Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleChrist Our Intercessor
Bible TextExodus 31:18-32:14
Synopsis In Moses we see a type of Christ our Intercessor who intercedes for all God’s elect. Listen
Date06-Sep-2020
Series Exodus 2016
Article Type Sermon Notes
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: Christ Our Intercessor (32 kbps)
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Length 38 min.
 
Series: Exodus 
Title: Christ our Intercessor 
Text: Ex 31: 18-32: 14 
Date: Sept 6, 2020 
Place: SGBC, NJ 
  
Exodus 31: 18: And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. 
  
Back in Exodus 24, Moses wrote in a book “all the words of the LORD and all the judgments”—here God writes the law on two tables of stone.  All the law that Moses wrote in a book and these two tables of testimony written by the finger of God is what the  Spirit of God moved Paul to call the “handwriting of ordinances which was against us.”  The whole law of God is against us because we have broken every law in Adam.  God gave the law that the offense might abound; to declare us all guilty and shut our mouths. 
  
In the next chapter we see why the law is against us.  In Aaron and the children of Israel we see our sin and guilt in breaking God’s law.  We see what we are before the law.  Guilty!  We see what our sin-nature is and what it produces continually—idolatry, sin, transgression. 
  
But here is the good news.  While Aaron and the children of Israel were breaking God’s law, Moses was in the mount with God making intercession on behalf of some. 
  
Proposition: In Moses we see a type of Christ our Intercessor who intercedes for all God’s elect. 
  
We are saved from the curse of the law because Christ Jesus 
  
Colossians 2:14: Blott[ed] out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 
  
Christ’s people are right now shown continual mercy from God because Christ is in the mount with God where he “ever liveth to make intercession for [us]” (Heb 7:25) 
  
AN EXAMPLE OF OURSELVES 
  
Exodus 32: 1: And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.  2: And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. 3: And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. 4: And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 5: And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. 6: And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 
  
When Moses gave them the law they said, “All that the Lord hath spoken will we do, and be obedient.”    Moses sprinkled the blood of the covenant on them and they entered a covenant of works with God to obey all that was written in the law of God.  Less than 6 weeks later here they are breaking the law. 
  
Carnal sight is not faith.  Therefore carnal sight never discerns correctly—"When the people saw”—with carnal sight—“that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount…”  True worship is of God in spirit through God-given faith 
 
Hebrews 11: 1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 
  
But carnal men only have natural senses; so natural man always see spiritual things wrong.  There was no delay.  The time was set, by God, for Moses to come down.  But to carnal sight Moses delayed to come down.  
  
Brethren, whether we are waiting on God to save our lost children, waiting on God to work in trials or waiting on Christ’s return, we wait on the Lord by faith.  It is unbelief that thinks God has delayed.  He never delays.  I have never been disappointed for waiting on the Lord but I have made many a blunder by not waiting. 
 
Carnal sight, unbelief, wants visible gods—"the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us.” When we take matters into our own hands, we “make us [ourselves to be] gods.”  Carnal sight wants something to see, wants to see something happen.  Later, they wanted a king like the nations had.  We have one God—our triune God in Christ—we worship him alone!
  
They quickly turned on Moses—"for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.” Remember, they turned on Moses before when things were not to their liking.  They attributed being brought out of Egypt to Moses as a thing he did against them, for their hurt.    This is after they had seen all that God had done for them through Moses.  
  
God provided them Moses—God provided his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for usThrough Moses God worked many signs and wonders in Egypt—God in Christ worked many signs and wonders when he walked this earth for his people.  Through Moses God provided a passover lamb and when he saw the blood he passed over their firstborn sons—Christ our Passover is sacrificed for his people, Christ as Head of his house applies the blood to the doorpost of our hearts and God passes over us, believer, beholding the blood of Christ who died in our room and stead.  Through Moses God delivered them out of Egyptian bondage loaded with riches from the Egyptians—through Christ God delivered us and loaded us with unsearchable riches of ChristThrough Moses God delivered them through the Red Sea and drowned Pharaoh and his army—God has made us more than conquerors through Christ who loved usThrough Moses God led them through the wilderness, provided them Manna, defeated Amalek, and delivered them to mount Sinai—through Christ God has led us through this wilderness feasting on Christ our Bread and providing all our needsBut where Christ is not reigning in the heart, where Christ is not constraining us by his love, unbelief quickly forgets—"as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.”
  
Remember, carnal religion had the same contempt for Christ—the translators added the words “fellow” and “man.”  But they spoke of Christ with contempt. 
  
John 9:29: We know that God spake unto Moses: AS FOR THIS fellow, we know not from whence he is. 
  
Luke 23:18: And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with THIS man, and release unto us Barabbas: 
  
Brethren, you and I will forget Christ and all the work God has done for us just that quickly but for God’s keeping hand of grace.  
  
But that was the people, surely God’s high priest, Moses’ brother will stand faithful against this idolatrous multitude—"And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”
  
This was not that spirit God gave Aholiab.  This was Aaron’s carnal spirit—man’s works.  Aaron was a sinner in need of Christ’s righteousness like all God’s elect.  Aaron was a sinner in need of God’s keeping grace just like the rest of the children of Israel.  So is every pastor God uses in the cause of Christ.  But right then, while Aaron was leading the people into idolatry, God was declaring that Aaron was his high priest and God would adorn him in his beautiful garments; this is that same Aaron scripture describes as 

Psalm 105:26…Aaron whom [God] had chosen. 
  
Psalm 106:16…Aaron the saint of the LORD. 
  
How could God declare him thus? Only in Christ.  The same is true of you and true of me.  The apostle Paul said, “Christ came to save sinners of whom I AM CHIEF!” 
  
Idolatry is the worship that comes from our sin-nature.  It is the worship of another god other than Christ our Altar—"And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. 6: And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”
  
Not far off was the altar God commanded but Aaron built another altar.  Christ is our Altar, no other.  Only Christ makes our worship acceptable to God.  These were not offerings God commanded, notice, there was no sin offering.  Where there is no truth of man’s sin—total depravity, total inability, necessity of the new birth, necessity of preserving grace there is no worship of Christ.  Where there is no truth of Christ’s righteousness it is merely a vain, carnal, show of religion full of man-made offerings of men. 
 
Brethren, Aaron called this “a feast to the LORD” while they said, “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”  They knew yesterday the gold was dangling in their ears.  It shows us that this claim that the idol is only a symbol, not the actual belief of idolaters.  They say the symbols are only a help.  They say observing days and meats is only a help but they really worship Christ.  It is a lie.  God says, 
  
Psalm 106: 19: They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. 20: Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. 21: They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt 22: Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea. 
  
Every form of religious imagery is idolatry.  Every addition to the worship of God is idolatry.  Every mixture of false religion with the worship of God is idolatry.  Every effort of man to mix the work of his own hands with the glory of God is idolatry.  “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14).” 
  
God warned that in our day that religion would resort to man-made messages, means and methods because religion without the Spirit of God only discerns by carnal sight, they think Christ has delayed his return.  Peter said, 
  
2 Peter 3: 3: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4: And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5: For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11: Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12: Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13: Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14: Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15: And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 
  
Brethren, the things that happened to the children of Israel are written for you and I who believe: 
  
1 Corinthians 10:6: Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7: Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 
  
1 Corinthians 10:11: Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 
  
Let’s not forget, brethren, even at our best state we have a sin-nature.  Sin is mixed with all we do.  We may not have physical idols but due to our sin-nature idolatry mixed with our purest worship—to break one law is to break the whole law of God.  Flee from every form of sin and flee to Christ.  When you have done so remember that our very nature is yet sin.  Therefore, look away from ourselves and cast all our care on Christ.  We need Christ continually.  We need God’s mercy continually.  We need Christ’s intercession continually because we are sinners continually. 
  
CHRIST OUR INTERCESSOR 
  
Exodus 32: 7: And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: 8: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 9: And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 10: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.  11: And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? 12: Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. 13: Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. 14: And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. 
  
God knew everything that was taking place with Aaron and the children of Israel.  He sees all our sin, too.  We are naked and open before God at all times.  No sin is out of God’s sight: no sin of thought, no sin of word, no sin of deed, no sin commission, no sin of omission.  
  
The good news is that Christ intercedes on behalf of his people in the presence of God in the mount.  Christ Jesus intercedes for those that are his as Moses beseeched God for Israel.  Here we see four things Moses used to beseech God.  These are things Christ’s presence with God speaks for his people.  
  
One, Christ’s intercession says these are “thy people.”  God gave them to Moses.  God said “thy people” have corrupted themselves.  Then Moses “said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people.”  In John 17: 2, Christ speaks to the Father concerning the people God gave to him—"As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.” Then in verse 9: Christ gives them back “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine.”  Christ’s intercession for his people is that his people are chosen by God’s free and sovereign grace.  “If by grace then it is no more of works.”  Christ’s intercession for us declares grace chose them freely, grace must save us freely.  They are “thy people” by free and sovereign grace. 
  
Two, Christ’s intercession says Father you redeemed them—"Thy people which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?”  Christ is God, the great Power of God, his Mighty HandChrist has blotted out our sins by his blood.  Therefore, God will not pour out justice on us since our Substitute has justified his people from all our sins.  It is Christ’s presence with God—his wounds—that plead for us.  Christ’s precious blood has purged our sins and his obedience has made us righteous in himSo it is for Christ’s sake that God has mercy on us, forgiving us all our sins continually.
  
Three, Christ’s intercession says Father remember thy name and thy glory—"Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.”  Just as God will not share his glory with another, God will not lose one he chose and redeemed for his name’s sake.  God will not allow the rebel to accuse him of anything less than the full salvation of each and everyone of his people
  
Isaiah 48: 9: For My name’s sake will I defer Mine anger, and for My praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off...11: For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My name be polluted? 
  
Four, Christ’s intercession says Father remember your everlasting covenant of grace—"Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.”  God gave us his covenant word and confirmed it with an oath  (Hebrews 6:18).  Those are two immutable things because God cannot lie.  All God’s covenant promises are written in Christ’s blood.  Therefore they are yes and Amen!  God cannot lie and God cannot break one promise to his Son nor to his people. 
  
2 Corinthians 1: 18: But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. 19: For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20: For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 
  
Here is the good news.  Christ’s intercession on our behalf never fails—"And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.”
  
Psalm 106: 23: Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them. 
  
Christ bore the wrath of God in our room and stead.  Christ Jesus, God’s chosen, stands before him in the breach for all Christ’s blood bought people.  Therefore, we shall never see God’s wrath upon us.  Due to Christ’s continual intercession at God’s right hand, we read, 
  
Psalm 106: 45: And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. 
  
This is what John comforted us with in his first epistle.  He reminds us never to sin.  Sin is not excusable in any way.  He says, 
  
1 John 2: 1: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. 
  
Then knowing that we are sinners who shall sin, he says “when you do”, remember Christ our Intercessor is our Advocate with the Father, Christ is our Righteousness with the Father, therefore Christ is our Mercy with God. 
  
1 John 2: 1: And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 
  
Amen!