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today Administrator  Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009 |
Posted July 16th, 2012 09:22 AM IP  One Christ, one church
Jesus told Peter, "I will build my church" (Mtt 16:18). Soon after he died and arose from the dead, he did exactly that —He built his church, and he has been building it ever since.
The church is people Jesus built his church not of wood and stone, but of people. Peter was one of them, a part of the church's "foundation of the apostles and prophets" (Eph 2:20). Peter, like the other apostles, became a part of the church's one foundation. But he did this only by preaching the truth about Jesus Christ, "the chief corner stone" (Eph 2:20) so that all who follow that truth may be a part of the church too. The church is not a hierarchy of bishops and priests. All who make Christ the foundation of their lives, and obey him in faith, become stones in the temple of God. All those people are the church of Christ. (Eph 2:19-21, 1Pe 2:4-8).
The church is what Jesus built. Jesus did not say to Peter, "I will build your church". He said, "I will build my church". It is not "the church of Saint Peter". It is the church of Christ. Jesus is the true rock, and the church has "no other foundation" and no other founder. (1Co 3:11). Many denominations exist, all built and founded by someone other than Jesus. The church is not one of these. The church existed before any of these denominations. It did not arise out of them, and they did not arise out of it. They are separate "buildings" which the Lord did not build.
The church is the bride Jesus purchased with his blood. Only the church that Jesus built was "purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28), and is the "bride" he loves (Eph 5:25). Christ doesn't have a harem. He doesn't have several different brides. He did not purchase any denomination with his blood, nor take any denomination as his bride.
The church is what we are baptized into. It's Christ's "new creation by water and the word" (Eph 5:26). When a person is baptized in Christ's name, what church is that person baptized into? One of the denominations? No, one is baptized into Christ and into the church of Christ. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1Co 12:12-13).
The church is not like ice cream. Some people talk about "the church of your choice". They think of the church like ice cream that comes in various forms and flavours. You can choose any flavour you like. You can give it up when you are tired of it and feel like trying another sort of ice cream. But when it comes to choosing a church, what shall we choose? We can either "be tossed about by every wind of doctrine", or "build on the rock" of Christ's truth in love (Eph 4:14-15, Mtt 7:24). This applies not only to individual life, but to the collective life of the church. There is really only one church for a Christian to choose, and only one church for any church to be: the church that Jesus loved and died for.
What the word “church” means
How the word “church” is used. People use the word “church” to mean too many things. The following are common usages of the word “church”: a chapel or meeting house; a gathering held in the chapel for worship; the flock that habitually gathers there; the denomination they belong to; the world-wide body of saints. The Bible uses the word “church” in three of these ways, but the other two are modern usages.
In Scripture, "church" never means "denomination". The Bible confines itself to three of those meanings (B,C,E). It certainly never uses the word "church" to mean a sect, denomination, schism or ism. The Bible thus simplifies the ideas wrapped up in the word "church" and it is wise for us to untangle ourselves from the confusion of other uses. Referring to the chapel as the church is relatively harmless since it is only a metonym. However it is just as easy to call it a chapel or a "church house" as many do. Referring to a denomination, sect, schism, or ism as a "church" is misleading and confusing and is certainly not speaking as the Bible speaks.
Observe how the meaning has been distorted. If you had asked Christians in Bible times, "Which church do you belong to?" they would have answered with place names, not with the name of a denomination. Today, when you ask that question, you nearly always get the name of a denomination. Do a survey and see. That just shows you how much things have changed. There were plenty of "isms" even then, but the early Christians never spoke of the "ism" they followed as their "church". A similar kind of distortion has happened to the word "faith" and people speak of different "faiths" referring to different isms, when clearly "there is one faith" (Eph 4:5).
The Greek word for "church". The word "church" is commonly used to translate the Greek word åêêëåóéá ekklesia except in a couple of cases where ekklesia refers to a non-Christian assembly. The ek~ means "out" or "from" and the ~klesia comes from kaleo to call. So ekklesia simply means the "called out" people —called out of darkness into God's light. That light is the Lord Jesus Christ (1Pe 2:9 Jhn 1:4). There is nothing in this word to suggest a denomination.
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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today Administrator  Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009 |
Posted July 16th, 2012 09:26 AM IP  I Will Build My Church
We introduce the series Search for the True Church by briefly looking at the statement of Jesus, "I will build my church".
“I” marks the Lordship of Christ The first word of the statement is "I". This marks the Lordship of Christ. Nobody else is in a position to say what follows this "I". Jesus is the only rightful founder and head of the church, not you or me or someone else no matter how eminent. It's the same "I" as in "I am the way the truth and the life" (Jhn 14:6). Who else can say that?
“Will” marks the authority of ChristWhen Jesus says "will", he expresses his authority (Mtt 28:18). His will is supreme except for the will of his Father. Again I shall speak somewhat harshly, yet I hope appropriately. It is surprising how many believers in Christ proceed according to what pleases them, without bothering to ask if it pleases Christ and seeking their Master's authority. We have his authority to build nothing in his name, save that which he would build. When was it ever his will to build a denomination? Whatever is not according to his will is contrary to it.
“Build” marks the work of Christ When Jesus says "build", he expresses his work. "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me to finish his work... My Father is at work until now, so I am at work" (Jhn 4:34, Jhn 5:17). Promoting a denomination is not the work of Christ. Only in building the church Christ died for are we doing Christ's work. In building a denomination, we are working for somebody else and doing somebody else's work, not the Lord's.
“My” marks Christ's ownership of the church When Jesus says "my" he expresses his ownership. The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord. There is no other foundation (1Co 3:11). Only he is the chief corner stone, no one else (Eph 2:20). Only his blood purchased the church of God, nobody else's (Act 20:28). The church is his bride whom he loves. She belongs to no other (Eph 5:25-27). Christ does not own any denomination.
“Church” marks Christ's call When Jesus says "church", he expresses his call to the world. Jesus calls everyone into his one true church the "called out" people (ekklesia). Jesus calls nobody into any denomination. .
In every word of the statement "I will build my church" we are brought to the realization that Christ's church is what we should be restoring and establishing in the world. We should not replace it with anything else nor join ourselves to a "church" that someone else has founded. Let's work together in going back to the one true church of Christ. No other "church" will do.
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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today Administrator  Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009 |
Posted July 16th, 2012 09:32 AM IP  How to Find Christ’s Church —A process of elimination
Many people feel they must investigate every religion and denomination, but that task is of course impossible. The mass of doctrines and opinions is too vast for anyone to sift through. The attempt can lead only to despair and confusion.
How To Find Christ’s Church (Part 1)
Some questioning and investigation is needed, certainly: Examine everything carefully and hold fast what proves to be good" (1Th 5:21). However that does not mean you must spend years examining minutely all the doctrines of all the denominations.
Simply take a few salient marks of the true church, and arrange them in the most logical elimination sequence. For instance, we list just four marks of the New Testament church...
1 Four Marks of the True Church
1. Preaches the gospel
...that Christ died on the cross for our sins, was raised from the dead, ascended to the throne of God, and will return to judge the world (Acts 2:23-24, Acts 2:32-33, 1Co 15:3-4, 1Th 4:16-17, 2Tm 4:1).
2. Practices immersion
...in water in the name of Christ, of repentant believers, for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38, Rom 6:3-4).
3. Rejects lying wonders
...that purport to be miracles and signs, yet do not measure up to the standard and nature of miracles recorded in the scripture. (2Th 2:9-10, Acts 2:1-12, Acts 3:1-10, Acts 5:1-11, Acts 9:36-42).
4. Uses scriptural names
...and descriptions for the church, and refuses all names invented by men. The latter divide, whereas names and terms used by inspired writers are not divisive. (Acts 11:26, Rom 16:16, 1Co 1:10-13).
There is one caution in this lesson: make sure that every mark you apply is really a mark of the true church that distinguishes it from the false. Make sure that Jesus Christ gave to his church every characteristic mark that you apply. Otherwise you will be eliminating parts of the true church, and judging as spurious what Jesus regards as true! This would be an insult to Christ and to those true Christians you have excluded.
Study as of first importance, the four characteristics I mention. When you convince yourself that these are indeed true marks of the church, go and find a people who have these marks. I would be surprised if they did not have whatever other necessary marks there may be. The four marks would at least eliminate most churches, and you might then apply other true marks to the remaing few if necessary.
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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today Administrator  Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009 |
Posted July 16th, 2012 09:35 AM IP  The Church Jesus Bought —Purchased with the blood of Christ
What is the most precious physical thing of all? Out of every material thing that has been in this world throughout all the world's history, what has the greatest value?
The Church Jesus Bought
1 The Most Precious Physical Thing Ever
Christians do not hesitate to answer this question. The most precious thing ever is blood —Christ’s blood. When Christians talk about "the precious blood of Christ" (1Pe 1:18) they are not being silly. Christianity would not exist if not for the blood that poured from Jesus's body when he was crucified.
At the beginning of every week since Christ died, Christians have gathered for a symbolic ceremony of remembrance. This is the Lord's Supper ("the communion") in which Christians meditate upon the poured-out blood of Christ.
Christians believe that Christ's body was killed, and his blood shed, as a perfect sacrifice for them. They believe in no other means by which their sins, which alienate them from God, can be forgiven and their guilt removed. They have "faith in his blood" (Rom 3:23-25a).
This wonderful belief may leave us a little puzzled however. Christ's blood was spent and it is gone; it is no more. Our sins were "washed away" and they are gone; they are no more. Is Christianity a religion of things disappeared? The answer, of course, is no.
2 Christ Spent His Blood to Purchase His Church
Peter summarizes the heart of the gospel in this way:
"Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" (1Pe 2:24-25).
You will notice that Christians are a people returned to the possession of Christ. We are the redeemed property of God (Eph 1:13-14). Christ paid his own blood as the price to remove our sin so that we could return into his possession. He did not purchase our sins. He purchased the forgiveness of our sins so that we could be restored to God's possession.
An old man was speaking in church at the communion table one Sunday. He said, "We remember that Jesus purchased our sins with his blood". He paused a moment and then he said, "I don't think I said quite what I meant to say. Jesus doesn't want our sins. He did not purchase our sins. He purchased us from our sins. Let's remember that."
Indeed, let us remember that. Christ's blood is spent. Our sins are washed away in his blood. But Christianity is not a religion of things disappeared. Rather, it is a religion of people redeemed. It is wonderful that Christ's blood was spent so that our sins might be blotted out (Acts 3:19). But what came out of that is also wonderful, namely a purchased possession for Christ —his church. Anyone who wishes may belong.
The Precious Value of Christ's Blood Remains
Now if you've been thinking about this, you will realize that, although Christ's blood is spent and is no longer in the world, the precious value of his blood remains in what he purchased. Some time ago a person I know received an inheritance. She spent it all on a house. When she purchased the house, all the money was gone. But its value was transferred to the house.
When Christ purchased us Christians with his blood, the value of "his precious blood" was transferred to us. His blood is spent, but he has gained us. We are worth what his blood was worth. If we are not, then Christ made a bad transaction.
3 The Value is in His Local and Visible Church
Many professing Christians have a lot of trouble relating this to a neighbourhood church. They have to think of a glorious universal and heavenly church —as beautifully described in Hebrews 12:22-24. They can conceive of this grand, invisible, indivisible, invincible church as being worth the precious blood of Jesus. But they cannot conceive of a small and motley group of mere mortals worshipping in a humble chapel in some unremarkable suburb as representing such precious value. That is unfortunate.
Paul, as he was leaving the church in Ephesus, said to its elders, "Be shepherds of the church of God which he bought with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). If we ask what church that was, the answer is in the previous verse. It was the flock of which these elders had charge. They were elders of the church at Ephesus (verse 17). They were not shepherds of the "universal church". Yet they were to shepherd the church that Christ purchased with his blood —the neighbourhood church!
Of course the same is true of every true church in every locality. You can point to such a local church and say, "Behold the church purchased by the blood of Jesus!"
You might like to read again what we discussed in a previous lesson regarding "the visible church".
Sometimes people pay a lot of money and make a lot of sacrifice to get something that doesn't seem to be worth it. But they see potential in it, and are prepared to pay for that potential. It may be a rusty ancient car that they can restore, or a remote bush block where they think there is gold, or a run down restaurant they hope to make popular again. Is it so strange that Christ purchased us for our potential, knowing what he could make of us? It is not strange, but it is wonderful.
In these lessons our theme has been "Searching for the true church". I hope that this lesson has helped you to appreciate the value of what you will find if you make that search.
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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today Administrator  Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009 |
Posted July 16th, 2012 09:46 AM IP  The Church Over 2000 Years

Beginning at Jerusalem
There are lots of theories and heaps of books written about the beginning of Christianity. A great many of these repudiate the account composed by Luke following his investigations. Luke pin-points the beginning day.
Where and when. At Jerusalem, on the 50th day after the Passover that was observed just before the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
How and Why. Luke further shows that Christianity began on that day by the preaching of the gospel of Christ with power. Christianity was given the mission to preach that testimony of Jesus, beginning at Jerusalem, and then taking it into the uttermost parts of the earth. This was so the world could have forgiveness of sins.
Who. Luke also tells us who the first Christians were. They were about 3000 souls who received the gospel gladly, were convicted of their sins and convinced that the crucified Jesus was Christ. They repented of their sins and were baptized for forgiveness and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
This is not the whole story of course. The life and work of Jesus beforehand, and the work of the apostles afterward must be considered. However in that setting, this one day is pin-pointed by Luke as the day that Christianity was launched as a new religion.
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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today Administrator  Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009 |
Posted July 18th, 2012 06:26 AM IP  Who was the New Covenant For? —The change of covenants
The New Covenant was Mediated to All Who Should Be Saved
Christ has authority over all humankind to mediate his new covenant that can give life to all human beings. He does this by virtue of his blood sacrifice for all humankind, and by preaching the gospel throughout the world. He wants all to be saved, so he mediates the new covenant to all and for all. He prevents no one from obeying his covenant. Every human being comes under Christ's new covenant, because there is life for all who obey and punishment for all who disobey. The covenant is for all people, and nobody can opt out of it.
1 The Great Commission
The "new covenant" and the "gospel" are the same. Paul uses these terms interchangeably for his message and teaching (2Co 3:6,1:8, 2Co 4:3)
The gospel (new covenant) is preached in "all the world" to "all creation" —all human beings (Mrk 16:15-16, cf Mtt 28:18-20).
Christ gave his commission and covenant by his "authority over all mankind" so that all might have eternal life (Jhn 17:1-3).
The penalty for disobedience implies that all who are taught it are required to obey it and none is prevented (2Th 1:8, Heb 12:24-25).
2 God's Desire
God wants all human beings to know the truth and be saved (1Tm 2:4).
God made Jesus the mediator for everyone he wants to save —all human beings (1Tm 2:5).
Jesus gave himself as a ransom for as many as he wants to save —all human beings (1Tm 2:6).
3 Christ’s Sacrifice
The blood of Christ is "the blood of the new covenant" (Mtt 26:28.1:8, cf Heb 13:20).
Christ shed his blood "not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1Jn 2:1-2).
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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today Administrator  Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009 |
Posted July 18th, 2012 06:28 AM IP  How was the New Covenant Instituted ? (Part 1)
Three Kinds of Covenants
Covenants come in three styles, so first let us distinguish between these...
1. Negotiated Agreements
We sometimes hear the word "covenant" defined as an "agreement" —meaning a formal negotiated agreement between two parties. This is correct for some covenants. In Australia, a marriage is such a covenant, so also is the usual solution to an industrial dispute.
Abraham made such a covenant with Abimelech (Gen 21:22-34). Was the new covenant of Jesus Christ an agreement negotiated between man and God? Later we shall see that it is not.
2. Unconditional Promises
Another kind of covenant is a solemn promise or vow by one party to benefit a second party without requiring the other party to fulfill any conditions. Ruth made such a covenant with Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17).
God's rainbow promise is a good example. God made a promise never again to destroy the whole world with a flood, and he set his bow in the sky as a sign of this covenant (Gen 9:8-17). Mankind was not required to do anything for God to keep this promise. Was the new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ one of unconditional promises? Later we shall see that it is not.
3. Law with Penalty and Promise
A third type of covenant makes promises that are conditional upon the beneficiary doing something. An insurance policy legally binds the insurer to cover the insured against certain losses provided the insured pays premiums and looks after the property. A person's last will and testament may have certain conditions that the heir must comply with in order to inherit.
The covenant God made with Abraham was of this kind, and depended on Abraham's obedience to God's commands —as shown in the oath God swore to Abraham. "By myself I have sworn, because you have done this thing, and not witheld your son, your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you... and in your seed all the nations of earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice" (Gen 22:16-181:8, cf Gen 17:1-2).
In part two of this lesson, we will see that Christ’s new covenant is not of the first or second kind, but is of this third kind —a law with promise and penalty.
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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today Administrator  Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009 |
Posted July 18th, 2012 06:29 AM IP  How was the New Covenant Instituted? (Part 2)
A Law with Promise and Penalty
The Old Covenant
The old law of Moses was this kind of covenant. God said, "Now then, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation..." (Exo 19:5-6).
Moses pleaded with the children of Israel to "enter in to the covenant with the Lord your God and into his oath which the Lord your God is making with you today" (Deu 29:9-10,1:8, Deu 30:15-20).
This covenant, however, existed whether or not the people entered into it. They had a relationship with God, dictated by that covenant —whether they liked it or not. If they entered into the covenant they were friends with God. If they rebelled against the covenant, they were enemies of God. Either way, they had a “covenant relationship” with God.
The New Covenant
The new covenant is also of the third kind. Jesus "has obtained a more excellent ministry, because he is the mediator of a better covenant, which is based on better promises" (Heb 8:6-8). So the new covenant is vastly different from the old. It is not, however, different as to type. Although a far better covenant, it was still instituted by God unilaterally as a law with promise and penalty.
How many times did Jesus say, "keep my commandments... keep my words..." (eg Jhn 8:51-52,1:8, Jhn 14:15,23). The new covenant is a covenant of magnificent promises to those who keep its commandments. For those who don't, it has dire warnings.
The new covenant mediated by Christ is therefore likened to a person's last will and testament granting an inheritance (Heb 9:15-17). God has written his will so that anyone can become heirs of God. His will promises certain blessings, stipulates certain conditions, and decrees the penalty for non-compliance.
To summarize: God did not negotiate the new covenant with human beings. He mediated it to them through the appointed High Priest Jesus who offered himself as the necessary sacrifice. So, through the authority of Jesus, every person has a “covenant relationship” with God. Everybody is subject to the new covenant. This is a law covenant, because it is conditional, with either of two outcomes for each person —namely grace or wrath. Which of those alternatives is the outcome for any individual, depends on whether that person obeys or disobeys the terms or commandments of the covenant.
That is how the new covenant was instituted.
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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today Administrator  Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009 |
Posted July 18th, 2012 06:31 AM IP  Why was the New Covenant Needed? (Heb 8:6-8).
There had to be a better covenant
God's plan was in God's mind before creation (1Pe 1:20).
Christ's death as an atonement for sin was the crux of God's purpose (Act 2:23-24).
Reason dictates a change of covenants would occur at this event (Heb 7:22-271:8, cf Heb 7:12).
The old covenant was a preparation for the coming of Christ (Gal 3:24-25).
The old covenant (the law of Moses) did not have the means to take away sin (Heb 10:3-4).
2 There had to be a clearer revelation
What was a secret had to be made manifest (Rom 16:25-26).
What was a mystery had to be made known (Eph 1:9,1:8, 2Co3:16-17).
The ancient questions had to be answered (1Pe 1:10-12).
The shadows had to give way to the real (Heb 10:1).
3 There had to be a fuller freedom to live by faith
It's always been true that "The just shall live by faith" (Hab 2:4).
People were living by faith before the old covenant was in force (Heb 11:4-11).
The old covenant law did not do much to help people live by faith (Gal 3:10-14).
There was need of a covenant that could be written in the heart (Jer 31:31-33).
4 There had to be a way into the true tabernacle
It's always been possible to pray personally to God.
Hannah (Samuel's mother) did this (1Sm 1:1-18).
But earthly tabernacle kept God at a distance (Heb 9:2-3,11).
A new covenant was needed to provide a veil for entrance into the most holy place, instead of a veil that barred it (Heb10:19-20).
5 There had to be equal rights for all nations to come to God
It's always been possible for Gentiles to be converted (Ruth 1:16,1:8, Mtt 23:15,1:8, Act 2:10b).
But the "fullness of the Gentiles" had to come (Rom 11:25,1:8, Gal 3:14).
Believers had to be "all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:26-29).
There had to be "One flock with one Shepherd" (Jhn 10:16).
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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today Administrator  Posts: 13135 Registered: Mar 2009 |
Posted July 18th, 2012 06:32 AM IP  Why is the New Covenant Better?
It was Based on Better Promises
The new covenant is "a better covenant, based on better promises" (Heb 8:6-8). The main promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc, fall into two categories...
The old covenant was enacted with a view to the land promise, that the Israelites would make conquest of the land of Canaan (Gen 12:7,1:8, Gen 13:15,1:8, Gen 15:18 etc).
The new covenant was enacted with a view to the seed promise, that the whole world would be blessed in a descendant or seed of Abraham (Gen 22:18).
Paul says, "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn’t say, “To seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “To your seed,” which is Christ. Now I say this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul a covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, so as to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise." (Gal 3:16-18).
The seed promise —the blessing of eternal life through Jesus Christ— was not delivered by the old covenant. The new covenant is far superior as a unique ministry of eternal life in a heavenly kingdom forseen in the blessing of Abraham, and believed in by him (Heb 11:13-16).
2 It was Ratified by Better Blood
Hebrews 12:24 speaks of "Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better things than that of Abel."
You will recall that Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, because Abel made his offering by faith (Heb 11:4). Consequently, the blood of Abel was shed in anger by his brother. Abel therefore symbolises Christ, whose wicked brethren in anger caused the shedding of his blood. But neither the blood of righteous Abel, nor the blood in the animals he sacrificed to God, could atone for sin. Only Christ's blood could do that. Christ's blood is unique, so it "speaks better things than that of Abel".
When Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, he "took the cup saying, 'This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins'" (Matt 26:28, Lke 22:20). No other blood can take away the sins of the world (Heb 9:12,15,1:8, Heb 10:1-4).
3 It Came through a Better Mediator
Christ was superior to Moses, the mediator of the old covenant. Christ was the unique Son of the living God (Jhn 1:1,14,17). He was unique because, among other things, "he committed no sin" (1Pe 2:21-25) and so could be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. That made him a better mediator and his covenant a better covenant.
God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger
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