Dealing With a Mystery

In the previous Lord’s Days I have seen that I cannot escape God’s covenant wrath. 

• Every sin must be paid for. 
• Neither will I be received in favor again unless I fulfill God’s covenant demand. 
• I need a Mediator. 
• A mediator is someone who intervenes, who “goes between” two parties with the goal of bringing the two parties together again.

I do not just need any mediator. 

• He must be special. 
• He must be man, but not just any man. 
• He must be a true and righteous man. 
• Furthermore, he must be more than man; he must be true God. 

It would be good to understand that I am dealing with a mystery here.

• I cannot understand how a person can be true man and true God at the same time. 
• I believe it because the Bible teaches this to me,
• and I accept it in child-like faith even though I do not understand it.

My Mediator must be a true man, that is, real man, 

• in order to bear the curse of the covenant. 
• My Mediator could not be an animal or an angel, for my just God will not punish a different creature for the sins which man has committed. 
• Man sinned, not an animal or an angel. 
• Thus God will only punish man, not an animal or angel.

My Mediator must be a true man, that is, real man, in order to fulfill the demand of the covenant. 

• God established His covenant with man whom He created in His own image. 
• Man knew God as no other creature knew Him. 
• Man loved God as no other creature could love Him. 
• No other creature could render the perfect obedience out of love that God demands in the covenant. 

Consider this example: a couple have lost their only child. 

• Friends encourage the couple to purchase a little dog to help fill the void. 
• Yet as affectionate as a dog may be, it can hardly serve as a substitute for a child who is flesh of their flesh, and bone of their bone. 
• A dog cannot render the same love that a child can. 
• In like manner, no creature could possibly serve as a substitute for man whom God created in His own image.

My Mediator must be a Righteous man.

• Righteous means to be free from the guilt and pollution of sin in order to bear the curse of the covenant. 
• A sinner owes a great debt to God. 
• And someone who is deeply in debt himself, cannot pay for the debt of someone else.
• For this reason my Mediator had to be free from debt (sin). 
• Only then could He possibly pay for the debt (sins) of others. 
• For this reason my Mediator had to be a righteous man.

Furthermore, my Mediator must be a righteous man, 

• free from the pollution of sin, 
• so that He might be able to fulfill the demand of the covenant. 
• He must not share in the horrible corruption that has come upon fallen man. 
• His understanding must not be impaired, nor his heart sinfully inclined, or his will enslaved to evil. 
• He must be pure in heart, clear in understanding and free in will,
• so that He can render that perfect obedience which God requires in the covenant.

To Be Continued...

Adapted Excerpt from Only by True Faith by Van Delden