PROJECT EARTH – PART II
QUESTIONS WE WILL ANSWER IN THIS LESSON:
IN PART I WE LEARNED THAT GOD HAS A PLAN TO REVEAL HIS GLORY TO HEAVENLY BEINGS THROUGH THE CHURCH. HE BEGAN THIS PLAN BY CREATING THE NATURAL REALM AND ALLOWING MAN TO TAKE ON A NATURE DEVOID OF GODLY INFLUENCE, BASED PURELY ON THE REASONINGS AND MOTIVES OF THE SOUL.
IN THIS LESSON WE WILL SEE HOW GOD HAS CHOSEN TO REVEAL HIS PLAN.
1. WHY IS THE OLD TESTAMENT LIKE A BLUEPRINT?
2. DID THE LAW OF MOSES PROVIDE A WAY FOR A MAN TO ACHIEVE RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE GOD?
3. IF NO MAN CAN ACHIEVE RIGHT STANDING BEFORE GOD UNDER THE LAW, THEN WHY DID GOD CREATE THE OLD COVENANT (OLD TESTAMENT)?
4. WHAT PART DOES THE OLD COVENANT PLAY IN THE REDEMPTION OF MANKIND.
5. HOW DID JESUS QUALIFY TO BE THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENENT?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS?
1. WHY IS THE OLD TESTAMENT LIKE A BLUEPRINT?
A BLUEPRINT OF A BUILDING IS NOT THE BUILDING, BUT IT SHOW SWITH SYMBOLS HOW THE BUILDING WILL LOOK WHEN FINISHED. ALL THE WRITINGS OF THE OLD TESTIMENT AS WELL AS ALL OF THE EVENTS OCCURING DURING OLD TESTIMENT TIMES ARE PART OF GOD’S BLUEPRINT. THEY SHOW IN NATURAL THINGS WHAT WOULD BE THE SPIRITUAL REALITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 1 Corinthians 15:45-46 NAS 45 So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. Ro 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 1Co 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (NASB)
2. DID THE LAW OF MOSES PROVIDE A WAY FOR A MAN TO ACHIEVE RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE GOD?
EVEN IF THE LAW OF MOSES PROVIDED A WAY FOR JUSTIFICATION BEFORE GOD, NO MAN WITH THE FALLEN ADAMIC NATURE WAS ABLE TO MEET ITS REQUIREMENTS. Romans 3:10-12 NAS95 10 as it is written, "there is none righteous, not even one; 11 there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for god; 12 all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one."
3. IF NO MAN CAN ACHIEVE RIGHT STANDING BEFORE GOD UNDER THE LAW, THEN WHY DID GOD CREATE THE OLD COVENANT (OLD TESTAMENT)?
THE LAW WAS GIVEN FOR TWO REASONS:
1. TO PROVE TO MANKIND THAT HE COULD NOT ACHIEVE JUSTIFICATION BEFORE GOD ON THE BASIS OF HUMAN EFFORT
2. TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR JESUS TO DO IT FOR US.
4. WHAT PART DOES THE OLD COVENANT PLAY IN THE REDEMPTION OF MANKIND?
THE OLD TESTIMENT DOES PROVIDE FOR A MAN TO BE RIGHTIOUS BEFORE GOD IF HE CAN KEEP ALL THE LAW. WE HAVE ALREADY SHOWN THAT NO ONE BORN WITH THE FALLEN NATURE CAN QUALIFY.GOD HAS PROVIDED A CHAMPION TO REPRESENT ALL OF MANKIND. HIS NAME IS JESUS AND HE IS THE VERY SON OF GOD. HE CAME AS A MAN BOTH TO FULFILL THE LAW AND TO MEDIATE A NEW COVENANT FOR ALL WHO WILL ACCEPT IT. Matthew 5:17 NAS 17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. Hebrews 9:15 NAS 15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. JESUS FULFILLED THE PROPHETIC ASPECTS OF BOTH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. (THE OLD TESTIMENT) Luke 24:27 NASB27 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. JESUS WAS THE ONLY HUMAN TO COMPLETELY FULFILL ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW AND THUS QUALIFY FOR REDEMPTION UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES. HE THEN DIED IN OUR PLACE SO WE COULD INHERATE THIS REDEMPTION. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. THE OLD COVENENT WAS NECESSARY TO GIVE BIRTH, SO TO SPEAK, TO THE NEW COVENANT. IT PROVIDED A PROPHETIC PICTURE OF THE NEW AND IT PROVIDED A LEGAL BASIS WHEREBY ALL OF MANKIND COULD BE REDEEMED BY OUR MESSIAH JESUS.
5. HOW DID JESUS QUALIFY TO BE THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENENT?
IN ORDER TO REPRESENT MANKIND BEFORE GOD AS THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT, ONE MUST BE A MAN WHO IS NOT UNDER THE ADAMIC CURSE. SINCE ALL OF THE SEED OF ADAM HAD FALLEN WITH HIM AND HAD THE FALLEN NATURE, THE MESSIAH COULD NOT BE OF ADAM’S SEED. JESUS WAS BORN OF A VIRGIN, CONCEIVED OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Matthew 1:20-23 NASB 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." 22 Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through < the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."
IN ORDER TO REPRESENT MANKIND THE CHAMPION HAD TO BE A MAN. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS THE SON OF GOD, JESUS IS CALLED THE SON OF MAN 83 TIMES IN THE NEW TESTIMENT. HE NEVER REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS THE SON OF GOD. HE DID NOT DENY BEING THE SON OF GOD BUT HE HAD COME IN THE FLESH TO BE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL MANKIND, AS A MAN. Philippians 2:5-9 NASB 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Matthew 4:1-10 NASB 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" 5 Then the devil *took Him into the holy city; and he had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and *said to Him, "If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING YOU'; and 'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" 7 Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'" 8 Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain, and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, "All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus *said to him, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" Matthew 26:63-64 NASB 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus *said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."
SUMMERY: WE HAVE SEEN THAT GOD ESTABLISHED THE OLD COVENANT WHICH NO SEED OF ADAM COULD FULFILL. HE THEN SENT HIS SON AS A MAN, PUTTING ALL GODLY PRIVILEGES ASIDE, TO FULFILL ALL ASPECTS OF THE LAW AND THUS ACHIEVE RIGHT STANDING BEFORE GOD AS A MAN. THEN, BY HIS SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE UPON HIMSELF OUR SIN IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS RIGHTIOUSNESS. HE TOOK OUR SINS INTO DEATH SO WE CAN TAKE HIS RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD INTO LIFE.