Page 96 - what a christianbelieveslastfinaltest3a_Neat

What a Christian Believes

 THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM THE CHURCH OF THE
FIRSTBORN

 THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD GOD AND THE SPIRITS
OF RIGHTEOUS MEN MADE PERFECT
 GOD, THE JUDGE OF ALL MEN

 JESUS THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT

Here the heavenly dwelling is described with names (which
are now given a spiritual context) that were familiar to the
people of the time and there is a vision of those who belong
to God making up the great throng of heaven.

There in the midst is the awesome, majestic figure of God
himself - THE JUDGE OF ALL MEN. This is a terrifying
prospect, as it was for the Old Testament Jews, until it is
seen that there, with God the Judge, is JESUS THE
MEDIATOR.

In the first part of this study dealing with REDEMPTION and
RECONCILIATION, is shown the means by which Jesus has
become the mediator, for those who belong to Him, with God
the Judge.

The image here, is not one of A LOVING JESUS TRYING TO
STOP AN ANGRY GOD FROM PUNISHING MEN.

They are Father and Son working together. From the
beginning God has not wanted to judge mankind and
together they agreed on a plan that could save men from
judgement. John 3 v16,17. 'God so loved the world that
He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did
not send His Son into the World to condemn the world,
but to save the world through Him.'
96