Month: March 2021

The Bible is composed of different types of writings. For example, we have history, poetry, prophecy, and other writings. Yet, the Bible itself claims divine inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When one begins to examine the available manuscripts, it is found that 99.5 % are in total agreement. Those that disagree have to do with different spelling, and arrangement, and other markings. When compared with other ancient writings none compare with the Bible.

Christians know the truth of the Bible because they have experienced the reality of God as manifested through Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Answered prayer, healings, signs, and miracles also confirmed the veracity of the Bible (Mark 16:20, Galatians 3:17, Hebrews 2:3, 6:17, 2 Peter.1:19).

So, the Bible was given by divine inspiration and confirmed by many witnesses. Now it behooves us to apply it as God intended. And that brings us to realize that the Bible speaks of several different covenants that were in operation at various times for different reasons.

THE COVENANTS

The Noahic covenant preserved the human race during the time of the flood and is for all time as testified by the rainbow.(Genesis 9:14-16)

The Abrahamic covenant was established by God to Abraham and His Seed (Galatians 3:16) to establish a nation through whom Messiah would come. The assurance given is Faith (Genesis 15:6). The New Covenant has its roots in the Abrahamic covenant.

The Mosaic covenant came out of the Abrahamic covenant which was established to reveal Messiah through types and shadows because the people living under this covenant did not have the Spirit of God living in them as we do today under the New Covenant. The Mosaic covenant was time-limited. It was operative until Jesus was revealed (Luke 16:16). The moral law of God revealed in the Mosaic covenant is still true, but the ceremonial law is not – it was given in types and shadows which have now been fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 5:17).

The New Covenant is the one we live under today. It far exceeds the requirements, provisions, and blessings of the Mosaic covenant. Perhaps the greatest advantage is that Jesus lives in the redeemed spirit of believers today. To get a better understanding of this, read Hebrews 7-10 and rejoice that you ARE living under the New Covenant!

SO HOW DOES ALL THIS HELP US?

When reading Scripture we need to see to whom it was addressed and understand what covenant they were living under. Too often we do not do this and misinterpret the meaning of the passage.

Here is a very obvious example: a few years ago I was listening to Christian radio and heard a Pastor say that God had wings with feathers. He was attempting to exegete Psalm 91 where it says, “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings, you shall take refuge, His truth shall be your shield and buckler,” This was possibly written by Moses who understood God being outside us doing something for us.(Exodus 33:22) Obviously, God is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, immutable, transcendent, imminent, and can do as He pleases, but always keeps His word! He can reveal Himself in ways outside us but the primary way He reveals Himself today is within the spirit of the redeemed.

Another Scripture that is often misused is 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Numerous times I have heard this quoted at prayer meetings where the ‘my people’ was taken to mean Americans! This was given by God during the Mosiac covenant and has no specific reference to anyone but Israelites at that time. BUT can be used correctly by any person who has made Jesus their Lord by meeting the conditions!

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! No person nor anything we can create is capable of being Lord in our life! It is as lifeless as the false gods of the heathen nations in the Old Testament.

Jesus’ Lordship will be recognized by all in the future. Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Recognizing Jesus’ Lordship is what gets one born again. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.”

Even though one is born again that does not mean that he is instantly spiritually mature. Growth is needed in many areas. 1 Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” Peter further said in 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The Apostle Paul indicated the need for believers to grow when he said in Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ.”

An old cliche says, ‘He is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.’ I think the previous verses, and many others, prove this to not be true. One is a spiritual infant when he is first born again. He needs to be taught the Word of God, he needs to learn to worship, he needs to be discipled in spiritual realities.

CARNALITY

Paul dealt with carnality in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) as well as those in Colosse (Colossians 3:1-17). These were believers that by now should have been much more spiritually mature than their actions showed them to be.

One can be a believer, truly born again, but still need to grow. This should only last for a short period of time. When one is born again he is “translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God” (Colossians 1:13), he has been blessed with “all spiritual blessings in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3), he has been given “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3-4). While all of these are his positionally in Christ he may not have learned how to appropriate them into daily life. This is where the Body comes into operation. This is why the Ministry gifts are useful (Ephesians 4:11-16). Fellowship with other believers in a local church congregation is also very helpful.

BECOMING WHO YOU ARE

All of us need to know who we are in Christ, and who He is in us. The best place to learn these things is in the New Testament – Romans 1 – Revelation 1. There are 168 things that the NT says you are and possess in Christ. Read these books, make a note when you find wording such as “in Him” or “In Whom.” Until we know these things we will never attain the spiritual stature that is needed in all of us.

OBEDIENCE

Part of the great commission in Matthew 28:19-28 requires this. “Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations (people groups), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe (obey) all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end (consummation) of the age.” Recognizing Scripture as the final authority and obeying it is something that many of us have not been taught to do! Why? Most of us do not like to be told what to do! We want to be in charge.

About three decades ago we had a couple in the church who had a young son. The parents were training him to obey what they told him to do. One day he responded ‘I just want to do what I want to do’! This is applicable and descriptive of many of us today.

The more obedient we are to Jesus and His Word the greater His Lordship will be seen in us.