0617 – We Have a Mediator 我们有一个中保

Romans 5:1-3 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance

When we are in a period of crisis, we will usually try to make sense of what we have done that has brought about such suffering, just like Job and his friends. Teachings about Karma or retribution belong to the devil, and neither should we dwell too much on past or generational sins because God remembers them no more. Yes, we should repent and ask God for forgiveness for the sins we have committed in order to repair the hedge of God that He has placed around us, but we should also remember that we have a mediator in heaven who has done all to appease God’s wrath towards us.

In the Old Testament, the blood of goats and lambs was necessary to remove the sin of the people. The blood of those animals would cover the sin temporarily, but it could never take away the sin. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice prepared by God. He sprinkled His blood in the heavenly tabernacle after His resurrection, and all our sins are completely removed from His record. Jesus’ offering was once and for all settled in heaven. He is our High Priest who finished the work and sat down thereafter because there is no longer any need for further sacrifices.

We must not take this truth that we have peace with God for granted because Job was struggling with having God to forgive him for his sins. He lacked the inner confidence that God was not holding anything against him. We, on the other hand, have peace with God through the work of Jesus Christ because we are justified by the His blood. The wrath of God towards the sin of mankind was placed on Jesus Christ, whose death and shed blood has appeased God against our sins. Therefore, Jesus is the mediator, the middle man, who has dealt with the sin issue. God is no longer against us because the penalty of sin has been paid by Jesus, and neither does He want to punish us because Jesus has been punished on our behalf.

God has promised us that nothing will separate us from His love and He will never leave nor forsake us. This restored relationship with us is the very purpose and plan of God to send Jesus to die for us so that He can journey with us during our tribulation on earth. When we have the Lord journeying with us and His grace being infused into our hearts, we will be able to produce perseverance in the midst of suffering.

Sermon Series: Job & I (Part 2)

我们有一个中保

罗马书 5:1-3我们既因信称义,就藉着我们的主耶稣基督得与 神相和。 我们又藉着他,因信得进入现在所站的这恩典中,并且欢欢喜喜盼望 神的荣耀。 不但如此,就是在患难中也是欢欢喜喜的;因为知道患难生忍耐

当我们处在患难之中,我们通常会试图弄清楚是否是我们所做的事情导致了种种苦难,就像约伯和他的朋友一样。关于因果报应的教导是属于魔鬼的,我们也不应该过多地沉溺于过去或世代的罪恶,因为上帝不再记念它们了。是的,我们应该忏悔,祈求上帝原谅我们犯下的罪以修复上帝安置在我们四围的护佑,但我们也应该记住,我们有一个中保在天上,为了平息上帝对我们的怒气已经付上了一切的代价。

在旧约中,山羊和羔羊的血是除罪所必需的。那些动物的血可以暂时遮盖罪,但不能永远除去罪恶。耶稣是上帝所预备的最大的献祭。主耶稣复活以后,祂的血洒在天上的帐幕里,我们的罪就从记录上全然除去了。耶稣的一次献上即成全了众人在天堂的指望。主耶稣是我们的大祭司,完成了工作,然后就坐下了,因为不再需要献祭了。

我们不能认为上帝与我们同在并享有平安是理所当然的,即便是约伯也一直在为上帝赦免他的罪而挣扎。他缺乏内心的信心,不相信上帝没有针对他。我们却因耶稣基督,得与上帝和好,因主耶稣的血称义。上帝将对人类罪的愤怒全部加在耶稣基督身上,主的死亡和流血平息了上帝对我们罪的惩罚。因此,耶稣是中保,是中间人,祂已经处理了罪的问题。上帝不会再针对我们,因为耶稣已经付上了罪的代价;上帝也不想惩罚我们,因为耶稣已经为我们受了惩罚。

上帝已经应许我们,没有什么能使我们与祂的爱隔绝,祂永远也不撇下我们。与我们恢复关系正是上帝的目的和计划,让耶稣为我们而死,这样当我们在世上经历苦难时,祂就能与我们同行。主与我们同行,当祂的恩典注入我们的心中,我们就能在患难中生出忍耐来。

讲章系列:约伯与我 (第二部分)