Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus,
This is the third message in the series, “The Real Story of Job – A Book About Grace.” I hope what has been shared, to date, has been illuminating and enlightening. And I hope we’ve learned that God’s character is love and not temptation or turning His children over to the devil. God is a good Father and does everything to put us in the best position with the best outcome to live the best life in this earth. We know we’re going to have an incredible life in Heaven and on the earth with Jesus in the Millennial Reign and on the new earth with God and Jesus.
The previous message listed Job’s three friends and their theology, which shaped their replies to Job about himself and about God. Theology is the study of the character and attributes of God. Job’s three friends had a theology, or an understanding of God, based on works. God rewards good works and punishes bad works. Job was being punished because he had done something, or somethings, that were terrible in God’s eyes. Eliphaz’ advice was based on his experience. Bildad’s advice was based on human tradition. Zophar’s advice was based on human merit.
Job 42:7
And it was so, that after The LORD had spoken these words unto Job, The LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job hath.
God is angry with Job’s three friends. He tells them that they are wrong, that their theology is wrong, you have not spoken accurately about Me. God tells Job’s three friends the reason they have not spoken accurately about God is because their theology is wrong. “What you think about Me is wrong. What you think happened to Job did not happen.”
However, Job had finally gotten it right. He had changed his theology. When he did some soul searching, when he fell on his face before God, his theology changed. And then Job began to speak accurately about God. Let’s look at how Job changed his theology when he began to question the whole works mentality. It didn’t happen all at once. Job found that when he tried to defend his integrity and his character, he found himself impugning God’s character, impugning God’s righteous.
Here’s how Job impugned God’s character and God’s righteousness. First, he accused God of being unconcerned about his suffering. You can find this in Job 9:1-3, 11-24; 13:15-24.
Secondly, Job accused God of being unjust (Job 19:6-12; 27:2-6; 9:27-35; 10:1). I don’t deserve this. Lastly, Job accused God of being unfaithful (Job 9:20-24; 10:7, 15-16). God was not rewarding Job because of his innocence. In essence, Job wanted to tell the world how wrong God was in His treatment of Job.
As Job was defending himself, he would get bits of revelation. His theology began to shift until he realized he wasn’t as sinless as he thought he was, and he needed a savior. In fact, he realized all men need a savior! Let’s see how Job’s theology evolved as he defended himself to his friends.
1.) First, Job came to the realization he needed an advocate. Someone who could mediate between him and God.
Job 9:32-35
32 For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together in judgment.
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His fear terrify me:
35 Then would I speak, and not fear Him; but it is not so with me.
“Might lay his hand on us both”
This is a figure of speech that is referring to someone who can exist in both worlds. Someone who knows and understands both sides. Someone who can touch the physical and the Spiritual at the same time. “The mediator could make God stop besting me, and I would no longer live in terror of His punishment. That I could speak to Him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.”
Job realized God transcends man in every regard (Spiritually, physically, mentally, morally, etc.), and even if he wanted to come before God and plead his own case, it just wasn’t possible without a mediator, someone who could lay his hands on both parties. But this was NOT possible unless the mediator was both God and man. Someone that could relate to both sides at once. Job is describing Jesus.
I John 2:1 – speaks of us having an “advocate.” This is The Mediator Jesus Christ.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
I John 2:1 speaks of us, Believers, having an “advocate,” The Mediator, Jesus Christ.
“Advocate” – Greek word “paraklaytos,” which means, “someone who pleads another man’s cause before a judge.”
Job 4:17
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than His maker?
In Job 4:17, Job asked the question “can a mortal be innocent before God? Can anyone be pure before The Creator?” God’s standard of righteousness and man’s standard are two different things. Man’s falls well short of God’s standard. Job began to realize this. He realized that someone greater than a mortal would have to fulfill this role.
Job 17:3
Lay down now, put me in a surety with Thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
In Job 17:3, Job is asking, “God pay the penalty, the debt I owe. You know I can’t pay the penalty I deserve, so please pay it for me.” Job is asking God to be his cosigner. In Job 17:3, the word “surety” means “be my cosigner.” If I default on my obligation, would You pay for it?
2.) Job realized in Job 17:3 that he needed a redeemer, someone who would pay his debts, someone who would pledge himself as a cosigner, someone who would pay the penalty when he goofed up. This is when Job realized God was going to provide a redeemer, someone that was more than a mediator.
Job 19:25-27
25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Job’s theology changes completely in Job 19:25-27. This is where there is a major shift in Job’s thinking about God. From here on, things are going to look up for Job. Job is saying he knows his Redeemer lives and that He is not on earth yet for He is God. He is eternal. He is the Mediator, The One who can touch both sides.
“Redeemer” is the Hebrew word “goel,” which means, “a person who redeems a kinsman. He pays the debt and restores what that person lost and forfeited.” This “goel” is called the “kinsman redeemer” in the Old Testament.
“And He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” The correct translation is “in the last days.”
“Yet in my body I will see God.” Job receives the revelation that he will be resurrected.
This is exactly what we have in Jesus. Job realized he needed more than a mediator. He needed a redeemer. In fact, we need both. This is why Jesus is called both in The Scriptures. Let’s see how the mediator and redeemer go hand-in-hand.
I John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with The Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
But Jesus does so much more than plead our case before God as an Advocate. Hebrews 7:22 tells us Jesus was made a surety of a better covenant.
Hebrews 7:22
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
“Surety” is the Greek word “engooos,” which means, “to go out on a limb.” When it refers to a person, it means “co-signer.” A co-signer is someone who pays the debt of someone who defaults on their covenant obligations. The co-signer goes out on a limb.
When we stand before God, Jesus is going to be our Advocate, our Mediator. He is going to plead our cause. But He’s going to do more than that. When satan accuses us of the things we’ve done wrong, no matter what they are that hour, that day, that week, that month, that year, Jesus is going to say “yes, it is true he did that, but I paid for it.” God, then legally, overrules satan and issues a “not guilty” verdict. This is what a co-signer does.
This is what Job finally realized. He said goodbye to the works mentality and hello to Grace. More specifically, the Grace of Jesus Christ. Job didn’t know Who Jesus was; he just knew He was coming.
Job began to speak accurately about God after his theology changed:
1.) He realized no mortal would be acceptable before God.
2.) He realized he needed a Mediator who could lay his hands on both parties. In other words, he needed a Mediator that was both God and man.
3.) He needed a Redeemer who would not only pay his debt but would act as his surety when he defaulted on his covenant obligation.
4.) He realized in the last days he would be resurrected and would see God and wouldn’t be held accountable because his Redeemer had paid it.
Job, before his theology changed, represented everyone that is going to, or is in, hell. He had an “I’m good, I do good works, I’m a good person” mentality and theology.
Job, after his theology changed, represents Believers going to Heaven; not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done. We receive what we don’t deserve (Grace), and we avoid what we do deserve (mercy).
In Job 3:25-3:26, Job realizes fear has driven him into the position he is in with respect to his family and possessions. He doesn’t yet understand it was the words spoken and the actions taken out of fear that opened the hedge.
Job 3:25-26
25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
The Scriptures tell us that anything not done in Godly faith is sin. If something is not done in Godly faith, it can only be done in ungodly faith or fear. The ONLY states in which man can exist in this earth are in Godly faith, in ungodly faith (in man, in oneself, and in the world system), and in fear. Ungodly faith will lead to fear. It is inevitable.
Romans 14:23
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Paul is saying that even morally neutral actions (like eating) become sinful if done with a guilty conscience or without faith. The principle extends beyond food: any action not rooted in trust and confidence in God’s will can be considered sin.
Where does Godly faith originate? The Scriptures make it plainly clear it is from The Word of God.
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by The Word of God.
The only faith God recognizes and cares about is from belief and declaration of The Word of God. “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Job allowed the cares of this world to choke his faith and lead to him becoming unfruitful – in fear. We see this spoken by Jesus in Matthew 8:26.
Matthew 8:26
And He [Jesus] saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Jesus is instructing His disciples that it is their fear that is feeding the storm. If they speak with authority, in faith, to the storm, they will have the same results as Jesus.
Job is a great book of Grace. God never turned Job over to satan, never abandoned Job, and did everything He could to protect Job until Job realized and put into action, words of faith and right sayings. Quite the opposite from what he had expressed in Job 1 when he thought, spoke, and acted in fear over his children.
This serves as a great example to us as New Covenant Saints that through the all powerful Name of Jesus Christ, we have been given power of attorney by God, Himself, to exercise the authority and power Jesus has in Heaven, in the earth, and under the earth. Remember, Job should have, and we should always decree our outcome according to The Word of God and not according to our condition or experience.
In Christ Jesus,
Larry