This parable comes in the middle of a discourse by Christ himself regarding the end times, usually called The Olivet Discourse
D. The Discipleship of the Messiah – Call to Faithfulness
In this discourse Christ answers the questions that the Disciples put to Christ. They ask three questions…
1. Tell us, when shall these things be?
2. and what shall be the sign of thy coming,
3. and (the sign) of the end of the world?
Christ answers all three questions but in the reverse order.
24 v1-2 The Destruction of the Temple
24 v3-14 The time of the end 3rd Q The sign of the END
24 v15-26 The end comes
24 v27-31 Signs in the heaven 2nd Q The Sign of the Coming
24 v32-35 The fig tree lesson
24 v36-44 The time unknown 1st Q WHEN shall these things be
24 v45-51 Watchfulness at his coming
25 v1-13 The Ten Virgins
25 v14-30 The Talents
25 v31-46 The Judgement of the living nations
The Parable of the Ten virgins and the Parable of the Talents occur while Christ is explaining the answer to the first question - WHEN shall these things be?
(In this case the use of a parable is not to obscure the meaning of Christ’s teaching but to illustrate it for those who want to learn)
25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. :7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. :9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
The first thing we notice is that this parable is something to do with the Kingdom of Heaven v1 (The Messianic Kingdom promised in the OT and which will follow the Tribulation described in Ch 24)
In v 13 Christ gives us the main point and interpretation of the parable. He is saying that those who are Gods faithful people at the end of the Tribulation and who are waiting for the coming of Christ to the Marriage Feast, are to watch - because they will not know the day or the hour in which the Son of Man cometh.
(The oil signifies spirituality in scripture.) Those who are watching remain faithful to the LORD and remain in a state of readiness spiritually at the time of the bridegroom and the brides coming. The virgins are the Israelites who are waiting for the return of Christ and his Bride the Church - (the church has already been married to Christ in heaven but now the Bridal party are returning to earth for the Wedding Feast.)
It is important to note that this parable is about the Feast not the Marriage. Those who are not ready spiritually at Christ’s coming are not shut out of heaven! nor shut out of the Kingdom, but they are shut out of the Wedding Feast of the Bridegroom and his Bride. On that day All Israel will learn of the mystical union of Christ and the Church.
Steve
05/10/2009
19/09/2009
Introduction to the New Testament
The Gospels
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record the birth life and death and resurrection of the Messiah of Israel. They are not so much biographies but long sermons from differing perspectives. The four Gospel writers represent a cross section of society. Matthew was a civil servant for the Roman government. Mark was a member of a Levitical family, an assistant to Peter. Luke was a Greek physician and John was the owner of a medium sized fishing business. All four address a different public. The three Synoptic writers, Matthew Mark and Luke, address the three divisions of humanity, Israel, the Romans and the Greeks.
Matthew, a despised tax collector, describes the ministry of Christ to the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’. Matthew gives us the Royal line of Jesus as ‘the Son of Abraham’ & ‘the Son of David’. The Jews understood these designations, ‘Son of Abraham’ and ‘Son of David’ as Titles of coming Messiah. In other words Matthew is introducing Jesus of Nazareth as Israel’s Messiah. The son of David was Solomon. But a greater than Solomon is here! In Christ’s early ministry he displays greater wisdom that Solomon, answering all of the most difficult questions and expounding the Law’s real significance with accuracy, precision and breathtaking clarity. The Son of Abraham was Isaac - the son of the father, who learned obedience by the things that he suffered. He was willing to do his father will in every circumstance of life and even to the point of being laid on the altar. But for Christ there would be no substitute. In Christ’s early ministry, Christ is ‘The Prophet’ who brings the message of God to Israel, a message of repentance. He is a greater prophet than Moses. In his later ministry he is the Priest and as Priest he offers himself as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He is a greater priest than Aaron. Constantly Christ looks forward to the day in which he will be crowned King and reign in righteousness and glory. He will be greater than Solomon. However, in this present interregnum, Christ is the High Priest of his people, the one who has entered the presence of God but who can be touched with the feelings of our infirmity.
Mark writes, on behalf of Peter, for the Roman world - the greatest military empire the world had ever seen. He stresses the virtues of immediate service and of obedience to authority. He reveals the Redeemer to be the Son of God and presents Jesus as the Servant / Prophet of Isaiah. He records no family tree. (Who is interested in the family tree of a Servant?) He introduces Christ straight away after giving his two references. There is no birth story or any reference to his childhood. Only one visit to Jerusalem is recorded and The sermon on the Mount is not included. The Romans were more interested in what you did, than what you said. In Mark the emphasis is on deliverance from demon possession, whereas in Matthew it is deliverance from disease and physical ailment. Mark records healings that are in response to urgent personal appeals.
Luke writes for the wider speaking Greek world, with its ideals of physical and intellectual human perfection. He presents Jesus as the Son of man, the perfect man, the Physician / Priest, the healer of broken humanity. He comes to be tender hearted and compassionate. Nearly 60% of Luke’s account is unique to himself, whereas Matthew has more than 40% and Mark only about 7%.
John is the last to write a Gospel. He finally picks up his pen to combat the heresies emerging in his day regarding the person of Jesus, he says that he writes that men might come to realise that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that on believing in him his readers might receive salvation – the very life of God. John brings us the largest contribution of unique material - approximately 93%. John reveals Christ to be the Creator/Incarnate, worshipped as ‘my Lord and my God’. He is also The Lord – The Redeemer. The Lamb of God who was offered for the whole world. That is why he recordes the superscription on the cross which was written, he says in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. The Hebrews brought religion to the world. The Greeks brought culture to the world and the Romans brought unifying politics to the World. Adam was created to be the King of creation, the Prophet of God and the Priest of God. But in his sin he came under the Dominion of Satan, the Darkness of Ignorance and the Death of Separation from God. In OT times God raised up three offices that men might be anointed to – Prophet, Priest and King. In all three offices men were anointed with oil, a symbol of the spiritual life. (God always wants spiritual men and he gives his spirit to them to enable them in ministry). No man ever held all three offices in OT times but Christ takes all three, but not all at the same time. John writes for the whole world. ‘God so loved the world’ he says.
The Acts
Acts is the firstly, the continuation of Christ’s mission to Israel through the Apostles, until the rejection of the Gospel of Christ by the Jews through the whole Eastern Roman Empire and secondly the slow and steady growth of the mainly Gentile Church. Acts is the continuation of Christs ministry which was begun in Luke’s Gospel. After Pentecost there are three great divisions of humanity - Israel, the Gentiles and the Church.
The Church Epistles
In these Epistles Paul teaches Christian doctrine and practise to the church.
The Christian/Jewish Epistles
In these Epistles various authors give Christian teaching in a Jewish context
One of the most important things to understand is the dispensational change that occurs with the rejection of Christ by the Jewish people. Christ came to preach and minister only to Israel. He addressed only Israel and sent his disciples out only to the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’. The message he brought was to a nation suffering under the chastening hand of God for their backslidings. Wherever he went he reversed the effects (sickness, disease and death) of their spiritual state performing Messianic signs to attest to his divine mission. During the first part of his ministry he calls on Israel to return to the Lord and to their obligations under the Mosaic Covenant. He preaches Law to those under the law but speaks too of the coming kingdom and the new covenant. He preaches the sermon on the mount specifically to combat the teaching of the religious leaders whose theology was so shallow. He addresses the faulty teaching of the Jewish Mishnah and expounds the real significance of the Mosaic law.. Wherever he goes He calls on Israel to repent and return to the LORD. However the religious leaders faced with their Messiah, reject his signs and seek to murder him. Christ at a significant moment turns from them and refuses to teach them anymore except by Parables – whereby they will hear but not understand. From now on the government of God will begin a long period of change. The Apostles by the time of Christ’s crucifixion are fully trained for their mission but lacking in spiritual power. After the resurrection they wait for the baptism of the whole church into the Holy Spirit. Now they are ready to face the whole Jewish world scattered through the Roman empire with their message of repentance to Israel. And so the Apostles go forth preaching the same message that John and Christ preached but now there is the added dimension of the Cross and in particular the resurrection and ascension. It is only after chapter 10 of Acts that a few gentiles are converted to Christ. And it eventually becomes apparent that the whole Mosaic system ended at the cross and that a new dispensation is now in operation. Paul is the one who more than any other brings the great doctrinal teaching of the dispensation of the Grace of God the church era. The Jew now stands with the heathen sinner on the same footing by virtue of the cross and instead of seeking to keep the Mosaic law can come in childlike faith and receive the very righteousness of Christ. There is a very real sense in which the Gospels do not contain the christian gospel at all. After all the cross and resurrection are not known by the disciples until after the events and so therefore the message preached by the church today is fundamentally different to the message of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ and the seventy.
The doctrines of Grace and the doctrine of the Church are found in the Pauline Epistles rather than in the teachings of Christ in the Gospels.
The Jewish-Christian Epistles
In Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter and Jude we have a collection of writings which reflect the Christian message in a Jewish context. Hebrews was written specifically to ‘the Hebrews’. There maybe a prophetic element when for example James addresses his letter to the twelve tribes. Of course today the twelve tribes are not returned to the land as yet but one day they shall and then this epistle will take on a specific significance. Because they are addressed to Israel in a Jewish context they are addressed to a nation all of which are not believers in God. They are therefore addressed to a nation who have both believers and unbelievers in their number. This is not true of the Epistles of Paul to the churches. Therefore the Jewish/christian epistles are full of calls to legalistic obedience, to go on from faith to a life of godly works. The two epistles of Peter are not addressed so much in a Jewish frame yet Peter still ministers in a Jewish context. His second letter has only a slight Jewish touch.
Contents
Matthew Jesus the Messiah and King
Mark Jesus the Servant / Prophet
Luke Jesus the Son of Man
John Jesus the Son of God
Acts The Birth of the Church
Romans The Gospel of God
1 Corinithians How to live right for God
2 Corinithians Paul’s authority
Galatians In Christ we are free from the Law
Ephesians The Church the body of Christ
Philippians Joy in serving Christ
Collosians Christ is everything
1 Thessalonians Christ is coming for the Church
2 Thessalonians Christ is coming for Israel
1 Timothy Advise on Church leadership
2 Timothy Farewell, my son
Titus Living for God
Philemon Take your brother back
Hebrews Christ is sufficient for the christian
James A message to the twelve tribes of Israel
1 Peter Gods people in suffering
2 Peter Gods people in danger
1 John God is light
2 John Truth and love
3 John Live for God
Jude Valiant for the truth
Revelation Christ Revealed
steve
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record the birth life and death and resurrection of the Messiah of Israel. They are not so much biographies but long sermons from differing perspectives. The four Gospel writers represent a cross section of society. Matthew was a civil servant for the Roman government. Mark was a member of a Levitical family, an assistant to Peter. Luke was a Greek physician and John was the owner of a medium sized fishing business. All four address a different public. The three Synoptic writers, Matthew Mark and Luke, address the three divisions of humanity, Israel, the Romans and the Greeks.
Matthew, a despised tax collector, describes the ministry of Christ to the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’. Matthew gives us the Royal line of Jesus as ‘the Son of Abraham’ & ‘the Son of David’. The Jews understood these designations, ‘Son of Abraham’ and ‘Son of David’ as Titles of coming Messiah. In other words Matthew is introducing Jesus of Nazareth as Israel’s Messiah. The son of David was Solomon. But a greater than Solomon is here! In Christ’s early ministry he displays greater wisdom that Solomon, answering all of the most difficult questions and expounding the Law’s real significance with accuracy, precision and breathtaking clarity. The Son of Abraham was Isaac - the son of the father, who learned obedience by the things that he suffered. He was willing to do his father will in every circumstance of life and even to the point of being laid on the altar. But for Christ there would be no substitute. In Christ’s early ministry, Christ is ‘The Prophet’ who brings the message of God to Israel, a message of repentance. He is a greater prophet than Moses. In his later ministry he is the Priest and as Priest he offers himself as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He is a greater priest than Aaron. Constantly Christ looks forward to the day in which he will be crowned King and reign in righteousness and glory. He will be greater than Solomon. However, in this present interregnum, Christ is the High Priest of his people, the one who has entered the presence of God but who can be touched with the feelings of our infirmity.
Mark writes, on behalf of Peter, for the Roman world - the greatest military empire the world had ever seen. He stresses the virtues of immediate service and of obedience to authority. He reveals the Redeemer to be the Son of God and presents Jesus as the Servant / Prophet of Isaiah. He records no family tree. (Who is interested in the family tree of a Servant?) He introduces Christ straight away after giving his two references. There is no birth story or any reference to his childhood. Only one visit to Jerusalem is recorded and The sermon on the Mount is not included. The Romans were more interested in what you did, than what you said. In Mark the emphasis is on deliverance from demon possession, whereas in Matthew it is deliverance from disease and physical ailment. Mark records healings that are in response to urgent personal appeals.
Luke writes for the wider speaking Greek world, with its ideals of physical and intellectual human perfection. He presents Jesus as the Son of man, the perfect man, the Physician / Priest, the healer of broken humanity. He comes to be tender hearted and compassionate. Nearly 60% of Luke’s account is unique to himself, whereas Matthew has more than 40% and Mark only about 7%.
John is the last to write a Gospel. He finally picks up his pen to combat the heresies emerging in his day regarding the person of Jesus, he says that he writes that men might come to realise that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that on believing in him his readers might receive salvation – the very life of God. John brings us the largest contribution of unique material - approximately 93%. John reveals Christ to be the Creator/Incarnate, worshipped as ‘my Lord and my God’. He is also The Lord – The Redeemer. The Lamb of God who was offered for the whole world. That is why he recordes the superscription on the cross which was written, he says in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. The Hebrews brought religion to the world. The Greeks brought culture to the world and the Romans brought unifying politics to the World. Adam was created to be the King of creation, the Prophet of God and the Priest of God. But in his sin he came under the Dominion of Satan, the Darkness of Ignorance and the Death of Separation from God. In OT times God raised up three offices that men might be anointed to – Prophet, Priest and King. In all three offices men were anointed with oil, a symbol of the spiritual life. (God always wants spiritual men and he gives his spirit to them to enable them in ministry). No man ever held all three offices in OT times but Christ takes all three, but not all at the same time. John writes for the whole world. ‘God so loved the world’ he says.
The Acts
Acts is the firstly, the continuation of Christ’s mission to Israel through the Apostles, until the rejection of the Gospel of Christ by the Jews through the whole Eastern Roman Empire and secondly the slow and steady growth of the mainly Gentile Church. Acts is the continuation of Christs ministry which was begun in Luke’s Gospel. After Pentecost there are three great divisions of humanity - Israel, the Gentiles and the Church.
The Church Epistles
In these Epistles Paul teaches Christian doctrine and practise to the church.
The Christian/Jewish Epistles
In these Epistles various authors give Christian teaching in a Jewish context
One of the most important things to understand is the dispensational change that occurs with the rejection of Christ by the Jewish people. Christ came to preach and minister only to Israel. He addressed only Israel and sent his disciples out only to the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’. The message he brought was to a nation suffering under the chastening hand of God for their backslidings. Wherever he went he reversed the effects (sickness, disease and death) of their spiritual state performing Messianic signs to attest to his divine mission. During the first part of his ministry he calls on Israel to return to the Lord and to their obligations under the Mosaic Covenant. He preaches Law to those under the law but speaks too of the coming kingdom and the new covenant. He preaches the sermon on the mount specifically to combat the teaching of the religious leaders whose theology was so shallow. He addresses the faulty teaching of the Jewish Mishnah and expounds the real significance of the Mosaic law.. Wherever he goes He calls on Israel to repent and return to the LORD. However the religious leaders faced with their Messiah, reject his signs and seek to murder him. Christ at a significant moment turns from them and refuses to teach them anymore except by Parables – whereby they will hear but not understand. From now on the government of God will begin a long period of change. The Apostles by the time of Christ’s crucifixion are fully trained for their mission but lacking in spiritual power. After the resurrection they wait for the baptism of the whole church into the Holy Spirit. Now they are ready to face the whole Jewish world scattered through the Roman empire with their message of repentance to Israel. And so the Apostles go forth preaching the same message that John and Christ preached but now there is the added dimension of the Cross and in particular the resurrection and ascension. It is only after chapter 10 of Acts that a few gentiles are converted to Christ. And it eventually becomes apparent that the whole Mosaic system ended at the cross and that a new dispensation is now in operation. Paul is the one who more than any other brings the great doctrinal teaching of the dispensation of the Grace of God the church era. The Jew now stands with the heathen sinner on the same footing by virtue of the cross and instead of seeking to keep the Mosaic law can come in childlike faith and receive the very righteousness of Christ. There is a very real sense in which the Gospels do not contain the christian gospel at all. After all the cross and resurrection are not known by the disciples until after the events and so therefore the message preached by the church today is fundamentally different to the message of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ and the seventy.
The doctrines of Grace and the doctrine of the Church are found in the Pauline Epistles rather than in the teachings of Christ in the Gospels.
The Jewish-Christian Epistles
In Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter and Jude we have a collection of writings which reflect the Christian message in a Jewish context. Hebrews was written specifically to ‘the Hebrews’. There maybe a prophetic element when for example James addresses his letter to the twelve tribes. Of course today the twelve tribes are not returned to the land as yet but one day they shall and then this epistle will take on a specific significance. Because they are addressed to Israel in a Jewish context they are addressed to a nation all of which are not believers in God. They are therefore addressed to a nation who have both believers and unbelievers in their number. This is not true of the Epistles of Paul to the churches. Therefore the Jewish/christian epistles are full of calls to legalistic obedience, to go on from faith to a life of godly works. The two epistles of Peter are not addressed so much in a Jewish frame yet Peter still ministers in a Jewish context. His second letter has only a slight Jewish touch.
Contents
Matthew Jesus the Messiah and King
Mark Jesus the Servant / Prophet
Luke Jesus the Son of Man
John Jesus the Son of God
Acts The Birth of the Church
Romans The Gospel of God
1 Corinithians How to live right for God
2 Corinithians Paul’s authority
Galatians In Christ we are free from the Law
Ephesians The Church the body of Christ
Philippians Joy in serving Christ
Collosians Christ is everything
1 Thessalonians Christ is coming for the Church
2 Thessalonians Christ is coming for Israel
1 Timothy Advise on Church leadership
2 Timothy Farewell, my son
Titus Living for God
Philemon Take your brother back
Hebrews Christ is sufficient for the christian
James A message to the twelve tribes of Israel
1 Peter Gods people in suffering
2 Peter Gods people in danger
1 John God is light
2 John Truth and love
3 John Live for God
Jude Valiant for the truth
Revelation Christ Revealed
steve
introduction to the Old Testament
Introduction to the Old Testament
The Bible which appears at first, to be the most simple and straightforward of books to read, is in fact a record of Gods message to mankind which covers the whole history of time. It was written by up to 40 writers and has a wide range of literary styles. Those who understand its message can never be thought of as ignorant but those who know little of the Bible can ever be described as educated. Once any serious minded person has begun to read the Bible it soon becomes apparent that help to understand its message is essential. The Ethiopian Eunuch said to Philip. ‘How can I, (understand it) except some man should guide me’? It is for this reason that l give this introduction.
The first thing to realise is that the Bible while it is made up of 66 books is nevertheless the whole message of God to mankind. It is firstly a revelation of God but it also includes specific messages from God to men for the times that men find themselves in. As CI Schofield once said, ‘The Bible is a progressive unfolding of truth. Nothing is told all at once, and once for all’. Never has there been a more insightful thing spoken in relation to the Bible. The one great theme of the Bible is the promised seed – Christ himself. Who is promised in Genesis and occupies the throne of heaven in Revelation. The one great crisis of world history is the Cross of Christ. Eternity past had no other future and eternity future has no other past. It is the central event of all time, the heart of the gospel and the one theme of eternal worship.
One of the things that becomes apparent, when reading the Bible, is that God has revealed himself progressively and that God holds men responsible at each stage to the revelation that he has given at that time. In the Garden of Eden the Lord placed before man a simple clear commandment but he fell in sin and was banished from the presence of God. Never again in the history of the world will man find himself in the same situation again - Paradise was forever lost. And so the period of innocence was lost and man moves out into a world of thorns and thistles and the first man to be born murders his own brother, the second man to be born. From this time onward the path is downward into sin and wickedness. Often God has to step in, in premature judgment, to bring to an abrupt end the wickedness of men and in doing so he preserves life and the promised seed. The other thing we notice is that after the call of Abraham the focus of the Revelation of God is on one small middle eastern family and from Genesis 11 onward the story of the Bible is the development of this family into a nation under God - in covenant. And how God works with this nation bringing them into their own land and blessing them beyond their dreams. Its also the history of these people and of how their Messiah eventually appeared but was rejected by them and how he became the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the whole world. Its also the ongoing story of how this nation continued to reject his Messianic claims until the nation was finally destroyed by the Roman legions in AD70. The New Testament follows the Old Testament containing a body of literature which is written by a new group of believers called ‘The Church’ who live in an interregnum, while Israel is in a state of denial of their Messiah. For the first time in human history there are three great divisions of humanity - Israel, the Gentiles and the Church. The Church is brought into the blessing which Israel will enjoy in a future day – the New Covenant. But in the meanwhile men are saved by Faith in Christ and in his atoning work accomplished at the Cross. The New Testament contains a number of letters which contain doctrine and teaching for the development and regulation of Church life. The later part of the New Testament include a number of Christian letters written in a Jewish context and finally John writes his prophesy outlining the whole close of human history.
The Bible which appears at first, to be the most simple and straightforward of books to read, is in fact a record of Gods message to mankind which covers the whole history of time. It was written by up to 40 writers and has a wide range of literary styles. Those who understand its message can never be thought of as ignorant but those who know little of the Bible can ever be described as educated. Once any serious minded person has begun to read the Bible it soon becomes apparent that help to understand its message is essential. The Ethiopian Eunuch said to Philip. ‘How can I, (understand it) except some man should guide me’? It is for this reason that l give this introduction.
The first thing to realise is that the Bible while it is made up of 66 books is nevertheless the whole message of God to mankind. It is firstly a revelation of God but it also includes specific messages from God to men for the times that men find themselves in. As CI Schofield once said, ‘The Bible is a progressive unfolding of truth. Nothing is told all at once, and once for all’. Never has there been a more insightful thing spoken in relation to the Bible. The one great theme of the Bible is the promised seed – Christ himself. Who is promised in Genesis and occupies the throne of heaven in Revelation. The one great crisis of world history is the Cross of Christ. Eternity past had no other future and eternity future has no other past. It is the central event of all time, the heart of the gospel and the one theme of eternal worship.
One of the things that becomes apparent, when reading the Bible, is that God has revealed himself progressively and that God holds men responsible at each stage to the revelation that he has given at that time. In the Garden of Eden the Lord placed before man a simple clear commandment but he fell in sin and was banished from the presence of God. Never again in the history of the world will man find himself in the same situation again - Paradise was forever lost. And so the period of innocence was lost and man moves out into a world of thorns and thistles and the first man to be born murders his own brother, the second man to be born. From this time onward the path is downward into sin and wickedness. Often God has to step in, in premature judgment, to bring to an abrupt end the wickedness of men and in doing so he preserves life and the promised seed. The other thing we notice is that after the call of Abraham the focus of the Revelation of God is on one small middle eastern family and from Genesis 11 onward the story of the Bible is the development of this family into a nation under God - in covenant. And how God works with this nation bringing them into their own land and blessing them beyond their dreams. Its also the history of these people and of how their Messiah eventually appeared but was rejected by them and how he became the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the whole world. Its also the ongoing story of how this nation continued to reject his Messianic claims until the nation was finally destroyed by the Roman legions in AD70. The New Testament follows the Old Testament containing a body of literature which is written by a new group of believers called ‘The Church’ who live in an interregnum, while Israel is in a state of denial of their Messiah. For the first time in human history there are three great divisions of humanity - Israel, the Gentiles and the Church. The Church is brought into the blessing which Israel will enjoy in a future day – the New Covenant. But in the meanwhile men are saved by Faith in Christ and in his atoning work accomplished at the Cross. The New Testament contains a number of letters which contain doctrine and teaching for the development and regulation of Church life. The later part of the New Testament include a number of Christian letters written in a Jewish context and finally John writes his prophesy outlining the whole close of human history.
01/09/2009
The Old Covenant and the New - A Contrast
A contrast between the Old Covenant of Moses and the New Covenant.
Jer 31v31: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
From this description of the New Covenant we see a number of points.
1. The New Covenant is New – Its realisation is future not past
2. It will be made with the house of Israel and Judah. – It’s a Jewish Covenant
3. It is not like the Mosaic Covenant – which was broken like a divorce
4. There are three key aspects of it
a. The new birth. The Law of God will be in their inward parts – on their minds.
John 3v3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Entrance into the Kingdom and the New Covenant will be by the new birth.
b. They will know total forgiveness of sins for the first time (Acts 13v39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.)
c. The indwelling Holy Spirit
Eze 36v27: And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28: And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Eze 37v14: And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Joel 2v28: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30: And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.)
There are some that think that the Mosaic Law is an eternal covenant. This is not true. Gal 3v19: Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; The time limit was the coming of Christ to Israel. when Hebrews was being written the Old Covenant was old and ready to vanish away.
Heb 8v13: In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
We the church receive the blessings of the new Covenant before it is offered to Israel.
The three aspects are the seen in Christians i.e. the new birth, Forgiveness of sins and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Steve
Jer 31v31: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
From this description of the New Covenant we see a number of points.
1. The New Covenant is New – Its realisation is future not past
2. It will be made with the house of Israel and Judah. – It’s a Jewish Covenant
3. It is not like the Mosaic Covenant – which was broken like a divorce
4. There are three key aspects of it
a. The new birth. The Law of God will be in their inward parts – on their minds.
John 3v3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Entrance into the Kingdom and the New Covenant will be by the new birth.
b. They will know total forgiveness of sins for the first time (Acts 13v39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.)
c. The indwelling Holy Spirit
Eze 36v27: And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28: And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Eze 37v14: And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Joel 2v28: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30: And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.)
There are some that think that the Mosaic Law is an eternal covenant. This is not true. Gal 3v19: Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; The time limit was the coming of Christ to Israel. when Hebrews was being written the Old Covenant was old and ready to vanish away.
Heb 8v13: In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
We the church receive the blessings of the new Covenant before it is offered to Israel.
The three aspects are the seen in Christians i.e. the new birth, Forgiveness of sins and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Steve
31/08/2009
Has there always been faith?
Paul says
22: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
You say that...
faith has always been what makes us righteous and saves us
My answer...
Yes its only faith that saves yet, l ask faith in what? The OT saints had no faith in the atoning work of Christ. The OT saints did not even know that Christ would die for sin. Now if they didnt know that Christ was going to die and its certain that they did not then they had no faith in the atonement of Christ. Without faith in the atonement of Christ there is no salvation!
In the above passage Paul says that...
22: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
And here it is...
23: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
So Paul is saying that in the era of the Mosaic law men were 'shut up unto faith' In other words they were in a situation which was 'before faith'. Now Faith existed then obviouisly (It was faith in Gods word and commandments) but not Faith in Christs atoning work.
Then Paul goes on to say...
24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Now Paul repeats the same thought but in a different way, that when the Old Covenant was finally fulfilled in Christ established a new era that we might call The era of the New Covenant.
He says,'But after faith has come'.
Now we are living in the age of Faith in the atoning work of Christ.
Before the cross the Apostles knew about Christ and believed he was the Messiah and they believed in the OT and the promises yet none of these things save the soul. Only faith in Christs atoning work. Before the cross they didnt even believe that Christ was going to die, Inspite of being told three times.
The Old covenant was a covenant of works based on law, but the New Covenant is a covenant of new birth based on faith in Christs atoning work.
Its not faith that saves. There are people who believe that God exists that are not saved. Nicodemus was like this. There are people who worship God. Preach the word. They do Believe the scriptures yet are not saved.
Why is that?
Because they do not believe the good news that Christ has died for their sins. They either do not know about this or they do not believe it and therefore they are not born again.
Now does this mean that they do not have an experience of God? No of course not. There are many people who look up into the heavens and believe in God and at some level they worship God but thats not salvation.
Your thoughts are welcome
Steve
22: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
You say that...
faith has always been what makes us righteous and saves us
My answer...
Yes its only faith that saves yet, l ask faith in what? The OT saints had no faith in the atoning work of Christ. The OT saints did not even know that Christ would die for sin. Now if they didnt know that Christ was going to die and its certain that they did not then they had no faith in the atonement of Christ. Without faith in the atonement of Christ there is no salvation!
In the above passage Paul says that...
22: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
And here it is...
23: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
So Paul is saying that in the era of the Mosaic law men were 'shut up unto faith' In other words they were in a situation which was 'before faith'. Now Faith existed then obviouisly (It was faith in Gods word and commandments) but not Faith in Christs atoning work.
Then Paul goes on to say...
24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Now Paul repeats the same thought but in a different way, that when the Old Covenant was finally fulfilled in Christ established a new era that we might call The era of the New Covenant.
He says,'But after faith has come'.
Now we are living in the age of Faith in the atoning work of Christ.
Before the cross the Apostles knew about Christ and believed he was the Messiah and they believed in the OT and the promises yet none of these things save the soul. Only faith in Christs atoning work. Before the cross they didnt even believe that Christ was going to die, Inspite of being told three times.
The Old covenant was a covenant of works based on law, but the New Covenant is a covenant of new birth based on faith in Christs atoning work.
Its not faith that saves. There are people who believe that God exists that are not saved. Nicodemus was like this. There are people who worship God. Preach the word. They do Believe the scriptures yet are not saved.
Why is that?
Because they do not believe the good news that Christ has died for their sins. They either do not know about this or they do not believe it and therefore they are not born again.
Now does this mean that they do not have an experience of God? No of course not. There are many people who look up into the heavens and believe in God and at some level they worship God but thats not salvation.
Your thoughts are welcome
Steve
Understanding the Bible
Understanding the Bible
It is often said that there is a consistent theology right through the Bible and that Man has an unchanging relationship with God in all ages from Adam to Revelation.
That David has the same relation to God as do you.
That Gods dealings with mankind have never changed.
However we must understand that our Bibles contain two parts the OLD TESTEMENT – NEW TESTAMENT.
Have you ever tried to do a jigsaw?
Imagine that you struggle to make the pieces fit until it suddenly emerges that there are actually two jig saw puzzles in the box not one. Suddenly it becomes clearer what is your task. The first task is to understand the whole pictures and see the differences to enable you to get the clear picture.
There is a fundamental change between the OT and the NT.
Christ said…
Matthew 26v26: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27: And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28: For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29: But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Paul said…
1Cor 11v This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
2 Cor 3v: Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7: But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9: For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10: For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11: For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12: Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
Hebrews 9v15: And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16: For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17: For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18: Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19: For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20: Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21: Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23: It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26: For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
The word Testament means Covenant
Actually in the Bible there are not just two testaments but eight.
So instead of just two jig saws there are eight jig saws!! The Bible now appears a bit more complex that was originally thought. However once the eight pictures can be seen the whole Bible starts to become so, so much clearer.
Lets look at the eight Covenants...
1. The Edenic Covenant
2. The Adamic Covenant
3. The Noahic Covenant
4. The Abrahamic Covenant
5. The Mosaic Covenant
6. The Palestinian covenant
7. The Davidic Covenant
8. The New Covenant
Before we look at each covenant first we must realise that there are two types of Covenant
There are conditional covenants and unconditional covenant
In the Conditional Covenants we find the formula – If you will,..... then l will. We find that Obedience brings blessing and that Failure bring judgment. There are two Covenants like this Edenic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant.
In the Unconditional Covenants we find the formula – I will.- period. These covenants are a Sovereign act of God and of his intension to bless. The Blessings of God are secured by the Grace of God alone. there are six Unconditional Covenants
1. Adamic Covenant
2. Noahic Covenant
3. Abrahamic Covenant
4. Palestinian covenant
5. Davidic Covenant
All of these covenants are still in force today
6. The New Covenant is a covenant that the LORD will make with Israel and Judah in a coming day but in which the church enjoys the spiritual blessings today.
The Covenants with Israel number five. The four unconditional covenants with Israel are Literal covenants, Eternal, they are not broken by disobedience, they are ONLY to Israel, Roms 9v4
Eph 2v11,12 The One Conditional covenant with Israel is the Mosaic Covenant.
Now lets go through the eight covenants
1. The Edenic Covenant - Gen 1v28-30 – (Hosea 6v7)
In this Covenant is between Adam and God. Adam is representative head of the whole human race – thus the actions of Adam are attributed to all men
There are seven provisions of the Covenant
i. Be fruitful and multiply 1v28
ii. Subdue the earth 1v28
iii. Dominion 1v28
iv. Diet 1v29-30 2v16
v. Dress and keep the garden 2v15
vi. Forbidden to eat – Tree 2v17
vii. The warning of Spiritual death 2v17
This conditional Covenant was broken and man was banished from the Garden of Eden
2. The Adamic covenant - Gen 3v14-19
This Covenant is between Adam as representative of the whole human race again
However there are four provisions mentioned in the four principle characters
i. The Serpent 3v14
ii. Satan 3v15
iii. Woman 3v16
iv. Man 3v17,19
This Covenant is unconditional and is still in force today. That is why women have pain in childbirth, and man sweat over their work. It will cease when the Second man the last Adam comes to establish a kingdom that will be Edenic in character.
3. The Noahic Covenant - Gen 9v1-17
This covenant is with Noah as head of the Human race - after the flood
There are eight provisions of the Covenant
i. Repopulation of the earth
ii. The fear of man - animals
iii. Diet will include flesh
iv. No blood to be eaten
v. Capitol punishment
vi. The promise of no flood ever again
vii. The Token – rainbow
viii. The seasons will not cease
This covenant is thankfully unconditional
4. The Abrahamic Covenant - Gen 12v1-3, 12v7, 13v14-17, 15v1-21, 17v1-21 22v15-18
This covenant is with Abraham as representative head of the nation of Israel
There are fourteen provisions of the Covenant
i. A great nation
ii. Land - River of Egypt to the Euphrates
iii. Abraham greatly blessed
iv. Abrahams name would be great
v. Abrahams a blessing to others
vi. Those who bless Israel will be blessed
vii. Those who curse Israel will be cursed
viii. In Abraham All will be blessed one day
ix. A Son – Sarah
x. Children – Egypt
xi. Other nations from Abraham
xii. Name changed
xiii. Sarah’s name changed
xiv. Circumcision
d. Confirmed in Isaac, Jacob and his sons
This is an unconditional covenant. The Palestinian and Davidic covenants are part of this covenant. It is fully fulfilled in the New Covenant.
5. The Mosaic Covenant - Ex 20v1 all the way to Deu 28v68
This covenant was ONLY with Jehovah and Israel. Ex 19v3-8 Deu 4v7-8 Psa 147v19-20 Mal 4v4
There are seven Provisions of the Covenant
i. The Whole Law 613 - Mitzvot
ii. Conditional Covenant - Blessings and Curses
iii. Blood sacrificial system
iv. Diet restrictions Clean – Unclean
v. Capitol punishment expanded
vi. Sign of the Covenant Circumcision
vii. Token of the Covenant Sabbath observance – only for Israel not Church
viii. Ended at the Cross Rom 10v4 2Cor 3v3-11 Gal 3v19-29 Eph 2v11-18 Heb 7v11-12, 18
ix. The Law of Moses did not end with his coming but with his death.
6. The Palestinian Covenant - Deu 29v1-30v30
This Covenant is with God and Israel
There are eight Provisions of the Covenant
i. Disobedience of Israel
ii. Future repentance
iii. Messiah will return
iv. Israel will be regathered
v. Israel to possess the land
vi. Israel to be regenerated
vii. The Enemies of Israel to be judged
viii. Israel to be blessed
7. The Davidic Covenant - 1 Sam 7v11-16, 1 Chron 17v10-14
This Covenant was with God and David as King of Israel
There are seven provisions of the covenant
i. Eternal Dynasty
ii. Solomon to be established on the throne
iii. Temple
iv. Throne of David’s Kingdom to be forever
v. Gods loving kindness to Solomon
vi. Solomon king forever
vii. Christ throne house kingdom forever
Lastly the New Covenant
8. The New Covenant - Jeremiah 31v31-34
This is a Covenant with God and Israel Isa 55v3 61v8-9 Jer 32v40 Eze 16v60 34v25-31 37v26-28 Rom 11v26-27
There are nine provisions of the New Covenant
i. Unconditional covenant between God and both houses of Israel
ii. Distinct from the Mosaic covenant Jer 31v32
iii. Salvation to Israel – regeneration Jer 31v33 Isa 59v21
iv. It will be universal to all Jews. Jer 31v34 Isa 61v9
v. It will include forgiveness of sins Jer 31v34
vi. It will include the indwelling Holy Spirit Jer 31v33 Eze 36v27
vii. Material blessings Isa 61v8 Jer 32v41 Eze 34v25-27
viii. New Temple Whole of Eze
ix. The Law of the Messiah Rom 8v2 Gal 6v2
So how the church fits in!
There is a false teaching called Replacement theology, which says that the Church replaces Israel. This is not true at all. The truth is explained in Eph 2v11-16 Eph 3v5-6. The blessings to the church are ‘Spiritual’ not Physical.
There is another false teaching that Christians become Jews!! This is not true either. Gentiles are included in the New Covenant Rom 15v25-27
The New Covenant is unconditional.
When thinking about the difference between the OT and the NT the main contrast is between the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant. In Romans and Hebrews the writers concentrate on this contrast.
There are at least six differences between the Old Covenant the OT and the New Covenant the NT
1. The New Covenant is unconditional covenant between God the believer - and is based on Faith and Grace.
2. The New Covenant is the basis of the blessing of God for Christians
3. The New Covenant is based on regeneration
4. The New Covenant includes forgiveness of sins
5. The New Covenant includes the indwelling Holy Spirit
6. The New Covenant includes material blessings however this is not for the christian. The Land, the Temple and the material wealth of Israel is part of the earthly Kingdom but our inheritance is heavenly.
Rom 8v1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Gal 6v2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Steve
It is often said that there is a consistent theology right through the Bible and that Man has an unchanging relationship with God in all ages from Adam to Revelation.
That David has the same relation to God as do you.
That Gods dealings with mankind have never changed.
However we must understand that our Bibles contain two parts the OLD TESTEMENT – NEW TESTAMENT.
Have you ever tried to do a jigsaw?
Imagine that you struggle to make the pieces fit until it suddenly emerges that there are actually two jig saw puzzles in the box not one. Suddenly it becomes clearer what is your task. The first task is to understand the whole pictures and see the differences to enable you to get the clear picture.
There is a fundamental change between the OT and the NT.
Christ said…
Matthew 26v26: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27: And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28: For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29: But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Paul said…
1Cor 11v This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
2 Cor 3v: Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7: But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9: For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10: For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11: For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12: Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
Hebrews 9v15: And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16: For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17: For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18: Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19: For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20: Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21: Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23: It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26: For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
The word Testament means Covenant
Actually in the Bible there are not just two testaments but eight.
So instead of just two jig saws there are eight jig saws!! The Bible now appears a bit more complex that was originally thought. However once the eight pictures can be seen the whole Bible starts to become so, so much clearer.
Lets look at the eight Covenants...
1. The Edenic Covenant
2. The Adamic Covenant
3. The Noahic Covenant
4. The Abrahamic Covenant
5. The Mosaic Covenant
6. The Palestinian covenant
7. The Davidic Covenant
8. The New Covenant
Before we look at each covenant first we must realise that there are two types of Covenant
There are conditional covenants and unconditional covenant
In the Conditional Covenants we find the formula – If you will,..... then l will. We find that Obedience brings blessing and that Failure bring judgment. There are two Covenants like this Edenic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant.
In the Unconditional Covenants we find the formula – I will.- period. These covenants are a Sovereign act of God and of his intension to bless. The Blessings of God are secured by the Grace of God alone. there are six Unconditional Covenants
1. Adamic Covenant
2. Noahic Covenant
3. Abrahamic Covenant
4. Palestinian covenant
5. Davidic Covenant
All of these covenants are still in force today
6. The New Covenant is a covenant that the LORD will make with Israel and Judah in a coming day but in which the church enjoys the spiritual blessings today.
The Covenants with Israel number five. The four unconditional covenants with Israel are Literal covenants, Eternal, they are not broken by disobedience, they are ONLY to Israel, Roms 9v4
Eph 2v11,12 The One Conditional covenant with Israel is the Mosaic Covenant.
Now lets go through the eight covenants
1. The Edenic Covenant - Gen 1v28-30 – (Hosea 6v7)
In this Covenant is between Adam and God. Adam is representative head of the whole human race – thus the actions of Adam are attributed to all men
There are seven provisions of the Covenant
i. Be fruitful and multiply 1v28
ii. Subdue the earth 1v28
iii. Dominion 1v28
iv. Diet 1v29-30 2v16
v. Dress and keep the garden 2v15
vi. Forbidden to eat – Tree 2v17
vii. The warning of Spiritual death 2v17
This conditional Covenant was broken and man was banished from the Garden of Eden
2. The Adamic covenant - Gen 3v14-19
This Covenant is between Adam as representative of the whole human race again
However there are four provisions mentioned in the four principle characters
i. The Serpent 3v14
ii. Satan 3v15
iii. Woman 3v16
iv. Man 3v17,19
This Covenant is unconditional and is still in force today. That is why women have pain in childbirth, and man sweat over their work. It will cease when the Second man the last Adam comes to establish a kingdom that will be Edenic in character.
3. The Noahic Covenant - Gen 9v1-17
This covenant is with Noah as head of the Human race - after the flood
There are eight provisions of the Covenant
i. Repopulation of the earth
ii. The fear of man - animals
iii. Diet will include flesh
iv. No blood to be eaten
v. Capitol punishment
vi. The promise of no flood ever again
vii. The Token – rainbow
viii. The seasons will not cease
This covenant is thankfully unconditional
4. The Abrahamic Covenant - Gen 12v1-3, 12v7, 13v14-17, 15v1-21, 17v1-21 22v15-18
This covenant is with Abraham as representative head of the nation of Israel
There are fourteen provisions of the Covenant
i. A great nation
ii. Land - River of Egypt to the Euphrates
iii. Abraham greatly blessed
iv. Abrahams name would be great
v. Abrahams a blessing to others
vi. Those who bless Israel will be blessed
vii. Those who curse Israel will be cursed
viii. In Abraham All will be blessed one day
ix. A Son – Sarah
x. Children – Egypt
xi. Other nations from Abraham
xii. Name changed
xiii. Sarah’s name changed
xiv. Circumcision
d. Confirmed in Isaac, Jacob and his sons
This is an unconditional covenant. The Palestinian and Davidic covenants are part of this covenant. It is fully fulfilled in the New Covenant.
5. The Mosaic Covenant - Ex 20v1 all the way to Deu 28v68
This covenant was ONLY with Jehovah and Israel. Ex 19v3-8 Deu 4v7-8 Psa 147v19-20 Mal 4v4
There are seven Provisions of the Covenant
i. The Whole Law 613 - Mitzvot
ii. Conditional Covenant - Blessings and Curses
iii. Blood sacrificial system
iv. Diet restrictions Clean – Unclean
v. Capitol punishment expanded
vi. Sign of the Covenant Circumcision
vii. Token of the Covenant Sabbath observance – only for Israel not Church
viii. Ended at the Cross Rom 10v4 2Cor 3v3-11 Gal 3v19-29 Eph 2v11-18 Heb 7v11-12, 18
ix. The Law of Moses did not end with his coming but with his death.
6. The Palestinian Covenant - Deu 29v1-30v30
This Covenant is with God and Israel
There are eight Provisions of the Covenant
i. Disobedience of Israel
ii. Future repentance
iii. Messiah will return
iv. Israel will be regathered
v. Israel to possess the land
vi. Israel to be regenerated
vii. The Enemies of Israel to be judged
viii. Israel to be blessed
7. The Davidic Covenant - 1 Sam 7v11-16, 1 Chron 17v10-14
This Covenant was with God and David as King of Israel
There are seven provisions of the covenant
i. Eternal Dynasty
ii. Solomon to be established on the throne
iii. Temple
iv. Throne of David’s Kingdom to be forever
v. Gods loving kindness to Solomon
vi. Solomon king forever
vii. Christ throne house kingdom forever
Lastly the New Covenant
8. The New Covenant - Jeremiah 31v31-34
This is a Covenant with God and Israel Isa 55v3 61v8-9 Jer 32v40 Eze 16v60 34v25-31 37v26-28 Rom 11v26-27
There are nine provisions of the New Covenant
i. Unconditional covenant between God and both houses of Israel
ii. Distinct from the Mosaic covenant Jer 31v32
iii. Salvation to Israel – regeneration Jer 31v33 Isa 59v21
iv. It will be universal to all Jews. Jer 31v34 Isa 61v9
v. It will include forgiveness of sins Jer 31v34
vi. It will include the indwelling Holy Spirit Jer 31v33 Eze 36v27
vii. Material blessings Isa 61v8 Jer 32v41 Eze 34v25-27
viii. New Temple Whole of Eze
ix. The Law of the Messiah Rom 8v2 Gal 6v2
So how the church fits in!
There is a false teaching called Replacement theology, which says that the Church replaces Israel. This is not true at all. The truth is explained in Eph 2v11-16 Eph 3v5-6. The blessings to the church are ‘Spiritual’ not Physical.
There is another false teaching that Christians become Jews!! This is not true either. Gentiles are included in the New Covenant Rom 15v25-27
The New Covenant is unconditional.
When thinking about the difference between the OT and the NT the main contrast is between the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant. In Romans and Hebrews the writers concentrate on this contrast.
There are at least six differences between the Old Covenant the OT and the New Covenant the NT
1. The New Covenant is unconditional covenant between God the believer - and is based on Faith and Grace.
2. The New Covenant is the basis of the blessing of God for Christians
3. The New Covenant is based on regeneration
4. The New Covenant includes forgiveness of sins
5. The New Covenant includes the indwelling Holy Spirit
6. The New Covenant includes material blessings however this is not for the christian. The Land, the Temple and the material wealth of Israel is part of the earthly Kingdom but our inheritance is heavenly.
Rom 8v1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Gal 6v2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Steve
22/08/2009
I am the true Vine
I have struggled with the concept of fruit and fruit bearing for quite a while. In the Gospels Christ is addressing Israel of course and we as christians need to be careful how we apply things regarding Israel to NT believers.
Often John 15, where Christ talks about the true vine, is applied to christians and the general challenge to fruit bearing goes out to christians however l believe that this is incorrect.
Lets look at the scriptures to see how the word vine is used.
The vine is mentioned in the life of Noah and the dream of Joseph. In Genesis 49 we have a prophecy of the foal being brought to the vine this is a prophesy regarding the Kingdom. Next we are told in the law the regulations regarding keeping vines. On and on the references come and on each occasion the vines spoken of are real physical vines every time. As the focus of the OT increases on the coming kingdom so the vine becomes a symbol of rich blessing which will be enjoyed by Gods people in the Kingdom.
In Psa 8 for the first time the vine is used metaphorically of Israel.
7: Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. 8: Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
14: Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;
in Psa 128 the image of the vine is used metaphorically for a mans wife...
3: Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
In Isaiah 5 the prophet gives a parable of a vineyard that will be destroyed even as Israel will be destroyed.
1: Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3: And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4: What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5: And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7: For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
So Isaiah now brings the OT references to the Vine and the vineyard into its full significance.
He says...
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant:
I believe that this is the imagery that Christ speaks of in John 15.
In Luke 20 Christ says...
9: Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. 10: And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. 11: And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12: And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 13: Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. 14: But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15: So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16: He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
The religious leaders were very familiar with the link between the image of the Vine and Israel as a nation. In this parable Christ takes the image from Psa 8 and Isa and describes a vineyard in which the servants who are to look after it refuse the messengers sent to it and finally kill the Owners Son. Then Christ poses a rhetorical question What will the owner of the vineyard do? And he answers his own question - He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
What did the king want of the men who were looking after the vineyard? He wanted fruit.
Then we turn to John 15 and Christ addresses his disciples who in this passage are the true representatives of Israel.
The disciples were the true alternative leaders of Israel and in a coming day they will in fact take the leadership of Israel. Christ was raising up a new leadership in Israel.
In Matthew 19v28 Christ said...And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29: And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30: But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
The regeneration is the new birth of the Nation of Israel in the Kingdom. At that time the Apostles will sit on twelve thrones to exercise judicial rule over Israel. Then it will be said that the decisions they make will be ratified in heaven. - Matthew 16v19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. The men who had the keys were the magistrates and they sat in the gate of the city and opened and shut the gate and executed judgment on the citizens.
Now lets get back to the True Vine.
1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3: Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Christ says firstly, I AM the TRUE VINE. He is saying Israel is the vine of the LORD but I AM the TRUE VINE. Christ is saying l am the Messiah of Israel. Then he says...6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Now this cannot be said of the least christian. No christian for lack of fruitfulness is cast into the fire. But Israel? that is a very different thing altogether. Israel is made up of a mixed multitude. there are those who are righteous and those who are unrighteous (That can never be said of the church, In the Church the - the true church there are only the saved and they have the very righteousness of Christ) And there are those in Israel that are unrighteous. How does the Lord judge Israel? He judges them on the basis of the righteous life lived under the law. If a man does that which the law demanded he is righteous and will be raised from the dead to receive eternal life in the kingdom. The christian is not like this, he has eternal life now on earth before he goes to heaven.
So what does God look for in a man who lives under law? He looks for righteousness. And the righteous deeds he does are the fruit of the inner man.
Steve
Often John 15, where Christ talks about the true vine, is applied to christians and the general challenge to fruit bearing goes out to christians however l believe that this is incorrect.
Lets look at the scriptures to see how the word vine is used.
The vine is mentioned in the life of Noah and the dream of Joseph. In Genesis 49 we have a prophecy of the foal being brought to the vine this is a prophesy regarding the Kingdom. Next we are told in the law the regulations regarding keeping vines. On and on the references come and on each occasion the vines spoken of are real physical vines every time. As the focus of the OT increases on the coming kingdom so the vine becomes a symbol of rich blessing which will be enjoyed by Gods people in the Kingdom.
In Psa 8 for the first time the vine is used metaphorically of Israel.
7: Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. 8: Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
14: Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;
in Psa 128 the image of the vine is used metaphorically for a mans wife...
3: Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
In Isaiah 5 the prophet gives a parable of a vineyard that will be destroyed even as Israel will be destroyed.
1: Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3: And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4: What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5: And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7: For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
So Isaiah now brings the OT references to the Vine and the vineyard into its full significance.
He says...
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant:
I believe that this is the imagery that Christ speaks of in John 15.
In Luke 20 Christ says...
9: Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. 10: And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. 11: And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12: And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 13: Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. 14: But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15: So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16: He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
The religious leaders were very familiar with the link between the image of the Vine and Israel as a nation. In this parable Christ takes the image from Psa 8 and Isa and describes a vineyard in which the servants who are to look after it refuse the messengers sent to it and finally kill the Owners Son. Then Christ poses a rhetorical question What will the owner of the vineyard do? And he answers his own question - He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
What did the king want of the men who were looking after the vineyard? He wanted fruit.
Then we turn to John 15 and Christ addresses his disciples who in this passage are the true representatives of Israel.
The disciples were the true alternative leaders of Israel and in a coming day they will in fact take the leadership of Israel. Christ was raising up a new leadership in Israel.
In Matthew 19v28 Christ said...And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29: And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30: But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
The regeneration is the new birth of the Nation of Israel in the Kingdom. At that time the Apostles will sit on twelve thrones to exercise judicial rule over Israel. Then it will be said that the decisions they make will be ratified in heaven. - Matthew 16v19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. The men who had the keys were the magistrates and they sat in the gate of the city and opened and shut the gate and executed judgment on the citizens.
Now lets get back to the True Vine.
1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3: Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Christ says firstly, I AM the TRUE VINE. He is saying Israel is the vine of the LORD but I AM the TRUE VINE. Christ is saying l am the Messiah of Israel. Then he says...6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Now this cannot be said of the least christian. No christian for lack of fruitfulness is cast into the fire. But Israel? that is a very different thing altogether. Israel is made up of a mixed multitude. there are those who are righteous and those who are unrighteous (That can never be said of the church, In the Church the - the true church there are only the saved and they have the very righteousness of Christ) And there are those in Israel that are unrighteous. How does the Lord judge Israel? He judges them on the basis of the righteous life lived under the law. If a man does that which the law demanded he is righteous and will be raised from the dead to receive eternal life in the kingdom. The christian is not like this, he has eternal life now on earth before he goes to heaven.
So what does God look for in a man who lives under law? He looks for righteousness. And the righteous deeds he does are the fruit of the inner man.
Steve
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