The following article has been selected to provide an interesting and challenging subject for consideration. It will be found: much contained herein, varies with traditional teachings and beliefs. However, it's "our burden" to encourage as many as will, to honestly consider...with an open mind, and we're trusting the Holy Spirit to
verify as He Wills...
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Much of the confusion that exists in the religious world, lies
in a misunderstanding of the Kingdom of God.
First of all, if people could understand that the Kingdom is a
SPIRITUAL kingdom.
Secondly, if they could understand the law of Moses,
according to Galatians the third chapter, was only added four
hundred thirty years after the promise was given to Abraham.
The law was added for just a period of time, till the seed came,
Jesus Christ. Then the law was disannuled, nailed to the cross,
taken out of the way. And we come to a New Covenant or New
Testament through Jesus Christ.
We see, in the Word of God, that these things were very true.
Now there are those who say, "Just tell the world about
Jesus, and let it go at that." But, the Bible plainly tells us that
God not only wills for all men to be saved, but also to come to
knowledge of the truth.
The lack of Truth and understanding, divides God's people
today. Divides people in trying to work God's purpose for a lost
and dying world.
IT'S NEEDFUL THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR
UNDERSTANDING IS CORRECT.
Why?
Well, if what men teach today in prominent teaching in our
land; if what they're teaching, and I just mention three or four
things that are being taught today:
The First one is, IF ANCIENT ISRAEL IS STILL GOD'S
CHOSEN PEOPLE.
Secondly, IF JERUSALEM IN PALESTINE IS GOD'S
GATHERING PLACE.
IF PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISION IS THE SEAL OF THE
COVENANT.
IF JESUS IS COMING TO EARTH AGAIN TO SAVE, HONOR
AND REIGN OVER THE LITERAL JEW.
Now, if these things are true, then the Church has no reason
for her being, whatsoever.
We just might as well "close up shop" and set down
somewhere and wait until Jesus comes again.
But, those "points" I just mentioned along with many
others; there's no truth in them, whatsoever. I SAY THIS WITH
LOVE AND RESPECT. You might be thinking, "That's making
mighty strong statements." Well, we beg you to "stay with us,"
and please consider with us as we GO TO THE BIBLE FOR OUR
DEFENCE.
Romans 9:1-8, "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my
conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I
have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I
could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my
brethern, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are
Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and
the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of
God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as
concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed
for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken
none effect. FOR THEY ARE NOT ALL ISRAEL, WHICH ARE OF
ISRAEL: NEITHER, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SEED OF ABRAHAM,
ARE THEY ALL CHILDREN: BUT, IN ISSAC SHALL THY SEED BE
CALLED. THAT IS, THEY WHICH ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE
FLESH, THESE ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD: BUT THE
CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE ARE COUNTED FOR THE SEED."
Now, here's the apostle Paul, pouring out his heart.
Just as Christ gave Himself for the world, the spirit of Christ
in Paul would cause him to be willing to lay down his life, if it
would mean the salvation of his kinsman according to the flesh.
As we've read so far, the apostle Paul truly believed and
taught that the literal Jews were accursed (the word accursed
means excommunicated, cut off from God). And after He (Paul)
made that statement, (remember he's writing to the Romans to
try to give them understanding right in the midst of confusion),
then he begins to answer some questions.
Again, verse 4 "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the
adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of
the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are
the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came,
who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."
The promises (given in the plural), in Galatians the third
chapter; They were given to Abraham and his seed. And he
didn't say many seeds, but ONE SEED, which is Christ.
Everything that God had to give to us through the promises
of Abraham, it came through and by Christ.
It was Christ that was with Israel in the wilderness. It was
Christ that brought her out of Egypt. It was Christ that fed her,
Christ that clothed her.
He said, Verse 6, "Not as though the word of God hath taken
none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: (v. 7)
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all
children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. (v. 8) That is, They
which are the children OF THE FLESH, these are NOT the children of
God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
Paul lets us know that he had gained clear understanding
that the Israelites were not a people who were Abraham's literal
seed. They never were. He makes it plain. Abraham had more
than one son. But he turned down Ishmael and narrowed it
down as far as the literal seed is concerned, to just the seed of
Isaac.
When he (Paul) used the word Israelite; let's consider it a
moment. You know where it had it's beginning---back when
Jacob "wrestled with God" and wouldn't let the "angel" go
until he blessed him. God changed his name from Jacob to
Israel. And his literal descendants were known throughout the Old
Testament as the Israelites.
The Jews love that name because of the meaning of it.
It marked them first of all, when they said they were an
Israelite, it marked them a true descendant of Jacob or Israel.
And the word Israel means: one who prevails with God. They
hung on to it as being God's people. They're still hanging on to
it yet, today!
Even Gentiles have "jumped on the band wagon," even
though Paul said after the 'CROSS' Jews and Gentiles ceased to
exist.
However, books are being written about the future of the Jews.
They talk about the temple being rebuilt and even going back to
sacrificing animals etc.
I say this with love and respect and very "softly," God will
never authorize another animal's blood to be shed as a sacrifice.
Why? A better blood's been spilt. Read Hebrews! God
ordained something better for man than animal blood and that
which was held under the Old Covenant. And since He has
something better for us, Paul lets us know, the old decayed,
passed away, it's gone for good!
But people who want to hold on to traditions and ideas;
trying to make us feel that these things could come to pass.
Now listen to the Apostle Paul. He came right down in verse
5; he let us know that all these things were fulfilled through
Christ who is over all and God blessed. And then in verse 6 he
said "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For
they are not all Israel, which are of Israel." And Israel here,
he's using as Jacob, in the place of Jacob.
In other words he boiled it down to: All of Abraham's seed
weren't children of God---just Isaac's followers. And then he
boiled it down a little farther---Just Jacob's children. And then he
boiled it down a little father. Not even all of Jacob's children
were really Israelites. Then he got down pretty narrow.
And when he got to verse 6, he said, "Not as though the
word of God had taken none effect. Here's a scripture that
Millennium teachers use to try to definitely prove that there's
many things to take place in the future, because God's word
doesn’t fail, and God promised to give Israel the land of Canaan.
Promised to give them peace. Promised to be their God. And
they're not living in peace. So, since they're not living in peace,
and the word of God don't fail, there has to be another
application of these promises out in the future.
Please, look with me further in the Bible. I agree that God's
word doesn't fail. And in every period of time, and every
century of time since there's been time, when God's word was
spoken, it never failed to take affect. Now everybody didn't
believe it. Everybody didn't obey it. Everybody wasn't blessed
by it. But the word of God never failed to take affect; and it
never will.
Back in Genesis 15:18 God promised Abraham, to give him
the land or give it unto his seed. And so people go back to this
promise and say it's yet to be fulfilled.
Please look at Romans 9:6 again. He said, "Not as though
the word of God had taken none affect;" and begins to let us
know that he divided a people, and the true Israel was
gathered out from a people who were just the literal seed of
Abraham, by their attitude toward God's word, whether they
believed it or not; whether they obeyed it or not.
Now, "hold that thought." You might ask, "Well, who are the
Israel of God?" Look at verse 8: "That is, They which are the
children of the flesh (Abraham's literal seed), these are not the
children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for
the seed."
Again Genesis 15:18 "In the same day the Lord made a
covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this
land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river
Euphrates." There's the promise.
THAT PROMISE WAS FULFILLED! God answered that
promise one hundred percent.
2 Chronicles 9:26 Speaking about Solomon, "And he
reigned over all the kings from the river (Euphrates) even unto
the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt." God
promised Abraham's literal seed, "I'll give you the land, the land
of Canaan, from Egypt clear to the river Euphrates." And God
fulfilled it. Here He had given them the land. Solomon, David's
son, was king and reigning over the whole land that God had
given them.
You can also read it in first Kings 8:56.
When God gave Israel that covenant, remember as Paul
explains in Galatians the third chapter, that law and that
promise was a covenant. A covenant had two parties. And each
had a part to keep. And when God gave Israel the land of
Canaan, He gave it to them under a covenant. There were terms
to that covenant. God gave the Jews very definite conditions
for them to observe to remain in the land. And He told them if
they failed to observe those conditions, they would be driven
out. And the covenant would be null and void.
In Deut. 8, God is laying down the Covenant. Letting them
know there were conditions. See, where the "wrong slant" is
taken, (and I speak lovingly and respectfully) is when it's
taught that there are unconditional promises. I do not know of
one unconditional promise in God's Word. Every promise
God gives is on condition; you do something. And if you don't
do your part, the promise or covenant is void. If you confess
and forsake, God will have mercy.
Now God gave Israel the land of Canaan on conditions. That
was true, beginning with the first man. Adam was put in the
garden, on conditions. "You keep this law. You overstep this
law and I'll drive you out." Right here in the beginning, back in
the Garden of Eden, we have our first example of God keeping
his word regarding conditions that he set forth.
So, when God gave Israel the land on conditions, He made it
plain to them, that if they met those conditions, they would stay
in the land. If they failed to meet those conditions, they would
lose the land.
Deut. 8:19 and 20, "And it shall be, if thou do at all forget
the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them,
and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall
surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before
your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient
unto the voice of the Lord your God." God here is speaking
through Moses, laying down the conditions of obtaining and
retaining the land of Canaan.
Deut. 30:17-20 "But if thine heart turn away, so that thou
wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods,
and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall
surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the
land, whither thou passest over Jordon to go to possess it. I
call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have
set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore
choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. That thou
mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his
voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life,
and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land
which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Issac,
and to Jacob, to give them." Conditions! Over and over, He
reminded them.
Look at Exodus 19:8, the same picture. This is just in
another book, but it covers the same time as Deut. 30. "And all
the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath
spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people
unto the Lord." There's the Covenant! "Come on, I'll give you
this land, and you can have it throughout your generations, if
you be careful to observe and obey. But if you allow your heart
to be turned after other gods, and you refuse to obey my
words, just like I've caused other nations to be wiped out, I'll
wipe you out. And you'll not possess the land any longer. And
the people answered, all the Lord has said we'll do. We
understand that." And Moses took that word back to the Lord.
Here lies a stern warning to the literal Jew. Imposed on them,
was a condition to remain in the land. And God said, that he
called heaven and earth to bear record to this Covenant this
day. Well, heaven and earth bears record that they broke that
Covenant. Over and over they broke it! And they were expelled
from the land. The very God that had driven out their enemies
and gave them the land; when they broke the Covenant, God
turned and drove them out!
What happened to them? In Deut. 28:25 we can read the
nature of their punishment. And it's still going on today! "The
Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou
shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before
them, and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth."
And it's sad to say, but that's exactly where the Jews are now;
removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. That punishment is
still going on. They're not a people gathered together in one
place.
How did they get scattered among all the kingdoms of the
earth? The answer is obvious as we remember the conditions of
the Covenant. God himself scattered them as punishment for
their disobedience. Let's remember, God fulfilled his
obligation, when he gave them the land and drove their enemies
out. It was their duty to obey God to remain in the land.
Now, I love and respect the literal Jews along with the
apostle Paul; my desire is also that they might be saved.
However, I have not been able to find anywhere in God's word
where he promised to give them the land a second time or a
third time. I have found that God promised the land to them
once. He gave it to them once. They "messed up." And when
they messed up, they brought upon themselves irrepairable
Judgment as far as the nation's concerned.
Yes, He brought them back to Palestine. He brought them
back to Jerusalem. But as we study it, how did they come
back? They came back in bondage under Roman rule. And
what did He bring them back for? To receive the Messiah. And
when they turned Him down, they went into a worse scattered
condition than ever before.
We may think these facts are hard. We must remember that
we're God's creation. God can do with us what he wants to.
God sets in the "drivers seat." He makes the arrangements.
And it's up to us to keep the arrangements.
So, Israel was driven out of the land. And God didn't
promise it to them again. We need to remember that God's
Judgments are as sure as his promises. God told them when
he gave the promise; "Here's your judgment. You fail to obey
me; I've called you out of Egypt. I've gathered you together
from the nations and from the kingdoms of the world to make
one people out of you. I've given you this land to dwell in.
Here's the law you must live by. If you don't keep this law, my
curses, my judgments are as sure as my promises." Again, I say this
with love and kindness and respect, but Israel must have
believed so strongly in "eternal security" that they failed to take
God's word serious. I continue to speak with love and kindness
and respect, however too many professed Christians, likewise,
appear to believe so strongly in "eternal security" that they too
do not seem to take God's word serious.
"Surely the Lord won't cast us out. He didn't give us this land
to throw us out." Well, He threw them out!
Now, please take note of what I say with love and kindness
and all respect. Literal Israel will never possess the land of
Canaan again. The Bible makes this perfectly clear. Please
don't "throw me over the dump yet." Give me a little more time
to prove this right or wrong. Please don't believe what men
say. Please, believe only what God says.
History attests to the fact that Israel has reaped exactly the
consequences of their choice. They're scattered. They're not a
nation. "Oh, they became a nation again back there at a certain
date, 1948?" Again, I speak kindly and with love; that's what
man says, that's when man says they became a nation. Please,
let's read in God's word and find out when Israel became a
nation again.
Man can determine what he wants to. Man did determine
that Israel was a nation again in 1948 and the world has
recognized this determination up to this very day. Please,
remember that it isn't what man says, but what God says. God
said that she'd never be a nation again. He said that she would
remain dispersed among all other nations.
Let's begin to take a look. What about Pentecost when they
came together at Pentecost? "Jews devout men out of every
nation under heaven." They didn't have any nation of their
own. They came "from every nation under heaven." How did
they get "out there?" God scattered them out there. His
judgment was as sure as His promise. Needless to say, God
means what He says. So history attests to the fact that they
reaped the consequences.
In 1 Kings 8:56, we see one more witness that God fulfilled
His pledge. Here's Solomon in his prayer. He said, "Blessed be
the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according
to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his
good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his
servant." If that isn't enough, look at Joshua 21:45, Then,
Joshua 23:14. Twice, two different times, Joshua as he was
dying told Israel, "I want you to know this, not one word of the
promises that God promised has failed. He's given us every
thing he promised." In other words, there's nothing left to be
fulfilled."
I say again with love and kindness and respect, nowhere in
the Bible can we find where God promised Israel the land a
second time.
Please, turn with me to Ezekiel 16:55. "When thy sisters,
Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate,
and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former
estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former
estate." Ezekiel is writing to Judah here. Remember Israel was
broken up at this time into ten tribes and two tribes. The two
tribes made up Judah or Jerusalem. And the ten tribes were
spoken of as Samaria. And Ezekiel merely brings Sodom up
because Sodom, the minute you hear the word, you think of
lewdness, sinfulness, ungodliness and disobedience. And God,
speaking through Ezekiel, went on to say
here, that Judah had lived a worse life than the Sodomites.
Maybe it will help if we look at verse 44 of Ezekiel 16. "Behold,
everyone that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against
thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter. Here's a
proverb. Needless to say, a proverb is something set up as an
equation to set forth truth.
Now, what's God saying about Israel when she failed?
"When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to
their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters, shall return
to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return
to your former estate."
NOW, DO YOU THINK THAT ISRAEL IS EVER GOING TO
RETURN TO HER FORMER ESTATE?
Well, according to Ezekiel 16:55 IT WILL BE WHEN SODOM
RETURNS TO HER FORMER ESTATE. Lets read on; verse 56.
"For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the
day of thy pride, (57) Before thy wickedness was discovered, as
at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all
that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which
despise thee round about. (58) Thou hast borne thy lewdness
and thine abominations, saith the Lord. (59) For thus saith the
Lord God; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which
hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant." What did
they do? They broke the covenant. Here's the prophet teaching
them why they're in such a pitiful shape. The prophet goes on
to tell them that THEY WERE IN A WORSE SHAPE THAN SODOM
WAS IN. AND AS FAR AS HAVING ISRAEL REDEEMED AS A
NATION, YOU CAN JUST AS WELL EXPECT GOD TO RAISE
SODOM UP FROM THE DEAD SEA. Speaking kindly, ISRAEL
BROKE HER COVENANT AND BROUGHT UPON HERSELF
IRREPAIRABLE JUDGEMENT.
We might think that's terrible judgment. Needless to say,
His judgment is just as strict today. Sure, we're living under
the sure mercies of David. Certainly, a savior has died.
Certainly Christ's blood is greater. Certainly God has given us
grace, but when we push God far enough to bring His
judgment upon us, His judgment is just as strict and straight
today, as it was then.
What's the prophet trying to teach those people? He's trying
to teach them, and he's trying to teach us that the heinousness
of sin is in proportion to the position of privilege that the
sinners had. The Scriptures teach us that God rates sin. How's
he rate sin? According to how much privilege we have. Sin's
"blacker" and we'll go to a "deeper hell" when we set under the
truth; have opportunity after opportunity. Why was Israel's sin
so heinous? Because they killed the prophets---stoned them that
were sent to them. God gave them opportunity after
opportunity to repent, but they refused. And the heinousness
of sin is governed by God, according to the opportunity offered.
That's why God could say that Israel was in worse shape than
Sodom. Why? Sodom didn't have the privilege that Israel
had...and Sodom didn't have the privilege that we have had.
Now, please turn with me to Lam. 4:4-11. Jeremiah was
thrown in jail, and he wrote these lamentations. I'll just quote
verse 6. "For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of
my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom,
that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on
her." Why is it greater? Sodom's punishment was sharp and
short. God said "I'll destroy the city; I'll send fire and
brimstone out of heaven and I'll destroy the city." And in a
moment of time, after Lot and his family got out, God's
judgment was short---it devoured the city and there was
nothing left but a bunch of ashes. But Judah's punishment is
greater. Why? It's sharp, but it's LONG LASTING. Still going on,
still going on and still going on!
Matt. 10:5. "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded
them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any
city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6. But go rather to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. 7. And as ye go, preach, saying,
The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8. Heal the sick...etc. vs.
11. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire
who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 12. And
when ye come into and house, salute it. 13. And if the house be
worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let
your peace return to you. 14. And whosoever shall not receive
you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or
city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15. Verily I say unto you,
it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah,
in the Day of Judgment, than for that city." Is that judgment
worse than Sodom?
Matt. 11:20. "Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein
most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
21. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if
the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth
and ashes. 22. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for
Tyre and Sidon at the Day of Judgment, than for you. 23. And
thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be
brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been
done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have
remained until this day (I wouldn't have had to put judgment
on it and wipe it out). Remember, God judges according to
what we receive. Luke 12:47 "And that servant, which knew his
lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to
his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48. But he that
knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be
beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given,
of him shall be much required: and to whom men have
committed much, of him they will ask the more."
Ezekiel 16:59 "For thus saith the Lord God; I will even deal
with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in
breaking the covenant. 60. Nevertheless I will remember my
covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish
unto thee an everlasting covenant." After he said, "I will even
deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath
in breaking the covenant. Nevertheless… Thank God for the
mercy of God! Thank God for the nevertheless, in the bible!
What does he say? "Nevertheless, I will remember my covenant
with thee in the days of thy youth, (Let's read it, then I'll
"expand it.") and I will establish unto thee an everlasting
covenant. 61. Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be
ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and
thy younger: (We'll clarify that) and I will give them unto thee
for daughters," (Surely you know that the church is a mother.
She's got sons and daughters. And only mothers have sons and
daughters.) REPEAT..."when thou shalt receive thy sisters,
thine elder and thy younger:" Remember what he said to
Abraham, "I'll make your seed as the stars of the sky and I'll
bless you and I'll be a God to you and your people will be my
people." That was the promise He made before the law was
ever given. That was the promise of Israel's youth. Back when
Isaac was a little boy..."Out of Isaac shall your seed be blest."
Back when Isaac was a boy when Abraham took him up and
offered him on the alter. That's when God gave him that
promise; back in Israel's youth when they were, as it were, "in
the loins of Abraham." God gave them a promise. The "other
covenant" was added for just a particular time "till the seed
came." And Israel broke that "other covenant" and God drove
them out of the land and brought upon them irretrievable
judgment. Now, after He told them what the judgment was,
He said, "Nevertheless I remember the covenant of your youth.
You remember the first covenant that was made? Well, I'm
going to establish that one. And it's going to be an everlasting
covenant. It will not only be good for time, but it'll be good for
eternity!"
(My translation! smile.) Stay right with me! What's he talking
about? Here is the Gospel covenant! Remember, the Gospel
was before preached unto Abraham. (Galatians 3:8) God's first
covenant with man was the Gospel when it was first preached
unto Abraham. Then, years later another covenant was made
with literal Israel. They broke the covenant. God "tore it up."
And He said, "I remember that covenant of your youth. I'm
going to establish that everlasting covenant with you. What
was it? The Gospel Covenant. The first covenant he made, that
was for all nations. You might be thinking, "I don't think that's
it. Stay with me just a little bit. He said, "I'll establish an
everlasting covenant with you. It may be hard for you to
accept, but the promises from that point forth were transferred
to the church. The "other covenant" was to stand, Paul said,
"till the seed came." And that seed was Christ. And when He
came He took it (Col. 2nd chapter) and nailed that old covenant
to the cross. He finished it! Fulfilled it! God stood ready to
establish an everlasting covenant. The Gospel Covenant. That
Covenant He had spoken back before any law was given, before
any covenant for Canaan was made. Again, the first covenant
He ever gave Abraham; "You walk with me, I'll be a God to you
and your seed will be as the stars of heaven. And in blessing
I'll bless you and make you a blessing and I'll be a God to you
and your people will be my people. That's the covenant God
remembered. I say the promises are transferred to the church.
And if you can't receive that, don't take it for a moment, but I'll
prove it to you. It's a New and Everlasting Covenant. How do
we know it's the Gospel covenant?
Turn to Jeremiah 31. We're coming to the New Testament
shortly. Let's look at this Everlasting Covenant. Verse 31.
"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, (they broke that
one) 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."
There's the New Covenant. There's the Everlasting Covenant!
Do I hear you saying(?) "That doesn't say it's the Gospel
covenant! In Hebrews the 8th chapter - watch the writer to the
Hebrews, put it where it belongs. Hebrews 8:7-13. "For if that
first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have
been sought for the second. 8. For finding fault with them, he
saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a
new covenant with the house of Judah: 9. Not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took
them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded
them not, saith the Lord. 10. For this is the covenant that I will
make with the house of Israel after those days, saith 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:
11. 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. 12. For I will be
merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their
iniquities will I remember no more. 13. 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." Who's the Hebrew
writer writing to? The Hebrews! The Jews, who were trying to
hold on to the first covenant. He let them know that God had
made a new covenant. The old one had decayed and was ready
to vanish away. God had given us a BETTER COVENANT! [The End]
