2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
It is my hope that we can all see that our covenant relationship with the Lord is designed to define our lives. That is why it is so important to spend the time we have on better understanding the origins of our present covenant, the Covenant of Grace, how it impacts every aspect of our lives, and what God wants it to mean to us as individuals and in our corporate lives “in Christ.” While this may be a review, it helps us to see how improved the Covenant of Grace is over the old Covenant of the Law if we compare the attributes of each. In the old covenant, forgiveness is from Yom Kippur to Yom Kippur, a period of one year. In the new covenant, forgiveness is eternal. In the old covenant, the emphasis is on the Law, which allows us to know what is okay with God and what isn’t but doesn’t provide for salvation. In the new covenant, the emphasis is on grace, which by means of Christ’s Atonement does lead to salvation for those who repent and come to faith in Him. Those laboring under the old covenant believe that their deeds will get them to heaven. Those under the new covenant know that it is by God’s grace. Remember Les Feldick’s concise way of putting it? FAITH + NOTHING = SALVATION. In the old covenant, we learned from what happened to Moses’ countenance upon speaking with God that God’s glory was reflected by it, but that this light faded after time [EX 34: 29-35]. In the new covenant, God’s glory is fully shared and never fades RO 8: 17]. It demonstrates how the glory reflected by the old covenant is but a faint shadow of that fully shared with God’s new covenant partners.
There are two passages which really demonstrate this comparison, EZK 11: 19-20 and 2 COR 3: 2- 3. Let’s look at each. EZK 11: 19-20, “I will give them a new heart and a new mind. I will take away their stubborn heart of stone and will give them an obedient heart. Then, they will keep My laws and faithfully obey all My commands. They will be My people, and I will be their God.” In this case, God is making a prediction of things to come. Of course the ancient Jews of Ezekiel’s time couldn’t see that. They were in captivity in Babylonia and where spiritually in a state of suspended animation. We learn that this condition doesn’t really change until their release from captivity and the years of Haggai’s, Zechariah’s, and Malachi’s ministries. During that period [about 445-516 BC], Jerusalem and the Temple had to be rebuilt. The priesthood had to be completely reformed, and the Jews had to be transformed by the renewal of their minds by God. The words of EZK 11: 19-20 take us right back to the oft-repeated will of God, that will which is so consistent that we find it as early as Exodus and still applying to us today. For the sake of knowing where I’ve found it in the Scriptures, let me once again give you the list of citations: EX 6: 7; DT 6: 4-5 & 28: 13; JER 31: 33 & 32: 38; EZK 36: 28 & 37: 23; 2 COR 11: 19-20; REV 21: 3. These are listed in the order they appear, and it isn’t hard to see that they cover places all over the entire Bible. You may even found places where it’s repeated that I haven’t found yet in addition to these. EX 20: 3-5 while not using the same wording has the same meaning, and this is at the heart of the Ten Commandments!
2 COR 3: 2-3, “You yourselves are the letter we have, written on our hearts for everyone to know and read. It is clear that Christ Himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts.” In those who were obedient to God and living “in Christ” Paul was able to see the fulfillment of the prophecy that God had inspired Ezekiel to share all those long years before. That is still true today. God doesn’t have everything from us that He wants, but things are definitely on the way with those who are living, loving, and serving in functional Christ-led congregations. I have belonged to ones that are and ones that are not. The main differences between these two kinds of congregations is who is in leadership of them. I’m not referring to the human pastors here, but instead, to our living God Who puts Christ in leadership of the healthy congregations. When God’s laws are written on the people’s hearts, His word is central to the functioning of these congregations. When God’s will hasn’t been carried out, then we see human agendas and politics getting in the way of God’s work being done. In these latter congregations, there is division and not unity. We must remember that unity and edification of the Body of Christ is God’s purpose for our congregations. This should be true within a congregation and between congregations. We need to meditate on this “big picture” goal before and during making decisions that impact the operation of our congregations. The same is true in our interpersonal relations with other members, even the ones who seem unimportant. Not one single member is unimportant to God. I can’t end today’s message without saying how important it is for us to obey LK 9: 23 and MT 28: 19-20. LK 9: 23, “If anyone wants to follow Me, he must deny self, take up His cross, and follow Me.” MT 28: 19-20, “Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them My disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”
PRAYER: O Lord, You have led us from examining the principles You want us to know about covenants to how these principles should be applied in our individual and congregational lives. In comparing the old and new covenants and the two passages (EZK 11: 19-20 and 2 COR 3: 2-3) we can see an orderly, consistent progression in the revelation of Your will for us. We can also see how the OT prophecy of Ezekiel here is consummated in Paul’s assertion that those who live “in Christ” have Your laws written on their hearts. This, Dearest Abba, is what you want for as many people as possible to know. That is why You have commanded us to empty our spiritual vessels, so that the Holy Spirit can do Your work through us. Your Son commanded us in JN 13: 34-35 to love one another as He has loved us, so that all men will know we are His disciples. That tells us that each member of the Body of Christ is precious and important to you, no matter how insignificant he may seem to us. In addition, You have commanded us to spread the Gospel with accuracy as a “treasure entrusted” to be guarded in 2 TIM 1: 13-14 and to obey the great commission of MT 28: 19-20. All of these commands are given to us out of the depth of Your love and Your profound desire that as many people as possible should repent, come to faith, and be saved. If we think that our refusal to obey would make the sacrifice of Your Son useless, then we are fully motivated to take You at both Your will and Your word. We approach Your altar in humility to pledge You our adoration, worship, loyalty, diligence, trust, obedience, honor, glory, praise, and utmost thanksgiving. In Christ’s name, amen.
Tomorrow, I am led to discuss the issue of veils in the Scriptures. We will see how veils lifted fulfill covenant prophecies and reveal God’s will. How magnificent it is that God’s teaching is so consistent from OT to NT. We can now have a deeper appreciation for why its application in our lives is so important and how much our Father in heaven loves us. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn