Surety

I find that sometimes even Grace believers need reassurance.

Some get ill. Some are stolen from. Some are discouraged. Some are disappointed in life …

His works are not unbeknownst to us

… all part of the enemy plan to say:

"... did God really say …?"

"Look, you couldn't even do a simple thing the law commanded you!"

"... and you still think you are worthy?"

But we have Surety!

A dictionary definition of the word surety is a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, for example their appearing in court or paying a debt.

I remember when my brother in law graduated as medical doctor and wanted to start his own practice, my father in law had to sign surety for him. That meant that even if my brother in law failed for any reason whatsoever to make a payment or payments, my father in law would bail him out.

And so it was that man kind throughout the ages, always wanted to bail himself out, without surety. Man kind proclaimed his own works … even when God wanted to meet and embrace Israel at mount Sinai the people preferred a standard, the law. When God wanted to meet with them to show them His Mercy and Grace, they rather had Moses talking to God instead, saying that all that God command, they would do. 

And so, God gave his standard...

And no one except Jesus could do it.

In the end we needed Someone to do this

Looking at Hebrews 7, the Hebrew author comes right to the point declaring the blatant truth in the face of whatever law mentality anyone still may have. He says: By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Someone took on full responsibility!

Commentary by the Holy Spirit

Adam Clark knocks it on the head even further. Look what he says:

This solemn, unchangeable oath of God, was Jesus made a surety, εγγυος, a mediator, one who brings the two parties together, witnesses the contract, and offers the covenant sacrifice on the occasion. See at the end of the chapter.

And the better testament part?

κρειττονοςδιατηκης. A better covenant; called, in the title to the sacred books which contain the whole Christian code, ηκαινηδιαθηκη, THE NEW COVENANT, thus contradistinguished from the Mosaic, which was the old covenant; and this is called the new and better covenant, because God has in it promised other blessings, to other people, on other conditions, than the old covenant did.

The new covenant is better than the old in the following particulars:

1. God promised to the Jewish nation certain secular blessings, peculiar to that nation, on condition of their keeping the law of Moses; but under the new covenant he promises pardon of sin, and final salvation to all mankind, on condition of believing on Jesus Christ, and walking in his testimonies.

2. The Jewish priests, fallible, dying men, were mediators of the old covenant, by means of their sacrifices, which could not take away sin, nor render the comers thereunto perfect. But Jesus Christ, who liveth for ever, who is infinite in wisdom and power, by the sacrifice of himself has established this new covenant, and by the shedding of his blood has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

Andy heard it right!

Let's read within context

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. Heb 7:18-22

Naturally it should follow

In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. Heb 8:13

As we said before

Can you remember the post asking the question on whether the old covenant has become obsolete?

Praise Jesus, our Surety above all!