It is a great encouragement to me in these unstable times to remember that the Lord Jesus Christ will be faithful to mediate the New Covenant.
With all the troubling things taking place in our world, with all the forebodings of dark things ahead, we need this assurance—that no matter what happens, He who sits on the highest throne in the universe has been given a mandate to fulfill a covenant in God’s chosen, and He will not rest till He has done so.
Who are the chosen? They are those, whether Jew or Gentile, who have been brought into covenant relationship with God through their faith in His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
And what is the covenant?
This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts… (Heb. 8.10).
God made this covenant originally with the house of Israel, and then brought the Gentiles into it. I am glad.
And what does the completed covenant look like?
It looks like a people who look just like Jesus Christ the Son of God Himself.
In fact Isaiah tells us twice that He Himself is the covenant. Isaiah prophesies of a certain Servant, whom we know from the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah and Acts 8.35 to be the Lord Jesus Christ.
Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth… I the LORD have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles… (Isa. 42.1,6).
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard Thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped Thee: and I will preserve Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages…” (Isa. 49.8).
The old covenant (no longer in effect) was the laws and statutes God gave Israel on Sinai. The new covenant (now in effect) is the laws of God written within our very hearts and minds—that is to say, Christ Himself. “I will give Thee for a covenant…”
This is why Jesus in His great high priestly prayer concludes by saying:
I have made known unto them Thy Name, and will make it known, that the love wherewith Thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them (Jn. 17.26).
Notice how He says that. The love of God in them is one and the same thing as “I in them.” That is the fulfillment of the new covenant in our lives—the same love that was in Jesus now in you and me, to the extent that it is actually Christ Himself come to full maturity in you and me.
And this is why John says that when love with us is made perfect (that is how the original Greek reads: “Herein is love with us made perfect…” 1 Jn. 4.17) …when love-with-us is made perfect, or has come to full maturity, we shall have boldness in the day of judgment, “because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 Jn. 4.17).
Yes, in this world, and this in a time of judgment and great upheaval.
And this is why Paul says that God’s purpose is that we be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8.29). And that nothing can hinder this purpose of God. In fact, we know that God is working all things together for good in the lives of those who are called according to this purpose (Rom. 8.28).
What good, Paul? What is this good that you have in mind?
For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8.29).
This is the good Paul is speaking of, the purpose God is working toward in this world, and He will cause all things to work together and help Him out in this great eternal purpose of His.
So whatever happens in these last days, whether cataclysmic world events, or troubles closer to home in our own lives and families, let us continue to embrace and rest in the promise, and keep our eyes and our faith fixed on Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.
He will not fail nor be discouraged till He has accomplished the work God gave Him to do, and surveys it all, and says, “Perfect. Amen.”
A Mending Feast 
Thank you for this word Allan. Recently I have been meditating on what a wonderful work that was achieved within the heart of Paul. How this man, who was a hater of the church, was utterly changed by the Spirit of God is wonderful. In return he was given this apostolic heart for the Body of Christ. And how much he suffered personally. It is so deep to me. His passion became seeing the very Body that he used to persecute come into the fullness of its calling. He was aware of, and confronted the waywardness of the errant Bride, yet he had a true and deep love for the church. He was not a critic or shallow fault-finder. No. This was the deepest of callings. The Kingdom of God was everything to him. He yearned for the church to come into its fullness. To surrender all. To give Him the devotion that He deserves.This is the only way to be. It is wonderful that even though scars were inflicted on him by the church, he maintained his devotion to His call and to the Master. He found the Lord Jesus in such a deep way. He was given the very heart of a father and desire to see the true church come forth.
Oh, the Word of God. The truth found therein. It transcends time and all realms. Yesterday, I had a revelation, just partial, of the Cross of Calvary. The loneliness and the utter solitude of the path that our Saviour walked. His body bruised and broken. The Cross is infinite. It is immoveable. Its message and meaning overwhelming. Sacrificial love that knew no bounds. The precious Lamb of God. The old hymns have such depth and richness.
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?
He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race!
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray:
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread:
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Chorus:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!
Lyrics: Charles Wesley
Music: Thomas Campbell
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Hi Martin, I much appreciate your comment. Paul was transformed by seeing a Light brighter than the noon-day sun. We perhaps think an experience like that is not for us. Yet Paul says we too– all of us– are to see the same glory, and be changed. “We ALL with unveiled face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord…” Paul in this passage (2 Cor. Ch. 3 and 4) is talking about the ministration of the New Covenant. It is a wonderful hope. The Spirit of the Lord will be faithful to minister that same glory– from glory to glory– till we are changed into the SAME IMAGE.
Also this that you said, Martin: “Oh, the Word of God…” That’s an echo from my own heart. When I am graced to see the truths the Word of God, I am beside myself. Can mortal eyes actually be reading such things?
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I much appreciate your words Allan and your sincerity. It is a privilege to share these things and to be able to reason together. The yearning to yield and to be changed and moulded into what the Saviour desires is a genuine longing within us. When we focus on Jesus and who He is, there is nothing that comes close in this world. I can see that the principle of covenant and what this entails is very significant. It is actually something that Almighty God treats with the utmost seriousness. He is committed to the precepts of the new covenant. It is a demonstration of His character. Recently I have been considering the old hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus”. His love goes beyond the mere superficial love that this world offers. In addition, and more than this, His character is impeccable and this is shown in His investment in the new covenant. This moves me so deeply. The Father could trust Jesus. The wondrous plan of salvation and redemption of Adams fallen kin was entrusted to heaven’s very best. All heaven willed Him on and yet He went through the hour of darkness and the cross all alone. He had to go alone. His own precious blood and His very life sealed the covenant. That He would do this for us, it overwhelms me with adoration. Now He seeks a love that is reciprocated. He longs for His true Bride as this is the culmination of the redemption plan. All heaven is still fully behind this wondrous plan. And Jesus is at the right hand of the Father ever making intercession for us.
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Thanks, Martin. I was thinking of this very thing last night, your last thought here– what you mentioned about Christ being at the right hand of the Father where He “ever liveth to make intercession for us.” His intercession is priestly intercession on our behalf, and it is effectual because it proceeds from the authority of Throne. And I believe He wants us to participate in this same intercession… for one another. Thus do we become partners with Him in that kingdom of priests.
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Amen.
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Thank you, Martin, for this. The love song of the revival. Tears in my eyes as I listened.
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