Paid in full…

 

Not too familiar with many legal terms. I had to look up the meaning of a surety. This is a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, for example their appearing in court or the payment of a debt. In the Bible, this is a representative who offers himself under obligation for whoever he represents, in this case, Jesus is my surety before God the Father. He is “the guarantor of a better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22) who willingly offered Himself to pay the debt owed for my sin against God. He said:

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50:5–7)
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:18)

Last night our church had a prayer gathering. I wound up in a small group that included the mother and her daughter whose life is in turmoil. Mom needed assurance and daughter needed to know that the Lord would not give up on her. Those who prayed wanted to convey the love and power of God to these two and give them hope. While we didn’t use all the verses in today’s devotions, the Lord gave us what we prayed for, and affirms this to me today. He says:

Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (Jeremiah 32:37–40)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved… In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3–14)

The love of Christ is our surety for He will never give up on us, no matter what we do. He said:

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:37–40)

Whatever God required for our salvation, Christ agreed to perform for us. He willingly became responsible to God for His people and His work as the Surety of the covenant will not be complete until he presents all God’s elect before Him in glory. He will not fail any one of us.

PRAY: My life and the lives of all who know You are safe in Your care. You keep every promise and love us without measure. Grace overrides performance. We cannot do it ourselves. You stand in our place and You died for all, giving not only security and eternal hope, but also deep joy and peace. Your commitment to Your people is the most precious gift of all.

Surety means I have all that God promises . . .

The term ‘surety’ is not in my regular vocabulary, but it is in today’s devotional reading. The dictionary says a surety is “security against loss or damage or for the fulfillment of an obligation, the payment of a debt, etc.; a pledge, guaranty, or bond, but it is also a person who has made himself or herself responsible for another, as a sponsor, godparent, or bondsman” — or as a Savior.

In the Old Testament, God promised His people an everlasting covenant with Him. He said . . .

“Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.” (Jeremiah 32:37–40)

This covenant was not characterized by ‘do this’ and ‘don’t do that’ He describes what it is like . . .

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:10–12)

This new covenant began and was guaranteed by the Lord Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. Through Him, sin is forgiven and cleansed. Through Him, eternal life is given and Jesus is assurance that this life from God is mine forever because Lord Jesus Christ is the Surety of the covenant. God entrusted His glory, grace and His redeemed people to His Son who agreed to assume full responsibility for them, including me. Like a shepherd trust with the owner’s sheep, Christ drew near to God for me and put Himself under obligation to God for my eternal well-being. He voluntarily took this obligation as a Servant-Savior and agreed to be responsible to His Father for my righteousness. As my Surety, He will present me to God as holy and without blame. This is His obligation and because He is who He is, there will be no failure.

Jesus, what is there to say? I shake my head in wonder at the plan of salvation and the fact that it is accomplished. Nothing can stand in the way or prevent it; I am Your child and You are my Savior, my righteousness, my surety.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33)

Praise Your Name!