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Covenants:
A Covenant is a Mutually Agreed upon Relationship.
Covenant – “Literally, a coming together; a meeting or agreement of minds. A mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or to forbear some act or thing; a contract; stipulation.” (Webster's Dictionary 1828).
Effective covenants are formulated in an orderly and formal manner, with unambiguous definitions of the following:
The parties – the persons entering into the agreement.
The terms – the agreement conditions, responsibilities, and consequences.
The benefits – the positive consequences of compliance.
The penalties – the negative consequences of violation.
The ratification process – the formal process that finalizes the agreement (e.g., signatures).
The essence of any covenant is a special relationship between its parties.
Examples: Adoption, business, citizenship, marriage.
God is a god of order and offers well-defined covenants with His creation. (1Co 14:33,40)
God has a rightful relationship to all people because of Who He IS. (Ex 3:14)
He is the Creator. (Ge 1:26, Col 1:16)
He is the Sustainer. (Mt 5:44,45, Jas 1:17)
He is the Judge. (2Co 5:10, Rev 20:11,12,15)
God engages in a special relationship with all who believe in His Son. (Jn 3:16, Jn 14:6)
Jesus is our Saviour. (Ac 4:12, 1Jn 5:12, Tit 2:13)
Jesus is our Lord. (Jn 14:15,21, Rev 17:14)
We are His people. (Jn 10:14, 1Pe 2:9,10, Rev 21:3)
We are His children. (Jn 1:12,13, Ro 8:15, Gal 4:6)
We are His friend. (Jn 15:15)
We are His bride (a spiritual relationship akin to marriage). (Mt 22:1-14, Mt 25:1-12, Rev 19:7-9)
God's covenant with Adam and Eve before the fall (Ge 2:15-17)
Satan attacks God's covenant (Ge 3:1-6)
God's covenant with Adam and Eve after the fall (Ge 3:14-19,21)
God's covenant with Noah (Ge 9:6-17)
God's covenant with Abraham (Ge 15:5,6,18, Ge 17:5-11,19-21, Ex 2:23-25, Ps 105:7-11, Gal 3:16)
The Old Covenant (God's Covenant with Physical Israel).
God magnified His moral law (the Ten Commandments) to point out sin. (Isa 42:21, Ro 5:13,20)
God magnified His system of ceremonial types that pointed to Christ. (Ex 25:8,9,40, Ex 25-31, Heb 8:2,5)
God magnified His health laws to promote health. (Lev 11:1-47)
God formalized a system of civil laws necessary to maintain law and order. (Ex 21-23)
The people mistakenly interpreted the old covenant as a covenant of works. (“We will do.”) (Ex 19:7,8, Ex 24:3,7, Dt 5:27, Ro 9:30-32)
The people believed they could obey the commands in their own power, without help from God.
God allowed the absense of provisions for divine assistance so the people would come to realize their need for Christ. (Gal 3:10,11,19,24,25)
The people made a superficial commitment, rather than one from the heart. (Ex 32:1-4, Dt 5:28,29) (compare 1Sa 16:7 and Eze 36:26)
Hagar is identified as symbolic of the old covenant. (Gal 4:22-24)
Abraham relied on his own works when he attempted to receive the promised son through Hagar, rather than keeping faith in God.
Attributes of the old covenant:
The peoples' promises were superficial and self righteous. (Heb 8:6)
God found fault with the people because they did not remain faithful to it. (Jer 11:6-8, Heb 8:7-9)
Included the ceremonial law (“blood of” Ex 24:8, “ark of” Heb 9:1-12)
Focused on the letter of the law (externalized, mechanical ritual) (2Co 3:6)
Ratified with the blood of an animal sacrifice (Heb 9:19,20)
Mediator (Moses) chosen by the people because of their fear of God after hearing Him speak the Ten Commandments. (Ex 20:1,19)
Obsolete (Heb 8:13)
The moral law (the Ten Commandments) is not obsolete.
Not faulty (Ne 9:13, Ps 19:7, Ro 7:7,12, Ro 8:4, Jas 1:25 compare Jas 2:11,12)
Written by God's own finger (Ex 31:18, Ex 32:16, Dt 5:22, Ex 34:1)
Spoken by God directly to the people (Ex 20:1-17, Dt 5:22, Dt 10:4)
God expects obedience to His law. (Pr 28:4,9, Jer 7:8-10, Mt 28:19,20, Ro 7:21-25, Ro 8:7,8, 1Jn 3:4-10)
The moral law played a role in the old covenant, yet was distinct from the agreement itself. (“words of” Ex 34:28) (“tablets of” Dt 9:15, Heb 9:4)
The health laws are not obsolete because our bodies have not changed.
The essence of the civil laws are not obsolete because civil order is still a fundamental necessity.
The ceremonial laws are obsolete because their types have all been realized by Christ. (Col 2:14-17)
The New Covenant (God's Covenant with Spiritual Israel).
The new covenant is the final realization of God's eternal plan of grace through faith. (Gal 3:14-18, Eph 2:8-10)
The people obey the commandments because of their love for God. (Jn 14:15,21)
Divine assistance is provided through a personal relationship with the Spirit of Christ. (Ro 8:3,4,9,10, 1Co 6:19,20, 2Co 3:18, Gal 5:18, Php 3:7-9)
Attributes of the new covenant:
Better promises (Heb 8:6)
God puts His laws in our mind and heart (Eze 11:19,20, Heb 8:10 compare 2Co 3:3, Heb 10:16)
Personal relationship with God (Heb 8:11)
Sins forgiven and forgotten (Heb 8:12)
Focused on the spirit of the law (internalized, loving commitment) (2Co 3:6)
Ratified with the blood of Jesus at His death on the cross (Mt 26:28)
Mediator – Jesus (Heb 12:24)
Eternal (Ge 17:7, Gal 3:8, 2Ti 1:9, Rev 13:8, Rev 14:6)
It is called “new” because it was ratified after the old covenant was ratified. (Heb 9:14,16-18)
The works of the moral law are a fruit of the new covenant, a natural consequence of spiritual transformation. (2Co 5:17, Jas 2:14,20-22,26, Heb 13:20,21)
HarvestHands.Org
Hi CON,
The schoolmaster to The Jews remains useful as a guide to gentiles to but it was never covenanted with them.
Now the Spirit can guide towards ways of righteousness without threats of condemnation.Hi CON,
Folk get confused because Jesus spent so much time explaining the OT to the Jews they think he was not making it his commandments for gentiles as well.
But if you read the discussion with the rich young man in Mt 19 you will see the end of the OT for the Jews too is the beginning of the NT for all.Romans 6:14
14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.
This text presents the classic antinomian (Greek nomos = law) argument: “We are under grace, not under the Law.”
The implication is that the Law is no longer important.
God's grace will take care of everything.
You don't have to worry about obeying the old commands: they have been abolished!
This is clearly an attractive thought for many people.
However, taken logically, this is absurd.
For if the law doesn't matter, then we can rape, pillage, and murder, and God's grace will cover it all.
Hi CON,
The Law was not given to you so the righteousness in Jesus is all gentiles can grasp.
The law of the Spirit of God does not lead to sin.Quote (Constitutionalist @ Oct. 18 2009,14:12) Romans 6:14 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.
This text presents the classic antinomian (Greek nomos = law) argument: “We are under grace, not under the Law.”
The implication is that the Law is no longer important.
God's grace will take care of everything.
You don't have to worry about obeying the old commands: they have been abolished!
This is clearly an attractive thought for many people.
However, taken logically, this is absurd.
For if the law doesn't matter, then we can rape, pillage, and murder, and God's grace will cover it all.
The old covenant was made with the Jewish pepole'
Exodus 31:16-17 “Therefore the children of Israelshall keep the Sabbath throughout their generation as a perpetual covenant.
verse 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel
forever;
Today we are not under that covenant, w are under the covenant in
Luke 22:20…..This cup is the new covenant in My Blood, which was shed for you.
Christ became iour perfect Sacrifice and is our Mediator between us and God the Father. No other Sacrifice is needed.
We are also under grace in
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you hjave been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God.
verse 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
verse 10 For we are His workmanship, created by God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Peace and Love Irene
Peace and Loe IreneHi CON,
If you murder then you are not walking in the Spirit of God as that is not a fruit of the Spirit.[Gal5]
The sons of God are led by the Spirit of God[Rom8]
Be led by the Spirit[Gal6]Thus the sons of God do not sin[1Jn5] but that is where we are going towards and so we still do[1jn1]
Quote (Nick Hassan @ Oct. 18 2009,14:39) Hi CON,
If you murder then you are not walking in the Spirit of God as that is not a fruit of the Spirit.[Gal5]
The sons of God are led by the Spirit of God[Rom8]
Be led by the Spirit[Gal6]Thus the sons of God do not sin[1Jn5] but that is where we are going towards and so we still do[1jn1]
If you still do then what sacrifice will suffice?Quote (Nick Hassan @ Oct. 18 2009,16:59) Hi BD,
The advocate Jesus Christ stands for us with God in our defence.[1Jn1]
defense of what? You said he already died for the sins of the world so what defense would he need?Quote (bodhitharta @ Oct. 18 2009,13:54) Quote (Nick Hassan @ Oct. 18 2009,16:59) Hi BD,
The advocate Jesus Christ stands for us with God in our defence.[1Jn1]
defense of what? You said he already died for the sins of the world so what defense would he need?
I don't think they understood the question, I caught your point.To All……”Who is he that condemns, it was Christ who died and it is GOD who Justifies”, So who can condemn anyone then? “He that condemns another condemns himself”. We stand justified for eternal life by the blood of Christ, let no man or woman bring you under Condemnation or Trepidation (fear control). GOD who does not lie gave Jesus for the life of the whole world. He has concluded (ALL) under (controlled by) Sin, that he might have (MERCY) on (ALL)> This is not meant to be a License to sin though, because how can we continue to sin if we are lead by GOD'S Spirit (INTELLECT). IMO
peace and love……………gene
CT…………> you made a good point the other day, when you brought out the Covenant with Abraham as rearguards to his descendent's ,and because of violations of it, GOD turned His loving commandments into Law (forced compliance) because they broke faith with him, I thought that was a good point CT. And we are told that the new covenant has much better promises the that of Abraham's covenant. IMO
peace and love to you and yours…………………gene
Quote (Gene @ Oct. 19 2009,10:52) To All……”Who is he that condemns, it was Christ who died and it is GOD who Justifies”, So who can condemn anyone then? “He that condemns another condemns himself”. We stand justified for eternal life by the blood of Christ, let no man or woman bring you under Condemnation or Trepidation (fear control). GOD who does not lie gave Jesus for the life of the whole world. He has concluded (ALL) under (controlled by) Sin, that he might have (MERCY) on (ALL)> This is not meant to be a License to sin though, because how can we continue to sin if we are lead by GOD'S Spirit (INTELLECT). IMO peace and love……………gene
Hi GB,
The Spirit of God is more than intellectual understanding but is power and much moreacts 10
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
.1 Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake..2 Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.Nick……….I agree with that also the spirit is more then, “Just intellect”, but remember it is the way a man thinks that drives his actions, The heart and mind of a person is driven by spirit, but Holy spirit also gives many gifts to men and indeed is demonstrated by Power working in and through a person life.
I do not limit the Spirits of God to Just intellect, but to deny it giving us our intellects is a denial of the power of the spirit also. IMO
Jesus will return with all seven EYES (spirits) of God, as well as the seven HORNS (POWERS) of God and will rule the earth with both.
Rev 1:4, Rev 3:1, Rev 4:5, Rev 5:6
peace and love to you and your…………………..gene
Hi GB,
The Spirit of God is one.1Cor 12
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Hi GB,
The mind of Christ is the only goal
1Cor 214 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
Nick………Heb 1 doe not say Spirit are angels , Jesus said God was a Spirit, so is God a angel also?
Now consider this Nick……Heb 1:13…. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool
Heb 1:4……> Being made so mush better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they. This is not talking about “SPIRITS” but Angelic beings.
Heb 2:6…> For unto the angels has he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. So if you believe Spirits are angels then spirits can not subject the world to come, But scripture say Jesus has the seven Spirit of God right.
So if the world to come is not subject to them angelic spirits, and God is a Spirit Jesus said so as you suppose, then neither God nor angels will be there according to your idea that angels are spirits. And it appear God won't be there also because Jesus said He was a SPIRIT according to you that makes him an angel also.
Jesus said………> Joh 4:24…….> God is a “SPIRIT” and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
God is a “SPIRIT Is God then also an angel Nick? i really do not believe any scripture says God is an angel of any kind. Nor are angels Spirit “beings”, even though they have Spirits given them by God in them. Just as we do also i might add.
Do unclean spirit “angels” inter people or just unclean spirits, it is Spirits that can enter beings not Angels.
Spirits come in different Kinds and types but they are never the beings they are in, they just influence the beings they are in.
There are seven Spirit of God as scripture say and these seven Spirit rest upon Jesus, given him the eyes of God and they are connected with the seven Horns or powers of God.
Nick if you say Angels are spirits then you are also saying God is a angels also.
God is composed of Seven Spirit that are His eyes, symbolically speaking, that give him his “COGNATE” awareness's, Therefore as scripture say “God does “ALL” things after the “COUNCIL” of HIS WILL”, His will is formed by His Seven spirits , just as our will are formed by the Spirits influencing us.
Nick, Spirits in no way are Angels, spirit s only influence their behavior and they are place in them by God and sent forth to do his will.
You understand so much but seem to be unable to grasp this why Nick?
peace and love to you and yours…………….gene
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