The Covenants

Chester M. Gross

Copyright © 2012 Author Name

All rights reserved.

ISBN:

ISBN-13:

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to Richard Martin and George Watkins who taught me to love the Word of God.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

i

1

Introduction

1

2

Eternal Covenant

6

3

Edenic Covenant

15

4

Adamic Covenant

22

5

Noahic Covenant

32

6

Abrahamic Covenant

41

7

Mosaic Covenant

55

8

Canaanic Covenant

67

9

Davidic Covenant

76

10

New Covenant

83

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

All scriptures are taken from the New Living Translation.

Chapter 1

The Covenants

The Bible reveals that God is a covenant making God. The Bible itself is the revelation of several covenants. The Bible primarily being divided into two parts, the Old and the New Testaments or Covenants. There are nine covenants revealed in Scripture. These covenants reveal God's purpose and plan for man, and involve time and eternity.

What is a Covenant?

The word "Covenant" is not heard much today and has lost much of its strength which it had in Bible days. Today, with the frequency of petty law suits and the disregard for legal contracts, most people do not understand the true value and responsibility of a Covenant Relationship.

In the American Heritage Dictionary

cov·e·nant (k¾v“…-n…nt) n. 1. A binding agreement; a compact. 2. Law. a. A formal sealed agreement or contract. b. A suit to recover damages for violation of such a contract. 3. In the Bible, God's promise to the human race. --cov·e·nant v. cov·e·nant·ed, cov·e·nant·ing, cov·e·nants. --tr. 1. To promise by or as if by a covenant. --intr. To enter into a covenant. --cov”e·nant“al (-n²n“tl) adj. --cov”e·nant“al·ly adv.

Covenants in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, a covenant was the foundation of social order and social relations, and it was the basis for understanding man's relationship with God. The concept of covenants have been used in other cultures as a basis for a wide range of interpersonal and social relationships.  Between one nation and another, a covenant was a treaty.

There are 4 major covenants in scripture, Abrahamic, Davidic, Mosaic, and the New Covenant.  In each of these covenants, God states what He will do.  In three of the four, the purpose will be accomplished at history's end.  In the Mosaic covenant, or the covenant of the Law, God's purpose deals only with the nation of Israel.

There are Nine Covenants

These are the Covenants we will be studying.  Eight of these covenants God made with Man, the first covenant is the Eternal Covenant made in the Eternal Counsels and persons of the Godhead.

1.  Eternal Covenant

Made in eternity in the counsels of the eternal Godhead, between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is the all comprehensive covenant, including in itself the covenants of creation and redemption and God's eternal purpose for man.  All other covenants are but fragments of the whole and are a progressive unfolding of this Eternal Covenant.

2.  Edenic Covenant

Made before the entrance of sin, involving the original man and women, Adam and Eve.  It reveals God's original purpose for the whole of Adam's race.

3.  Adamic Covenant

Made after the entrance of sin, with Adam and Eve, the original sinners and parents of the human race. It involved God's judgment on sin and the coming of the Messianic redemption.

4.  Noahic Covenant

Made with Noah, after the flood, involving all creation, all creatures and all future generations of the human race. It establishes God's purpose as revealed in the Edenic covenant.

5.  Abrahamic Covenant

Made with Abraham, the father of all who believe, the father of the chosen nation of Israel, after the Tower of Babel and the scattering of the sons of Noah in their tongues, families and nations. It involved Abraham, his natural and national seed called Israel and the Messianic seed, Jesus Christ.  It includes in itself the coming in of the believing Israelites and Gentiles into the Kingdom of God.

6.  Mosaic Covenant

Made strictly and only with the chosen nation of Israel, after the Exodus from Egypt at the foot of Mt. Sinai.

7.  Canaanic Covenant

Made with the nation of Israel, especially the second and new generation at the end of the 40 years of wanderings in the wilderness and before they entered Canaan, the land promised in the Abrahamic Covenant. It laid out the conditions for entering into and maintaining the promised land.

8.  Davidic Covenant

Made with David after the death of King Saul and at the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel. It involved David, both his natural and spiritual seed and pointed ultimately to the Lord Jesus Christ and the everlasting throne and kingdom of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

9.  New Covenant

Made with the nation of Israel after the rejection of Messiah by the Jews and just prior to the crucifixion of Christ. It replaced the Old or Mosaic covenant with its laws and regulations.  It made salvation available to all men though the cross of Calvary, and made the Gentile Nations covenant partners with Israel.

Chapter 2

The Eternal Covenant

The Eternal Covenant is a covenant made before the foundation of the world, before the entrance of sin between the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.  God in his wisdom had an eternal purpose and plan, God pre-ordained that man would be saved through the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ.  This is the only covenant made in eternity for man before the earth was created. This covenant is the original purpose of God for man.

We need to recognize that God does not fail nor do his covenants fail.  Even the Mosiac covenant had a purpose (as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ), so each covenant was a reflection of the one true heavenly plan God had made.  This plan was so great and intricate that God developed many covenants to begin revealing his plan to mankind.

God knew before the entrance of sin in the Garden of Eden, that man would fall, because He is Omniscient (All Knowing); He foreknew that his creation would sin.  Knowing this, before the creation of the world, God planned for this fall, by sending his Son to die for his creation.  Now we realize that Jesus did not come to die immediately following Adam's sin, but the Bible does tell us that Jesus planned to lay his life down for man before the world was created.  Therefore God's eternal plan would begin to unfold at the point of man's sin in the garden.

One of the important factors in this Eternal Covenant is that it was not made with man but for man between the persons of the Godhead.  We as man are the beneficiaries of this great covenant made in the counsels of God.  Each person of the Godhead had a part to fulfill in the whole plan from creation of the world, to the ultimate glorification of the saints and their entrance in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, and the final New Heaven and the New Earth.

1 Corinthians 2:8

8But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord..

God's Eternal Plan and Purpose

God revealed his eternal plan to us. His plan was formed before the world was created.  The purpose of his plan was that the church would become the bride of Christ, and that the church would make known to the principalities and powers the manifold wisdom of God.

God promised eternal life before the world began

Titus 1:2

2 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie promised them before the world began.

He has saved us according to his own purpose before the world began

2 Timothy 1:9–10

9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.

Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world

1 Peter 1:18–20

18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

The kingdom was prepared for us before the foundation of the world

Matthew 25:34

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.

The church to be born

Ephesians 3:9–11

9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

God chose us in Christ before the world was created

Christ purposed to die for man before man was even created.  This was the eternal purpose and plan of God.  An elaborate plan was made by the Eternal Godhead, Jesus agreed to be born of a virgin and die for the sins of this creation which was in the heart of God to create.  Scripture teaches that God chose us to be in Christ before the world was made.

God has from the beginning chosen us to salvation

2 Thessalonians 2:13

13 As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.

We are a chosen generation

1 Peter 2:9–10

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

God chose the foolish things of this world

1 Corinthians 1:27–28

27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

In him, we were chosen according to his eternal plan

Ephesians 1:3–12

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. 12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.

The Mystery Revealed

Romans 11:13–21

13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, 14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. 15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! 16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. 17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree some of the people of Israel have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. 18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. 19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” 20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.

The Gentiles to be Grafted in

Ephesians 2:11–13

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 3:6

6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

The Eternal Covenant Purpose

This Eternal Covenant has some very important features which reveal the eternal purpose and plan of the Godhead. God pre-planned all the covenants in the eternal heavens, this covenant is the original covenant made between the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit concerning the creation they would create.

Made between the Godhead in the heavens

Made before time began

It reveals God’s eternal purpose for man

It reveals God’s love for us

Is made possible though God's nature

Promises of the eternal covenant

The Promises of this Covenant are numerous, many are seen throughout other covenants, but they were formed in the purpose and plan of God in the Heavens before the world began.  Now to be revealed to us through the Holy Spirit and the word of God.

We received Eternal Life

Our promise of Eternal Life was found in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ.  God foreordained that we would have eternal life through the death and resurrection of the Son of God.  This promise was given us before the world began.

Titus 1:2-3

2 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie promised them before the world began. 3 And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.

1 John 2:25

25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

We Receive the Divine Nature of God

We are given the Divine Nature of God, that we might have the ability to overcome the corruption which is in the world.

2 Peter 1:4

4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

We are given eternal life and immortality

Immortality means to have unending existence.  We are given eternal life or immortality through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 6:16

16 He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.

The gift of Righteousness

Romans 5:17–19

17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

Promise to Rule and Reign with Christ in Eternity

Revelation 2:26–29

26 To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations. 27 They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. 28 They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! 29 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Christ in you the hope of Glory

Colossians 1:26–27

26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

Ephesians 3:17

17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

We shall become the Sons of God

John 1:12–13

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

Romans 8:14–17

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

The Holy Spirit to dwell in us

Ephesians 1:13–14

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

John 14:16–17

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

To Eat of the Tree of Life

Revelation 22:2–14

2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. 3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. 6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.” 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. 9 But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!” 10 Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.” 12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.

The final act of salvation will be to eat from the tree of life. In Genesis it says that if Adam would have eaten from the tree of life after his sin he would have lived forever in that sinful state. For believers to eat from the tree of life is the end of the sin nature of Adam and the entrance into the eternal glories without sin.

Review Questions

1.  In Titus 1:2 what did God promise us before the world began?

2.  In 2 Timothy 1:9-10 God reveals part of His plan. In this plan how does he want us to live?

3.  Would the rulers of this world have crucified Jesus if they would have know what really was going to happen?

4.  When was this covenant created, before or after the world was created?

5.  What scripture tells us that Jesus was chosen to die as a ransom for us before the world began?

Chapter 3

The Edenic Covenant

The Edenic Covenant is the Covenant God made with Adam and Eve before the entrance of sin into the world.  It reveals God's original purpose for all of creation. After Adam fell God instituted another covenant with man. Each covenant points us toward the ultimate covenant, the New Covenant given through the death, buried and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Edenic Covenant

The first two chapters of Genesis record the creation of heaven and earth, including God's purpose for them.  God created and formed the earth for the purpose of being inhabited. In Genesis 1 and 2, God created the animals, birds, fish and the human race to inhabit his creation.  The first covenant was given to the first man and woman to reveal God's purpose in creating them.  There can be no relationship with God without a covenant being made.

Genesis 1:26–31

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” 29 Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened. 31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

God created man in his own image and told him to subdue and take dominion over the earth and all of God's creation. During this time man was placed in a period of probation to test his voluntary commitment to his covenant.

Genesis 2:7–9

7 Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. 8 Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9 The LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:15–25

15 The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” 18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” 19 So the LORD God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man* to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the LORD God took out one of the man’s ribs* and closed up the opening. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. 23 “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’ ” 24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. 25 Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

The Promises of the Edenic Covenant

The promises of the Edenic Covenant are expressed in God's purpose for creating man.  They are worded more as statements of purpose and commands than as promises.

Genesis 1:28

28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Man made in God's image after his likeness

Genesis 1:26-27

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

To Multiply and Bear Fruit

Genesis 1:28

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

This fruitfulness involved both natural and spiritual reproduction.  It involved populating the earth with a race of beings that would know God, be like him and serve him.

To Subdue the Earth

Genesis 1:28

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

To subdue means "to tread down, to conquer or to subjugate", which denotes warfare.  This implied the existence of an enemy that Adam was to conquer.  Adam was to conquer Satan, the only enemy then in existence.

To Have Dominion

Genesis 1:28

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

This dominion involved ruler ship over the earthly creation and would also include spiritual authority.  Adam would rule over every creature and be King under God over the entire earth.

To Eat Herbs and Fruit

Genesis 1:29

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Man did not begin eating meat until after the flood. Man was given every herb and fruit for their sustenance and physical existence. After the flood God allowed Noah and his family to begin eating animals. Later in the Mosaic covenant God restricted man from eating certain animals.  Genesis 2:9

To Till the Ground

Genesis 2:15

15 The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.

This involved man's occupation.  He was created to work. Man receives his self worth from his work. Now man would have to struggle in his work which would affect his self esteem. The New Testament teaches that if a man does not work he should not eat and be treated like an unbeliever.

Genesis 2:16–17

16 But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden^17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.

Two Trees in the garden

The place the Covenant was Made

The place the covenant was made was in the Garden of Eden. This was the place where God's presence appeared on earth fellowshipping with man in the cool of the day. God placed man in the garden and gave him the terms of the covenant by which he was to live. Later, after Adam’s fall, God drove man out of the garden.

Genesis 3:23–24

23 So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Two Trees

The visible sign of the covenant was the tree of life.  Of all the trees in the garden, only two were named and were placed in the "midst" of it.  Of these two trees, Adam was allowed to eat of only one, the tree of life.  The curse came after the entrance of sin and withheld the fruit from the tree of life. God placed two Cherubim with flaming swords to guard the tree of life and then drove man from the garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:17

17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

Genesis 3:22–24

22 Then the LORD God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” 23 So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

This covenant stands as the only covenant made with man before the entrance of sin into the world. It declared God's purpose for man including relationship, character, dominion of the earth, and fruitfulness.

Review Questions

1.  God created man in His own image to be like whom?

2.  What was man to rule over in this new world?

3.  What are the names of the two trees in the garden?

4.  Could man have eaten from the tree of life if he wanted to?

5.  What was Adam’s occupation?

Chapter 4

The Adamic Covenant

As we discussed in Chapter 2, man was created to subdue and have dominion over the earth.  Adam was given the job of naming every creature.  God actually brought every creature before Adam so he could name them.

Before the Flood

Every time the word "Man" is used in the first three chapters of Genesis, the Hebrew word "Adam" is used.  King James uses both words "Adam and Man".  Both words are translated by the Hebrew word Adam, which means "Red".  Remember that Adam was made from dirt, therefore, he was called by God "Red Dirt".

After the Flood

After the flood, the word "Man" is no longer the same word as Adam. From this point on, the Word "Iysh" is used, which means "to be still in existence, or a male person."

A Help Meet for Adam

God said he would make a help meet for man.  Help and Meet are the same Hebrew word used twice.  It means to be "an aid to, or to protect or surround."  Woman was to be man's safety, his protector. The same Hebrew word is used to describe the walls around Jerusalem.

Genesis 2:18

18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Woman was named Eve

Genesis 2:20

20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.

Adam named Eve directly after God delivers the curse to him.  Prior to this she was just called woman.  Now Adam names her Eve which means "Life Giver or Mother of all living."  I find it interesting that Adam would name her this after she was deceived by the serpent and both Adam and Eve had fallen in sin.  Adam still had faith in his helper sent from God.

The Fall of Mankind

The Adamic Covenant was made with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they fell in sin.  God places both a blessing and a curse upon the entire human race through Adam.

Romans 5:12–21

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died from the time of Adam to the time of Moses even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. 20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Serpent

The serpent was more crafty then any of the animals God had made.  Remember the devil is a master in deception, his purpose was to break the covenantal relationship between God and man by deceiving man into violating the covenant.  He attacked the terms of the covenant and deceived the woman.

Genesis 3:1–7

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

The Serpent Questions what God had Said

The serpent questions what God had told Adam when he asks the woman "has God really said you can not eat of the trees of the garden."  He questions her, this is the first step in deception.  Questioning what God had really said, opening the door to doubt and unbelief.

The Woman Adds to What God had Said

The woman adds to what God had said by saying "neither shall you touch the tree."  God did not say they could not touch the tree just that they could not eat the fruit of the tree.  Here, Eve made up her own interpretation of what God said.  This opens the door to err and continues to break our resistance to his attack.

The Serpent Lies to Eve

The Serpent lies to Eve, "you will be as gods knowing good and evil.  God did not tell them this, God told them that they would die if they ate of the fruit of the tree.

The Same Process Today

The serpent deceived Eve with a three fold process.  He is still using the same process today.  We need to be aware of this process so we like Eve do not fall into the trap.

Questioning the Word

The devil brings doubt by questioning the Word.  This process comes to us today.  "Is the Word really true?"  If we accept the question, doubt enters and the first stage of deception begins.

Lies against the Word

The devil out right lies against the Word.  "It is really not true," once we start doubting then he lies and denies the truth of the word.  This is the second stage of deception.

Misquoting the Word

The devil uses the word out of context to show us that what he is saying is in the word, therefore, we can have freedom to justify what he wants us to do.  This is how all cult groups work.  This is the third stage of deception.  He used this same trick with Jesus in the wilderness.  Each time Satan misquoted the Word; Jesus responded back with the Word of God in context.

Eating of the Forbidden Fruit

We know that Adam was there when Eve ate the fruit, for after she ate, she gave it to Adam who was there with her.  Now, how long he was there, we really don't know.  If he heard the whole conversation between the serpent and Eve, we again do not know.

Adam did not talk to the serpent, and he did not argue with Eve.  He just took the fruit and ate. I believe he was afraid Eve would know more than him.  He wanted to be as wise as she would be.

The eyes of both were opened and they knew they were naked.

They heard God calling

God asked them three questions giving man a chance to repent of his sin.  1) Where are you?  2) Who told you, you were naked?  3) Have you eaten of the fruit of the tree I told you not to eat from?

Adam immediately blamed the woman. Man has been trying to pass the buck, and place his blame on others ever since. The woman at least told the truth.

At least the woman told God the truth she didn't blame Adam for not watching out for her, she didn't say well He ate too!  She just told the truth and said the Serpent deceived me and I ate.

The Conditions of the Covenant

The Adamic Covenant was instituted after the Edenic covenant was broken.  The Adamic Covenant constitutes the most comprehensive prophecy that God ever gave to mankind, in that it involves all further covenants of redemption.

Genesis 3:15–19

15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” 16 Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” 17 And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. 19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”

Promises of Blessing

The Seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent.  This Seed would crush and conquer Satan and his kingdom and authority which he obtained through Adam's fall.  This promise involved the chosen Seed of Israel, the Virgin Birth, Christ's Ministry, the Church and the eternal and final judgment.  The promise unfolds in succeeding covenants and is fulfilled in Christ and his Church.

Genesis 3:15

15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike* your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Penalty on the Serpent

The natural serpent who once walked, was cursed to crawl on his belly from here after.  The serpent who was used as a tool of the devil who is "that old Serpent" (REV 12:9; 20:1-3), has ever since borne the stigma of its association with Satan.

Genesis 3:14

14 Then the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live.

Romans 16:20

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

1 John 3:7–10

7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

Penalty to Woman

Notice the woman was not cursed, but she was judged and received a penalty for her sin. I believe the difference is that in the case of the curse on the serpent it was irreversible.  Christ would some day come to be judged for man and woman's sin and their state would be reversed. The judgment on the woman involved sorrow and pain in childbearing, and a longing for man’s authority.

Genesis 3:16

16 Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”

1 Corinthians 11:7–9

7 A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory. And woman reflects man’s glory. 8 For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 9 And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man.

Ephesians 5:22–24

22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

1 Timothy 2:11–15

11 Women should learn quietly and submissively. 12 I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly. 13 For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.

Penalty to Man

This judgment involved sweat, toil, and sorrow in his occupation.  His work would no longer be easy.  Adam was judged because he listened to his wife rather than obeying God.

Genesis 3:17–19

17 And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. 19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”

Penalty to the Earth

The earth received a curse "BECAUSE OF ADAM".  The soil was to bring forth thorns and thistles instead of readily bringing forth food for man.  It would hinder mans ability to get food to eat.  Also he was to eat of the plants of the field.

Genesis 3:17–18

17 And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains.

Romans 8:20–22

20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Penalty of sin by Death

As under the Edenic covenant, God confirmed that death was the result of sin.  This involved physical, spiritual, and eternal death. Physically it took over 900 years for the result of sin to bring death to Adam.

Genesis 2:17

17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

Genesis 3:19

19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”

Ephesians 2:1–5

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

Expulsion from the Garden of Eden

God drove man out of the garden, and placed the Cherubim with a flaming sword which turned every way to guard the tree of Life.  So, man could not eat of the tree of Life and live in an eternal sinful state.  These Cherubim were mighty angels, the Jews believe these Cherubim stood at least 30 feet in height.

Genesis 3:23–24

23 So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Christ became the lamb of God

After Adam and Eve fell from their relationship with God their conscience was awakened and they were aware of their guilt, they sought to cover their sin and make themselves acceptable to God and to each other. God would not accept man's attempt to self righteousness and by grace killed the first sacrificial animal to cover their sin.

From this time on until Christ became the Lamb slain for us, man was to offer animal sacrifices. God would only accept this form of offering to cover sin.  Cain tried to determine his own means of appeasing God and was rejected.  Out of jealousy of his brother's accepted sacrifice he committed the first murder, killing his own brother.

John 1:29

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Revelation 22:3

3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.

Christ, as the last Adam, shed his own blood as a sacrificial Lamb once and for all, to allow us access back into the presence of God.  Now we are able to fellowship with God all day, every day.

Romans 5:14–18

14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.

Review Questions

1.  What does the name Adam mean?

2.  Who named Adam man?

3.  Where was Adam when Eve ate the Fruit?

4.  When was this covenant made with Adam and Eve, before or after they sinned?

5.  Why did God drive man out of the garden of Eden?

Chapter 5

The Noahic Covenant

The Noahic Covenant, is the covenant that God made with Noah after the flood which destroyed the earth.  This covenant was given to Noah and all his future generations and to all the animals.

During the time of Noah, the human race became divided into two groups, those who believed God and obeyed, and those who refused.  Beginning with Cain and Abel, two seed lines began and developed until the days of Noah.  After Cain killed his brother Abel, he was driven out of the land. Cain and his wife began having children which produced and ungodly race.  Adam had another son, Seth, who produced a godly line in which Noah was a decedent.  Genesis 4 and 5.

During this time God shortened the life span of mankind on the earth.  Prior to this time, men lived 800 - 900 years, but after this God shortened mans days to 120 years.

The days of Noah were filled with violence, intermarriage, wickedness, corruption, and the thoughts of their hearts were evil continually. This total failure to keep God's covenant demanded the judgment of God.

Even before the Judgment of God was carried out, God began to prepare a man who would carry on with the covenant of God.  God chose Noah, a man who kept covenant, who was righteous and walked with God. Noah was told to build an ark to preserve his household, and certain animals which God would bring into the ark upon its completion.

Condition of the Earth

Genesis 6:5–13

5 The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7 And the LORD said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the LORD. 9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10 Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!

Matthew 24:32–44

32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. 36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

·      Men were Wicked

·      Men's thoughts were evil continually

·      The earth was full of Violence

During the days of Noah, the earth was corrupt and wicked.  The New Testament declares that it will be the same in the last days as it was in the days of Noah.

Matthew 24:37–39

37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

Noah was a righteous man

Genesis 6:9

9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

The word "just" means "righteous".  Noah was a righteous man, he was a covenant keeper.  He was obedient to God and walking in the ways of God.

Noah was perfect in his Generation

Perfect means to be without spot, to be undefiled, to walk in integrity, to be honest. If Noah and his family were saved because of his integrity, think about what the rest of the world lived like.

Noah Walked with God

Noah had a relationship with God.  Walking with God implies several things.  1) that he fellowshipped with God, 2) that he obeyed God 3) that he knew how God expected him to live.

God’s promises to Noah

Genesis 8:15–22

15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Leave the boat, all of you—you and your wife, and your sons and their wives. 17 Release all the animals the birds, the livestock, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—so they can be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth.” 18 So Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives left the boat. 19 And all of the large and small animals and birds came out of the boat, pair by pair. 20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. 21 And the LORD was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. 22 As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.”

God promised to save his family

Genesis 8:21–22

21 And the LORD was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. 22 As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.”

Fruitfulness and Multiplicity

This was the same promise given to Adam before the fall.  Now God calls Noah and his seed to fulfill the call he gave to Adam. Since the earth had been destroyed by the flood, Noah had to now replenish the earth.

Genesis 9:1–7

Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. 2 All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. 3 I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. 4 But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it. 5 “And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. 6 If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings* in his own image. 7 Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth.”

Ruling over the Animal Kingdom

Again, Noah is given the same promise given to Adam before the fall.  Noah was to continue in the original covenant and rule over the animal kingdom.

Genesis 9:2

2 All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power.

Eating of Meats

For the first time man was allowed to eat meat as well as herbs.  Man was not allowed to eat meat prior to this.  Remember that the earth was just destroyed by flood, and there would not have been herb bearing fruit for some time after the flood.

Genesis 9:3

3 I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables

.

The earth was preserved from further curses

God promised that he would never again curse the earth and destroy it by flood. The rainbow is the sign that this covenant is still in effect. Noah’s covenant will not be removed until Jesus returns and creates a new heaven and earth.

Isaiah 54:9–10

9 “Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. 10 For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

Animals preserved

Animals were saved in this covenant.  God actually brought the animals to the ark himself to preserve them from his judgment.  After the flood, the animals would be ruled by the fear of man.  No longer would they naturally come to man.

Genesis 8:21

21 And the LORD was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.

The Four Seasons were established

Under the Edenic Covenant the sun, moon, and stars were given for the seasons, days and years (Genesis 1:14-19).  From the time of Adam to Noah, the earth had a constant climate and was watered by a mist which came from the earth.

Genesis 8:22

22 As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.”

No more will the earth be destroyed by Flood

Isaiah 54:9–10

9 “Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. 10 For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

Genesis 9:11

11 Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth.”

Genesis 9:15

15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.

Requirements of the Covenant

God would require an accounting of every  animal who kills a man.

Genesis 9:5–6

5 “And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. 6 If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings* in his own image.

God forbids Murder

God required an accounting of every man concerning the killing of another man. The penalty for murder was to be put to death. Whoever shed blood, shall his blood be shed.

They could not eat Blood

Even though man could eat meat, he was not allowed to eat blood.  God stated that blood represents life.  Therefore, man was to respect life.

Genesis 9:3–4

3 I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. 4 But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it.

Capital Punishment - Genesis 9:5-6

With the prohibition of murder, came a penalty for it.  Under the Adamic Covenant, murderers were judged by God himself.  Under the Noah covenant, God delegated the authority to man to deal with murderers.  The Mosaic Covenant confirmed the Noahic Covenant and declared a life for a life.  Under the New Covenant, the institution of human government is endorsed.

Sacrificial system established

Noah took both clean and unclean animals into the ark with him.  But after being released from the ark, he sacrificed only the clean animals as God had commanded. When God smelled of the first sacrifice he said, "I will never again curse the earth because of man, even though his heart is evil."

Genesis 8:20–21

20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. 21 And the LORD was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.

The First Altar

Noah's altar is the first mention of an altar in scripture.  After this, wherever God's covenant people built an altar, whether of earth or stone, there God promised to record his name, and come to them and bless them.

Genesis 8:20

20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose.

The Sign of the Covenant

God gave the sign of the rainbow as the token of his covenant with man that he would never again curse the earth and destroy it by flood. Also, man was to look upon the rainbow and remember with faith, God's promise. This promise is an eternal reminder of the Noahic Covenant which still is in effect today.

Genesis 9:12–17

12 Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. 16 When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” 17 Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.”

Review Questions

1.     What was the condition of the earth during the time of Noah?

2.     What was the state of men’s thoughts during this time?

3.     What was different about Noah that made God save him?

4.     When did mankind begin to eat meat, before or after the flood?

5.     What is the sign that this covenant is still in effect?

Chapter 6

The Abrahamic Covenant

Soon after the flood and the re-establishment of man through Noah and his family, the failure of man again became evident. Noah's drunkenness and Ham's disrespect of his father’s nakedness began soon after God made his covenant with Noah.

As sin again progressed on the earth, man became increasingly more wicked.  Man became so powerful that he was able to do anything he could imagine. The Tower of Babel began its construction as man's attempt to reach the heavens. Therefore, God came down and scattered the people dispersing them all over the earth and confused their language, so they could not understand one another.  Genesis 11:1-9.

God then chose his next covenant man from the line of Seth.  It would be through Abram that God would bless all the nations of the earth.  Genesis 11:10-32; 12:1-3.

The call of Abraham is one of scripture's theological turning points. Prior to that time, God dealt with the human race as a whole.  From this point on, God's plan was carried out through the family of Abraham. Through that family, God gave his biblical revelation to humanity, and from that family, the Savior of all people has come.

In the Abrahamic Covenant, God announces his purposes, which no action of man can thwart.  Abraham responds to God's revelation with faith and obedience. Thus, Abraham personally experienced the blessings that God promised.

The promises of the Abrahamic covenant enlarges on all the other covenants.  This covenant  was not only made with Abraham, but it was also given to Isaac and it was confirmed to Jacob and then Israel after him (1 Chronicles  16:15-17).  These three fathers were together partakers of one covenant.  Exodus 3:6-15.

Exodus 2:24–25

24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.

Personal Blessings to Abraham

Genesis 28:3

3 May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations!

The Blessing from Melchisedek

Abraham tithed to Melchisedek of the spoils he received from defeating the four kings which attacked  Sodom and Gomorrah and Abraham's nephew, Lot.  Abraham goes out to rescue Lot's goods. Then, after taking the spoils from these attacking kings, Abraham meets Melchisedek. Abraham is blessed by Melchisedek and given bread and wine.

Genesis 14:19–20

19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

Types and Shadows

When Melchisedek appeared to Abraham and blessed him, he also ministered to him "Communion" of bread and wine, which the New Testament shows to be symbolic of the body and the blood of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 14:18–20

18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

Matthew 26:26–28

26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant* between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

Blessings of Righteousness

God gave Abraham and his wife, Sara, the ability to have a child while their bodies were past the age of child bearing.  Abraham and Sara bore Isaac in their old age.

Romans 4:17–22

17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. 18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”* 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

Blessing of the Messianic Seed

God said "in you shall all families of the earth be blessed."  Through Abraham God would bestow blessings upon all the peoples of the earth.  This promise also included the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Genesis 12:3

3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 22:17–18

17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed all because you have obeyed me.”

Blessings of a Great Name

God said "I will make your name great."  The name Abraham would be an honorable and well-known name.  Abraham also received a new name.  From Abram, which means "High Father" to Abraham, which means "Father of a multitude."

Genesis 17:5

5 What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.

The father of Faith

Romans 4:11–16

11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. 14 If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. 15 For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) 16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.

Nations would come from Abraham

Abraham was blessed through his seed.  God promised Abraham as many seed as there were stars in the heavens.  He was also promised to become the father of many nations.  His seed would be as innumerable as the sands of the sea.

Genesis 13:16

16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!

Genesis 15:5

5 Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Genesis 17:4–8

4 “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 5 What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 6 I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! 7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

Blessed with a promise of land

God promised to show Abraham a land that he would give him forever.  All the land of Canaan would be an everlasting possession.  God also promised to give this land to Abraham's seed. In Bible days, the possession of land meant prosperity and wealth.

Genesis 12:1

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.

Genesis 48:3–4

3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. 4 He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful, and I will multiply your descendants. I will make you a multitude of nations. And I will give this land of Canaan to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession. to your descendants after you.'

Abrahams blessing is passed to others

God also said "I will bless those who bless thee."  God gave Abraham favor and anyone who gave Abraham favor, God would bless.

Genesis 12:2–3

2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

The Requirements of the Covenant

Faith

Both the Old and the New Testaments reveal that Abraham's response to the covenant was through faith. This is why he is referred to as the Father of Faith, or the Father of all who believe. Abraham believed God and therefore it was counted as righteousness for him.

Genesis 15:6

6 And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Galatians 3:6

6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

Romans 4:3

3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

Hebrews 11:8–11

8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. 11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed* that God would keep his promise.

Obedience

Abraham's faith was proven by his obedience. Abraham believed God and then walked in what he believed.  He acted on what God had told him to do.

Hebrews 11:8

8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

James 2:20–24

20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”* He was even called the friend of God.* 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

This covenant is an everlasting covenant

There were very few covenants which God confirmed with a promise. The Abrahamic covenant was one of them. Remember that any covenant that God confirms with an promise is an irrevocable covenant. God swore a promise by his own name, because there was no one greater than himself to swear by.  God put his own seal on this covenant to make sure of its fulfillment.

Genesis 17:7–8

7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants* after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

The Sign of the Covenant

Abraham believes Isaac will rise from the dead

God asked Abraham to sacrifice the very thing that was the fulfillment of his promise to him.  He was told to offer his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering.  This was a great test to the faith and obedience of Abraham, since Isaac represented the fulfillment of his covenant with God; for God had declared that all the promises would come through his seed. If Isaac died, the fulfillment of that covenant would no longer come to pass. Abraham believed that what he was doing was to worship God.  As Abraham walked in obedience to God's word, a ram was provided in Isaac's place.  Isaac was a type of Christ, who would come to pay the ultimate sacrifice as the Lamb of God.  God the Father giving his only Son to redeem mankind.

Genesis 22:4–8

4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” 6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” 8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.

Hebrews 11:17–19

17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

The purpose of circumcision

The sign of the Abrahamic Covenant was circumcision. There were specific requirements to the fulfilling of circumcision. 1) they were to cut flesh, thus shedding blood. 2) they were to circumcise only on the eighth day. 3) they were to give the child his name in the rite of circumcision. Only by obedience to the sign of circumcision, could any of Abraham's descendants become covenant people. To reject or neglect this sign was to be cut off from the covenant. This rite was also carried into the Mosaic covenant. Today, under the New Testament, we receive the circumcision of the heart.  Genesis 17:9-11; Luke 1:59; 2:21; Genesis 17:12.

Genesis 21:4

4 Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.

Romans 2:24–29

24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.” 25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it. 28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

The Importance of Circumcision

This rite was so important that God was going to kill Moses for failing to circumcise his own son. Also, no Israelite or stranger could partake of the Passover Feast unless they had the seal of circumcision.

Exodus 12:43–51

43 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the instructions for the festival of Passover. No outsiders are allowed to eat the Passover meal. 44 But any slave who has been purchased may eat it if he has been circumcised. 45 Temporary residents and hired servants may not eat it. 46 Each Passover lamb must be eaten in one house. Do not carry any of its meat outside, and do not break any of its bones. 47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate this Passover festival. 48 “If there are foreigners living among you who want to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, let all their males be circumcised. Only then may they celebrate the Passover with you like any native-born Israelite. But no uncircumcised male may ever eat the Passover meal. 49 This instruction applies to everyone, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner living among you.” 50 So all the people of Israel followed all the LORD’s commands to Moses and Aaron. 51 On that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt like an army.

Abraham's Gospel

Abraham was born, lived and died before the Law ever came into existence.  Yet, he was saved, and he was spiritual.  Neither salvation nor spirituality is contingent upon KEEPING THE LAW, but upon BELIEVING GOD.  Abraham's covenant was given to both Jew and Gentile; Abraham became the father of both Jew and Gentile through his offspring Isaac, and Ishmael. This covenant was given to all who would believe whether Jew or Greek.  Salvation in both the Old and the New Testaments came through faith.  The Old Testament was through faith in the ritualistic sacrificial system and the New Testament was through faith in God's Grace.

Considering Abraham - Galatians 3:1-14

The Apostle Paul was dealing with believing Jews who were trying to continue in the Law, and yet still be believers.  He accuses them of being bewitched and begins to set the proof of faith in Christ.  Paul asks them how they received the Spirit, by observing the law or by faith.  You cannot obtain righteousness by human efforts.  He points them back to their Father, Abraham.  Consider Abraham:  "He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness."

God announced the Gospel to Abraham

In the covenant given to Abraham, God promised that all nations would be blessed through him. So when God announced his plan to Abraham, God revealed the gospel of Jesus Christ to him. He saw God's plan in the future and believed in Christ before Christ came, righteousness was given to him. Remember that God had an eternal plan that Christ would die for the sins of the world before the world was even created.

Galatians 3:8

8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.”

Righteousness by Faith

We receive righteousness by faith in Christ not through the works of the law.  We are saved by grace through faith, not by works. Romans 4:10-17.

Galatians 3:11

11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 4:10–17

10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!

11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. 14 If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. 15 For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) 6 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

Redeemed from the curse

Everyone who lives under the law is cursed.  For no one can be justified by obeying the law.  Therefore, Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the law, BECAUSE, "THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."  Christ redeemed us in order that the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant might come on us, so by FAITH we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Galatians 3:10–14

10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”* 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised* Holy Spirit through faith.

Two Sons and Two Covenants

Galatians 4:24–31

24 These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. 27 As Isaiah said, “Rejoice, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into a joyful shout, you who have never been in labor! For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband!” 28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit. 0 But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.

Abraham had two male children, one by his wife Sarah, and the other by her handmaid Hagar.  Out of Ishmael, the offspring of Abraham and Hagar, there came the race of people we call the Arabs.  From Isaac, the offspring of Abraham and Sarah, there came the Hebrews.  So Abraham produced two sets of offspring the Jews and the Arabs.

Abraham also produced two other sets of offspring.  A natural race called the Jews and a spiritual race called the seed of Christ, the church.  Each of these sons represented a different covenant, one, which gendered to the flesh and one to the Spirit.

An Allegory

An allegory is something, which represents something beyond itself.  It is a type of something else.  These two women represent two different covenants.  Each covenant emanates from a different mountain.

Hagar - Mt. Sinai

This mountain represents the Old Mosaic covenant, which is found in the Law.  This covenant brought bondage and bears children who are to be slaves.  It also represents the present city of Jerusalem, which refers to the whole Jewish race.  The covenant of the law was a covenant made after the flesh only to be used until Christ could come.  It was made to the natural seed of Abraham not his spiritual seed.

Sarah - Mt. Zion

This mountain represents the new covenant given to Abraham.  Remember Abraham was given a look at the new covenant and believed in it.  This covenant brings liberty and bears children who will be sons. (Romans 8:14).  This woman represents the Spirit and comes from Mt. Zion, which is the Mountain of Grace.  Under this covenant, we are freed from the works of the law and are given grace.

Ishmael

Hagar - Bond Woman

Natural - Flesh

Mt. Sinai - Law

Jerusalem - that is

Isaac

Sarah - free Woman

Spirit of Promise

Mt. Zion – Grace

Jerusalem - from above

We are Children of Promise

We are the children of Promise with faithful Abraham, because we believe as Abraham did.  We are not the children of the slave woman born after the flesh, but the children of promise born after the Spirit.

Romans 8:14–16

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

The Blessings of Abraham

What was Abrahams blessing?  Was it merely prosperity? I believe the primary focus of Abraham's blessings were the results of his faith in believing the gospel without seeing it first.  As he believed, God’s righteousness was imputed to him.  Just as we receive righteousness when we believe.

Galatians 3:14

14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

Righteousness apart from works

Righteousness means to be vindicated or acquitted, to treat a person as righteous.  The key to righteousness is found in redemption and atonement.  It is through faith that the individual receives this righteousness.  No one is righteous by obeying the law, only through faith in Christ.

A free Gift

Righteousness is a free gift given through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is not dependent on what we do or don't do, but according to what we believe or do not believe.  It is received by accepting Christ as the fulfillment of the law.  Since no one could be made perfect through the law, Christ came and did it for us.

Romans 5:17

17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Walking in Righteousness

Righteousness from God is more than a legal judgment.  God acts in Christ to actually make the believer a righteous person.  He does this by taking up residence within the believer in the person of the Holy Spirit.  The believer now is free to act righteously by following the prompting of the Spirit, who also enables him to live out the actions of faith.

The righteousness that law commanded but could never created now becomes a reality.  Through Jesus, God both announced that we have his righteousness to make us more and more like him.  2 Corinthians 5:21.

Abraham's blessing involved prosperity, but I believe that is the minor focus of his blessings.  The greatest blessing we receive from this covenant is that righteousness is imputed to us apart from the works of the law, but by simple faith.  Also, his blessing included the giving of the Holy Spirit, which enables us to become righteous.  We receive the Spirit of Promise.  We are the children of Abraham and heir of the promise, and blessing of the Abrahamic covenant.

Review Questions

1.     What was Abraham’s name before it was Abraham?

2.     Who did Abraham tithe to?

3.     Romans 4 tells us that Abraham will be a father. A father to whom?

4.     Did Abraham believe God would raise Isaac from the dead?

5.     Is the covenant given to Abraham still in effect and is it given also to us today?

Chapter 7

The Mosaic Covenant

The Mosaic Covenant was made with the chosen nation, Israel, after the Exodus from Egypt at Mt. Sinai.  It was made to be a schoolmaster to bring the nation of Israel to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

The Mosaic Covenant is the most complicated and most difficult of all covenants to understand.  This covenant has intricate details of sacrifice, priesthood, and sanctuary and the complete order of natural and moral laws through Sabbaths and religious festivals and moral codes of any covenant.  Much misunderstanding is found in trying to interpret this covenant.  One of the problems is that most people try to combine all the covenants into this one, by making only two covenants an OLD and NEW.

The Mosaic covenant was temporary

Again, the law was only a schoolmaster until Christ would come. Once Christ came salvation was bought for all men, and grace was dispensed to mankind. No longer under the schoolmaster of the law, which no one could fulfill except Christ; grace was given to us because Christ the Lamb of God paid for our sins.

Galatians 3:19

19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.

The Mosaic covenant was a temporary covenant given until Christ the seed of Abraham would come .

The three areas of the law

The Mosaic covenant contains more words than any other covenant given in Old testament.  It covers several books of the Old Testament.  Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Moral Law

This consisted of the 10 Commandments given to Moses on Mt. Sinai written on two tablets of stone.  The Ten Commandments set forth God's Righteous standard of morality for human conduct in relation to both God and man.  Exodus 20; 34:27-28.

Civil Law

This added regulations of the basic principles stated in the Moral Law. This included laws governing society. This would be similar to our civil laws. It would include such things as what to do with someone who is caught stealing, or committing murder. Civil law was set to determine the punishment for crimes.

Ceremonial Law

This involved a set of laws governing the sacrifices, priesthood, the temple, and the festivals.  These laws provide atonement for the sin of the people. This set the regulation on specifically how the priest was to prepare and dispense the sacrifices.

The Requirements of the Covenant

Under other covenants, these terms involved an obedience which came out of faith. Under this covenant, the terms involved an obedience that came out of the works of self-effort.  Thus faith obedience was replaced with legal obedience.  The Mosaic Law taught "Obey and therefore Live," while the New Covenant says "Receive life and therefore obey."

1.  The Ten Commandments - Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:1-21

The Ten Commandments were written on two tablets of stone, one listing the commandments governing man's relationship to God, and the other concerning man's relationship to man.

Relationship to God

1.  No other gods before him

2.  No graven images to be made or worshipped

3.  Not taking the Lord's name in vain

4.  Keep the Sabbath day holy to the Lord

Relationship to Man

1.  Honor your Father and Mother

2.  No murder

3.  No adultery

4.  No stealing

5.  No false witness

6.  No coveting

Obedience

There were blessings if they were obedient to the laws of the Mosaic covenant and curses if they disobeyed those laws.

Deuteronomy 11:26–28

26 “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! 27 You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. 28 But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the LORD your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.

Deuteronomy 13:4

4 Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.

Blood Sacrifices

This covenant has the fullest and most detailed description of sacrifices of any covenant in scripture.  This all points to the Christ who would come and make the final sacrifice for mankind.

Without spot

There were very intricate requirements concerning the sacrifice; it had to be a specific kind of sacrifice. The animal had to be perfect and without spot and there were also special requirements concerning how and when the sacrifice was to be offered.  Matthew 26:26-28; Hebrews 10:10; 13:11-14.

The Shedding of Blood

God was very particular about how the blood was to be handled.  At times, the blood was sprinkled upon the furnishings of the Tabernacle. This points to the blood of Christ, which would wash away the sin of the world.

Matthew 26:26–28

26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant* between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

Hebrews 13:11–14

11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

The Mediator of the Covenant

The Priesthood involved two particular people and then the entire tribe to which they belonged.  The priests made atonements for the sins of the people.

Moses

Moses, of the tribe of Levi, acted as the leader of the people of Israel, and became the mediator of the covenant.  He was the mediator between God and the people.

Deuteronomy 5:22–27

22 “The LORD spoke these words to all of you assembled there at the foot of the mountain. He spoke with a loud voice from the heart of the fire, surrounded by clouds and deep darkness. This was all he said at that time, and he wrote his words on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 23 “But when you heard the voice from the heart of the darkness, while the mountain was blazing with fire, all your tribal leaders and elders came to me. 24 They said, ‘Look, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live! 25 But now, why should we risk death again? If the LORD our God speaks to us again, we will certainly die and be consumed by this awesome fire. 26 Can any living thing hear the voice of the living God from the heart of the fire as we did and yet survive? 27 Go yourself and listen to what the LORD our God says. Then come and tell us everything he tells you, and we will listen and obey.’

Galatians 3:19–20

19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham.

Aaron

Aaron, also of the tribe of Levi, acted as the priest of the people of Israel, and also became a mediator of the blood of the covenant.  It was from Aaron's household that the priesthood began.

The Mosaic Covenant has now become old and has been taken away. Jesus Christ fulfilled this covenant since man could not obey it because of  the works of his flesh.  This covenant came because of sin, man did not keep the Abrahamic Covenant therefore the law was added until Christ would come.  It was our schoolmaster to teach us about Christ. It was never intended to last forever.  Today we walk in a much greater covenant.  This covenant was only to be a shadow of things to come and was not the very image of those things.  Hebrews 8-10.

The Mosaic covenant finds its perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ.  He was the only one who ever perfectly keep the law.  He fulfilled it to the letter and abolished it at the cross.

Matthew 5:17

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

·      Fulfill means to complete, finish or to make an end to.

·      The Purpose of the Mosaic Covenant

·      Made for the Nation of Israel

This covenant was made with the nation of Israel, not for any other people.  We many times want to enter back into this covenant and try to live under it.  The book of Galatians takes up this argument concerning living under the law or under the grace of God.  Paul states "Be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."  Galatians 5:1; Exodus 24:7-8; Deuteronomy 5:1-5; Romans 5:12-14; John 1:17.

These laws were only given to Israel until Jesus would come and they were only given as a schoolmaster. If these commandments were meant to redeem mankind they would have done so long ago.

Leviticus 26:46

46 These are the decrees, regulations, and instructions that the LORD gave through Moses on Mount Sinai as evidence of the relationship between himself and the Israelites.

Romans 3:19

19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.

John 1:17

17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

When was this Covenant Given?

This covenant was given 430 years after the Abrahamic Covenant.  It was given to Israel in the wilderness at Mt. Sinai through Moses.

Galatians 3:14–18

14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. 15 Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child” and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.

The law applies only to the unbeliever

The law still affects the sinner. It is still there, to do for the unbeliever as it was for Israel, to show them their sin and their need for a savior. Thanks be to God for his great gift to us through his son, Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 1:9–10

9 For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. 10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine.

Only the inside makes a man unclean. The Pharisees constantly added to the law, making their man made laws of more importance than the Law of Moses. We do this today when we take scriptures out of context and make them say what we want. We do the same thing when we make cultural sins the same as scriptural sins.

Matthew 15:10–20

10 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. 11 It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” 12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?” 13 Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, 14 so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” 15 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.” 16 “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. 17 “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. 18 But the words you speak come from the heart that’s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

Hebrews 10:1–2

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

Hebrews 8:7–13

7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. 8 But when God found fault with the people, he said: “The day is coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 9 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the LORD. 10 But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. 12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” 13 When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.

James 2:10–13

10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 11 For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. 12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that the law that sets you free will judges you. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

To set forth the Divine standard of Righteousness

Romans 7:12–14

12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. 13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes. 14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.

To give a clear definition of sin

Romans 3:20

20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

Romans 7:7

7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.”

1 John 3:4

4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.

Given until Christ would come

Galatians 3:19

19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.

To be a schoolmaster to lead them to Christ

Galatians 3:22–25

22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. 23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

Galatians 4:1–3

Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

The law was a shadow of things to come

Hebrews 10:1

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

Colossians 2:16–17

16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.

To provide a temporary atonement for sin through sacrifices

The law provided only temporary atonement for sin. Sacrifices had to be continually offered to make the individual clean. When Christ came, His sacrifice paid for sin once and for all.

Hebrews 9:11–26

11 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood not the blood of goats and calves he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. 13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. 15 That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. 16 Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. 17 The will goes into effect only after the person’s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect. 18 That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. 19 For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. 20 Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” 21 And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. 22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. 23 That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. 24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

To show that no one could be justified by obeying the law

Romans 3:19–22

19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Galatians 3:10–14

10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

A veil still covers the reading of the old covenant

2 Corinthians 3:6–18

6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. 7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. 11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever! 12 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. 14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Abrahamic and the Mosaic Covenants.

In the early church, there was much confusion between three covenants, the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and the New Covenant.  Paul gave us insight on how these covenants differed.

The Mosaic covenant did not replace the promises of the Abrahamic covenant.  Abraham's covenant was an irrevocable covenant swore to Abraham with an oath.  Hebrews 6:13-20.

Galatians 3:8–18

8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. 10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.  11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised* Holy Spirit through faith. 15 Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.

Review Question

1.     What nation was the Mosaic covenant given to?

2.     Was this covenant given to the church?

3.     This covenant brought a curse if you did not obey every law. Who took the curse for us?

4.     In 1 Timothy 1:9-10 it states who the law was given to. Who was the law given to?

5.     Can you be saved by obeying the law?

Chapter 8

The Canaanic Covenant

This covenant was made in the Land of Moab with the second generation of Israelites which came out of Egypt. It was given at the end of the 40 years in the desert and just before they entered the land of Canaan, which had been promised to Abraham.  The Book of Deuteronomy is primarily dealing with this covenant.  Moses began by reminding them about the covenant that God made with them and told them to prepare to enter the Promised Land.  Once they entered the Promised Land, they were to keep covenant with God.

The Mosaic and the Canaanic covenants are of the same stock.  But this covenant deals solely on the Nation of Israel after they enter the Land of Canaan.  This generation was under the Mosaic covenant and received the Canaanic covenant.

The first generation of people which left Egypt, failed to keep the Mosaic covenant and died in the wilderness.  This second generation is given a new covenant and a rehearsal of the Mosaic laws.  All of Deuteronomy deals with one theme the entrance of this second generation into the Promised Land and the requirement to follow the Mosaic Law.

The Promises of the Covenant - Deuteronomy 28

This chapter has been taught as being connected to the Abrahamic Covenant and while in some ways it was.  The only connection to the Abrahamic covenant was that the entrance into the Promised Land the blessing of prosperity in it were promised through Abraham.  The text of Deuteronomy 28 was set as a requirement for the Canaanic covenant people upon entrance into Canaan.

Moses begins with what they are to do in this new land, which took 40 years to reach. He reminds them of their sin, gives requirements for the dividing of the land upon entry.  He demands obedience, and forbids idolatry. Cities of refuge are set up and the people are given the 10 commandments again and told to make new tablets. Moses sets the moral laws and their penalties, worship. He warns them not to worship other gods and divination is forbidden.  He also gives the list of clean and unclean foods and the requirements of the tithe. Moses sums up all the laws given to the children of Israel from Mt. Sinai.

Promises of Blessing - Deuteronomy 28:1-14

God promised that if they were obedient to the law given upon entrance of the Promised Land that they could expect many blessings.  They would be placed above every nation.

·      Blessed in the City

·      Blessed in the Field

·      Blessed in Fruitfulness and child bearing

·      Blessed in having their Daily Needs met

·      Blessed in all their Activities - going and coming

·      Blessed with Victory over their enemies

·      Blessed in their Storehouses

·      Blessed in their Work

·      Blessed with seasonal rain for their crops

·      Blessed in their National Standing

·      Blessed in their Trade and Commerce

The fulfillment of these promises of blessing began with the ministry of Joshua as he led them into the Promised Land.  Joshua describes their possession and dividing of the lands, he also outlines the victories won in the claiming of the land.  Joshua 11:23; 21:43-45.

Promises of Cursing - Deuteronomy 28:15-68

While God promised many blessings for obedience, he also promised many curses if they were disobedient to the laws he had set for them. These are referred to as the curses of the covenant. This means that God would be bound to obey his word and fulfill these curses if they did not obey his laws.

·      Cursed in the City

·      Cursed in the Field

·      Cursed in their Daily Needs

·      Cursed in being not able to Bear Children

·      Cursed in their Daily Activities

·      Cursed in Work

·      Cursed with Diseases

·      Cursed in the Land

·      Cursed with lack of Rain

·      Cursed in defeat by their Enemies

·      Cursed in Captivities

·      Cursed in Domestic Life

·      Cursed in Possessions

·      Cursed in their National Position

The fulfillment of these cursed began in the time of the Judges when the people turned away from God to idols. They also were led into captivity several times for their disobedience.  Jude 2.

The Requirements of the Covenant

The Book of Deuteronomy makes several specific terms, which the Israel people were required to follow. The Canaanic covenant was attached to the Mosaic covenant and had the same terms as the Mosaic covenant, although the emphasis was obedience to the laws of the covenant. There were requirements of obedience to the laws of the land, moral and sacrificial laws.

Obedience to the 10 Commandments - Deuteronomy 5:1-21

Upon entering the Promised Land, they were to write the 10 commandments on stones, as they had been written when they were given to them 40 years before. Remember they had been given the 10 commandments when Moses went up upon Mt. Sinai at the beginning, just after they left Egypt.

Deuteronomy 27:1–4

Then Moses and the leaders of Israel gave this charge to the people: “Obey all these commands that I am giving you today. 2 When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 3 Write this whole body of instruction on them when you cross the river to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you—a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 When you cross the Jordan, set up these stones at Mount Ebal and coat them with plaster, as I am commanding you today. And coat them with plaster.

Rest for the Land – Leviticus 25:1-17

Every seventh year was to be a year of rest for the land; every fiftieth year was to be a jubilee year for the rest of the land.  God promised great blessings, if they would obey the Sabbath laws.  God also promised years of plenty to prepare for the year of rest for the land.

The use of Blood

These two covenants paralleled each other since the Canaanic covenant was an extension of the Mosaic covenant. Therefore, they still followed all the sacrificial requirements given them in the wilderness. Israel was to build an altar out of stone on the day they passed over the Jordan River and entered into the land.  On this altar, they were to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings.

Requirements upon entering the Land

These requirements were given to Israel upon their entrance into the Promised Land.  God set the boundaries of the inheritances of all other nations.  He gave to each their own land, but chose Canaan as his land for his promised people.

Write the Words of the Covenant on tables of Stone

Deuteronomy 27:1–4

Then Moses and the leaders of Israel gave this charge to the people: “Obey all these commands that I am giving you today. 2 When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 3 Write this whole body of instruction on them when you cross the river to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 When you cross the Jordan, set up these stones at Mount Ebal and coat them with plaster, as I am commanding you today.

Joshua 8:32

32 And as the Israelites watched, Joshua copied onto the stones of the altar the instructions Moses had given them.

Sacrifices were to be offered dedicating the Land to God

Deuteronomy 27:5–7

5 “Then build an altar there to the LORD your God, using natural, uncut stones. You must not shape the stones with an iron tool. 6 Build the altar of uncut stones, and use it to offer burnt offerings to the LORD your God. 7 Also sacrifice peace offerings on it, and celebrate by feasting there before the LORD your God.

Joshua 8:30–32

30 Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal. 31 He followed the commands that Moses the LORD’s servant had written in the Book of Instruction: “Make me an altar from stones that are uncut and have not been shaped with iron tools.” Then on the altar they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. 32 And as the Israelites watched, Joshua copied onto the stones of the altar the instructions Moses had given them.

The Ark of the Covenant was to be centered between two mountains

Joshua 8:33

33 Then all the Israelites foreigners and native-born alike along with the elders, officers, and judges, were divided into two groups. One group stood in front of Mount Gerizim, the other in front of Mount Ebal. Each group faced the other, and between them stood the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant. This was all done according to the commands that Moses, the servant of the LORD, had previously given for blessing the people of Israel.

The Sabbath Rest for the land

Under the Mosaic covenant, there was given a Sabbath rest for the people.  Under the Canaanic covenant there was a Sabbath rest given to the land.  During the Sabbath year the people were not to till the ground but were to let it rest.  Leviticus 25:1-17.

The Early and the Later Rains

As Israel obeyed God, he promised to send early and later rains upon the land as a blessing, which produced abundant crops. If they disobeyed the laws, God promised to withhold the rains from the land. Joel 2; Deuteronomy 11:10-17, 28:1-8.

This covenant was primarily a covenant connected to the land. The land, which was promised to Abraham, was confirmed in the Mosaic covenant. Under the new covenant, there is no longer an emphasis on the land or the city of Jerusalem, but rather the New Jerusalem, which comes down from heaven.

Leviticus 25:18–22

18 “If you want to live securely in the land, follow my decrees and obey my regulations. 19 Then the land will yield large crops, and you will eat your fill and live securely in it. 20 But you might ask, ‘What will we eat during the seventh year, since we are not allowed to plant or harvest crops that year?’ 21 Be assured that I will send my blessing for you in the sixth year, so the land will produce a crop large enough for three years. 22 When you plant your fields in the eighth year, you will still be eating from the large crop of the sixth year. In fact, you will still be eating from that large crop when the new crop is harvested in the ninth year.

Review Questions

1.     Was this covenant an addition to the Mosaic Covenant?

2.  What was this covenant give to control?

3.  How many years could they plant on the land before they had to let it rest?

4.  Was this covenant for the wilderness or for Canaan?

5.  In Deuteronomy 27 Moses told them to writes these laws on something. What were they to write these laws on?

Chapter 9

The Davidic Covenant

The Davidic covenant finds itself connected to the New Covenant, because the major promise of kingship through the line of David finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.  David was promised that his seed would rule over the house of Israel, that he would make his name great.  King David was concerned for the house of God, up to this point ever since the children of Israel left Egypt God dwelt in tents.  David desired that since he as King over Israel lived in a palace, why would God have to live in a tent; therefore, he wanted to build God a house worthy of his name.  God came to David through Nathan, the Prophet, and told him that since he was a man of war, he could not build this temple, but God would raise up David's son to build this temple.

The Davidic covenant was an extension of the Abrahamic covenant in that the major promises of the Abrahamic covenant are amplified in this covenant.  Kingship was promised in the Abrahamic covenant.  David was the second King given to the Nation of Israel.

The Davidic covenant was given to David after the death of Saul.  David was already king at this time. It involves David's seed, house, throne, and kingdom; both naturally and spiritually.  It points to the Kingdom of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

David's Tabernacle

Until the time, Solomon's Temple was built. There were two Tabernacles in operation at the same time; Moses' Tabernacle and the Tabernacle of David. Each of these Tabernacles had its own set of priests; each was on a separate mountain. The Tabernacle of Moses was on Mt. Gibeon and David’s Tabernacle was on Mt. Zion, which is later called the city of our God.  It was about 35 - 40 years from the establishment of David's Tabernacle until the Temple of Solomon would be built (B.C. 1042 - 1004).

These two Tabernacles would operate separately, except for the fact that the Ark of the Covenant, which is where the presence and the glory of God dwelt, would be in the tent called David's Tabernacle.  Each Tabernacle had its order of worship, the Tabernacle of Moses with its form and laws, and David's Tabernacle with its grace and spirit of worship.

Worship under David's Tabernacle

Under the Tabernacle of David, a new order of worship was established.  David formed choirs, singers, and musicians to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  This Tabernacle had no furniture other than the Ark of the Covenant. The Priests could enter into the presence of God at any time.  There were no animal sacrifices or laws to be performed; it was a place of worship.

Worship under the Tabernacle of Moses

While the Ark of the Covenant was no longer in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle of Moses, the Priests still continued to perform the regular duties of the Temple.  Animal sacrifices continued until 70 A.D. when Titus destroyed Solomon's Temple. There was no worship or spiritual sacrifices performed here on the dead works of the law.

Tabernacle of Moses

Outer Court and Furnishings

Holy Place and Furniture

Empty Most Holy Place

A Veil with no Access to God

No Ark of the Covenant

Daily Animal Sacrifices

Old Mosaic Ministry and Order

No Singers or Musicians

Tabernacle of David

No Outer Court

No Holy Place

Transfer of the Most Holy

No Veil access to God

The Ark of the Covenant

Daily Spiritual Sacrifices

A New Company of Priests

Singers and Musicians

This covenant given to King David is connected to the New Covenant given to us in Jesus Christ.  This covenant revealed the heart of God in worship.  Today this is why we find so much comfort in the Psalms, which really were prayers and confessions of praise given to God through David.  David established an order of worship that would astound us today.

Ministry of Worship

David set up an elaborate form of worship, revealing the heart of King David. The Word teaches us that David was a man after God's own heart. These are the areas that David set up to worship the Lord in the Tabernacle of David.

Ministry of Singers and Singing

David appointed certain Levites to be singers; their ministry was to sing the song of the Lord.

1 Chronicles 25:1–7

David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work: 2 From the sons of Asaph, there were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. They worked under the direction of their father, Asaph, who proclaimed God’s messages by the king’s orders. 3 From the sons of Jeduthun, there were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all. They worked under the direction of their father, Jeduthun, who proclaimed God’s messages to the accompaniment of the lyre, offering thanks and praise to the LORD. 4 From the sons of Heman, there were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s seer, for God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the LORD. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, harps, and lyres at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king. 7 They and their families were all trained in making music before the LORD, and each of them 288 in all—was an accomplished musician.

Ministry of Musicians with Instruments

David ordained musicians with a variety of instruments to play and sing before the Lord.  These musicians were to be anointed by the Spirit and also skilled with their instruments.

1 Chronicles 23:5

5 Another 4,000 will work as gatekeepers, and 4,000 will praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have made.”

Ministry of the Levites before the Ark

The Levites were appointed to minister before the Ark of the Covenant continually.  Under the Mosaic covenant, only the High Priest and only once a year, was allowed to minister before the Ark of the Covenant.  The Priest, under the Mosaic Covenant, would have been killed had if they tried to enter at any other time.

1 Chronicles 16:4

4 David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the LORD to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.

Ministry of Recording

Levites were set to record and write down everything so that it could be remembered.  It involved the ministry of a scribe to write what was being sung, this is how many of the Psalms were recorded for us today.

1 Chronicles 28:12–19

12 David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind for the courtyards of the LORD’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries, and the rooms for the gifts dedicated to the LORD. 13 The king also gave Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various divisions of priests and Levites in the Temple of the LORD. And he gave specifications for the items in the Temple that were to be used for worship. 14 David gave instructions regarding how much gold and silver should be used to make the items needed for service. 15 He told Solomon the amount of gold needed for the gold lampstands and lamps, and the amount of silver for the silver lampstands and lamps, depending on how each would be used. 16 He designated the amount of gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed and the amount of silver for other tables. 17 David also designated the amount of gold for the solid gold meat hooks used to handle the sacrificial meat and for the basins, pitchers, and dishes, as well as the amount of silver for every dish. 18 He designated the amount of refined gold for the altar of incense. Finally, he gave him a plan for the LORD’s “chariot” the gold cherubim whose wings were stretched out over the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant. 19 “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the LORD.”

Ministry of Praise

They were to praise the Lord for his goodness and mercy.  Praise is the theme of the Book of Psalms; also we find many references of God's goodness and mercy.

1 Chronicles 16:4

4 David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the LORD to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God

Forms of Worship David Created

Much of our style of worship comes out of the Tabernacle of David.  In this Tabernacle, they were to clap their hands; this is seen as a natural expression of joy and appreciation.

Ministry of Clapping of Hands

Psalm 47:1

1 Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!

Ministry of Shouting

When the Ark of the Covenant was taken into David's Tabernacle, there was much shouting unto the Lord.  There are many references of the saints shouting.  The Lord Jesus will return with a shout.  1 Thessalonians 4:16.

Psalm 47:1

1 Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!

Ministry of Dancing

The expression of dance before the Lord was a form of worship.  When David's wife Michal despised David dancing before the Lord, God punished her with barrenness.

Psalm 149:3

3 Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.

Psalm 150:4–6

4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! 5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. 6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD! Praise the LORD!

Ministry of Lifting up of Hands

The Levites in their worship and ministry before the Lord were to lift up their hands.  This was an act of worship to the Lord.  Lifting up of ones hands in worship was seen as a spiritual sacrifice.

Psalm 141:2

2 Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.

Psalm 134:1–2

1 Oh, praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, you who serve at night in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up holy hands in prayer, and praise the LORD.

Ministry of Worship

Not only were the Priests to sing, clap, lift their hands, they were also to worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness.  There was bowing before the Lord; this was considered the highest expression of worship.

Psalm 29:1–2

1 Honor the LORD, you heavenly beings; honor the LORD for his glory and strength. 2 Honor the LORD for the glory of his name. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

Psalm 95:6

6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,

Ministry of Seeking the Lord

David exhorted them to continually seek the face of the Lord.  This is also a part of worship, seeking God with our whole hearts.

1 Chronicles 16:10–11

10 Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD. 11 Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Ministry of Spiritual Sacrifices

While the Tabernacle of Moses was filled with dead form and ritualistic animal sacrifices, David's Tabernacle was filled with worship and spiritual sacrifices.  There were 3 primary spiritual sacrifices, which they fulfilled.

·      The Sacrifices of Joy - Psalms 27:6

·      The Sacrifices of Thanksgiving - Psalms 116:17; Jonah 2:9; Leviticus 7:12

·      The Sacrifices of Praise – Jeremiah 17:26; 33:11; Hebrews 13:15

Ministry of Saying Amen

In Hebrew, the word "Amen" means "Sure."  It also means "So Be It."  It involved faithfulness and truth.  The saying of Amen from the heart, is an expression of support, approval and a certainty that it is truth.

1 Chronicles 16:36

36 Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the LORD.

The promises of this covenant were not given to David, until he was already anointed as King over Israel.

Victory over his Enemies

This was an extension that God gave to Abraham; that his seed would possess the gate of his enemies (Genesis 22:17).  David was nearly always at war, but God continued to grant him victory.  His victories pointed to the church which would also walk in victory.

1 Chronicles 17:9–10

9 And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, 10 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will defeat all your enemies. “ ‘Furthermore, I declare that the LORD will build a house for you a dynasty of kings!

His Kingdom will endure forever

This promise came to David that his seed would remain upon the throne of Israel.  This promise finds its fulfillment in the unbroken dynasty of David through Zedekiah in the Promised Land.

2 Samuel 7:11–16

11 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. “ ‘Furthermore, the LORD declares that he will make a house for you a dynasty of kings! 12 For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the one who will build a house a temple for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. 15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. 16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’ ”

The Messiah would come from his linage

David was promised that the Messiah would come from his descendants. Jesus is spoken of as the Son of David.

2 Samuel 7:11–16

11 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. “ ‘Furthermore, the LORD declares that he will make a house for you a dynasty of kings! 12 For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the one who will build a house a temple for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. 15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. 16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me* for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’ ”

A virgin of the House of David would birth the Messiah

Isaiah 7:13–14

13 Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? 14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us).

Jesus Christ is called the son of David

Acts 13:22–23

22 But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’ 23 “And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel!

Jesus Christ is the seed of David after the flesh

Romans 1:3–4

3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Review Questions

1.     Jesus is called the son of _______________

2.     David created several forms of worship. Name 2 of them.

3.     The Davidic covenant was an extension of what other covenant?

4.     David appointed the Levites to worship before the  ___________.

5.     What does the word “Amen” mean?

Chapter 10

The New Covenant

The New Covenant was made by Jesus Christ and introduced at the Last Supper.  This New Covenant was made to all who would believe.  This covenant brings the believer into an everlasting covenant.  Jesus came to fulfill the dictates of the Mosaic Law and to release the grace of God.  His earthly ministry was a revelation of the Father's Heart; Jesus did only what he saw his Father do. He came to bring eternal redemption to all people.

Salvation by Grace through Faith

Salvation means "Safety, security, deliverance and wholeness."  The major focus of the New Covenant is its blessing of Salvation through Jesus Christ.  Salvation carries with it several other great promises.

Regeneration

Regeneration is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives; this is what we would call being Born Again.  We are Born into the Family of God; our spirit man becoming "Renewed". Paul calls us a New Creature in Christ; old things being passed away.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

John 3:1-5

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

1 Peter 1:23

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Adoption

This is where we are placed in the family of God; we are now called sons or children of God and joint heirs with Christ.  God the Father adopted us into his family.

Romans 8:15-21

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of son ship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs -heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Future Glory I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Pardon

Pardon carries with it forgiveness of sin and its penalty.  A pardon is given to someone who was found guilty and has received the sentence of punishment and then released.  This pardon came through Jesus Christ taking our punishment for us, thus satisfying the Court of Heaven.  Acts 10:43; 13:36-39; Mark 2:5; 1 John 1:5-9.

Justification by faith

Salvation includes spiritual, eternal and physical deliverance granted by God to those who would accept his conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Salvation is for the whole man, spirit, soul and body.  Salvation is also past, present and future.  We are saved, we are daily being saved, and ultimately we will be saved.

The word "justification" has important judicial meanings.  A person whose actions are in question will be justified if those actions are examined and found to have been right. It means to be found innocent or vindicated.  God is the ultimate judge of all beings in the universe.  He will evaluate their actions and will justify or condemn.

Justification also means to "acquit, or to vindicate," or "to pronounce righteous."  In justification a person is declared righteous or just.  Justification and righteousness are the same word. Righteousness is the ability to stand in the presence of God the Father without guilt as if you had never sinned.  It is to have right standing with God.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

Salvation for the whole man:

·      Past - Our spirit is saved at the new birth

·      Present - Our soul is being saved day by day

·      Future - Our bodies will be saved at the rapture

In Justification our spirit is made Righteousness, we receive a new nature.

In Sanctification our soul becomes Holy.

In Glorification our body is redeemed and becomes immortal.

1 Corinthians 1:18

18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

Romans 10:10

10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Matthew 24:13

13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Your Spirit is made righteous

The moment you are born again your spirit man is made righteous.  You have been given a free gift to allow you back into fellowship and relationship with God.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven and we can now approach God without guilt or condemnation.

It is our spirit man that is made righteous not our soul or our bodies.  Our body does not change at the point we receive Jesus, our thinking does not immediately change after being born again.  Yet our spirit is justified by faith in Christ and we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Our spirit is born again

John 3:4–6

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.

We were dead in sin

Ephesians 2:1

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

Jesus rose to life for our justification

Romans 4:23–5:2

23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Romans 5:18–19

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

We are justified by faith in Jesus

The Bible declares that there is no other name under heaven whereby men and be saved.  Faith in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross of Calvary is the only thing that will produce righteousness in us.  We must believe in Jesus to be justified.

Romans 3:28–30

28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. 29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.

Romans 4:24–25

24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Romans 10:4

4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Righteousness is a free gift

Righteousness is a free gift given us through Jesus Christ.  Works cannot obtain it.  Righteousness is not the way we act, but rather who we are.  We are the righteousness of God in Christ, not through what we have done but through what Christ has done.

Many people confuse righteousness with holiness.  Righteousness is a free gift enabling us to enter into God's presence.  Holiness deals with how we act and think.  Holiness is the work of sanctification.

Romans 5:17–18

17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.

A new nature in Christ

In Christ we receive a new nature.  Our spirit man was dead in sin and required a new birth.  The word “dead” means to be inactive. When we receive Jesus our spirit is made alive and we are born again.  When our spirit is made alive, we are declared righteous.  It is this new nature that makes us righteous.

2 Peter 1:3–4

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Righteousness is part of our armor

Righteousness is what protects us from the attacks of the enemy.  It is part of the Christian armor given us in Christ.  Without an understanding of Righteousness we are open to the attacks of the enemy.  Many people, who do not understand this truth, will continue to go to the altar to be saved every time they sin.  Hebrews says that immature Christians are unacquainted with teaching about righteousness.

Ephesians 6:13–14

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

Walking in righteousness

Once we have come to Christ and we have received the free gift of righteousness we must continue to walk in that righteousness.  We are required to offer the parts of our body as instruments of righteousness that God may work through us.

Become righteous minded

Our thinking has a great effect on the way we act.  We must wake up to righteousness by spending time in the Word of God so we may do that which is righteous.  We must stop thinking failure, defeat, and sin.  It is time to wake up to who we are in Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:34

34 Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.

Scripture leads us into Righteousness

Hebrews 5:12–14

12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

2 Timothy 3:16–17

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Come boldly to the throne of grace

We must understand that we have received righteousness based on what Christ has done not what we have done. Therefore we must come to the throne of God boldly when we have sinned that we may find grace and mercy. When we sin we must come quickly and boldly in repentance and seeking God's forgiveness. Many Christians feel that after they sin they cannot approach God. Yet that is the very reason Christ died for you so you could come even when you had sinned.

Hebrews 4:15–16

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testing’s we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Yield yourself to God

Our bodies are bought with a price, the blood of Christ.  If we yield our members to sin we will sin.  If we yield our members to righteousness we will do that which is righteous.

Romans 6:11–13

11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

1 Timothy 6:11

11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Receive Correction and discipline

Many people take offense when someone corrects them. But correction is how we grow and become better at what we do.  If we do not know we are doing wrong how can we do right?  So correction and discipline is how we grow in righteousness.  We must yield ourselves to God to correct and discipline us and we must allow other people the right to speak into our lives if we are to grow in righteousness.

Hebrews 12:8–11

8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Sanctification

Sanctification means to "set apart something or someone for a particular use or service."  It means to make holy, purify or consecrate.  It is translated by these words:  sanctify, sanctification, hallow, be holy and holiness.  Sanctification speaks of the separation of the believer from evil things and ways.  It is an individual possession, built up as a result of obedience to the Word of God.

Jesus prayed for us to be sanctified so we will be prepared to go out into the world. This sanctification comes through the Word of God.  It is an essential part of salvation. The Blood of Jesus sanctifies us on the inside better than the Old Testament sacrifices did. The importance of sanctification in the life of the believers is expressed in Hebrews 12:14 " without holiness no man shall see the Lord."  Sanctification is the will of God for every believer.  Justification without sanctification causes our justification to become nullified.

Sanctification is Dedication

Sanctification includes separation from something and separation unto something else. The believer is separated from the world to serve the Lord.

2 Corinthians 6:14–17

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:  “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

Sanctification is Purification

Titus 3:5–7

5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

1 John 3:3

3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

Sanctify Yourself

God requires us to sanctify ourselves. Justification is a free gift given us in Christ making our spirit man righteous. Sanctification is our responsibility, making ourselves holy and consecrated unto the Lord. Sanctification is a work in the soul realm of man, his mind, will and emotions. We must consecrate and separate these areas of our soul life to the Lord, giving him control.  This is what Paul the Apostle means when he says, to put off the old man and put on the new man.

Philippians 1:10

10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

1 Peter 1:22

22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.

Be holy for God is holy

1 Peter 1:13–16

13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

You are called to a holy life

2 Timothy 1:9

9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

This is God's will for your life

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5

3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.

The Sanctifying of the mind

Our soul is made up of three areas, mind, will and emotions. This is where we find most of our struggle against sin.  It is in the soul where the battle is won or lost.

The mind - our thinking organ

The mind is where our thoughts are produced and controlled. Science has found that the mind is a powerful force in our lives.  It is said that man only uses a small portion of his mind.  The Bible tells us that the mind must be renewed to the Word of God.  We can change the way we think and change our attitudes about life. Our life is a product of the way we think.

·      Our thoughts defile us - Matthew 15:18-20

·      The war is in our mind - Romans 7:23

·      To be carnally minded is death - Romans 8:6

·      Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts - Matthew 15:19

·      We are to love God with our minds - Mark 12:30

Satan attacks the mind

2 Corinthians 4:4

4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

John 13:2

2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

God commands us to renew our minds

God will not renew our minds for us; we must transform ourselves by the renewing of our minds.  We renew our minds by replacing our thoughts with new thoughts.

Romans 12:1–2

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1 Peter 1:13

13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

Ephesians 4:23

23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Negative thoughts should be cast off not just ignored

We must not simply ignore negative thoughts we must refuse to allow them the right to come into our minds.  By rebuking those thought we are telling our minds we will not tolerate such thoughts.  We must be aggressive with negative thoughts.  If we allow ourselves the right to meditate on negative thoughts they will eventually produce sin.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5

3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

James 1:13–15

13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

We have the mind of Christ

1 Corinthians 2:16

16 For, “Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Wrong thinking causes the loss of peace

Isaiah 26:3

3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Sanctifying the Will

The will must be consecrated to the Lord.  Our decisions must be submitted to the will of God.  The will is our decision-making organ.  This is where we determine what we will do.  Our will is where we decide to obey or disobey God.

Sanctification leads to obedience

1 Peter 1:2

2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.

Love is obedient

2 John 6

6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

Sanctifying our Emotions

Our emotions need to be brought under control.  Our emotions determine how we feel and they effect our attitudes. Emotions make us sad or happy.  If our emotions are not kept under control we will be ruled by them and kept from enjoying life.  We believe what God says is true before we allow our emotions to tell us how we feel. Emotions are not reality they are feelings.

2 Corinthians 5:6–7

6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.

Glorification

The words "glory or glorified," have the meaning of "to render esteem glorious, honorable, or to magnify."  Glorification is the final work of redemption.  When mortal puts on immortality, then glorification is completed.  Our bodies are elevated to a higher place; sickness and death no longer have a hold on it.  In glorification the body neither decays nor grows old, space or the natural realm does not bind it.  It is sown in the natural and raised in the spiritual.

Glorification is a work, which takes place in the physical body.  It will take place in future.  Glorification will take place at the coming of the Lord.  When we rise from the grave or raise in the air to meet the Lord our bodies will be changed or glorified.  Our bodies will at that moment become immortal, no longer controlled by the physical realm, or subject to its rules.  I believe that the final process of glorification will take place at the end when we eat from the leaves of the tree of life.

Revelation 22:2

2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

Raised a spiritual body

The body is sown in corruption, but it will be raised in glory.  It is sown a natural body and is raised a spiritual body.  In justification, the spirit man in us is born-again.  Before this it was dead, destined for eternity without God, but now in Christ our spirit is revived and made new.  In the natural our body is created to perish and die. In salvation's completed work our whole man will be saved, spirit, soul and body.

1 Corinthians 15:42–44

42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

Jesus in his spiritual body was able to enter a room without going through the door.  Yet he could still be touched, and could still eat food.  He also could just vanish out of sight.

John 20:19–20

19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!

John 20:25

25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

The sting of death will be taken away

Death and decay will no longer be able to affect the body.  The body will no longer be subject to sickness or pain.  This is why for the Christian the fear of death has been removed.  For a believer has the hope of resurrection and eternal life.  Death is merely passing from one place to another.  To be absent from our bodies is to be present with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:55–57

55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Resurrection from the dead

The central theme of our resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus.  If Jesus did not rise from the dead then our faith in Christ is in vain.  Jesus declared himself to be the  resurrection and the life.  Resurrection is the major difference between Christianity and all other religions.  There is no other religion where the prophet or leader was raised from the dead.  Glorification and resurrection go together; at the resurrection our bodies will be glorified.

1 Corinthians 15:12–19

12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

Jesus provided the resurrection for us

John 11:25–26

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Romans 1:4

4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

A resurrection of the just and the unjust

John 5:29

29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.

Acts 24:15

15 I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Hope of resurrection

Romans 8:23

23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

Romans 6:5

5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.

1 Peter 1:3

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,

The Rapture

The glorification of our bodies will take place at the rapture.  When Jesus returns for his bride those who are saved will be changed.  Perishable will become imperishable and we will be changed.

In the twinkling of an eye

The word "twinkling" has brought many definitions, but I would like to quote right out of Vincent's Greek Dictionary, and give the definition of this word.

It is only found in this one verse.  Originally the "swing for force with which a thing is thrown; a stroke or beat.  Used in the classics of the rush of a storm, the flapping of wings; the buzz of a gnat; the quivering of a harp string; the twinkling of the stars.  Generally of any rapid movement, as of the feet in running, or the quick darting of a fish."  The primary emphasis seems to be simply that it will be quick, how fast we really do not know.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

Those who are alive will meet the Lord in the air

For those who are still alive when Jesus comes will find they are rising in the air to meet Christ.  As they raise the process of glorification will begin.  For those who have died and are resurrected it will be necessary for this to take place since their bodies will have already decayed. Therefore immortality shall begin as we rise to meet Jesus in the air.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.

God’s plan kept secret

Ephesians 3:1–6

When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles  2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Church to display God’s wisdom

Ephesians 3:9–11

9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Only in the Church can the angels come to an adequate comprehension of the grace of God. They look at the Church to investigate the mysteries of redemption. The angels “stoop down,” which speaks of the angels as spectators viewing the great plan of redemption from the sidelines, not being participants in it.

1 Peter 1:12

12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

The Church is God's instrument to make manifest his wisdom to the principalities and powers.  The church was given a great commission from Jesus Christ himself to fulfill as a part of this New Covenant.  The Church, which consists of every believer, is to preach the Good News of this Gospel to the entire World for a witness.  This witness is the revelation of the New Covenant that all men can come to Christ and be saved.  This Gospel contains directions on how we are to live, act, and talk.

Ephesians 3:9–11

9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Promises of the New Covenant

The Gentiles are now partakers along with the Jews to the New Covenant. All throughout the Old Testament, a mystery was talked about, this mystery is the acceptance of the Gentiles into this New Covenant.

The Holy Spirit is given

The Holy Spirit was given to us. In no other covenant was the Holy Spirit given like he was in the New Covenant.  Under all previous covenants, only certain individuals received the Spirit, and then only for a specific purpose or task.  Under the New Covenant we are filled with the Spirit and He is our personal guide, teacher, comforter, helper and friend.

John 14:15–17

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

John 16:13

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

The Church’s Commission

Jesus left us with a job to do. We are to spread the message of Jesus throughout the whole earth. Teaching what he taught us.

Matthew 28:16–20

16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15–18

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

Deliverance from devil’s curse

Jesus destroyed the affects of what the devil did through Adam. Jesus became the second Adam to break the power of sin. The devil came to Adam and Eve in the garden and through temptation caused mankind to lose their relationship with God. Driven out of the garden, now sinners by nature they lost their fellowship with God.  Jesus reversed what Adam had done by providing mankind with righteousness. Now we can enter the Father’s presence and walk with him in covenant relationship.

1 John 3:8

8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.

Resurrection from the Dead

Jesus defeated death and removed its sting.  For those in Christ, there should be no fear in death, for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  One day, all will be resurrected and stand before God in judgment to receive a reward.

1 Corinthians 15:52–57

52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eternal Life

The ultimate promise of the New Covenant is eternal life given in Christ through faith.  This eternal life includes freedom from death and punishment.  It is also to rule and reign with Christ in Eternity.

1 John 5:11–12

11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

John 3:36

36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

John 5:24

24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

Titus 1:2

2 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie promised them before the world began.

Titus 3:7

7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

Entrance into the New Covenant

John 1:11–13

11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

Repent and Believe

Repent is the first word in connection to salvation. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is the second word we hear in connection with salvation. We must first recognize our need for God and acknowledge that we are sinners. This is the beginning of the road to salvation.

The Greek word for repent is metanoeō (μετανοεω) which means, “to change one’s mind or purpose, to change one’s opinion.” hey refer there to a change of moral thought and reflection which follows moral delinquency. Repentance includes not only the act of changing one’s attitude towards and opinion of sin but also that of forsaking it.

The Greek word for believes is pistis (πιστις), means to believe, trust, trust in, put faith in, rely upon a person or thing. This words refers to the faith which a lost sinner must place in the Lord Jesus in order to be saved, they include the following ideas; the act of considering the Lord Jesus worthy of trust as to His character and motives, the act of placing confidence in His ability to do just what He says He will do, the act of entrusting the salvation of ones soul into the hands of the Lord Jesus, the act of committing the work of saving his soul to the care of the Lord. This means a definite taking of one’s self out of one’s own keeping and entrusting one’s self into the keeping of the Lord Jesus.

Mark 1:15

15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Acts 2:38

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 13:3

3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.

Mark 16:16

16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.

Promises to those who believe

John 1:12

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 3:16–17

16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:36

36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

John 11:26

26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Acts 16:31

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

Romans 10:9–10

9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

The Covenant Sacrifice

Jesus is the New Covenant Sacrifice; all other sacrifices in all other covenants were not able to totally cleanse and bring forgiveness for man's sin. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and was able to totally atone for all of man's sin.  All the sacrifices of the Old Testament were only shadows of the ultimate sacrifice.

The Blood of Christ

The blood from animal sacrifices was only able to temporarily remove sin. The blood of Christ removed sin once and for all time.

1 Peter 1:18–20

18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

1 John 1:7–9

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Romans 5:9

9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

Colossians 1:20

20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Ephesians 1:7

7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Communion the sign of the Covenant

Jesus introduced the New Covenant by serving communion to his disciples. The bread represents the body of the Jesus.  The juice or wine represents the blood of Christ.  These two emblems become the symbols of our covenant with God.

Matthew 26:26–28

26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant* between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

1 Corinthians 11:23–24

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

Christ is King and Priest

Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant he filled the role of both King and Priest.  He was not only the King of Kings, but he was a Priest who performed the duties prescribed to a priest.  The book of Hebrews compares the Levitical Priesthood to the Priesthood of Christ and show that the Priesthood of Christ was by far better than the Priesthood of the Old Covenant.  Hebrews 5-9.

Hebrews 5:1–5

Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. 2 And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. 3 That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs. 4 And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. 5 That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.”

Hebrews 8:1–4

Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. 2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands. 3 And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. 4 If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law.

Christ was both God and Man

As both God and Man, Christ had the very nature of God and the nature of man.  This union of God and Man qualified him to become the perfect mediator of this covenant.

Hebrews 2:17

17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.

Hebrews 10:19–22

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

The Holy Spirit our Covenant Partner

Each covenant has a seal or a guarantee to it. This seal is our promise that we can count on God to fulfill his part of the covenant.  Jesus sent a comforter to come who would become the down payment or the seal of our inheritance in the covenant relationship. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we are in covenant with God and that God will fulfill the promises of the covenant.

Ephesians 1:13–14

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

2 Corinthians 1:21–22

21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Ephesians 1:13–14

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

The Holy Spirit testifies that we are God's children

Romans 8:15–18

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

The Holy Spirit leads and guides us into all truth

John 16:13

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

The Holy Spirit anoints us

1 John 2:27

27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

The Holy Spirit helps us share Christ

Acts 1:8

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit helps us pray

Romans 8:26–28

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning’s that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Summary

This New Covenant is the fulfillment of all the other covenants.. God foreordained that this covenant would come before the world began. Christ purposed to be the sacrifice of this covenant before the world began.

Ephesians 3:9–12

9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

1 Corinthians 2:6–7

6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.

The church has spend the last 2000 years trying to fulfill the Mosaic Covenant. Following the teaching of Moses over the teachings of Christ. This may sound dramatic but it is true. Preachers teach more often from the Old Testament than the New. Filling believers with condemnation and guilt all of which Jesus has paid for.

Its time to put away the covenant (Mosaic Covenant) Jesus fulfilled and begin living the Covenant of Christ.

Galatians 3:10–12

10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”

Galatians 3:23–25

23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

Galatians 4:4–7

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Galatians 5:1–6

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. 5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. 6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

Review Questions

1.  We are saved by grace through what?

2.  What is the definition of grace?

3.  What is the definition of Righteousness?

4.  Sanctification is part of what area of our life?

5.  When does glorification take place?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chester Gross pastors City View Church in Seattle, Washington. City View is a multi-ethnic and cross-cultural church. Members come from a variety of nations including the United States, Philippines, Africa, India and Mexico. Pastor Chester’s goal is to bring unity to all cultures through teaching the Word of God.

Chester’s background includes living in the Philippines, overseeing over 600 churches as a missionary. He has been in ministry for 35 years, and pastored in the northwest, eastern Washington and Texas. Chester met his wife Barbara at Seattle Bible College and began ministry in 1977.

Chester teaches 3-4 conferences each year. To date he has taught Pastors from 28 different countries.

He is best known for his teaching on the Heart of the Father and Law and Grace. His teaching from a contextual model brings clarity and understanding to the Word of God.