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GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
May 19, 2001 RADIO MESSAGE #372
Christ in Exodus #65
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When Israel arrived at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1f), Christ reminded them of what He had done for them (vv.3f): "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself" (see preceding message). Then:
I. Christ promised what He would make of Israel (vv.5f):
1. "a special treasure to Me above all people." Christ would distinguish Israel out of all the peoples of the earth - "for all the earth is Mine." He would make it the special object of His privileges and favors, and dwell among it as King, Benefactor, and Defender (see Deuteronomy 4:32-38).
2. "a kingdom of priests." Israel would be a nation in which every subject would be both a king and a priest. They would require no earthly priesthood, as each would be able to approach God. They would have no earthly king, but would instead live under theocracy with "the LORD your God [as] your king" (1 Samuel 12:12).
3. "a holy nation." Israel would be a nation consecrated to the worship and service of Christ, with holy laws, holy ordinances, a holy place of worship, and an inward holiness.
II. However, Christ made this promise contingent upon "if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant" (v.5a). This was therefore a conditional covenant. In order to receive the promised blessings, Israel was required to fulfill the conditions of this covenant. The conditions were set forth in "the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments" (34:28; 20:1-17).
III. This covenant has been abrogated and replaced.
1. Israel broke their covenant with Christ (Jeremiah 31:32). Christ speaks of it as "My covenant which they broke."
2. Israel therefore will not receive the promised blessings of that old covenant. It was conditional. They failed to meet the conditions. They therefore will not receive its promised blessings.
3. Christ therefore prophesied of making a new covenant with a new Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-34): "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah ...."
4. This new covenant has been inaugurated. Christ inaugurated it with His own blood (Matthew 26:28). It has abrogated and replaced the old covenant (Hebrews 8).
5. The party which replaced Israel in this new covenant is the church of Christ. We here refer to "the church which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22f), comprised of all who have been joined to Him. It is called "the Israel of God" (Galatians 6:14-16). This New Covenant Israel, unlike Old Covenant Israel, has God's law in their minds and hearts (not merely on tablets of stone), and has entered into a personal relationship with Christ, and has had their sins and iniquities forgiven by Him (Jeremiah 31:33f).
IV. Christ has made of New Covenant Israel all that was unrealized by Old Covenant Israel (1 Peter 2:9f). In addressing the church of Christ, Peter declares "you are ..."
1. "a chosen generation." This expression is from Isaiah 43:20f, in which text Christ speaks of His church: "This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." Peter here identifies them as "His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." In the church therefore is fulfilled the promise of Christ to make His chosen ones "a special treasure to Me above all people."
2. "a royal priesthood." Every member of Christ's church will join the heavenly chorus of the redeemed who sing, "You ... have made us kings and priests to our God" (Revelation 5:9f). Each is presently a priest capable of offering the sacrifices God now requires (as in Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15). And each is a king given the promise by Christ "to sit with Me on My throne" (Revelation 3:21; cp. 20:4).
3. "a holy nation." Every member of Christ's church has been sanctified by the electing grace of the Father, the redeeming grace of the Son, and the calling grace of the Spirit (see Jude v.1). Each has been consecrated to the worship and service of Christ. And each has Christ for his holiness (1 Corinthians 1:30).