The New Covenant

[PATrobas]

Reminders – The New Covenant

            The Bible is divided into two sections, the ‘Old Covenant’ and the ‘New Covenant.’ We are more familiar with the word ‘Testament’, but it means the same thing, a contract or agreement given by God for mankind, using the means of His people Israel. There are several covenants, or promises, given by God in the Old Testament. We are most familiar with the Abrahamic covenant, which promised an everlasting people and land, ^{Genesis 12:1-17:21} and the Davidic covenant, which promised an everlasting king and kingdom. ^{2 Samuel 7:12-16} But the most notable covenant God made was the Mosaic, which promised life and blessing to those who obeyed. ^{Exodus 34:27} The problem though, was that the people had no power other than their flesh to try to keep God’s law. God’s gracious provision of a blood sacrifice, covering their disobedience, delivered them from death, but even that was only a shadow of what was to come.

            Thankfully, a New Covenant was promised to the house of Jacob and Israel that superseded the Old Covenant. All the Old Covenant promises, blessings, and curses are fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. He alone was the one in whom all the people of the earth would be blessed, born of the seed of Abraham. He alone lived perfectly according to the law of Moses, yet also suffered its curse of death. He alone was worthy to reign forever as the King of kings and Lord of lords on the throne of David. But the people to whom God made all these promises said ‘NO!’ We will not have this man rule over us, so they delivered Him up to be killed. Daniel prophesied that Israel would enter a New Covenant with God after 490 years had passed from Cyrus’ decree to re-build the temple, but Jesus died after only 483 years had passed. Thus, there are 7 years left of the Old Covenant to be fulfilled before the New begins. ^{Daniel 9:24-27} It has now been 2,000 years since the timeline for Israel stopped. This time gap has allowed the whole world, Jew and gentile alike to receive eternal life through the resurrected, living Lord Jesus. The last seven years of Israel’s rebellion will end when Jesus, their Messiah and King comes the second time as promised, “And they shall look on Me whom they have pierced.” ^{Zechariah 12:10} “Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and those who pierced Him will see Him…” ^{Revelation 1:7} It is then that they will recognize, believe, and receive Him, “And so all Israel shall be saved…” ^{Romans 11:25-36}

            Final Thoughts: As believers of the Gospel, we view the period we are living in as ‘New Testament’ times and are partakers of the blessings of Israel’s New Covenant. But the nation of Israel must still fulfill the last 7 year “time of Jacob’s trouble, great tribulation” period. ^{Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:12, 12:1; Matthew 24:21} When it is over, Israel will begin their ‘New Testament’ time which will last for 1,000 years. Jesus will rule on David’s throne in Jerusalem, and Hebrews 8:10-13 will be fulfilled. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he says, A new covenant, he has made the first old. Now that which decays and grows old is ready to vanish away.” Notice, the Old Covenant hasn’t vanished away yet for Israel, but it is ready to. There are still 7 years left to be fulfilled. But we who already know Him can say, “Amen. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!” ^{Revelation 22:20}     _ph

[NConly]

2 hours ago, PATrobas said:

God’s gracious provision of a blood sacrifice, covering their disobedience, delivered them from death, but even that was only a shadow of what was to come.

            Jesus. He alone was the one in whom all the people of the earth would be blessed, born of the seed of Abraham. He alone lived perfectly according to the law of Moses, yet also suffered its curse of death.

Thanks

Edited October 4, 2024 by NConly
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[Rick-Parker]

The Old Covenant led to death since no one could keep it. Except for Christ of course. The New Covenant leads to life, for those who will receive it through faith in Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross.

Edited October 4, 2024 by Rick-Parker

[missmuffet]

6 minutes ago, Rick-Parker said:

The Old Covenant led to death since no one could keep it. Except for Christ of course. The New Covenant leads to life, for those who will receive it through faith in Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross.

That is what I believe.

[farouk]

Hebrews 12.22-24a:

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

²³ To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

²⁴ And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant".

[farouk]

Important, doctrinal thread.........

Hebrews is such a pivotal Epistle which shows how the glories of Christ revealed fully in the NT link with what the OT points forward to.

[PATrobas]

1 hour ago, NConly said:

First thanks for this post it is very good.

My first question is you mention That the old covenant delivered them from death. That would be the second death of the soul right? They did continue to have the first death a physical death.

Second question when Jesus died he went to Heaven (NC) Israel did not go to Heaven upon physical death (OC) ?

Thanks

Yes and thanks for your thoughtful questions. All sins lead to death, from the garden of Eden,  Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. To Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death;...  It was their faith and trust in what God told them to do by blood sacrifices that delivered their spirits from eternal damnation. They, as all men, died physically. The souls and spirits of those that believed went to Hades (the side of it for believers was called Paradise) (see Luke 16 and Lazarus laying on the bosom (chest) of Abraham) and the unbelievers also went to Hades but on the side where we're told about the rich man, also of Lk. 16. All men's souls and spirits live forever; believers with God and unbelievers without Him in outer darkness.

Jesus was the first begotten from the dead, Rev. 1:5 Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. When He ascended into heaven, He took those who had been awaiting His resurrection in Paradise with Him

Mat 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. :51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Then there is a gap of time between His death and ascension  until the OC believers were raised.

Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, :53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

I believe He not only took the believers but also Paradise itself went to heaven and is there now. Paul went there himself before he died.  2Co 12:2  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. :3  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) :4  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Those unbelievers from the OT whether Jew or Gentile are awaiting the GWT judgement of Rev. 20 in Hades.

Today, I believe the NT unbelievers are also there awaiting judgement.

NT believers are present with the Lord when they die.

2Co 5:6  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: :7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) :8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

At least this how I understand the Scriptures. Blessings.

 

[Annisissy]

[farouk]

5 minutes ago, Annisissy said:

@Annisissy Really important to distinguish the two, right?

A huge lot of problems would be avoided if the basic distinction were really taken to heart by a lot of ppl.

[Annisissy]

16 minutes ago, farouk said:

@Annisissy Really important to distinguish the two, right?

A huge lot of problems would be avoided if the basic distinction were really taken to heart by a lot of ppl.

ABSOLUTELY...and like the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, is why I decided to respond to this post with an image. I don't know about everybody else, but I am very visual and learn so much better with pictures. 😊