Most people don’t know how to correctly divide what they read in the Bible. Contrary to what religion tells us, the New Testament doesn’t begin with the gospel of Matthew; it begins with the cross and Jesus’ death and resurrection. It was at this point that Jesus ended the Old-Testament law and replaced it with grace. The world still lives under religious law and knows nothing else; however, the cross changed everything.
The law focused on work, not faith. It was man’s schoolmaster, designed to bring people to Christ, so that when He did come we could be justified by faith. Jesus is the end of the law to everyone who believes. For this reason He’s the mediator of the new covenant—now that He’s died to set us free from the sins committed under the first covenant. After all, a will, the New Testament, is in force only when the one who made it has died.
On one hand, there’s an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness; the law never made anything perfect. One the other hand, there’s the bringing of a better hope which allows us to draw near to God. If the first covenant had been faultless, there would’ve been no need for a second covenant to replace it.
When Jesus shed His blood, not only did He take away the sins of the world and re-open heaven to mankind, but He also became the mediator between God and man. Job spoke of this mediator in the Old Testament. Just before His death, Jesus told His disciples that He’s the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him. Later, Paul wrote to Timothy that there’s one God and one mediator between God and men—the man Christ Jesus.
Understanding what Jesus did greatly impacts the quality of our lives. He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. This puts the Scripture, “…With all your getting, get understanding” in a whole new light.
Prayer:
Lord, You radically changed life for the better when You sent Your Son to save us. We can now live in the abundance of your favor, even when we don’t deserve it. Thank You for this. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
Galatians 3:24
Romans 10:4
Hebrews 9:15, 17, NIV
Hebrews 7:18, 19, NKJV
Hebrews 8:7, NLT
Job 9:33, NLT
John 14:6
1 Timothy 2:5
John 10:10
Proverbs 4:7