Look at what the oldest book in the Bible has to say about this principle of a mediator.

Grace Bible Church
Pastor Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Tree of Life
Weekly Review
090819
Look at what the oldest book in the Bible has to say about this principle of a mediator;

We continue with our passage dealing with the Vine and the branches and the intimacy and oneness that should exist and develop between our LORD and us as Church-age believers.

Therefore, in relationship to our passage on the Vine and the branches,  we have been noting the importance of “The Doctrine of Positional Truth;” as well as “The Doctrine of Unity,” especially as it relates to believers in the Church-age.

They are such vital doctrines because the main purpose behind these  doctrines is to reveal to GOD’s children the many areas of Unity, Oneness, Intimacy, and the Union that exists between GOD and man, through the GOD-man, our LORD Jesus Christ.

Notice how far back these doctrines go to reveal to GOD’s children the many areas of Unity, Oneness, Intimacy, and the Union that exists between GOD and man, through the GOD-man, our LORD Jesus Christ.

In fact, this unity and oneness with intimacy goes as far back as the oldest book in the Bible, the book of Job, where we are taught, (probably by Elihu) that we needed a mediator between GOD and man.

Look at what the oldest book in the Bible has to say about this principle of a mediator;

JOB 9:1-2, Then Job answered, “In truth I know that this is so, but how can a man be in the right before GOD?

Job has four individuals who claim to be his friend, especially those who were friendly when Job was one of the wealthiest men on the earth and was prospering naturally and spiritually. Also, let me remind you of Job’s friends and the poor advice they gave to Job concerning why he was suffering so much.

Eliphaz was a doctrinal theologian of his day accurate in his understanding of metabolization of doctrine but very weak and inaccurate in his application. He knows a lot but lives a little! That’s true of a lot of believers today who are accurate in  their understanding and their metabolization of doctrine but, they are very weak and inaccurate in their application.

Bildad was an intellectual who followed the traditional opinions of his day. (Religion, Legalism, self-righteousness), all parlayed by arrogance into the evil of religion.

Zophar was a younger man and is the most arrogant of Job's friends filled with a lot of personal opinions about Job's situation. Zophar is so far away!!! And zo-phar gone!! He is intolerant, ill-mannered, and of course, the youngest of all and therefore, usually the most arrogant of all.

Now, all three friends had a tremendous emotional reaction, but you must remember that emotion has no ability to think. Emotion looks good to the average person especially in times of disaster and difficulties, however, emotion has no ability to rationalize, analyze, to synthesize, and to apply doctrine. However, Job does have one friend who has character and integrity and that is a man called Elihu, a doctrinal believer who is also a faithful friend, which is very rare to find.

In fact, speaking to a man who has found a woman of virtue as a wife, Solomon says PRO 18:22, He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.

Here’s another passage condoning unity and oneness; ECC 4:9-12, Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm {alone?} And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three {strands} is not quickly torn apart.

You may be wondering how we got here from the Vine and the branches, and the answer to that is GOD the Father has ordained unity to exist even before the foundation of the world. I said it many times before, and I’ll say many more times, PSA 133:1, (A Song of Ascents, of David.) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

Notice this fantastic prayer; JOH 17:11, “And I am no more in the world; and {yet} they themselves are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, {the name} which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We {are.}

JOH 17:19-23, “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, {art} in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.

Our LORD Jesus Christ had to become true humanity to be the mediator between GOD and man, JOB 9:1-2,32‑33; 1TI 2:5‑6.

The next part of this principle is found in JOB 9:32-33, “For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, that we may go to court together. There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both.”

He had to be equal with both GOD and mankind to be a mediator between both parties. Therefore, Jesus Christ had to be both undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever.

Therefore, I gave you eight different expressions that should exist among our LORD’s people, especially when it comes to Positional Truth and Union with Christ. The following eight descriptions then refer to the beginning of a new era or that of a new order.

1. We have The Last Adam and the New Creation; 2CO 5:17, GAL 6:15. According to the Word of GOD, there are only two Adam’s; the first Adam or the Last Adam. The first Adam and the last Adam represent the entire human race, in which, the first Adam lost dominion over the earth resulting in Satan becoming the GOD of this world.

Look how the apostle Paul put it in Rom 5.

ROM 5:6-10, For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the unGODly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But GOD demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of GOD} through Him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to GOD through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Then notice ROM 5:12, Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned‑‑

Look at ROM 5:17-21, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.

The Last Adam, our LORD Jesus Christ, came into this world and gained the victory back that the First Adam lost, but, this time our LORD is said to be the “Head” of the body and He will use that headship when He comes back with His saints.

1CO 15:21-22, For since by a man {came} death, by a man also {came} the resurrection of the dead. “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.”

Then skip down to 1CO 15:45, So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam {became} a life‑giving spirit.

Notice -- The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam {became} a life‑giving spirit. Here we have a reference to only two Adam’s = The first man, Adam, and the last Adam, the LORD Jesus Christ, all of which reveals the closeness we all possess with our LORD.

So, 1CO 15:45-49, So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam {became} a life‑giving spirit. However, the spiritual [a reference to our LORD as the Last Adam] is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

So, once again, our first principle is The Last Adam and the New Creation; found in 2CO 5:17, GAL 6:15.

So, first we have The Last Adam and the New Creation;

2. Next, we have the intimacy that should exist between the Head and the Body.

EPH 1:22-23, And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.

3. The Shepherd and the Sheep analogy emphasizes the provisions and the protection from Satan and the Kingdom of darkness; under this point, we could study Psa 23; Joh 10; 1Pe 2:15-25.

1PE 2:15    For such is the will of GOD that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1PE 2:16   {Act} as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but {use it} as bondslaves of GOD.

1PE 2:17-25, Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear GOD, honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this {finds} favor, if for the sake of conscience toward GOD a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer {for it} you patiently endure it, this {finds} favor with GOD. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering,

He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting {Himself} to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

4. The Vine and the branches; JOH 15:1-8, emphasizes the fruit of the Spirit that our LORD produced from the True Vine.
5. The Cornerstone and the building emphasize the unity that exists between the Jews and the Gentiles because our LORD is the chief cornerstone between them both; EPH 2:11-16. This principle is also identified by the use of the word ‘walls.”

EPH 2:11-16, Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so‑called “Circumcision,” {which is} performed in the flesh by human hands ‑ {remember} that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without GOD in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both {groups into} one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, {which is} the Law of commandments {contained} in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, {thus} establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to GOD through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.

6. The High Priest and the Royal Priesthood; HEB 3:1; 10:1-14. Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
7. The Groom and the Bride analogy (Christian marriage; EPH 5:22-33). One verse stood out here; EPH 5:32, This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
8. The King of kings and the Royal Family of GOD; 1PE 2:5; 2:9; REV 1:6. Therefore, I gave you eight different expressions that should exist among our LORD’s people, especially when it comes to Positional Truth and Union with Christ. The Bible numerology code number 8 signifies Resurrection and Regeneration. It is the number of a new beginning.

These eight descriptions refer to the beginning of a New Era or that of a New Order.