Well, it’s official! The 60th season of Camp Del-Haven has been completed! And, the Lord — our heavenly Father — has granted unto us — once again — a wonderful testimony of His great grace! Even though we definitely had our challenges with both material matters that broke down and had to be fixed — and with typical incorrigibility in a couple of campers — throughout the course of the summer — still the victory that’s only in Jesus — prevailed in a marvelous way.
“But now hath He obtained — a more excellent ministry — by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant — which was established upon better promises.” He.8:6
This is a description of our Lord Jesus Christ and His divinely declared ministry as a holy, heavenly and eternal High Priest/Substitute for His people. When it says that He “obtained a more excellent ministry” — it is telling us that the governor of all of providence has finally brought to pass the time for the manifestation of His eternal Son — as our eternal Savior Substitute and Mediator.
The Levite priests had an outstanding ministry — that they were divinely appointed to religiously perform according to the law of Moses. But, they acted only as a type of savior/substitute — for the Old Covenant children of God. But, the Lord Jesus Christ — the sovereign Savior/Son of God — manifest in human flesh — was divinely sworn to be the eternal, immutable and heavenly High Priest — whom God had promised would come into this fallen world and fulfill all that needed fulfilling — for all those whom He had covenanted with God the Father — to come into this world and save! Hence, it says: “He is the Mediator — of a better covenant”! Even a “New” covenant — that is — as it says — “established (or, legislated) — upon better promises”.
The word for “promises” — literally means: announcements, or assurances. And, they are said to be “better” — because they are announced and assured as being already fulfilled! 2Co.1:20 tells us: “For all the promises of God — in Him — are yea — and in Him — amen — unto the glory of God through us!” Christ has done it all — praise His Name! Indeed — Christ is — our all — and in all! (Col.3:13)
He.9:15 says: “And for this cause (Or, for this glorious reason) — He — is the Mediator of the New Testament — that by means of death — for the redemption of the transgressions…they (lit.) who have been called — might receive — the promise — of the eternal inheritance.” And, they receive it because they have been placed in Him! And 1Jn.5:11-12 plainly states: “And this is the record — that God has given unto us eternal life. And — this life — is in His Son! He that hath the Son — hath the life — and He that hath not the Son of God — hath not the life.” Hence, in the eternal Son of God — that is — in His person and work as the eternal Redeemer — the promised gift of eternal life — has been given — has been fulfilled — unto us by God.
Therefore, He.12:24-25 goes on to strongly substantiate this truth to us — by further saying: “And, to Jesus — the Mediator of the New Covenant — and to the blood of sprinkling — that speaketh better things than that of Abel (That’s because the blood of the Savior — speaketh better things than the blood of the saved one) — see that ye refuse not Him that speaketh (Or lit., see that ye deprecate not Christ). For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth — much more — shall not we escape — if we turn away from (Or, if we pervert) Him that speaketh from heaven!”
We want to thank our good friends — once again — at Crest Bible Church — for remembering our needs with a food drive during their VBS Program again this year. We can’t begin to tell you how much this really helps! We praise the Lord for them. This has become a veritable tradition with them…which is wonderful!
We also want to thank Jim and Nancy Lyons and our faithful friends at Strasburg Union Church — who continue to help keep us well supplied with what we need. Their year round availability and assistance is welcomed and appreciated very much! We give continual thanks unto God for them.
Also, there is Pastor John Jones and his church, Faith In Christ Fellowship. His sons and daughter have served on our staff — while he and his wife, Donna, have greatly supplied the work here at Del-Haven with both food and drink. Praise the Lord for His working — through His loving and willing servants!
Well — all 16 bunk beds — in our dormitory — have been reconstructed, renovated and made ready to support their new mattresses. Of which — we only need 7 more to meet the task. Thank you for your continual prayers and financial support of this project. We love and pray for you all!
Well, our camp season has begun — and we have completed two camp sessions. And, thus far — your prayers have truly been marvelously felt and answered! We have had two wonderful sessions in which the glorious and gracious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has been faithfully presented — and also positively responded to. At the campfire session of the second camp (which was for older girls) there were many testimonies that were given — that were rich with the work of God in how He had captured the thoughts of these young ladies — and changed the direction of their thinking! More than one recognized that they have been on the broad way to hell — but now are on the narrow way to life everlasting in Christ! Effective preaching — God’s Word says — is “not with enticing words of man’s wisdom — but in demonstration of the Spirit — and of power.” We praise the Lord for the presence of just such a demonstration of His Spirit and His power!
“And be found in Him — not having mine own righteousness — which is of the law — but that which is through the faith of Christ — the righteousness which is of God — by faith.” Phil.3:9
From this verse we learn that there are, indeed, in existence two completely different righteousnesses. There is only one righteousness, however, whereby a true believing sinner may be accepted with God. But, both righteousnesses could — by today’s standard — look like — and be accounted as being — “Christian”.
This naturally raises the relevant question: What exactly is it that makes up the big difference between the two? And, the answer is found in the phrase, “through the faith of Christ”. For the reason that this is true — is because the righteousness that a fallen sinner needs — in order to be justified before God — is a perfect righteousness. Anything less is simply not acceptable. And, just such perfection — is found only in the person and work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
There is revealed from this text — that there is a righteousness that is indeed lived and performed — that is generated from a sinner’s fine — but imperfect — efforts at keeping the law of Moses. But, this is just not the same as that righteousness that has been lived and performed through the faith of Christ Jesus — the sovereign Savior Son of God! He is the object of the faith of the true believing sinner — for He — is the sinner’s substitute and perfect propitiation!
Ro.3 so aptly explains this divine and gracious premise unto us. Vs.21 announces it with the declaration: “But now — the righteousness of God — apart from the law — is manifested — being witnessed by the law — and the prophets”. In other words, the much needed perfection — where righteousness is concerned — has been lived and performed! (Vs.22) “Even the righteousness of God — which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all — and upon all — them that believe — for there is no difference” — and the reason why that there is no difference among believers is then stated from vs.23: “For all have sinned — and come short of the glory of God”!
Any sinner’s justification before God is next — put purely — in its right and proper perspective: (vs.24-25) “Being justified — freely — by His grace — through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus — whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation — through faith in His blood”! This — God did — in order: “to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins…” What a wonderful phrase of holy scripture this is!
Vs.26 continues to explain: “To declare, I say, at this time — His righteousness — that He might be just — and the justifier — of him (lit.) that is of the faith of Jesus.” Vs.27 reveals that the saved are ruled and governed by another law — “the law of faith” — in which the Lord Jesus Christ rightfully owns all the glory! Praise His Name!
