The Riches OF GRACE
“hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11
Robert W. Reed
Surety
“By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.”
Hebrews 7:22
“Jesus Christ is My Surety”
The word surety means a guarantee or security of
payment. It also carries the idea of
depositing a pledge, either in money, goods, or in part payment as
security for a bargain (Genesis 44:32, Proverbs 6:1-11 and verse 15, 17:18,
20:16, 22:26-27, 27:13 and Hebrews 7:22).
The Meaning Of The Word
Surety
As we have already stated, the word surety
is a guarantee or security of payment. It carries the idea of standing in
someone else’s place as a co-signer of a loan. A surety is one who agrees to
undertake for another who is unable to fulfill his own obligation. The most
common form of surety spoken of is financial.
The first mention of the word
surety is in Genesis 15:13, “And he said unto
Abraham, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land
that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four
hundred years.” The word surety in this verse shows the
certainty of the truth set forth pertaining to Abraham’s seed being afflicted
in Egypt for four hundred years. The children of Israel spent a total of four
hundred and thirty years in Egypt, but they were afflicted four hundred of
those years. Their first thirty years in Egypt they were under the care and
protection of Joseph. After Joseph died, and a new king came into power in Egypt
who knew not Joseph, they were put under severe servitude (Exodus 1:5-22).
Exodus 12:40-42 says that at the end of four hundred and thirty years
that Israel came out of Egypt, even the self-same day it came to pass showing
the fulfillment of God’s Word to His people.
The book of Proverbs gives warning against
suretiship (which means becoming liable) for the financial obligations of
others, especially when you are not able to pay the debt. Please consider the
following verses, (Proverbs 6:1-5, 11:15, 17:18, 20:16, 22:26-27, 27:13).
According to these verses in Proverbs, we are to deliver ourselves from this
type of financial obligations just as an animal would try to deliver itself
from a trap that a hunter had set. This shows the severity of being responsible
for someone else’s debt.
Examples of surety in the
Scriptures
In the Old Testament, there
is a beautiful story to illustrate the truth of surety. In Genesis 43:1-9,
32-33, we find Judah being faithful to his pledge when he became surety for
his brother, Benjamin. He had given himself as a pledge to secure the safety of
his brother when they went down into Egypt to buy corn. He literally became
responsible for the safe return of Benjamin to his father.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul according
to Philemon became responsible for any debt that Onesimus had, saying in
verse 18, “...put that on mine account...”and in verse 19 “...I will
repay it...” He is
simply saying that he would assume the financial obligation of this servant to
his master. He volunteered to become surety for Onesimus.
Jesus Christ became surety
for us
In Hebrews 7:22, Jesus Christ is called the
“surety of a better testament,” for he
undertook to make atonement for the sins of mankind and deliver them from
eternal punishment. The Lord Jesus Christ made himself responsible for the
fulfillment of the everlasting covenant. He signed our note in blood that we
might go free. Our entire salvation is based upon suretiship in that Christ
paid the price at Calvary for our sins. Jesus paid my sin debt when He died on
the cross. He alone is able to secure the debt that we may go free according to
Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore He is able also to save
them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make
intercession for them.” Jesus Christ accomplished all that was
required for salvation under the new covenant.
Conclusion
As the Psalmist cried out for the Lord to be
his surety in Psalm 119:122, we must have Jesus Christ as our surety. He
alone can save us from our sins according to Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” In the highest sense, the
term surety is applied to Christ in that He alone is our assurance. He fully
paid all our debts and completely satisfied every demand that God had against
us. Praise the Lord!
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31
Pastor
Robert W. Reed
Coden,