Sermon - Leviticus 9 to 10 - Obedient Service Part 4

Leviticus 9~10

Obedient Service - Part 4

So what's all this got to do with us today in the 21^st century? Over and over again in the Old Testament, we see that the nation of Israel were to be a people of service separated out for God!  Under the terms of the covenant God made with them through Moses, that was the core of God's agreement with them.

It commenced with the stipulation "Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me (Exodus 19v5)".

This covenant was with the nation of Israel in order that those who believed God's earlier promise to Abraham could know how to live a life worthy of being God's people: to live a life relating socially to God and to other people. It was also to show how humanity could approach God on God's terms alone and not on their own conditions! God was and is a perfect and holy God! His people, Israel, were to be a holy and separated people of service and to reflect God's glory and greatness to the other nations!

This covenant was only in place until the Messiah came and made the perfect sacrifice. All the Old Testament Covenants pointed towards the time when the Saviour Messiah would come - God would come Himself to save His people!  The Mosaic Covenant was never meant as a means towards salvation.  It was given that they could realize the helplessness of their own efforts to save themselves and their need of God's help.  One day, there would be a New Covenant between God and humanity and this Mosaic covenant would be fulfilled!

New Covenant?

So what is this New Covenant? Four primary features are:

• God will write His law on the hearts of people.
• God will be their God, and they will be His people.
• God will indwell people and they will be led by Him
• All sins will be forgiven and removed eternally

This new covenant was and is sealed only through the perfect sacrifice of the God-Man Jesus on the cross.  His blood ensures the truth of this New Covenant.  His death pays the penalty for the sins of all people who choose to say yes to God and follow Him.  This New Covenant finalizes what the Mosaic Covenant could only point to: the follower of God engaged in a dynamic relationship of Joy with a God who loves them. No longer would human priests need to mediate between God and humans, because Jesus Christ, the full visible manifestation of God, would fulfil that role as mediator and all people would have access to God through Him! Amazing stuff!

You and I have instant access to Almighty God. We can approach God's throne of grace with confidence and assurance because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  God no longer dwells in a Tent of Meeting, the Tabernacle or the Temple made of stone - He now lives in each believer - immediate access guaranteed! Amazing and yet how often we don't avail ourselves. But it is more than that, because as royal priests of this New Covenant, for that is what we are, we too are called into a joyful life of obedient service of God!

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