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Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 14:55:03 +-100
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: ChrExp, The Scriptures opened, 70
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Contents
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1. Exodus 24:17 - The LORD's glory
2. Psalm 38:3,4 - Unbearable sin
3. Hebrews 10:14-18 - Christ's perfect and only offering
1. Exodus 24:17 - The LORD's glory
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Weekly reading: Mishpatim, Exodus 21 - 24
Exodus 24:17
And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the
top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
The LORD said unto Moses: "Come up to Me into the mount, and be there.
I will give you tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I
have written, in order that you may teach them". He commanded Moses to
come up to Him into the mount. Moses obeyed, and rose up, together
with Joshua his minister. Before he left the congregation, Moses
commanded the elders of the people to tarry there until he came back.
When they had some matters, then Aaron and Hur were with them, that
they might ask them. Then they went up into the mount of God. A cloud
covered the mount. The children of Israel tarried beneath. When they
looked at the mountain, they saw that the glory of the LORD abode upon
it. They also saw that the cloud covered the mount. Looking at the
mount, and at the glory of the LORD upon it, it was a terrible sight
for the people. As our text has: "And the sight of the glory of the
LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of
the children of Israel."
Why was it, that the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire in
the sight of the people? Wasn't it the -glory- of the LORD? Why should
God's glory be like a devouring fire? Shouldn't the people delight in
seeing God's glory? The answer to this is easy. Yes, we should rejoice
at seeing God's glory. But carnal man are haters of God. They cannot
rejoice at God's glory, but it is like a devouring fire in their eyes.
The glory of God is like a devouring fire. Yes, but for what reason?
It was to frighten the transgressors of the law. They should know, and
see that God has nothing to do with transgressors. God's holiness will
kindle the sinners. They cannot go together. God and we, carnal man,
are eternally separated, unless reconciliation is made in Christ.
God's glory was terrifying to the carnal Israelites. God's glory was
for them like a devouring fire, as is written: "Take heed unto
yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he
made with you ... for the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a
jealous God", Deut. 4:23,24.
Note the difference between Moses and the people. Moses, without fear,
entered into the mount, drawing nigh to God's glory. He didn't fear.
Note the difference between him and the people. The people saw God's
glory as if it was a devouring fire. Moses gladly went up to God, but
the people feared. This difference, what is the cause of that? Why
didn't Moses fear, and why did the people see a devouring fire? Why
was God's glory hid from their eyes, but Moses rejoiced in it? It is
because Moses was spiritual, and they were carnal. The Lord appears
like a devouring fire to carnal men, but to them that He draws with
His Spirit, He is like a pleasant Father. This is the difference
between the regenerated and the unregenerated. When one isn't born
again, he will always fear God's glory, lest he be devoured. But the
man that is born again, sees all from the other side. What formerly
terrified him, will now rejoice him. While he in the past thought of
God as a terrible Being, now he experiences that God is a friendly
Father. In his unregenerated days, he exceedingly dreaded God because
of his sins, but now, having his sins forgiven and washed away, he
loves God.
The glory of God is most terrible to the wicked, but to Moses it was
most pleasant. From that are examples even in our days. I remember a
young woman. She experienced God's glory, while unregenerated. Since
that, she no longer dared to enter the Church. She so much dreaded
God, that she dared not attend the service, for she feared to be
consumed. This continued for several weeks, until, one Sunday, all
fear vanished. She experienced God's favour in her heart, and all fear
was away.
In the letter to the Hebrews, Paul wrote: "Our God is a consuming
fire" (12:29). And that is the truth. To every sinner, God is like a
consuming fire. Therefore, people, take heed lest you are consumed.
Sinner, convert! Keep always in mind what sort of God we have. We have
not such a God as you imagine, sinner. You flatter yourself with God's
favour. But it is not for you, as long as you continue in your own
ways. Be then converted. See that ye refuse not God that speaks. For
if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, at mount
Sinai, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that
speaketh from heaven, namely Jesus Christ. The glory of God was like a
consuming fire for the unconverted people. But we expect a new
revelation. God's appearance then only shook the mount, but when Jesus
comes back, not only the mount will shake, but much more. Not only
Sinai will smoke, but the complete heaven and the earth will vanish.
They will pass away with a great noise. So, if the glory of God at
Sinai was terrifying and consuming in the people's eyes, how will
Christ's return be? It will kill the ungodly. So, reader, what do you
need? Only regeneration will save you. Then you will rejoice in
Christ's return to judge the whole earth.
2. Psalm 38:3,4 - Unbearable sin
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Psalm 38:3,4
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger;
neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head:
as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
This is a Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. He remembers the
great distress wherein he has been, and the deliverance of God.
"O Lord", David says, "because of my sins, there is nothing sound in
me. Because I am always and ever transgressing your law, my flesh is
weak. Because I am a sinner, Thine anger is burning against me. And I
am restless because of my sin. My sin has removed the rest I in past
days had in Thou, O God. But now? There is no rest in my bones because
of my terrible behaviour. I have sinned against Thou. I have sinned
against knowledge and light. I knew that the result of sin would be
great damage of conscience. In former days, I experienced Thine
favour, and there was nothing between us. But now? I have sinned, and
all my peace is gone. Thine anger burns against me. For how long?"
"The iniquities I have committed are so many, that they are gone over
mine head. They are innumerable; they are very great. They go over
mine head. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine
iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up;
they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth
me. (Psalm 40:12)"
"I feel the burden of my sins on my back. Because I heaped sins unto
sins, the burden became greater and greater. Mine iniquities are now
so heavy, that I no longer can bear them. They are too heavy for me.
Lord, come to my aid, because I will fail. My sins are to heavy to be
borne."
"Lord, why should I always and ever sins against Thou? Why must I
always be the greatest transgressor? Why isn't it possible for me to
live godly? Lord, I have sinned greatly, and provoked Thy wrath. I
feel it burning within me, and I justify Thine judgement. Against
thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that
thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou
judgest. (Psalm 51:4) It is right, O my Lord, that Thine wrath burns
against me, lest I heedlessly continue in my sins. But Thine wrath is
too heavy to be borne; save me from destruction, O my God."
"God, my sins are the cause of the present estrangement. Thou are too
holy, then that Thou can see iniquity. Cleanse my, that I may return
to Thou, O God. Wash me, and I will be clean. Purity my inner parts,
that I again may rejoice in Thine grace. Purge away my sins, and
cleanse me. Why should I always live without Thou? Because of my
foolishness I am bowed down. I am ashamed to appear in the midst of
the people, because my sins are spread on my face. I am ashamed, Lord,
cleanse me. I am troubled, and am bowed down greatly. I am mourning
all the day long."
"Forgive my sins, and make me to hear joy and gladness. Forgive mine
iniquities, that my bones which Thou have broken may rejoice. Turn
away Thine face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Cleanse me, O God. Give me a renewed heart, O God; and renew a right
spirit within me. Turn Thy friendly face to me, but don't cast me away
from Thine presence. Do not take the Holy Spirit from me. Pour our
Thine Spirit upon me, that I may be cleansed from my great
transgressions. Restore unto me the joy of salvation. Give me a free
access to the throne of Thy grace. Give me the spirit of Thine
children; the Spirit of adoption, whereby I may cry, Abba, Father."
3. Hebrews 10:14-18 - Christ's perfect and only offering
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14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he
had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,
saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their
minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
The Apostle here says that Christ has by His only offering forever
perfected them that are sanctified. His one offering is enough
forever. It ought never to be repeated. "For by one offering he hath
perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Then he proves from
Scripture that it was foresaid that the offerings once would cease.
God foresaid in the Old Testament, that the offerings would cease.
When offerings are brought, it is because there are sins. For, it is
before the sins, that offerings are brought. So, offerings remember
that there are sins. God however said that this remembrance would
cease. He would forgive. He says: "Their sins and iniquities will I
remember no more." So, the remembrance would cease. If then the sins
are forgiven, why should we still offer? God said that He would
remember sins and iniquities no more. This means: "The perfect
offering will be brought, and I will no more remember sins; so, the
daily offerings are superfluous".
This is what we read in our text: "For by one offering he hath
perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost
also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is
the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the
Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I
write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now
where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin."
This is the main point of the apostle. Let us now consider the words.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified.
Who are the ones that are sanctified? They are the people that believe
in Christ Jesus, and are born again by the Spirit. They believe
through the Word and the Spirit in Jesus our Lord and Saviour. They
are the ones that are perfected through Christ's offering. So, His
offerings is in itself valuable enough to pay for all sins ever
committed, but He actually pays only for them that believe. Not for
the unbelievers. Those that are sanctified by Him, are also perfected
by Him. And this is done by His one offering. He once offered up
Himself, and that was enough forever.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:
The Holy Spirit, Author of the Word, witnessed these things to us. He
did so in His Word, but particularly in the form of the new covenant,
Jeremiah 31. This is the new covenant that God has made with us. From
this verse, wherein we read that the Holy Ghost witnesses to us, we
see that the Holy Spirit is the true God, and a distinguished Person
in the divine Being.
The Holy Ghost is a witness to us. Of what? Of what is said in
the fourteenth verse. "By one offering he hath perfected for ever them
that are sanctified."
For after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I
will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put
my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
These words are taken from Jeremiah 31, the verses 31 to 34. There you
read:
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the
land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an
husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house
of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in
their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be
their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and
every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all
know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith
the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember
their sin no more.
The words Paul uses are: "for I will forgive their iniquity, and I
will remember their sin no more". In Jeremiah 31 we read nothing of
the ceasing of offerings. But there we read of a complete remission of
sins. Now, if sins are forgiven completely, any offerings for sins are
useless. As he writes:
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for
sin.
There is remission of sins, so there is no more offering for sin.
There are no more offerings for reconciliation, but the offerings of
thank remain. Also the New Testament demands those offerings from us.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:1. And in another place we
read: "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his
name." Hebrews 13:15. In yet another place you read: "Ye also, as
lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ", 1
Peter 2:5.
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chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
Web: http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
Written by Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-070.txt
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