 The title of our sermon this morning is redemption determined redemption determined and welcome back to our study of the essentials One sermon one hour one subject essential to a solid doctrinal foundation in the faith Now as we come to the topic this morning that we're going to be discussing the covenant of redemption That one sermon one hour commitment is going to be put to the test Over the next few weeks we come to this subject of covenant theology or a study of the divine covenants and Covenant theology is a a massive subject impacting a wide Range of issues cover to cover in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation Far-reaching implications. It's just a huge subject a subject that we will spend Our lifetimes here and into eternity Thinking about and glorifying God for and praising him for and worshiping him for it's just a massive subject When you were in school if you remember Being back in school, and maybe you were assigned a paper to write Covering covenant theology in one sermon is a little bit like writing a geology paper on rocks What's your astronomy paper going to be on my astronomy paper is going to be on space It's if you had a good teacher your teacher would come to you and say listen You need to narrow your subject narrow your subject, right? Much to the consternation of a good teacher. We're here doing the very same thing again We're recovering a massive subject. We're attempting to introduce it to you. You got to begin somewhere Right you eat a camel one by at a time. You got to start with the first bite. So here we go I've heard covenant theology Compared to the framework of a building the framework or the support structure of a building when you look at most buildings The framework is hidden from view But it's there behind the walls so to speak it's there as you look at key features of the building you look at key features of the Elevation key features of the architecture you can see that there were plans put in place You know that there's an internal structure there supporting the whole behind the walls so to speak and that supporting structure That framework is that on which the building or the features of the building are built Generally the framework or that support structure runs throughout the whole house you're following the analogy right runs throughout the whole house There's continuity To that support structure throughout the whole house it runs from room to room so to speak and as a good architect Might study each room individual for individually for its characteristic features He knows that there is a supporting framework that runs throughout Covenant theology is not unlike the framework or that support structure in a building It's a framework that scripture gives us This is a framework that scripture gives us to better see better understand better appreciate the beauty and the Continuity of the whole of God's revelation to man God's revelation to man isn't merely a series of stories or sort of a Connected series of narratives that are loosely put together this sort of generally tea. It's not like that at all Scripture is a grand whole a grand narrative made up of Connected tissue so to speak that runs through the whole of revelation from Genesis to revelation The rooms or the subjects if you will have scripture aren't chopped up and freestanding There's continuity rooms flow from one to another. There's a Progress of revelation you could say from room to room rather than different dispensations with different peoples with Different programs different purposes different promises what we find in scripture is one progressively revealed purpose and one progressively revealed people that's extremely important for us to understand in scripture. There is one progressively revealed purpose and progressively revealed people When we look at scripture, I think you begin to see that don't you when you read your Bible and you read your Bible You read your Bible you're studying your Bible you think about it All of this is the plan of God coming to fruition now in time as We walk through each room of that building that structure or each subject in scripture and there are many many rooms, right? Covenant theology is like the unifying Framework or the unifying support structure that helps us to see the building as a whole and it helps us to appreciate the building As a whole we see more of the building so to speak because we understand we know about that support structure So I pray And I hope I'll be praying with you that this brief introduction to covenant theology over the next several weeks Will adequately open the front door so to speak So you and I can step through stand in the foyer and examine the grand beauty of this beginning of this subject And I hope it's gonna prompt you to further study as you walk through the house as you walk through the house It's a subject like this that helps inform our understanding of those many rooms Okay, very important The 1689 London Baptist confession of faith Introduces the concept of covenant theology in this way in chapter 7 beginning in article 1 The distance between God and the creature is so great That although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator Yet they could never have attained the reward of life But by some voluntary condition condescension on God's part, which he had been pleased to Express by way of covenant Again the distance between God and the creature so great because of our sin And because we're creaturely so God the creator created man in his own image But God is the creator and we are the creature that in and of itself Creates a great distinction between us and God in that sense God is entirely other from us There is none like him and but then on top of that man has fallen The chasm grew even greater because we've fallen into sin and because that Distance that chasm between God and the creature is so great There's nothing that we could do ourselves to have attained the reward of life God in his grace and his love toward us condescends To redeem us condescends to relate to us and he has chosen to do that Pleased to express the revelation of himself and his redemptive purposes in Christ by means of covenant now covenant is simply a bond and Oath you could say a promise but more than a promise. It's a binding agreement between two or more parties An agreement you could say that agreement can be established in many ways Many ways in which that agreement that covenant can be established founded under various conditions And although it may be established in many ways under various conditions It's still understood as a covenant two parties may come together and negotiate a contract That's a covenant a conquering king May impose a tribute or a tax in exchange for future protection That's a unilateral covenant, right a man and a woman may commit themselves in Covenant the covenant of marriage is a bilateral covenant right many conditions many ways in which a covenant may be formed and still properly understood to be a covenant or a divine covenant may be imposed by God Unilaterally with no input from man whatsoever and all of these may be rightly described described as a covenant Hold your Bible up for a second. Even your Bible Old Testament and New Testament, right the word testament the word testament merely translates or is another translation for covenant in The Bible it's just another translation of the word for covenant We have the Old Testament essentially corresponding to the covenant that God made the old covenant that he made with the ancient Nation of Israel at Sinai and we have the New Testament corresponding to the New Covenant Essentially established by Christ in his own shed blood with his New Covenant people So we have the Old Testament source documents you could say they are the covenant Documents of that old covenant that God made with the nation of Israel and we have New Testament or New Covenant documents Essentially related to his New Covenant people in Christ The actual Old Testament Hebrew word for Covenant and the New Testament Greek word for Covenant are used Frequently very often very often in the Bible all over the Bible, but it's also Very frequent exceedingly frequent that covenant ideas and covenant languages being used without Mentioning the actual word when you begin to think this way and you read your Bible from Genesis Revelation You begin to see Covenant influence Covenant ideas Covenant language all over the scriptures It's also very frequent That are I understand important understand that it's the context of that language that defines or orders the concept We understand Covenant and what kind of Covenant it is or what import the Covenant has Based on the language in which it's found context is key in other words if you try to impose some needlessly strict Definition of the word Covenant You're going to misunderstand your Bible and you're gonna make a mess of a centuries old Conversation that we are now entering into right These are things that have been discussed among theologians for centuries They've been talked about by Christian men Christian women for centuries And if you come along now and say this is a Covenant and there is no other definition for a Covenant This is the way it's defined and if it doesn't match this definition in Scripture Then it's not a Covenant and you try to throw out the baby with a bathwater and say there's no such thing as Covenant theology You are going to misunderstand the Bible You're going to miss out on your Bible And you're gonna make a dog's ear of the conversation that's been going on before you ever got there right you're gonna make a mess of that room That you just walked into our confession and Covenant theology in general is concerned with a study of the divine Covenants God has determined to be Gracious to those that he is made in his image But the distance between God and those he has made in his image the distinction between them the creature Creator distinction so to speak the chasm between them is so great that God must voluntarily or Graciously in love he must condescend God chooses to stoop To relate to mankind and the terms of that relationship are expressed by way or by means of Covenant They are relational Arrangements the divine Covenants are relational Arrangements none greater than that Covenant established in the blood of his own son whereby lost Sinners deserving of hell may enter into life ever lasting through faith in him the covenant of grace right again our confession Chapter 7 article 2 says it this way Moreover Man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall It pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace Wherein he freely offers to sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ requiring of them faith in him that they may be saved and Promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His holy spirit to make them willing and able to believe I want to recommend our confession to you as we work through these subjects. It's exceedingly helpful Nehemiah Cox One of the leading contributors to our confession said it this way Divine Covenants are concerned with the benefits of God that he will bestow on man The communion that man will have with God and the ways and means by which this will be enjoyed by man Three aspects, right? They're concerned with the benefits that God is going to bestow on man the Communion that will have with God and the means by which this will be enjoyed now We see that expressed in the confession most importantly we see it clearly expressed in the Bible and most clearly and most Beautifully expressed expressed through the gospel the gospel Progressively revealed through the covenant of grace now what we also see So clearly revealed in the Bible is that all this Was far from being plan B or plan C when man fell into sin Far from being God Simply trying to salvage something left over after man fell in the garden trying to figure it out as he goes along Right trying to make this is not going to work the way. I thought it was going to work We need to do something different. It's not what happened, right? Far from God sort of making this all up as he goes along the covenant of grace is how God planned to glorify himself all along You consider these covenants and the way that God operates in Scripture this was Designed you could say in the infinite wisdom of Almighty God To bring about the most glory to himself the most glory to the Son the most glory to the Spirit and the most glory to those Who will redeem in the Sun? This is a beautiful infinitely wise immeasurably wise perfect plan of God through which he saves his own it is beautiful and Magnificent and majestic and glorious and the more that you learn of it the more that you Appreciate the beauty and the majesty and the infinite wisdom of it the God who made us Is the God who saved us and is the God who loved us before the foundation of the world and Predestined us to adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will before time began all of this everything that's taking place took place first in the mind of an infinitely wise infinitely loving infinitely gracious infinitely perfect God and It is glorious Chapter 7 article 3 listen to this This covenant in particular here the covenant of grace is Revealed in the gospel First of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman That's Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 right even in the midst of the curse He says your seed the seed of the woman will crush the serpent's head a promise the first promise of the gospel there in the garden afterwards by farther steps until the full discovery thereof was completed in the New Testament and It is founded in that Eternal covenant transaction that was between the father and the son about the redemption of the elect in other words the story of the Bible is God's promise through the covenant of grace to redeem a fallen humanity in his son and that covenant of grace Revealed in seed form in the promise to Adam Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 And then you could say from Genesis to Revelation from seed to fully bloomed fully blossomed flower From mystery to full revelation in Christ We see that covenant established in technical or splendor if you will through the life death Resurrection ascension and session of the Lord Jesus Christ himself but all that all of that our confession says is founded in that eternal covenant transaction That was between the father and the son about the redemption of the elect our confession is referring there to the covenant of redemption this covenant within the counsel of the Godhead is where it all began it's Redundant to say eternity past isn't it? But eternity past sort of tells us which direction the eternity is reaching It was in a sense in eternity past when this covenant you could say this arrangement Was conceived within the counsels of the Godhead and this is where our discussion of covenant theology this morning will begin as well In summary, let me give you a simple definition a simple definition The covenant of redemption is an agreement Before time began between father son and holy spirit To execute the will of God in bringing about the redemption of God's chosen or elect people Let me give it to you again if you're writing it down the covenant of redemption is an agreement before time began an Agreement between father son and holy spirit To execute the will of God in bringing about the redemption of God's chosen or elect people The covenant of redemption Involves the ordaining or the appointing the appointment of God the Son To accomplish the work of our redemption through his incarnation through his perfect Obedience through his suffering through his death through his resurrection through his ascension and now through his intercession or session The covenant of redemption also involves the work of the spirit Empowering the son in his incarnation and applying the work of redemption to the elect In other words, the father sends the son The son Accomplishes the work and the father and son send the spirit to apply that work to God's people make sense all of that determined Before time began Everywhere in scripture this arrangement has spoken of in terms of or in the language of a covenant What the father will do for the son what the son will do for the glory of the father How the father and the spirit will assist the son how the spirit will apply the work Now like the word trinity Like the word trinity you're not going to find that label covenant of redemption in the Bible You're not going to find that label in the Bible like the doctrine of the trinity the covenant of redemption is a doctrine that is seen in text passages that refer to this arrangement that took place Where you'll see this is in passages of scripture Where God the father God the son and God the Holy Spirit are making commitments to one another You see that in the language of the Bible where God the father God the son God the spirit are making Commitments to one another to execute the work of redemption Where God promises reward where God promises glory to the son and where those Commitments are fulfilled and I want to take some time today and look at some texts and some passages that will help us to see these things Where there is covenant language being used or the workings of a covenant being described You'll see contracted parties You'll see contracted commitments, and you'll see contracted rewards Where covenant language is being used you'll see contracted parties contracted commitments and contracted rewards I want you to listen for those three factors as we take a look at Several texts this morning beginning with the servant songs of Isaiah probably be to Isaiah chapter 42 Well, this would be a good section of text to take a look at these issues together Isaiah beginning in Isaiah chapter 42 And here in a section of scripture About the coming or promised servant of God. They're called the servant songs of Isaiah the beginning in chapter 42 There in chapter 42 begin in verse one with me in verse one we have Yahweh speaking God Almighty, okay chapter 42 verse 1 Yahweh says behold my Servant whom I uphold my elect one in whom my soul delights I have put my spirit upon him now from what we know of the rest of the Bible and from what we know of Isaiah here in chapter 42 Who is God speaking of who's the servant? The servant is the Lord Jesus Christ Lord Jesus Christ in Luke chapter 4 will assert that he is the servant being spoken of in Isaiah, okay This is the servant of Yahweh the servant of Yahweh is God the Son the Lord Jesus Christ now listen to what this servant Will do this is the work that the Son will Accomplish verse 1 he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles He will not cry out nor raise his voice nor cause his voice to be heard in the street a Bruised read he will not break smoking flax. He will not quench. He will bring forth the justice for truth He will not fail nor be discouraged till he has established Justice in the earth and the coastlands shall wait for his law That's a work the son comes to do amen and the son gloriously accomplishes that work and when was that work determined? Before time began it wasn't that the alarm clock goes off Jesus Christ hops up out of bed and he says what am I gonna do today? I know what I'm gonna do. I'm going to bring forth justice. No, right? That's not how it worked This was determined before time began now listen Now it's time for Yahweh's commitments to support the servant in his work look at verse 5 Thus says the Lord God Yahweh now who created the heavens and stretched them out who spread forth the earth and that which comes From it who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it now What will the Lord do now in sending the son with this mission that we just heard about verse 6? I the Lord have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people as a light to the Gentiles to open blind eyes To bring out prisoners from the prison those who sit in darkness from the prison house Now who is Yahweh making promises to here making promises to the Lord Jesus Christ? The Yahweh God is making promise promises making commitments to the Lord Jesus Christ verse 9 I Am the Lord that is my name and my glory I will not give to another nor my praise to carve images behold the former things have come to pass and new things I declare before they spring forth. I tell you of them Flip the page and look at Isaiah chapter 49 Isaiah chapter 49 And look there beginning at verse 1 We have this mission that the son has been set sent on by the father and the father's Commitments to aid and to help the son in his accomplishment of that mission and now in Isaiah chapter 49 verse 1 The son God the son now speaks look at verse 1 Listen oh coastlands to me and take heed you peoples from afar the Lord has called me. Who's the me? That's Jesus Christ. This is the servant speaking right The Lord has called me from the womb from the matrix of my mother He has made mention of my name and he has made my mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of his hand He has hidden me. He has made me a polished shaft in his quiver He has hidden me now listen Jesus Christ is no created being no created beating being But what is God? What is Yahweh done for the Lord Jesus Christ in his incarnation in his? Sending of the Lord Jesus Christ into the earth to affect the work of our redemption God has prepared Jesus Christ for this right called Jesus Christ to this you could say He has said to me verse 3 you are my servant Oh Israel in whom I will be glorified Then I said I have labored in vain I've spent my strength for nothing and in vain yet. Surely my just reward is with the Lord I notice the language now of reward of reward for his work and my work my work with my God Now if you think about verse 4 I've labored in vain I've spent my strength for nothing in vain when Lord Jesus Christ came was he received By those he came to know I came to my own they received me not It looked like especially at the Lord's crucifixion looked like his work was you could say in vain Right if there there weren't many saved the elect had not been fully brought in his work was only really beginning Right his work was accomplished and finished at the cross and then continued by the spirit through his people But at that time I've labored in vain. I've spent my strength for nothing in vain yet. Surely my just reward is with the Lord He trusts The father you could say with the accomplishment with the finishing of the work that his reward is with him He will be rewarded for his labor Elsewhere it says that his soul will be satisfied But he will look upon his work and his soul will be satisfied and his work with his God verse 5 And now the Lord says who formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him So that Israel is gathered to him For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength Indeed he says verse 6 It's too small a thing That you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles to the nations. It's God the Father Giving or sending God the Son as a light to the nations. Do you see? That verse 6 you should be my salvation to the ends of the earth Thus says the Lord the Redeemer of Israel their holy one to him whom man despises To him whom the nation abhors to the servant of rulers. That's the Lord Jesus Christ again King shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord who is faithful the holy one of Israel and he has chosen you God the Father has chosen so to speak God the Son to accomplish this work of salvation Thus says the Lord verse 8 in an acceptable time. I have heard you in the day of salvation I have helped you I will preserve you and give you as a covenant to the people to restore the earth to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages Then we're looking at covenant language, right? God Sending the Son God committing himself to help and to aid the son the son Undertaking that work in covenant commitment to redeem his people. We're looking at scripture where the members of the Trinity are making covenant commitments to one another even language of reward associated with the fulfillment of those Commitments and again when you begin to think of scripture in these terms you can think of passages all over the Bible Where this is the case right all over the Bible where this is the case? I only do that which pleases him the Lord says right I've come to do the will of my father in heaven not to do my own will but to do the will of him who Sent me right all over the Bible this language Flip the page and look at Isaiah 50 Isaiah chapter 50 Look there beginning in verse 4 and here in verse 4 God the Son speaking again In verse 4 the Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him Who is weary he awakens me morning by morning. He awakens my ear to hear as the learned now remember When we think about this in terms of the covenant redemption we're also very closely Relating this subject to the Trinity the work of the Trinity the members of the Godhead God is one God in three distinct persons they have one Indivisible will as God, but they execute that one indivisible will as God in the economy or in the work of three Distinct persons God the father God the son God the Holy Spirit, okay, so here You see this work of the Trinity and again all over the Bible the Lord God has given me So Yahweh has given God the Son the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season Damn, it was weary. He awakens me morning by morning. We're seeing this relationship within the members of the Godhead He awakens my ear to hear as the learned the Lord God has opened my ear and the servant here now replies I was not rebellious Nor did I turn away in other words. That's God the Son saying I was given a mission and I didn't rebel against that mission I was given a work to do and I didn't rebel against that commitment. I didn't turn my ear away. I was not rebellious Verse six, what did he do? I gave my back to those who struck me My cheeks I gave to those who plucked out the beard. I did not hide my face from shame and Spitting and elsewhere in Scripture that obedience is Beautifully exalted and magnified isn't it that he became obedient to the point of death even the death of the cross Therefore he has a name that is highly exalted, right? Why why did he do this? Why did the Son? commit to this mission verse seven Because the Lord God will help me Therefore I will not be disgraced Therefore I have set my face like a flint and I know that I will not be ashamed Why because the Lord God will help me you see these commitments made to one another the work of each individual member of the Trinity Verse eight he is near who justifies me who will contend with me. Let us stand together Who is my adversary? Let him come near me. Surely the Lord God will help me Who is he who will condemn me indeed? They will all grow old like a garment the moth will eat them up flip the page Isaiah 53 Isaiah chapter 53 and Look there beginning at verse 10 And specifically in Isaiah 53 notice the language of reward for his obedience the language of reward verse 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him He has put him to grief who put him to grief the Lord did who did he put to grief the Lord Jesus Christ Do you see God the Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit When you make his soul and offering for sin he shall see his seed He shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord the pleasure of Yahweh Shall prosper in his hand, right? It's the pleasure of Yahweh that is in the hand of God the Son and The pleasure of Yahweh will prosper in the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ right that work will Prosper verse 11 he shall see the labor of his soul and be satisfied by his knowledge My righteous servant shall justify many for he shall bear their iniquities Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great here are rewards for covenant fulfillment, right? Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great He shall divide the spoil with the strong because he poured out his soul unto death and he was numbered with the Transgressors he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressor transgressors But again, it's reminiscent of Philippians chapter 2. It's a beautiful beautiful passage. I became he humbled himself Became obedient to the point of death even the death of the cross Therefore God also has highly exalted exalted him and given him the name which is above every name that in the at the name of the Lord Jesus Christ every tongue shall confess every knee shall bow, right? reward for his labor Flip the page look at Isaiah 61. Let's go to one more Isaiah 61 All through the servant songs of Isaiah We see this and that's just a taste of this language all through the Bible Isaiah chapter 60. It's interesting You'll talk to somebody and say it's nowhere in the Bible Covenant redemption is nowhere in the Bible coming redemption is all over the Bible I was reading a book one time and I was sitting at the table reading a book and Someone walked up to me a pastor walked up to me and he said what you're reading And I said I'm reading this book on the covenant of redemption and it's why I believe that if it was in the Bible I'd believe it if it was in the Bible. It's all over the Bible. It's all over the Bible We just need to see it We need to understand it right it's all over the Bible Isaiah chapter 61 Look there beginning at verse 1 and notice the work of the Spirit in verse 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me Because the Lord has anointed me the Lord anointed the Son and Anointed the Son with the Spirit now to what purpose to what end was the Lord Jesus Christ the servant to what end was he appointed or anointed verse 1 To preach good tidings to the poor He has sent me do you see the scent language, right? He has sent me God the father commissions God the Son when that happened before time began. What is that? That's the covenant Arrangement determined before time began for our redemption. This is the covenant of redemption To preach good tidings to the poor He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted To proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound to Proclaim the acceptable year the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn to console those who mourn in Zion To give them beauty for ashes the oil of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness That they may be called trees of a righteousness the planting of the Lord that he may be glorified Luke 4 in reading this very passage the Lord Jesus Christ proclaims himself To be this servant today. He said right in the synagogue that day this passage is fulfilled in your hearing He gives this message to the people in other words God the father appointed and anointed God the Son as his divine Messenger this is the Lord Jesus Christ in his role as prophet in his role as prophet, right the three fold Role you could say of the Lord Jesus Christ prophet Priest and king here is the Lord Jesus Christ sent as prophet you think about that with respect to Hebrews chapter 1 God in various ways and times past spoke to the fathers by the Prophets but now in these last days has spoken to us by his Son right Jesus Christ comes as prophet Priest and king not just comes Jesus Christ sent by God the father as prophet priest and king But think with me and let's summarize these passages. We've gone through several passages just in one book of the Bible What do we see in these passages and again? There are many like them We see three parties to the covenant Three parties to this arrangement God the father God the son God the Holy Spirit We see three distinct roles or three Distinct works you could say that are being done each member of the Trinity with work that they alone Perform God the father does not die God the son dies on the cross right God the son did not choose God the father chose You see three distinct the spirit of God is poured out after Jesus Christ ascends right God the father isn't wouldn't be Accurate to say that he was poured out. Okay three distinct roles, but a perfect Economy of effort a perfect economy of work. There's not one thing missing now. Listen is where good theology becomes very important Jesus Christ didn't just make salvation potential For anyone who would come as if his blood was shed in vain But God the father elects a people for the son He gives or grants that people to the son the son comes and he bears their sin Sheds his blood to redeem those whom the father has given him And the spirit is applying the work the person in work of the Lord Jesus Christ to the elect for their redemption. It is a Perfect work. Do you see nothing? No effort wasted. No effort wasted. It's perfect Three parties of the arrangement three distinct roles we see covenant commitment. I will do this for you You will do this for me. I will be rewarded for this work that I will accomplish right and we have agreeing parties We have commitments promises requirements rewards. This is all the language of Covenant and one example from a series of texts where we see specifically here the covenant of redemption and we know from Many texts in the Bible think through some of these with me We know from many texts in the Bible that this arrangement entails commitments one The father sends the son to complete a mission Obvious from the text of scripture The father sends the son to complete a mission the work of redemption Even the name servant right the way that the Lord calls him his servant in the servant songs of Isaiah in John chapter 5 verse 36 the Lord Jesus Christ says the works which the father has given me to finish There works that the father has given him to finish. When did he give him those works to finish? Before time began right when at the in the councils of the Godhead in the covenant of redemption God the father gives God the son works to finish John 5 36 the works Which the father has given me to finish the very works that I do Bear witness of me that the father has sent me and there it is again Sent language and now listen folks you and I We participate in the accomplishment of that work which is a glorious and Gracious privilege of God as he condescends to include the bride of Christ in Making up what you could say what Paul would say was lacking in the afflictions of Christ to bring about the accomplishment of his work on the earth By preaching the gospel We are included into this as the father sent me Jesus Christ said so send I You right we participate in this which is a glorious glorious blessing So one the father sends the son to complete a mission to the father Appoints the son as prophet priest and king the father appoints the son as prophet priest and king Listen to this from Psalm 2 beginning in verse 6 God says I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion. I Will declare the decree The Lord has said to me you are my son today. I have begotten you Was the Lord Jesus Christ begotten as son on the day that he was born to Mary No, the Bible says that he was eternally begotten of the son the eternally begotten one He this is the eternal generation of the son He is when was the day you could say when God said today I have begotten you its eternity past right eternity past before time began God says ask of me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance the ends of the earth for your possession You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel My king prophet priest and king God establishes the Lord Jesus Christ as king Psalm 110 beginning in verse 1 listen The Lord said to my Lord Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion Rule in the midst of your enemies your people shall be volunteers in the day of your power in The beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning you have the dew of your youth The Lord has sworn and will not relent notice the Lord has sworn. What is that? That's covenant language right who did he swear to he swore to God the son The Lord has sworn and will not relent you are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek. Who's that? It's the Lord Jesus Christ Prophet priest king listen to John chapter 10 verse 17 the Lord says Therefore my father loves me why because I lay down my life that I may take it again No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. The son was a willing Party to the covenant you see no one takes it from me. I lay it down of myself I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again this Command I have received from my father again covenant language agreement language It's obvious isn't from scripture There's an arrangement that has taken place between father son and holy spirit in eternity past it affects our redemption Thirdly the father commits himself to the son. He gives his spirit to the son He protects the son preserves the son loves the son sustains the son Fourthly the father promised reward for the son in the accomplishment of his work We saw that in Isaiah chapter 53 Where God says to the son I will divide a portion for him among the great I will give him I'll divide him a portion with the great We also saw that in Philippians chapter 2 therefore God has highly exalted him Right given him the name which is above every name Turn with me to revelation chapter 5 revelation chapter 5 and speaking of reward look also at the end of the matter you could say in Revelation chapter 5 beginning in verse 8 and The reward given to the son for the accomplishment of the work That the father has given him to do right revelation chapter 5 Look at verse 8 and when he had taken the scroll The four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb Each having a harp golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints and They sang a new song saying you eat their singing to God the son the Lord Jesus Christ You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals Because you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation And you've made us kings and priests to our God and we shall reign on the earth Notice also Who's involved in the reward given to the son is that not awesome, right? Verse 11 then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne the living creatures and the elders and the number Of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing and Words cannot describe right words fail us, but that's the reward given to the son for the accomplishment of his work Power riches wisdom strength honor glory blessing Verse 13 in every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that is in Them are in them. I heard saying Blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne and to the lamb Forever and ever then the four living creatures said amen and the 24 elders fell down and worshiped him Who lives forever and ever, right? He is the preeminent the supremely exalted one Forever and forever why because he has accomplished the work that the father has given him to do in the redemption of his bride Us his people, right? Amazing that is Amazing We see that the Lord we see that don't we in the Lord's high priestly prayer in John chapter 17 On the eve of his crucifixion listen to this from verse 1 Jesus spoke these words He lifted up his eyes to heaven and he said father The hour has come. It's the hour of his death. He's about to go to the cross. He's gonna drink the cup of God's wrath Glorify your son that your son also may glorify you as you have given him authority Over all flesh to what end that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him Listen, this is So clear so inarguable. This is covenant language commitment language God the father committed to God the son God the son Accomplishing the work that God the father has given him to do for whose benefit the elects benefit those that God the father Has given to God the son when did that take place before time began? Do you see? You have given him authority over all flesh that he the son should give eternal life to everybody You know to as many as you have given him and This is eternal life first three that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work which you have given me to do When was he given that work? Before time began the covenant of redemption. You see I've glorified you on the earth I have finished the work which you have given me to do and now oh father Glorify me together with yourself with the glory which I had with you before the world was Well after the Lord was crucified Yes, the covenant work of redemption then was over No, the accomplished work of our redemption is finished Lord Jesus Christ said it is finished but the work of Gathering in now the elect and applying The blessings of that accomplished work rests in the power of the Spirit as he continues the work We see the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost Then applying the work of redemption Acts chapter 2 verse 33 listen Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God Jesus now having received from the father the promise of the Holy Spirit When did Jesus receive the promise of the Holy Spirit? And the councils of the Godhead before time began right? Same answer he poured out this which you now see in here Peter says at Pentecost Covenant parties involved covenant commitments made Covenant rewards promised Covenant rewards fulfilled Notice the presence of prior promises Prior commitments all this determined again before the world was we're not making this up as we go along Right this predates Adam's sin predates creation Predates any work that you think you could should do predates you Before Romans 9 before the children had ever done anything good or evil God said Jacob I've loved Esau I've hated Predates you predates me listen to 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse 9 God has saved us and Called us with a holy calling not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus after we were born No, it's not what it says Before time began you see before time began Titus chapter 1 verse 2 we live in hope of Eternal life which God who cannot lie promised After we were born no promised before time began Promise long before God created us Long before the Bible was ever even written when there was only the triune God Now listen it if there was only the triune God then who was the promise made to? Never thought about that before Titus chapter 1 verse 2 we live in hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie promised Before time began well before time began the only one who existed was God one God three persons Who was the promise made to? before time began Owen says it was made to the son of God for us The son of God on our behalf God the father promised God the son for us Promised God the son and us in him you see us in him. This is a glimpse back in the annals of Eternity eternity past so to speak a glimpse at the covenant of redemption In Luke chapter 22 there's so many texts. They are all over the place all over the place Luke chapter 22 verse 28 The Lord says to his disciples He says you are those who have continued with me in my trials This is nearing the end of the Lord's life You are those who have continued with me in my trials and I Bestowed the a teeth they may be a teeth. They mean I bestow upon you a kingdom Just as my father bestowed the a teeth they may one upon me Lord Jesus Christ looks at his disciples and he says you continue with me in my trials and now in the accomplishment of my finished work I bestow upon you a kingdom Just as my father bestowed upon or granted to me a kingdom That you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel that word Dia teeth. Amy is a covenant word It's covenant language related to Dia. Take which is covenant language When did God the father grant or promise a kingdom to the son? Before time began Well, what was in all of this? The covenant commitment then of the son. What was the covenant commitment of the son? Jesus said to the father. I've come not to do my own will But the will of him who sent me will have him who sent me What was the son committing to do in the covenant of redemption think with me now? The son would commit to the incarnation Before time began in the councils of the Godhead There was God the father God the son God the Holy Spirit God the son committed to the incarnation He would take on the flesh of our Existence and walk in our shoes so to speak Assuming a body and a soul For our salvation listen to Galatians chapter 4 beginning in verse 4 When the fullness of the time had come God sent forth his son who sent forth his son God God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law To redeem those who were under the law that we might receive the adoption as sons The incarnation one commentator said God became what we are So that we might become what we are not God becomes what we are that we might become what we are not namely righteous Paul says it Paul says it this way He who knew no sin Became sin for us that why that we might become the righteousness of God in him, right? The son would commit to the incarnation secondly The son would commit to assume the legal Responsibility for those he came to save He was accepting legal Responsibility for the elect for his people fallen humanity those he would save false worldly religion Doesn't deal with sin You talk to someone in false worldly religion any any other religion, but the one true faith Christianity of the Bible, right and it's all some variation of Dealing loosely or not at all with the problem the real problem of our sinfulness Sweep it under the rug capriciously forgive over here and don't forgive over here And I'm just gonna wipe the slate clean over here And we're just gonna all you got to do is just ask forgiveness just try to shape yourself up Just do the best you can we know we're all sinners just do the best it doesn't deal with sin, right? The legal liability associated with sin. Where's that legal liability come from? Well, it comes as a Result you could say of God's holy and just law the son in the covenant redemption commits to assume our legal liability Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 7 Let's look at this text and we'll conclude Hebrews chapter 7 The son commits to assume the legal Responsibility for those he came to save Hebrews chapter 7 and look at verse 20 Hebrews chapter 7 verse 20 and In as much as he was not made priest without an oath For they have become priests without an oath But he with an oath by him who said to him the Lord has sworn and will not relent Listen this arrangement made between God the father and God the son for God the son to come as Prophet priests now and King he was not made priests without an oath and Who was the oath made by it was made by the one who said The Lord has sworn and will not relent made by God Yahweh You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek verse 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant the new covenant the new covenant a surety is a guarantor Assurity is someone who stands legally in the place of another and Guarantees payment of a debt or payment of a legal liability Someone who stands in the place of another and says I guarantee this will be satisfied on their behalf On their behalf or for them. He's a surety. He is a Legal representative right a surety takes legal responsibility For that person's debt Assurity takes legal responsibility for that person's liability for what they owe Now if you think about it His elect his people those who are in faith like those who are in Christ through by grace through faith What debt? Do we oh what debt do we have? What legal liability have you incurred before God Almighty? Here's what it is. You have broken God's law You have incurred a debt why because God has called you to be holy He created you to be holy as image bears of God to be righteous and You have sinned against him you have broken his law from the time that you were born in Adam You were born with incurred debt with incurred Liability to the covenant made with Adam to obey God and you being born a sinner have not obeyed God You've broken his law and you are guilty as Guilty you owe a debt to what to God and God's justice and God's law and God's holiness You are guilty and you are legally liable for having broken his law Not only are we guilty for past sin against him everything that you've done every sin that you've committed up to this point But you are legally liable you owe him perfect obedience from now going forward We owe to God perfect obedience to his law. He created us. He's our creator From the time that you broke his law. You were indebted to the law you Became guilty under the law. You have legal liability to the law to God's justice This is not a case of just Do the best you can right or let's just sweep it under the rug or I can just Ask him for forgiveness and that's what God does. God forgives me. No the legal Liability associated with your guilt has to be dealt with if God is to be just God is just his law is holy just and good and God will execute the penalty associated with the legal liability of a law There is a law there is a law giver. We have offended God with our sin as sinners We are legally liable to punishment for our sin We owe the justice of God. We owe God The just payment do our sin and rebellion which is death and eternal death torment in hell the second death What does the Sun do in the covenant redemption? Before time began The Sun within the councils of the Godhead Commits himself to stand in the place of those who would be indebted legally liable for their offenses against God He is the surety of a new a better covenant He stands in the place of his own and he takes their punishment He takes responsibility for their guilt He is the surety and he says that debt will be satisfied That debt will be paid that guilt will be removed That law will be satisfied all to the praise and glory of the just law giver He guarantees The satisfaction of God's righteousness, right? He pays what they owe he suffers and he dies paying what they owe and He does for them what they cannot do themselves He fulfills all righteousness. He perfectly obeys He becomes our surety our satisfaction our mediator glorious, right and then listen what what he Has committed himself to do for us We no longer Must attempt to do for ourselves He's finished that if the Lord Jesus Christ is your surety if he satisfied those demands in Your stead if he has taken your penalty and he's fulfilled the demands of the law that In Adam you were required to fulfill Then there's no more work That you or I could ever imagine to do it would be Absurd and even blasphemous for us to think that I can add something to that with my own effort That's why salvation is not by works It is entirely by grace. How do you how do you get that? How is that applied to you? You receive it you receive it You say there's nothing I can do I am bankrupt. I am destitute. I am legally liable to the penalty of the law God would be right and just to send me to hell. It's what I deserve Not only have I offended his justice. I've offended him with my sin I've incurred indebtedness to him, but I can never keep a law perfectly I can't do what he requires. I'm incapable But Jesus Christ is all my hope and stay Jesus Christ has Jesus Christ has done what you cannot So what do we do then? The Lord freely offers this grace in the gospel. We'll talk about this coming it soon He freely offers this grace in the gospel that if you'll just trust him If you'll just receive it by faith right trust him by faith the Lord Jesus Christ is my Righteousness. He's my hope. He's my surety, right? He's the one. He's my substitute He's the one who stands in my stead And you turn from your life of sin and rebellion you cling to him by faith. You just receive that free offer By grace you have been saved through faith that not of yourselves not of works with anyone should boast Believers by grace through faith are made to partake of the work already accomplished On our behalf by him We don't work To become righteous we're made righteous in him We're made righteous by that legal work that he does Why do we work now then we work precisely because we have been made righteous We work because he has made us righteous because we are free now to live for him Verse 23 and Hebrew 7 the writer goes on to say there were many priests because they were prevented by death from continuing But he because he continues forever has an unchangeable priesthood Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him Since he always lives to make intercession for them For such a high priest was fitting for us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and has become Higher than the heavens Who does not need daily is those high priests to offer up sacrifices first for his own sins and then for the peoples for this He did once for all when he offered up himself For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness But the word of the oath which came after the law appoints the son who has been perfected forever our salvation determined by The work of the triune God before time began God sent the son because of the great love with which he loved us The son took up the work the one who loved me and gave himself for me And the spirit applies the work To what end Think with me again to what end to what end to the glory of God the father to the glory of God the son Listen to this from 1st Corinthians 15 beginning in verse 24. Listen Then comes the end right then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God the father When he puts an end to all rule and all authority and power For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet the last enemy that will be destroyed is death For he has put all things under his feet But when he says all things are put under him it is evident that he who put all things under him is accepted and Now when all things are made subject to him Then the son himself will also be subject to him who put all things under him that God may be all in All I think that's the end of the matter right That's glorious Amazing like tremendous glorious plan of redemption for God's people but what of us What of us are the bride those who have been redeemed 1st Corinthians 15 doesn't mention us specifically right there. What of us? What of the bride? The righteousness that the Lord Jesus Christ won He gives to his bride That we ourselves are righteous as he is righteous glorious the the exalted state listen the exalted state That the Lord Jesus Christ now enjoys The one who has a name above all names right the one who is exalted above all The exalted state that the son now enjoys is the exalted state that we enjoy in him Because we are raised in him and we are glorified in him that exalted state He shares with us how we are joint heirs co heirs with Christ His rewards are Our rewards through him. He is our covenant head by faith. He's our representative God didn't simply choose us. He chose us in him He gives us you could say everything that he now owns we are co heirs with Christ joint heirs with Christ You think about that for a moment what Unimaginable glory awaits the bride Tremendous right tremendous redemption This is that which our triune God determined before time began for his glory This is the covenant redemption all praise honor and glory to the one who made itself Let's pray Take a few moments and think about that and pray to the Lord in gratitude for that and After you've prayed silently we'll pray together and then you are dismissed Father in heaven all praise honor and glory be to your name forever and ever We love you. We thank you for this great love with which you loved us this great triumphant display of Immeasurable love and grace and mercy and compassion and kindness in Our savior our redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ We praise you. We thank you for the blessings of this Wondrous covenant how that has worked out in time. Thank you Lord for having made provision for our sin And thank you for the joy of being ever before your face worshiping you and praising you into eternity We love you Lord in Jesus name. Amen You