to whom He is pleased to give the gift of faith. He has
satisfied the law in their behalf, being made sin for them, and
He has made them righteous according to the same law, by imputing
to them His perfect righteousness. They have no more accusers. But
he is also a better sacrifice because he has taken away the
guilt of sin in the conscience of those whom he has given grace
to see him as the only Savior of sinners, that one who is to
them a perfect sacrifice, beside whom they desire no other. As
he is pleased to reveal Christ in the gospel to their heart
and mind, they are made to rejoice in his absolute sufficiency,
and cleaving unto him, they forsake all others. Christ is all. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.