Hebrew 8:6-8, 6But as it now is, He [Christ] has
acquired a [priestly] ministry which is as much superior and more excellent
[than the old] as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the
Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, [because] it is enacted and
rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises. 7For
if that first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no room
for another one or an attempt to institute another one. 8However, He
finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says, Behold, the days
will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant or
agreement with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
Beloved,
here the scripture is talking about the Mediator and Negotiator of a new
covenant. The new covenant became necessary because of several defects in the
old one. God who instituted the first covenant discovered its inadequacy and promised
to enact a new one, the basis of which is, all who believe will be saved. He
sent His Son who came and surrendered His life to a death of shame on the cross
of Calvary, as the antecedent, forebear and precursor of the new covenant. He
became the mediator and arbiter of life and death.
The
church of which Jesus Christ is the Head is more superior to any other religion
on Earth. The gospel that Jesus Christ brought is the gospel of peace. The new
covenant He has established is more excellent than the old covenant. It rests
on better promises and a better hope. Jesus Christ, the Messiah is thus the
Intermediary and Negotiator of this new covenant. Therefore,
any other covenant established before or after the covenant instituted by Jesus
Christ the Messiah is inferior, not helpful and misleading.
Hebrew 9:15, 15[Christ,
the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new
agreement (testament, covenant), so that those who are called and offered it
may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance--since a
death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the
transgressions committed under the [old] first agreement.
Jesus
Christ mediated and negotiated a new agreement with God that paved the way for
mankind to be saved. Before this new agreement became effective, mankind was
doomed for destruction. Death and hell had opened their mouth. But He overcame
death and hell. He became an envoy who stood before God and entreated Him to
change His anger against mankind to unmerited favour. What do I mean by
unmerited favour?
When a
death sentence is changed to not just a ‘state pardon’ but to freedom which
gives access to life eternal, it is unmerited favour. When a state pardon is
granted to an individual, it means the restoration of full rights as enshrined
in the constitution of such a state. Such a recipient is no longer to be denied
any benefaction based on his past record. It is a new agreement that brings
healing, hope, salvation, deliverance and redemption. In the same way, this new
agreement Jesus negotiated mitigated the justice demanded by the old agreement
and brought mercy. It opened room for forgiveness, leniency and compassion.
When the
scripture says,’ He negotiated and mediated a new agreement or covenant,’ it is
referring to the divinity and deity of Christ. The agreement that the bible is
referring to here was agreed and done in Heaven. It was never drawn up on or
agreed on Earth. It was not done when Christ died on the cross of Calvary. It
means that He used His Deity and Divine nature to negotiate the agreement as
one of the persons in the GOD HEAD. He entered into the agreement to save
humanity for God the Father and God, the Holy Spirit. He only came to the World
to fulfil His own part of the agreement which was to lay down His own life and
institute a ministry of grace (Christianity) that is far more superior to any
other ministry (religion) that existed or that would come after. That is why
the scripture says because the GOD loved
the World and mankind so much He agreed and sent His One and Only Beloved son
to the Earth to come and die so that whoever believes shall be saved, (John
3:16). This death on the cross of Calvary is what rescues and delivers. His
death and resurrection also signify the passage of the old covenant and the
ratification of the new covenant. His resurrection brings the new covenant into
effect.
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