"The Holiest of All" part LXXI

THE POWER OF CHRIST'S DEATH RATIFYING THE COVENANT.
Hebrews 9: 15-17  And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal Inheritance. For where a testament Is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. For a testament Is of force where there hath been death: for doth it ever avail while he that made it liveth?

Continuing with the SEVENTH SECTION
Hebrews 9: 1-28.
The Power of Christ's Blood to inaugurate the New Sanctuary and the New Covenant.

BY THE REV. ANDREW MURRAY


Remember how in chapter 8 we found two names given to our Lord Jesus, indicating the twofold work He does, with God in Heaven and in our heart on earth. As a Minister of the Sanctuary, He is in God's presence, Ministering the Grace of the Sanctuary to us, and giving us the enjoyment of that presence ( ie. essence within the heart of man ). As Mediator of the New Covenant, (a Living New Life imparting) He works in our heart on earth, giving God's Law (the moral law or ten commandments and the Beatitudes of Christ and Love) within us, as the Law of the Spirit of His own Life, and fitting us for the worship and fellowship of the Sanctuary. In the first half of this chapter we have had the exposition of how Christ, as Minister of the Sanctuary, Opened and entered into it through His own Blood, and there Ministers the Everlasting Redemption. He does it by Cleansing our conscience, in the power of that Blood that has prevailed to Open Heaven, to enter in Boldly and Freely to serve the Living God. In the second half of the chapter he now proceeds to speak of Christ as the Mediator of the New Covenant. With the same Blood with which He dedicated the Sanctuary He has dedicated the Covenant too.

And for this cause He is the Mediator of a New Covenant, that they that have been called may receive the promise of the Eternal Inheritance. The word promise reminds us of what was said of the Better Covenant, enacted upon Better promises. The word inheritance of the oath of God and the inheriting the promise through faith. The word eternal of all we have heard of our Melchizedek, as a Priest forever, who does all His work in the Authority and power of an Endless Life. Christ has become a Mediator of this New Covenant, that the promise of the Eternal Inheritance, that Blessed heritage of Eternal Life even now made manifest in the promise of the Law written in the heart and full personal intimacy with God, might be our portion; it is the work of the Mediator to ensure our inheriting the promises. But this could not be till a death had taken place for the Redemption of the transgressions that were under the first commandment and then the first covenant. The first covenant had its sanction in God's appointment; the New Covenant could not take its place until the first had met with full satisfaction for its claims. There was no way for this, for the Redemption of the transgressions it had seen and condemned, but by a death of the transgressor. All the writer had meant in speaking of the blood, he now includes in the expression, a death. The change of the expression reminds us how the two are one. The blood is through the death; the death is for the blood. The Blood-shedding and the death are the Redemption, the ransom, that by sin-bearing and atonement deliver from transgressions and their power. All the transgressions of the old covenant had been treasured up; the death of Christ gave Satisfaction to all that that covenant could claim, and brought release
( the fulfillment of the righteous requirements ). So the Mediator of the New Covenant begins an entirely New Economy ( dispensation of Grace ), with sin put away by the sacrifice of Himself, and an Open path to the beginning of a New Life in the Grace and favor and Authority and power of God.

Now follow two verses which have caused no little difficulty. In English we have for one word in Greek two words of entirely different meaning. The word "covenant", a treaty between two parties, and "testament ', the Last Will by which one party leaves his property to another, are the same in Greek. Through the whole of Scripture the word may always best be translated "covenant", with the exception of the two following verses. Here the argument renders the meaning "testament"  or "Will" necessary. For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. For a testament is of force where there has been death: for does it ever avail while he that made it lives? It is as if the author sets aside for a moment, led to it by what he had just said of them who receive the Eternal Inheritance, to use the other meaning of the Greek word in order to prove how, in every connection, a death is indispensable. He had spoken of Christ's death as the sacrifice by which the Covenant was ratified. To confirm the thought he adds: "When one who has made a testament dies, he passes away, and the heir takes his place,--- even so Jesus, the Heir of all things, in His death gave up all, that we might stand in His place, and inherit all."

Would God that our hearts might take it in. A death having taken place! Now the Covenant is sure. The Redemption of past transgressions is sure; we may now claim and take the promise of the Eternal Inheritance. A death having taken place! Now the testament avails. The maker of the testament has died, to put us in complete possession of all He had and all He won for us. And, praise God! He Lives again, as no other maker of a testament ever lives, to put us in full possession of the inheritance, and to be Himself its chiefest measure and joy; as Minister of the True Sanctuary to keep us in God's presence; as Mediator of the New Covenant to keep our heart in the full enjoyment of all its Blessings.

1. Everyone can understand how absolutely a Last Will or testament needs a death. This must help us to believe that a Covenant needs It as much for the redemption of transgressions. As sure as the death of a maker of a testament puts the heir In complete possession of the promise, so surely has the death of the Mediator made a perfect Redemption from all transgression.
2. Let us get firmly hold of this: In virtue of His death the first covenant could be set aside and the second dedicated with His Blood. The second Covenant has entirely to do with keeping our heart and life In a right state for entering the Sanctuary and abiding there. Let me believe It can and shall be fulfilled.