Monday, March 10, 2008

The New Covenant is New

The New Covenant is not "Old Covenant Part 2." The New Covenant is something new. It replaces, takes the place of, does away with the Old Covenant.

The Old Covenant was weak for one specific reason. Man. It was a covenant between God and man, and man did not keep his part. The New Covenant is better because man is not involved in making or keeping the covenant. Rather, man is the beneficiary of the covenant.

In the Old Covenant, God had no problem keeping His part. However, since man did not fulfill his part, the covenant was null and void.

The New Covenant is not a carry-over of the Old Covenant. No parts of the Old are mixed or brought in with the New. God has made it that way. (So why do we try to mix them???) But if any part of the Old were mixed in with the New, it would be null and void because just as always, man would end up not keeping his part and it would be a failed covenant.

The reason the New Covenant is better, and perfect, and stands for always and forever is because it's not dependent upon man keeping his part. God has initiated His covenant and keeps His covenant. The promises of God in Christ are not blessings and curses, as were the promises of the Old Covenant. The promises of God in Christ are blessings. Period. They are "Yes" and "Amen." The benefits of this New Covenant are bestowed "to all and on all who believe."

The finished work of Jesus - including nothing less than His blood - provided the fulfillment of this New Covenant. Do we really think there's something we can add to that?
Heb 8:6-13
6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah — 9 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 did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. 10 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 in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
NKJV

2 Cor 1:17-22
17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? 18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us — by me, Silvanus, and Timothy — was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. 20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
NKJV

3 comments:

  1. Amen...I cannot understand how many preachers today still site the verse, "Abraham, walk before me and be blameless" as though that is the gospel when in fact the convenant is clearly revealed as circumcision. Why cant they see that the gospel was revealed in the promised seed of Abraham. "Seed" Its all over the book of galations. Hello! Why is it so hard to see for folks in evangelical churches today? Why do they always come back with, "Walk before me and be blameless" as being the gospel?

    And no I am not preaching lawlessness because of grace, but that is what I often get charged with or a "Be careful we must make sure that folks follow that law or they might get the wrong idea."

    New wine cannot be poured into old wineskins, but to many love that old wine best and are unwilling to let it go. To do that would be relieving themselves of the superior position they feel they have over you.

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  2. Abraham Believed God and it was credited to Him as righteousness. He believed in the promised seed and he always knew that the Lord would provide the Ram even before he was tested.

    Thats the gospel, believing that God's seed has kept the covenant and sealed it in HIs blood at the cross. It is finished.

    Believe it people:-) Thats the most wonderful news in all the world.

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