On Law and Grace.
[Thoughts as recorded in short hand, as expressed on the Lord's Day morning at Y.M.C.A. Hyd. June 5, 2016.]
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First Speaker: P. Bhagawandas
References from Deuteronomy 27 and Joshua 8.

The two mounts Gerizim and Ebal referred to blessing and curse respectively. The blessing under the law was conditional upon man's obedience. The blessings were to be called out from mount Gerizim, while the curses were to be uttered from mount Ebal. But, Joshua built an altar unto the Lord on mount Ebal, the mount of curse! This presents to us the counsels of God with respect to man's total failure to keep the righteousness of the law. Then, it is on Golgotha, even the place of a skull, that presented the decay and ruin of man under the curse that the true altar (the Cross of Christ) was raised. It was on the altar that burnt and peace offerings were offered. These were but a type pointing out to the Cross on which Christ offered Himself as the burnt offering and peace offering unto God in place of our sin and disobedience under the law. Further, the altar is described to have been built of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron. The work of man is laid aside, yea, not permitted in the sight of God. All the righteousness of man under the law, the works of man (as typified under the figure of lifting up tool by the hand) is a cursed affair and cannot propitiate God nor vindicate His holiness. It is only the Cross of Christ that satisfied God's righteousness against our sin. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered in our stead on mount Calvary, to redeem us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us (Galatians 3).

Second Speaker: P. Ben
References from Hebrews 9 and 12, Exodus and Gospels

The two mounts Sinai and Sion referred to bondage and grace respectively. At mount Sinai, Moses ratified the old covenant by the blood of calves and goats, yea, the covenant that brought the Jew (man under divine culture) under conditionality of blessing. This was found to be bondage of curse (Galatians). But even before the children of Israel broke the commandment by worshipping the idol, God showed to Moses up on the mount, the tabernacle which is the figure of the true, that is the coming dispensation of grace centered on the Person and work of Christ. God's counsels of grace preceded the flux of man's filth and sin.

If Moses at Sinai proposed and ratified the covenant of works, then Christ at Sion (Jerusalem), in the upper chamber reveals to the remnant the emblems of the new covenant, which is ratified and founded in His blood. Here, lies the contrast between Sinai and Sion. The former is a covenant of law, while the latter involves the Mediator of the new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling (Hebrews).

The new covenant provides two things: sins cleansed and imputed blessing (Heb 9:15). In other words, Christ's death is for the sins of others committed under the old covenant and also it is because of His obedience (the obedience of the Mediator) unto death, that the blessing is conferred on others. This is an important principle, that when the majority fail; God then chooses the one, who is the representative for the majority both in securing for them propitiation and blessing. Same as (in a figure) with Moses in Exodus 32- except there the word, 'peradventure' in v30 conveys the limitation of the type, which was not so with Christ on mount Calvary. There is no 'peradventure' at Golgotha- 'It is finished' was the cry.

Just as David brought the Ark to Jerusalem (Sion), thus showing in a figure the mediation of the anointed one (David) to reconcile back the covenant of Jehovah with Israel after a long time of disconnection during the days of Saul; even so Christ (the Son of David) reveals the cup of the new covenant (the figure of link between Jehovah and Israel, though to be realized in future but foundation laid on the cross) on Sion (the upper chamber at Jerusalem).

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