Sermon #1138 Miscellaneous
Sermons
Title: The Blood of the Everlasting
Covenant
Text: Hebrews 13:20
Reading:
Subject: The
Covenant of Grace
Date: Sunday Morning – April 3, 1994
Tape
#
Introduction:
Last Sunday morning I preached to
you on God’s Covenant – The Believer’s
Comfort. On Tuesday evening my message was The Character of the Covenant. Today, I want to talk to you about The Blood of the Everlasting Covenant.
My text is Hebrews 13:20 – “Now the God
of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect.”
In this everlasting covenant,
through the blood of the everlasting covenant, the salvation of God’s elect was
fixed and settled from eternity. This everlasting covenant of grace is a
compact of love, an agreement of mercy, a contract of goodness, a sovereign
disposition of grace made between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit before the world began. And in that covenant our salvation was immutably
secured.
Proposition:
Every saved sinner traces the origin
of his salvation back to eternity, for the origin of all saving grace is the
firm and everlasting covenant spoken of in our text.
God always deals with men and women
upon the basis of a covenant. Though he brings the blessings or the curses of
the covenant upon individuals, God always deals with people collectively, in
covenant terms, through a representative. According to his own sovereign
purpose he has arranged that he will not deal with man except in covenant
terms. And he will not allow us to deal with him in any other way.
God made a covenant with the first
man, Adam, soon after he was created. It was a covenant of works (Gen.
2:15-17). But Adam broke that covenant in short order (Heb. 6:7). Everything
God did with Adam and everything he has done with the sons of Adam in the
punishment of sin has been according to the terms of that covenant (Rom.
5:12-14). The covenant of works, because of Adam’s sin and our sin in him, has
always been a covenant of death. Later, when God gave the law at Sinai by the
hand of Moses, it was a covenant of death from the beginning, because
righteousness and life could never come to sinners by their works of righteousness
(Gal. 3:10, 21). Sinful people cannot perform righteous works! The giving of
the law at Mt. Sinai was nothing more or less than the revelation of God’s
justice in punishing every transgression under the covenant of works. It was
never intended by God to be a way of life for men, a rule of life for his
children, or a code of moral ethics. The law was given by God to be a messenger
of death, a messenger of justice, wrath, and condemnation to fallen men, that
sinners might be driven to Christ and to the covenant of grace established with
him.
However, long, long before God made
the covenant of works with Adam in the garden, he had made a covenant of grace
with Christ, his son. It was made for us. But it was made with Christ our
covenant Surety and Mediator before the world was made, in eternity. In fact,
Adam, as the federal head and representative of all men in the covenant of
works, was a type and foreshadowment of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is called
“the last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45) and is the federal Head and Representative of
God’s elect in the covenant of grace (Rom. 5:12-19).
·
In his representation.
·
In his love for Eve.
·
In his voluntary assumption of sin,
guilt, and death.
The covenant of works
was broken by the first Adam. The covenant of grace was fulfilled by the last
Adam. Death came by the first Adam’s transgression. Life came by the last
Adam’s obedience. Wrath came upn all men by the fall of the first Adam. Grace
comes to all God’s elect by the success of the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:21-22).
The covenant of grace was typified
in the Old Testament.
·
In the covenant God made with Noah (Gen.
6:8, 18; 8:1, 20-22; 9:11-15).
·
In the Davidic covenant (2 sam. 7:8-17).
It
was often spoken of in the Old Testament prophets too.
·
Psalm 89:19-31
·
Isaiah 49:1-12
·
Isaiah 54:9-10
·
Jeremiah 31:31-34
·
Jeremiah 32:37-40
·
Ezekiel 36:21-38
As
we have seen already, in our study of 2 Samuel 23:5, God’s saints in those days
prior to the coming of Christ found in this everlasting covenant a solid
foundation upon which to stand and a soft pillow upon which to rest their weary
souls. Believing God, they said to the comfort of their souls, “The Lord hath made with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things and sure!”
This everlasting covenant of grace
is the foundation of God that standeth sure. It cannot be shaken by the
changing tides of time and trouble. That which inspired David in life and
comforted him in death, the everlasting covenant, is the inspiration of our
lives and the comfort of our souls today.
With those things in mind, I want us
to look at our text together (Hb. 13:20). I want to talk to you briefly about
those three things.
Divisions:
·
The covenant
·
The everlasting character of the covenant
·
The blood of the everlasting covenant
I. The covenant – What is the covenant spoken of in our
text?
This
is not the first time the word “covenant” is mentioned in the Book of Hebrews.
It is first mentioned in chapter 7, verse 22, where Christ is called, “the Surety of a better testament (covenant).”
This is the “better covenant” described in chapter 8, verses 6-12. It is the
“new covenant” of Hebrews 8:13, and the “new testament” (covenant) of chapter
9, verse 15, by which we “receive the
promise of eternal inheritance.” When we read Hebrews 10:15-17, we discover
that this is the very same covenant that was promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34,
which the Lord Jesus came to fulfil by his obedience to God as our
representative.
The covenant spoken of in our text
is the new covenant of the gospel, the covenant of grace made in eternity for
the salvation of God’s elect. Yet, it is ever fresh and new. It is the covenant
by which God makes all things new in the new creation of grace. This
everlasting covenant is the whole will of God, the whole purpose of his grace
concerning the salvation of his elect.
A.
The will and purpose of God regarding the salvation of his people is revealed
in the Bible as a covenant.
I
do not understand all that I know about this subject. But I do know that a
covenant was made. You can call it “God’s sovereign purpose of grace,” or
“God’s sovereign decree of grace.” That is perfectly okay with me. But the
Bible calls it, “the everlasting
covenant.” It does so because God’s purpose and decree of grace, as it is
revealed to us, bears all the marks of a covenant. It has three marks.
1. A covenant is a contract, or an
agreement made between two or more contracting parties.
The high contracting parties between
whom the covenant of grace was made before time began were the three Persons of
the Eternal Godhead. The triune God asked, “Who
will go for us?” Christ, the Son, volunteering to be our Surety, arose and
said, “Here am I, send me.” When he
came to fulfill his covenant engagements he said, “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.” When he ascended back into
heaven, the Father said to his victorious Son, Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance…Sit
thou upon my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool.” And the
exalted Son of God, our Savior, poured out his spirit upon all flesh to gather
his elect from the four corners of the earth.
I am talking to you about a covenant
made on our behalf before the worlds were made, a covenant in which Christ
stood as our Representative, Mediator, Substitute, and Surety from everlasting.
In that blessed, everlasting covenant, children of God, our salvation was
decreed, purposed, predestinated, and made sure. Let your soul fly back upon
the wings of faith into ancient eternity and behold this wondrous thing…
·
God the Father pledged himself to God the
Son – “I will save!”
·
God the Son pledged himself to God the
Father – “I will satisfy!”
·
God the Spirit pledged himself to God the
Father and God the Son – “I will
sanctify!”
·
When the three persons of the adorable
Trinity struck hands together, the deal was done! The salvation of an elect
multitude, which no man can number was made sure and looked upon by the Triune
God as a things already done (Rom. 8:29-30; 2 Tim. 1:9).
2.
A covenant, as I have already hinted, has specific stipulations which each of
the contracting parties is honor bound to fulfill. If ever one stipulation is
not met, then the entire covenant is nullified and made void.
This everlasting covenant had
stipulations. But they are stipulations made, accepted, and sworn to by the
triune God. Therefore, the covenant was and is never in jeopardy.
Note:
The covenant of grace was made in anticipation of the fall of our father
Adam and the ruin of his race. The object and goal of the covenant is the
restoration of God’s elect from the ruins of the fall for the glory of the
triune God. Under what conditions could this restoration be made?
a. God the Father spoke first – “I,
even I, the Most High, Almighty God, do give unto my only begotten, well
beloved Son an elect people more numerous than the sands upon the sea shore and
the stars of the sky, upon condition that he redeem them from all sin, preserve
and keep them all the days of their lives, and present them in the last day
before my throne holy, unblameable, and unreproveable in my sight. I swear by
my own great name, because I can swear by none greater, that those whom I now
give to my Son I love forever. These I now forgive of all sin. To them I now
impute perfect righteousness. I now adopt them for my Son’s sake and declare
that they shall be my own sons and daughters forever! I will never turn away
from them to do them good. And they shall reign with me eternally through the
merit of my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased!”
·
A people chosen.
·
Conditions required.
·
A Savior provided.
·
A reward promised (John 6:37-40).
b.
Then God the Son spoke for us (John 10:16-18). As our Mediator and Surety, he
said, “’Lo, I come to do thy will, O my
God; yea, thy law is within my heart.’ My father, I pledge myself to thee
in this solemn covenant. In the fullness of time I will become a man. I will
take upon myself the nature of my people. I will live in their world of woe in
their room and stead. I will repair the law they have broken and prepare for
them a spotless robe of righteousness. In due time I will take their place upon
the cursed tree. I will be made sin for them. I will pay their debts. The
chastisement of their peace shall be upon me. With my stripes they shall be
healed. O my Father, I will be obedient unto thee for them, obedient even unto
the death of the cross. I will magnify the law and make it honorable. I will
endure all the curse of the law, until justice is completely satisfied. All the
vials of thy holy wrath shall be poured out, emptied, and spent upon me. Then,
I will rise from the dead, ascend into heaven, and make intercession at thy
right hand until all thy chosen are saved. My Father, lay no sin to their
charge. I assume all responsibility for every one of them. I pledge myself to
save them. Not one of those whom thou hast given me shall be lost. By my blood,
by my righteousness, and by my power I will bring them all safely to thee at
last.”
·
Incarnation
·
Righteousness
·
Satisfaction
·
Resurrection
·
Intercession
·
Dominion
·
Glorification
c.
God the Holy Spirit also spoke – “I do hereby covenant that all the Father has
given to the Son and the Son has pledged to redeem with his own precious blood,
I will at the time of love regenerate and call by almighty, irresistible grace.
I will show them their need of Christ. I will destroy their groundless hopes,
and their refuge of lies. I will show them the glory of God in the face of
Jesus Christ. I will give them faith. I will give them a new heart and a new
will. I will apply to their hearts the blood of Christ, make them clean, bring
upon them every blessing and benefit of the covenant, and seal them in grace
forever. By me all the sons and daughters of the Almighty shall be infallibly
preserved unto everlasting glory!”
·
Regenerate
·
Convict
·
Bring
·
Seal
When
all the stipulations of the covenant had been agreed upon all the blessings of
grace were fully and infallibly bestowed upon God’s elect in Christ, our
covenant Head (Eph. 1:3-6).
3. The beneficiaries of this
everlasting covenant were named from eternity and their names written in a
book, the Book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev.
13:8; 17:8).
No, this covenant was not made for
all men. If that offends you, I am sorry. But your offense does not nullify
God’s work! This covenant was made for God’s elect and no one else. Who are
God’s elect?
a. Those for whom Christ makes
intercession (John 17:9, 20).
b. Those who are by the Holy Spirit
called (Psa. 65:4).
c. Those who trust the Lord Jesus
Christ (1 Thess. 4:1-10).
B.
Why was this everlasting covenant made?
Only
one answer can be given – “To the praise
of the glory of his grace” (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14). This covenant was an act of
free, unconditional grace and absolute sovereignty. Should any demand, “But
that’s not fair,” my reply is, Take your argument up with God. I am only his
messenger (Rom. 9:16-18). If you want to quarrel with the Almighty, if you dare
to do so, I will not stand in your way.
II. The everlasting character of the covenant – Why does the
Holy Spirit here and elsewhere describe the covenant of grace as the
“everlasting covenant?”
In other places it is called, “the
covenant of peace,” “the covenant of life,” “the better covenant,” and “the new
covenant,” but why is it called specifically “the everlasting covenant” no less
than seven times in the Word of God?
·
2 Samuel 23:5
·
Isaiah 55:3
·
Isaiah 61:8
·
Jeremiah 32:40
·
Ezekiel 16:60
·
Ezekiel 37:26
·
Hebrews 13:20
A. It is called “the everlasting covenant” first, to
identify its antiquity.
The covenant of grace is the oldest
of all God’s works. It is from everlasting. The covenant of works had a
beginning and an end. The covenant of grace has neither. Now think about this
for a minute and see if it does not ravish your very soul. Before anything that
is was God loved you and made a covenant of grace for you!
·
Before the mountains, the stars, or the
seas were brought forth, God thought of you!
·
Before Adam fell, God covenanted with God
for you!
·
Before you sinned, help was laid upon One
who is mighty for you!
·
Before you went astray from your mother’s
womb speaking lies, the Triune God found a way to bring you home to glory!
·
Before he made the angels to minister to
you, God’s heart was devoted to you in covenant grace!
Now, realize this –
God who has had his heart upon you from eternity will not forget you now (Isa.
54:7-10).
B.
The covenant of grace is called “the
everlasting covenant”, second, to
assure us of its sureness (2 Sam. 23:5).
Here is something that stands
forever! Its mercies are sure mercies! Its blessings are sure blessings! Its
promises are sure promises!
1. On our part, it is an
unconditional covenant.
·
Nothing left to chance!
·
Nothing left to be determined by our
will!
·
Nothing dependent upon our works!
There are no “ifs”,
“maybes”, “buts”, or “peradventures” in this everlasting covenant. Every line
is punctuated by God’s “shall” and God’s “will.”
2. God’s covenant is ordered in all
things and sure from everlasting.
·
Ordered by God’s decree!
·
Made sure by god’s power!
C. The covenant of grace is called “the
everlasting covenant,” third, to show us
its immutability.
Anything everlasting must be
immutable. Not one line of the covenant can be erased, not one word blotted
out. God is immutable in all things and his covenant is immutable (Eccles.
3:14).
1. His love is immutable love (Rom.
9:13).
2. His grace is immutable grace
(Mal. 3:6).
3. His forgiveness is immutable
forgiveness (Rom. 4:8).
4. His favor is immutable favor
(Eph. 1:6).
5. His blessings are immutable
blessings (Rom. 11:29; Eph. 1:3).
D.
And this covenant is called “the everlasting covenant,” fourth, to teach us that it will never cease to be
enforced, no, not even in eternity.
It
shall one day be consummated, but never terminated. All the heirs of grace
shall be the heirs of grace forever.
·
For the same reason!
·
Upon the same basis!
·
To the same degree!
III. The blood of the covenant – What is the connection
between the shed blood of Christ and the everlasting covenant?
I
must be brief here. I will have more to say about it tonight. But, believe me,
I have saved the best until the last. The precious blood of Christ has a
fivefold connection to the covenant of grace – A fivefold relation…
A.
With regard to God the Son our Savior – His blood is the fulfillment of every
stipulation agreed to in the covenant.
·
“I
have finished the work.” Righteousness!
·
“It
is finished!” – Satisfaction! “Therefore doth my Father love me!”
B. With regard to God the Father – The precious blood of
Christ puts the Almighty under inescapable obligation.
·
To save all the redeemed!
·
The pardon all the ransomed!
·
To give grace and glory to all for whom
atonement has been made!
C. With regard to God the Holy Spirit the
blood of Christ is that which he sprinkles (applies effectually) to the hearts
of sinners to proclaim peace and reconciliation – “That’s
enough!”
D. With regard to the believer – The
precious blood of Christ is the solitary ground of our peace and assurance.
His
blood is God’s token to us for good. Do you rely entirely upon the blood of
Christ for all your salvation? If you do, be at peace. Let nothing disturb you.
This covenant was made for you. All its blessings are yours forever. You are
one of God’s elect.
E. With regard to guilty sinners – The
precious blood of Christ is your only way of access to God (Heb.
10:22).
Nothing
in my hands I bring,
Simply
to Thy cross I cling,
I
to thy fountain fly;
Wash
me, Savior, else I die!
Application:
1.
No remission without the blood (Heb. 9:22).
2.
No condemnation with the blood (Rom. 8:1).
3.
He who died to ratify this covenant lives and reigns to enforce it (2 Sam.
23:5).