OUR GOD - THE GOD OF COVENANTS
OUR GOD = THE
GOD OF COVENANTS
“For with finding fault with them, He
says, ‘Behold, the days come,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers
in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued
not in My covenant, and I regarded them not,’ says the Lord. ‘For this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ says the
Lord, ‘I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I
will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people: And they shall not
teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the
Lord,’ for all shall now Me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be
merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I
remember not more.’” Hebrews 8:8-12, Jeremiah 31:31-34
“And He took the cup, and when he had
given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And He said unto
them, ‘This is the blood of the New Testament/Covenant, which is shed for many.’”
Mark 14:23-24
INDEX:
- WHAT IS A COVENANT?
INDEX:
- WHAT IS A COVENANT?
WHAT IS A COVENANT? - A covenant is a guarantee, promise, pledge, contract,
commitment, between consenting parties, and usually is sealed by some type of
affirmation such as signatures from one or both parties. The breaking of a
covenant is an extremely serious matter, nullifying the agreed terms and
promises, and sometimes followed by legal consequences, depending
on the purpose and type of covenant.
Another interesting aspect of a
covenant is that it usually requires the independent will and volition of both
parties. What this indicates with regards to a covenant between ourselves and God,
is that by making a covenant with us, God Himself is acknowledging or
recognizing us as freewill agents, is not forcing Himself upon us, and binds
Himself to us if we are in agreement, but ON HIS TERMS. Remember, He is GOD
and we are His creations, and yet a covenant with Him elevates us supremely, giving us a place of personal interaction with Him, and on an intimate communicating level.
God has made promises right from the beginning starting with Adam and Eve where He spoke of the Seed of the woman (Christ) Who would bruise the head of the serpent (devil) Genesis 3:15. Later on with their son Cain, that if anyone would kill him, he would be avenged sevenfold, and God placed a mark upon him as a warning to others. Genesis 4:15 The difference between the promises and the covenants is that with a promise, an agreement is not necessarily required from the receiving party, and the receiving party is not always required to fulfill any terms of an agreement.
God has made promises right from the beginning starting with Adam and Eve where He spoke of the Seed of the woman (Christ) Who would bruise the head of the serpent (devil) Genesis 3:15. Later on with their son Cain, that if anyone would kill him, he would be avenged sevenfold, and God placed a mark upon him as a warning to others. Genesis 4:15 The difference between the promises and the covenants is that with a promise, an agreement is not necessarily required from the receiving party, and the receiving party is not always required to fulfill any terms of an agreement.
THE NOAH COVENANT – This was the
first covenant that God had established and was with all living things after the
flood. He had bound Himself with a promise that He would never again destroy
all flesh on the earth with a flood, and as a confirmation of His promise to the
covenant He set the rainbow in the sky. Genesis
9:11-17 This covenant is a one-sided
covenant, where only God made the promise and guarantee, regardless of our
behaviour (which was the reason for the
flood in the fist place), Genesis 6:5-13. He knew that
mankind could not be trusted to walk in integrity, so for the sake of all life
He promised to restrain His judgment on this scale until the Age of the Messiah was fulfilled.
- THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT - The
next covenant He established was with Abraham. Through Abraham He would set the
course for the redemption of mankind, “…and
in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:3 This
covenant required the full cooperation of Abraham who was selected as the ‘point
man’ for us. The established sign of the covenant was circumcision for all the
males, but the terms of this covenant was the obedience of faith, the very
point at which Adam failed. Abraham’s obedience/faith was first made apparent by him leaving his home
and his father’s house under the Lord's direction, not knowing where the Lord was leading him, Hebrews 11:8. Then his supreme act of faith and obedience was by offering up
his son, Isaac (the sacrifice which God stopped). Hebrews 11:17-19, Genesis
12:1, 22:1-18. This last act of obedience and faith sealed the
covenant, and the glorious promises of God for mankind was eternally
established. In this covenant God’s purpose was to reverse the curse on mankind
that came through Adam, and bring the redemption that was to be made available for
all peoples for all times. God Himself fulfilled the covenant by offering up
His Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and thereby fulfilled His promise
not only to Abraham, but to the entire world - “And in your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22:18, Galatians 3:16
God tested Abraham to see if he was willing to
sacrifice his most valued treasure by faith and in obedience to Him, and thus
declaring that he trusted God and He was his most valued Treasure, the First and Foremost in
his life. One of the greatest grief the Lord had against the pagan
practices of the day was the sacrifice of their children, something God hated,
but He used the concept to test Abraham, though He had no intention of allowing him to
carry it out.
In the New Covenant/Testament,
when God did send His Beloved and only Begotten Son, Jesus was not a child, and
He willingly laid down His life for us, not only in obedience to the Father,
but He Himself had the same love for us as the Father Himself does. “I Am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd
gives his life for the sheep…Therefore does My Father love Me, because I lay
down My life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from Me, but I lay
it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it
again. This commandment have I received of My Father.” John 10:11, 17-18,
“…and the life which I now live in
the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave
Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20The first act of the covenant God had made with Abram to confirm His promises was established by dividing selected clean animals and both parties passing between the pieces. Genesis 15; however, the bonding seal of the covenant was circumcision. “And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between Me and you…And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” Genesis 17:11, 14 The covenant seal of circumcision was imperative and every male who was to be a part of the covenant had to partake in this way.
This issue of Covenant is extremely
serious with God. As we can see in these verses, not only is the covenant
broken by not fulfilling the term of circumcision, but that individual is to be
excluded from among the people. It appears that Blood is the seal of most of God’s covenants.
Blood represents life. "...the life of the flesh is in the blood thereof."
Under the Old Covenant, as stated, circumcision was the initiating sign of the covenant. Circumcision was a non-negotiable for a man to enter into God's covenant with Israel. How binding was that seal? As already stated in Genesis 17:11,14 the seal was a confirmation of the binding agreement to the covenant. Let us look at how serious negligence to the covenant seal was. Moses, as he set out from Midian to speak to Pharaoh was almost killed by the Lord because he did not have his son circumcised Exodus 4:24-26. The people of Israel under the leadership of Joshua had to be circumcised after crossing the Jordan before they could proceed any further into the Promise Land. Those who were born after they came out of Egypt were not circumcised Joshua 5:1-9. Even though their fathers were, they could not ride on the covenant of their fathers, but with God every generation needed to enter covenant with Him if they intend to partake of the promises. God's promises are guaranteed only within the terms and conditions of the covenant.
Outside the terms of His covenant He is not obliged to us at every level. A good example of this is when Amaziah king of Judah, son of Joash, hired one hundred thousand mighty men of Israel to be in his army; however, the Lord sent a prophet to tell him not to take them because He was not with Israel (the sons of Ephraim). They (Israel) although His people, were living in rebellion to His covenant, and God would make Amaziah fall before his enemies if took them along. (2 Chronicles 25:6-8) This is serious. Israel were His people for sure, but their rebellion and disobedience He would not tolerate! Yet later on, God used Joash the King of Israel to defeat Amaziah when he (Amaziah) turned away from the Lord (25:17-22).
"If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it." Isaiah 1:19-20
THE MOSAIC COVENANT – Next we have
the covenant that God had established with the nation of Israel through Moses.
The people of Israel already had the covenant sign of circumcision, but God
through Moses was about to step up the relationship between Himself and His
people by establishing the covenant based on His Laws, commandments, and statutes.
The amazing aspect of this covenant which God was preparing to set up with them is
that He was about to do something that He had not done with any people since Adam’s fall - He Himself
would dwell among them! The progression of God's interaction with mankind was intensifying.
Because sin had caused the separation between God and man, and since man had no
way of removing sin, God had devised a way for His people where He would actually have a habitation among them. It must be clearly understood that God cannot co-habit with sin, and
will destroy the sinners, Psalm 5:4, Isaiah 59:2, so He first introduced His laws/commandments in order
to spell out what He calls sin, and then He established a series of sacrifices
(predominately animal blood sacrifices “And
almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of
blood is no remission (forgiveness).”
Hebrews 9:22, "...for the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6;23), and an order of priesthood by whom they would carry out the
sacrifices. These sacrifices, which could only lightly cover some
transgressions and would serve as a temporary covering for the people until the
ultimate sacrifice for sins was to be paid by Jesus Christ, “…the LAMB OF GOD, Which takes away the sin of
the world.” John 1:29 "And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:39Blood represents life. "...the life of the flesh is in the blood thereof."
Under the Old Covenant, as stated, circumcision was the initiating sign of the covenant. Circumcision was a non-negotiable for a man to enter into God's covenant with Israel. How binding was that seal? As already stated in Genesis 17:11,14 the seal was a confirmation of the binding agreement to the covenant. Let us look at how serious negligence to the covenant seal was. Moses, as he set out from Midian to speak to Pharaoh was almost killed by the Lord because he did not have his son circumcised Exodus 4:24-26. The people of Israel under the leadership of Joshua had to be circumcised after crossing the Jordan before they could proceed any further into the Promise Land. Those who were born after they came out of Egypt were not circumcised Joshua 5:1-9. Even though their fathers were, they could not ride on the covenant of their fathers, but with God every generation needed to enter covenant with Him if they intend to partake of the promises. God's promises are guaranteed only within the terms and conditions of the covenant.
Outside the terms of His covenant He is not obliged to us at every level. A good example of this is when Amaziah king of Judah, son of Joash, hired one hundred thousand mighty men of Israel to be in his army; however, the Lord sent a prophet to tell him not to take them because He was not with Israel (the sons of Ephraim). They (Israel) although His people, were living in rebellion to His covenant, and God would make Amaziah fall before his enemies if took them along. (2 Chronicles 25:6-8) This is serious. Israel were His people for sure, but their rebellion and disobedience He would not tolerate! Yet later on, God used Joash the King of Israel to defeat Amaziah when he (Amaziah) turned away from the Lord (25:17-22).
"If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it." Isaiah 1:19-20
Then The Lord had Moses build a tabernacle where He Himself would dwell by His Holy Spirit. Even with all these elaborate laws, regulations, procedures, and sacrifices, only the high priest could actually go once a year before the Presence of the Lord within the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle. It was there that the Presence of the Lord dwelt over the Mercy Seat. The High Priest could only enter after all the washings and sacrifices, and procedures were carried out perfectly, and then with the blood for his own sins, and also for the sins of the people Hebrews 9:7.
Having all of these sacrifices and procedures in place, God was now able to dwell in the midst of His people, but only within the tabernacle, and latter on within the temple that Solomon had built. No other people or nation has ever had such a privilege. "And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt. that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God." Exodus 29:45-46
What is more, because of the covenant He had made with the forefathers of the nation of Israel, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He had made this elaborate provision, not on the basis of how good and holy, or even how faithful they were, but on the basis of the promise of the covenant. Throughout the entire Old Testament we can see how poorly behaved they were, and unfaithful they had been as a people. But the covenant He had made with Abraham was based on His promise, and not on their performance, though He did say that He would by no means acquit the guilty Exodus 34:7. What is more, is that we can begin to see the unfolding of His glorious plan to reconcile all the peoples of the world (whosoever will John 3:16) to Himself, and that to this point, the full provision had not yet been made. The covenant of the law was not sufficient and much too burdensome to bear for any people. Nor could the law take away sin as the Scriptures of the New Testament teaches Hebrews 10:4, but it only exposes sin. The people of Israel were unaware that God's plan was to transcend all borders and be available to everyone, both near and far.
THE NEW TESTAMENT/COVENANT
- This is so wonderful! With the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Only Begotten Son, the fate of the entire world is about to change directions, bringing hope and salvation to billions, but also conflict! As the Paul declares, "...the law is a school master to bring us to Christ..." Galatians 3:24. The mystery of the Gospel was ready to unfold, and the eternal purposes of God were to be revealed (and the adversary of mankind is about to be exposed). As the Christmas angel announced and said, "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to ALL PEOPLE. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord... And the angels sang, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:10-14
God's plan was not for the people of Israel only, and certainly not on the basis of the law, but for all people everywhere, those who had the same kind of faith that Abraham had (Romans 4:11,16). These are His people with whom He was to reconcile unto Himself, and to not only dwell among them, but within them. The relationship that Adam had lost, Jesus Christ came to restore. This covenant He inaugurated with His own blood, with which He paid the penalty for our sins, cancelled the debt, purchased our redemption (Hebrews 9:26, 10:12), and thereby reconciled us to God His Father, and now in Him, our Father as well! The terms and conditions of this covenant had also changed, requiring our faith as opposed to obedience to the Law. This enabled anyone, young or old, weak or strong, rich or poor, regardless of background, to be able to enter into the covenant of eternal life available only in Christ. Furthermore, God, through His Holy Spirit, Whom He imparts to us who have received the cleansing by faith in Christ Jesus, enables us to not only walk with God, but to live the life of faith, godliness, and the holiness that He calls us to apart from the law which Jesus had fulfilled for us. In order to enter this covenant we are to believe and unashamedly follow Him until He returns or takes us home. Our required response is our confession of faith (Romans 10:9), and be baptized, (Mark 16:16). In return, He baptizes us with His Holy Spirit! Acts 2:38 Now how amazing is that for a transaction! "...'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'" Acts 2: 37-38
OUR COVENANT SEAL AND GOD'S COVENANT SEAL
This Covenant has a seal for both parties. When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we confess Him as our Lord, and we seal our agreement of faith by being baptized. God then seals His side of the agreement by baptizing us with His Holy Spirit.
"And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to them that obey Him." Acts 5:32
"In Whom you also trusted, after that you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchase possession (our transformed bodies at the resurrection), unto the praise of His glory." Ephesians 1:13-14
This is stating a huge, but what I wish to point out here is that the fulfillment of this covenant is nearing the completion of the plan of God for mankind's full redemption. The pinnacle point of our redemption on this side of the grave is that the intimate relationship between God and man has been re-established. This is possible since Jesus has removed the barrier of our sin, even while the limitations of our flesh is still awaiting its full transformation. Now not only are we reconnected with Him in our spirits at the New Birth, but even our bodies can be whelmed by His Holy Spirit, which is a taste of what it what it will be like waking with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven in our resurrected bodies. WHAT A COVENANT!!!
QUICK SUMMARY OF THE COVENANT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:
1- The sin that separated us from God is washed away by the Blood of His Son - the Lord Jesus Christ Colossians 1:14
2 - The intimate relationship that was lost between Adam and God is now reinstated and available through Christ John 10:27, Hebrews 8:11
3 - Our position as lost sinners has been changed to saved, redeemed, justified, sanctified... 1 Corinthians 6:11
4 - In Christ Jesus we have been adopted into the family of God as His sons and daughters. Ephesians 1:5
5 - Having been washed and cleansed through faith in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross, He has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts whereby we cry "ABBA, FATHER!" Galatians 4:6 HE NOW LIVES IN US!
6 - The curse of death has been replaced with the promise of eternal life and the resurrection of the dead. "Jesus said to her, 'I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?'" John 11:25-26
"In the hope of eternal life, which God, Who cannot lie, promised before the world began." Titus 1:2 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
7 - If we prevail in our faith in Him we shall reign with Him forever!
2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 22:5
WATER BAPTISM
This being said, we are expected to follow His example and commands as the earnest of our commitment of faith. Now that we have believed and trusted Him to forsake our old way of life, we then follow Him in baptism Matthew 28:19-20. It appears in the Scriptures that to the Believer in Jesus, water Baptism is to the Christian the same as circumcision is to the Jew. (By the way, if you are a Jew who believes in Jesus, you too need to be baptized) "In Whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with Him in Baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who as raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:11-12 With this taken care of, your covenant with God is sealed and you are ready to begin your walk of faith in Christ and embark on the amazing adventure that will carry you into eternity. Failure to comply with the instructions of the Lord means disaster of some kind. Jesus left the beautiful example of the man who built his house on the rock as opposed the man who built his house on the sand - Matthew 7:24-27 The life we build with Him will be tested by much temptation in the trials of life, and our success will depend fully on how earnestly we listened and obeyed.
REPENTANCE AND THE COVENANT SEAL OF BAPTISM
BAPTISM IS INTENDED TO BE THE SEAL OF GENUINE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD.
Baptism without repentance reflects a false conversion, and repentance without Baptism will be an unsealed covenant. Jesus did say "...Repent, and believe the Gospel."
"He that believes as is Baptised shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be dammed." Mark 16:16
The acts of faith must follow the confession of faith for our faith to be valid. "Yes, a man may say,' You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.'" James 2:18
THE TIGHTROPE WALK OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE THROUGH FAITH AND THE ACCOMPANYING WORKS
Because the New Covenant/Testament is a covenant of GRACE THROUGH FAITH (Galatians 2:8), even the works that will or should follow faith, if stressed before grace, can lead us back into trusting our works for our righteousness instead of the grace of God in Christ Jesus wherein is our only true justification and righteousness. Please consider the thief on the cross that believed on Jesus in his last hour(s) who did not have a chance to be baptized, yet Jesus told him that he would be with Him that day in Paradise Luke 23:43.
The works should follow automatically, and should reflect faith, but do not replace faith. This mentality of performance without repentance was even a problem amongst some of the Jews within the law. John the Baptist had to address it, "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham to our father;' for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Luke 3:8
Many were trusting that they were descendants of Abraham and were even circumcised, so on that basis alone they felt justified before God. We too can fall into the same trap of self righteousness. We may think within ourselves that because we have 'believed' in Jesus, prayed and asked Him into our hearts, and have even been baptised, that God surely will receive us regardless. Jesus Himself said, "Not everyone that says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in Heaven." Matthew 7:21 Confession and Baptism is an acknowledgement of Him, not us, and the fruit of our New Life in Christ will show in how we live our lives.
THE FRUIT OF REDEMPTION - THE COVENANT IN ACTION
God redeemed us for a purpose, and not that we could continue as we were and still hope to go to Heaven, but to leave our old life behind, and follow Him into Heaven. "If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection things above, and not on things on the earth For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God..." Colossians 3:1-3, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
If after doing all the 'Christian' things, we are the same old sinner, living the same old way, what value is that? Have you actually connected with Christ? "For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation." Galatians 6:15 "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
THE TRUE FRUIT OF OUR REDEMPTION (OR OUR SALVATION) IS US BECOMIMG A NEW CREATION/PERSON, AND INHERITING AN INTIMATE WALK WITH GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. When all is said and done, is Jesus Christ actually everything to you? That is the New Covenant in action.
ENEMIES AND CONFLICT -
There is one thing that should be clarified. Once we have entered into faith in Christ and covenant with God, His enemies become our enemies. Temptations, trials, and suffering, are awaiting you as well as glory and joy. Now it must be clear that even though people may oppose us, hate us, persecute us, people are not our enemies, but the powers of darkness, the devil and his angels are. Ephesians 6:11-12. We are to love the people who are our enemies, and overcome evil with good, Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:21, and by His grace we can and shall.
CONCLUSION - Our faith in Christ and the covenant He has made with us is the most serious undertaking of our life. Nothing is more important and it encompasses every aspect of our lives, nothing is to be left out. We must learn to daily pursue the Lord, take Him seriously at His Word, and follow Him with all our heart. He is our Shield and our Exceeding Great Reward! If you have genuinely believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and have been baptized, YOU ARE NOW COVENANTLY CONNECTED TO GOD IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT WILL LAST FOREVER!!!
- This is so wonderful! With the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Only Begotten Son, the fate of the entire world is about to change directions, bringing hope and salvation to billions, but also conflict! As the Paul declares, "...the law is a school master to bring us to Christ..." Galatians 3:24. The mystery of the Gospel was ready to unfold, and the eternal purposes of God were to be revealed (and the adversary of mankind is about to be exposed). As the Christmas angel announced and said, "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to ALL PEOPLE. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord... And the angels sang, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:10-14
God's plan was not for the people of Israel only, and certainly not on the basis of the law, but for all people everywhere, those who had the same kind of faith that Abraham had (Romans 4:11,16). These are His people with whom He was to reconcile unto Himself, and to not only dwell among them, but within them. The relationship that Adam had lost, Jesus Christ came to restore. This covenant He inaugurated with His own blood, with which He paid the penalty for our sins, cancelled the debt, purchased our redemption (Hebrews 9:26, 10:12), and thereby reconciled us to God His Father, and now in Him, our Father as well! The terms and conditions of this covenant had also changed, requiring our faith as opposed to obedience to the Law. This enabled anyone, young or old, weak or strong, rich or poor, regardless of background, to be able to enter into the covenant of eternal life available only in Christ. Furthermore, God, through His Holy Spirit, Whom He imparts to us who have received the cleansing by faith in Christ Jesus, enables us to not only walk with God, but to live the life of faith, godliness, and the holiness that He calls us to apart from the law which Jesus had fulfilled for us. In order to enter this covenant we are to believe and unashamedly follow Him until He returns or takes us home. Our required response is our confession of faith (Romans 10:9), and be baptized, (Mark 16:16). In return, He baptizes us with His Holy Spirit! Acts 2:38 Now how amazing is that for a transaction! "...'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'" Acts 2: 37-38
OUR COVENANT SEAL AND GOD'S COVENANT SEAL
This Covenant has a seal for both parties. When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we confess Him as our Lord, and we seal our agreement of faith by being baptized. God then seals His side of the agreement by baptizing us with His Holy Spirit.
"And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to them that obey Him." Acts 5:32
"In Whom you also trusted, after that you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchase possession (our transformed bodies at the resurrection), unto the praise of His glory." Ephesians 1:13-14
This is stating a huge, but what I wish to point out here is that the fulfillment of this covenant is nearing the completion of the plan of God for mankind's full redemption. The pinnacle point of our redemption on this side of the grave is that the intimate relationship between God and man has been re-established. This is possible since Jesus has removed the barrier of our sin, even while the limitations of our flesh is still awaiting its full transformation. Now not only are we reconnected with Him in our spirits at the New Birth, but even our bodies can be whelmed by His Holy Spirit, which is a taste of what it what it will be like waking with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven in our resurrected bodies. WHAT A COVENANT!!!
QUICK SUMMARY OF THE COVENANT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:
1- The sin that separated us from God is washed away by the Blood of His Son - the Lord Jesus Christ Colossians 1:14
2 - The intimate relationship that was lost between Adam and God is now reinstated and available through Christ John 10:27, Hebrews 8:11
3 - Our position as lost sinners has been changed to saved, redeemed, justified, sanctified... 1 Corinthians 6:11
4 - In Christ Jesus we have been adopted into the family of God as His sons and daughters. Ephesians 1:5
5 - Having been washed and cleansed through faith in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross, He has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts whereby we cry "ABBA, FATHER!" Galatians 4:6 HE NOW LIVES IN US!
6 - The curse of death has been replaced with the promise of eternal life and the resurrection of the dead. "Jesus said to her, 'I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?'" John 11:25-26
"In the hope of eternal life, which God, Who cannot lie, promised before the world began." Titus 1:2 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
7 - If we prevail in our faith in Him we shall reign with Him forever!
2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 22:5
WATER BAPTISM
This being said, we are expected to follow His example and commands as the earnest of our commitment of faith. Now that we have believed and trusted Him to forsake our old way of life, we then follow Him in baptism Matthew 28:19-20. It appears in the Scriptures that to the Believer in Jesus, water Baptism is to the Christian the same as circumcision is to the Jew. (By the way, if you are a Jew who believes in Jesus, you too need to be baptized) "In Whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with Him in Baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who as raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:11-12 With this taken care of, your covenant with God is sealed and you are ready to begin your walk of faith in Christ and embark on the amazing adventure that will carry you into eternity. Failure to comply with the instructions of the Lord means disaster of some kind. Jesus left the beautiful example of the man who built his house on the rock as opposed the man who built his house on the sand - Matthew 7:24-27 The life we build with Him will be tested by much temptation in the trials of life, and our success will depend fully on how earnestly we listened and obeyed.
REPENTANCE AND THE COVENANT SEAL OF BAPTISM
BAPTISM IS INTENDED TO BE THE SEAL OF GENUINE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD.
Baptism without repentance reflects a false conversion, and repentance without Baptism will be an unsealed covenant. Jesus did say "...Repent, and believe the Gospel."
"He that believes as is Baptised shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be dammed." Mark 16:16
The acts of faith must follow the confession of faith for our faith to be valid. "Yes, a man may say,' You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.'" James 2:18
THE TIGHTROPE WALK OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE THROUGH FAITH AND THE ACCOMPANYING WORKS
Because the New Covenant/Testament is a covenant of GRACE THROUGH FAITH (Galatians 2:8), even the works that will or should follow faith, if stressed before grace, can lead us back into trusting our works for our righteousness instead of the grace of God in Christ Jesus wherein is our only true justification and righteousness. Please consider the thief on the cross that believed on Jesus in his last hour(s) who did not have a chance to be baptized, yet Jesus told him that he would be with Him that day in Paradise Luke 23:43.
The works should follow automatically, and should reflect faith, but do not replace faith. This mentality of performance without repentance was even a problem amongst some of the Jews within the law. John the Baptist had to address it, "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham to our father;' for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Luke 3:8
Many were trusting that they were descendants of Abraham and were even circumcised, so on that basis alone they felt justified before God. We too can fall into the same trap of self righteousness. We may think within ourselves that because we have 'believed' in Jesus, prayed and asked Him into our hearts, and have even been baptised, that God surely will receive us regardless. Jesus Himself said, "Not everyone that says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in Heaven." Matthew 7:21 Confession and Baptism is an acknowledgement of Him, not us, and the fruit of our New Life in Christ will show in how we live our lives.
THE FRUIT OF REDEMPTION - THE COVENANT IN ACTION
God redeemed us for a purpose, and not that we could continue as we were and still hope to go to Heaven, but to leave our old life behind, and follow Him into Heaven. "If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection things above, and not on things on the earth For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God..." Colossians 3:1-3, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
If after doing all the 'Christian' things, we are the same old sinner, living the same old way, what value is that? Have you actually connected with Christ? "For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation." Galatians 6:15 "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
THE TRUE FRUIT OF OUR REDEMPTION (OR OUR SALVATION) IS US BECOMIMG A NEW CREATION/PERSON, AND INHERITING AN INTIMATE WALK WITH GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. When all is said and done, is Jesus Christ actually everything to you? That is the New Covenant in action.
ENEMIES AND CONFLICT -
There is one thing that should be clarified. Once we have entered into faith in Christ and covenant with God, His enemies become our enemies. Temptations, trials, and suffering, are awaiting you as well as glory and joy. Now it must be clear that even though people may oppose us, hate us, persecute us, people are not our enemies, but the powers of darkness, the devil and his angels are. Ephesians 6:11-12. We are to love the people who are our enemies, and overcome evil with good, Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:21, and by His grace we can and shall.
CONCLUSION - Our faith in Christ and the covenant He has made with us is the most serious undertaking of our life. Nothing is more important and it encompasses every aspect of our lives, nothing is to be left out. We must learn to daily pursue the Lord, take Him seriously at His Word, and follow Him with all our heart. He is our Shield and our Exceeding Great Reward! If you have genuinely believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and have been baptized, YOU ARE NOW COVENANTLY CONNECTED TO GOD IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT WILL LAST FOREVER!!!
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