Welcome to Delight in Grace. The Teaching Ministry of Rich Powell. pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. In Deuteronomy 21 through 22, God establishes laws for the people of Israel. Laws for handling murder?
laws about marriage and family. Safety and stewardship. and laws about following God single heartedly. Pastor Rich unpacks each of these laws within their historical and biblical context. showing the heart behind them.
These are national laws for Israel, but could it be that they also point toward the gospel? Pastor Rich shows eight ways these laws pave the way for Jesus in this message titled, Accept Atonement, O Lord. for your people whom you have redeemed. This is part three of a message first preached on September 15th. What did Jesus say on the cross?
Three words in English, one word in Greek. Tetelestai, it is finished. You know what Jesus was saying in that? He was saying Please accept atonement for your people. Once for all.
Because the shedding of blood, now this is no longer the shedding of animal blood. That can only go so far. That is only a foreshadowing of the reality, the ultimate reality, that would come in Jesus Christ. And he as not only a human, But also as God Himself, would shed his blood. in our place for our atonement.
Number two. The privileges of the firstborn. Jesus Christ is the firstborn. He is the firstborn. He's the firstborn over creation.
He is also the firstborn from the dead.
Now, the firstborn over creation, some people have mistaken that to believe that he was the first of God's creatures. Of God's creations. There's a whole faith system built on that error, and it is an error. When it says he is the firstborn over creation, it does not mean he was the first of God's creation. He's the first over God's creation.
He has the position of privilege and leadership. In other words, this is speaking of the preeminence of Christ. the preeminence of Christ. He is first and the most important. He has the right to.
Own. It is the privilege of succession. And you want to read about that? Turn to Revelation chapter 5 and read that. And the Lamb who is worthy.
To open the seal. He has the right to ownership. He is the firstborn. And the firstborn From the dead means He's the first fruits. And there's more to come.
And that's us.
So picture the gospel. That's the whole point of Revelation chapter 5: that Jesus is the firstborn and he has the right of succession. He is the owner. of creation. It's all his.
Number three here, we come to a contrast. of this law, the one of the rebellious son. The rebellious children versus the prodigal son. What does prodigal mean? How many of you believe prodigal means rebellious?
You know, it's a trick question. You're not going to answer. You're not going to raise your hand. You say, I don't want to look stupid. No, prodigal means lavish.
The prodigal son, he took what was his, what belonged to his father, what was his. A third of what his father had, right? Because the older son gets the double portion.
So he take everything, he took everything that was his dad's that belonged to him, and he went and he wasted it, living lavishly for what purpose? for himself. That's the history of humanity. That's what separates us from God, that we live for ourselves, okay?
So this prodigal, he was a glutton and a glutton and a drunkard, okay? Self-indulgent, simply living for himself. But when Jesus gave the story of the prodigal son in Luke chapter fifteen. There was repentance in this prodigal son. He had a change of mind, didn't he?
He realized. what he was missing. And he's willing to go back to dad's house. and be a slave in his dad's house just so he could be in his dad's house. But dad was waiting for him.
And when he comes back. Dad doesn't shame him. He's all over. With affection. Do you know God that way?
Because that's not the God that a lot of preachers and churches are presenting today. Do you know? the lavish love that God has for you. My child was lost. But that was found.
He's home again. But there's a reason why that's possible. And we find that In the next principle. And that is The one of the one who's hanged on a tree is cursed by God. This very Law.
In Deuteronomy chapter 21 is quoted in the New Testament in Galatians chapter 3. In verse 13. Galatians chapter 3, 13. Christ redeemed us. from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.
Do you see the foreshadowing of the cross in the Law of Moses? There it is. He took the blame, he bore the wrath. And we stand forgiven at the cross. Jesus hanging on that tree, and the Greek word for it is zulon.
It's a word that can be used either for a tree or for a branch of a tree. and the cross was made of wood, so it was called a tree. Represents the judgment of God, and this foreshadows the propitiation of Christ. where Jesus took the blow of God's wrath. for me.
So that I could have his righteousness. Number five. Number five, God's people are. are a community. represent a community of mutual trust and care.
This is the church. If we look into the New Testament, this would be the church. God's people are Are a community of mutual trust and care. It is a community of grace. What does a community of grace look like?
As I said before, it is one's involvement in a brother's plight.
Something's not going right. in your brother's life or your sister's life, something's not going right. A community of grace. looks at that brother or sister and says, How can I help?
Now, this is in stark contrast. to what the world does. What does the world do? The world We'll see the plate. What's not going right in a brother or sister's life And they will label that person They will disdain them and label them and then act towards them according to that label.
That's natural human behavior. That's not what happens in a community of grace. Yeah. I have a challenge for you this morning. I want you to envision one person you don't like.
I'm not joking. One person that when you think of this person You tense up or you reel back. How have you labeled that person, and how do you act towards them? And now I want you to remember. how Christ has treated You.
Because when you were still his enemy, He died for you. There is No place. For labeling and disdain and mistreatment in the family of God. We all have a propensity to do that. But I want you to ask yourself this question.
That person whose face you might have in mind. Ask yourself this question. How can I show grace? to this person. How can I invest myself in their?
Plight. How can I help them? How can I help them be? Be what God desires and designed them to be, instead of just simply disdaining them and labeling them. and treating them accordingly.
Let's be a community of grace. If you want to be a beautiful, we are a beautiful church. But we're not perfect. If we're going to be a beautiful church, let's go. Make sure that We are a community for you.
Colossians 3 verses 12 and 13. put on then. as God's chosen ones. holy and beloved, compassionate hearts. kindness, humility.
meekness and patience bearing with one another and if one has a complaint against another forgiving each other Why? Because that's what Christians do. No. as the Lord has forgiven you.
So you must also forgive. Thanks for joining us here at Delight in Grace. You've been listening to Rich Powell, the lead pastor at Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. The Delight in Grace mission. To help you know that God designed you to realize your highest good.
and your deepest satisfaction in Him. the one who is infinitely good. We hope you'll join us again on weekdays at 10 a.m.
