Job 9:32-35 NKJV “For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both. Let Him take His rod away from me, And do not let dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him, But it is not so with me.”We know the story of Job from the Old Testament and how he lost all his wealth, family and was afflicted with boils when God allowed Satan to bring suffering upon him to test his faith. He went through a period of a roller coaster ride of emotions as he was subjected to trial after trial. Many like to compare themselves with Job when they face trials and hardships. However, we have to realise that we live in a different dispensation and have the benefit of learning through both the Old and New Testaments. Looking at the Old Testament accounts through Christ’s work on the Cross will reveal a big difference to the application of Old Testament lessons to our lives. This is where we see that we do not sit in hopelessness in the midst of suffering like Job did, and we can persevere through uncertainties and chaos while being filled with faith, love, joy and peace. Why is this?
Job was lamenting that he could not reason with God like he could with a man, nobody could mediate his case as God was in heaven while he was on earth. He needed someone to stand before God to be his advocate to mitigate the situation of judgement and punishment he felt he was being sentenced to because of sin, but not understand what sin it was that could have caused such misery. However, there was no such person who could mediate or be his advocate in heaven.
We on the other hand, can praise the Lord that Jesus Christ is our mediator in heaven after His resurrection.
I Timothy 2:5 NKJV For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
Hebrews 9:11-12 NKJV But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
God being holy and perfect, cannot tolerate sin. His wrath against sin calls for a sinless and blameless sacrifice to be made where the blood is poured out in atonement for the sins. In the Old Testament, God’s people had to sacrifice animals in the temples yearly as payment for their sins. This served as a reminder that these sacrifices were still not enough and could never take away their sins or satisfy God’s wrath completely. But because He so loved the world, He prepared His only Son with an earthly body as the perfect lamb of God. He was blameless, unblemished and spotless as the ultimate sacrifice to satisfy God’s wrath. Jesus became sin for us on the cross, was judged, cursed and condemned. Jesus, our High Priest was the atonement for our sin and redeemed us with His blood. There is no more punishment but instead we now have peace with God the Father. How wonderful that Jesus is our mediator in heaven!
Sermon Series: Resurrection Sunday – Job & I (Part 1)
基督改变了一切
约伯记 9:32-35 他本不像我是人，使我可以回答他，又使我们可以同听审判。我们中间没有听讼的人，可以向我们两造按手。愿他把杖离开我，不使惊惶威吓我。我就说话，也不惧怕他，现在我却不是那样。
我们从旧约圣经中知道约伯的故事，当上帝允许撒旦用苦难攻击约伯，来试验他的信心，约伯在一天之内失去了所有的财产，儿女，并全身长满毒疮。他经受一次又一次的磨难，也经历了一段情感过山车时期。许多人在面临患难和艰辛时喜欢拿自己和约伯作比较。然而，我们必须意识到，我们活在恩典之下，既有旧约又有新约供我们学习并从中获益。当我们通过基督在十字架上成就的工作，来回看旧约圣经的记载，将对旧约圣经的功课在我们生命中的应用显出非常不一样的启示。我们看到我们并不像约伯那样，在苦难中绝望无助，我们可以在诸多的不定和混乱中持守忍耐，同时也充满了信心，爱心，喜乐和平安。这是为什么呢？
约伯哀叹自己不能与神论理，如同他与人论理一样，在他和神中间没有听讼的人，因为神在高天上，而他在地上。他需要一位能站在神面前，为他辩护的中保，以减轻他认为是因罪而受的审判与惩罚，却又不明白到底是何等的大罪能使他凄惨至此。然而，却没有这样一位可以代他调解 或在高天上为他辩护的中保。
而我们却能够称颂赞美主，耶稣基督复活后，已在高天上作我们的中保。
提摩太前书 2:5 因为只有一位 神，在 神和人中间，只有一位中保，乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。
希伯来书 9:11-12 但现在基督已经来到，作了将来美事的大祭司，经过那更大更全备的帐幕，不是人手所造也不是属乎这世界的。并且不用山羊和牛犊的血，乃用自己的血，只一次进入圣所，成了永远赎罪的事。
神是圣洁完全的，不能容忍罪。神对罪的忿怒要求人献上无罪和无可指责的祭，用祭物流出来的血赎罪。在旧约圣经中，神的子民每年都要在圣殿里献祭动物，为他们的罪付上赎价。这是个提醒，这些祭物仍然不足，因而永远不能除去他们的罪愆，也不能完全使神的忿怒平息。然而，神爱世人至深，乃至预备了自己的独生子，成世俗肉身，作神完全的羔羊。祂无可指责，圣洁无瑕疵，成为满足并平息神忿怒的至高终极献祭。耶稣在十字架上替我们成为罪，受审判， 咒诅 和 被定罪。耶稣，我们尊荣的大祭司，为我们的罪做了挽回祭，用宝血将我们赎回。因此不再有惩罚，乃是我们与父神和好。耶稣在高天上作我们的中保，这何等奇妙！
讲章系列：复活主日 – 约伯与我 （第一部分）