New Covenant Realities2- The Old covenant is/was the fore-runner of the new. Its practices show this clearly. It was never given to bring salvation. Rather it was given to point to it. It never gave righteousness rather showed the import of a right standing with God. Its blessings were conditional: if you obey, if you do all that is written, if you follow the Lord your God, if you serve Him, if you hearken diligently and so on and so forth. Let’s examine critically some of the above statements. Healing under the Old Covenant. Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. Exodus 23:25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. Healing here is conditional upon your obedience of the laws. It was NEVER free. Healing under The New Covenant. Matthew 8:16-17 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Jesus healing ANYONE was based ONLY on His substitutionary work. Men received unconditionally. Let’s peruse Isaiah’s prophecy concerning this- Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Healing is by HIS STRIPES, HIS PAINS, HIS SUFFERINGS. Its never conditional. If any conditions at all, they are/were fulfilled by Jesus. Peter re-echoes this: 1 Peter 2: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. John puts it this way. John 1: 16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The Law is a demand for performance. Grace is a supply of help, power, strength and support. They are not complements. They are OPPOSITES. The promise of Priesthood under the Old Covenant. Exodus 19:5-Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. This was to be based on keeping laws. God wanted ALL His people to be priests and kings. But under the Old covenant this was ONLY possible by keeping the laws as that was the relationship available to them. Because these conditions were very high, He chose Aaron/Levi to fill that office by law! Priesthood under The New Covenant. 1 Peter 2:5-Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Today ALL believers are made Kings and Priests by the BLOOD of Christ alone! Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen We all qualify by the washing of Christ’s blood! Obviously, both covenants had many similar concepts and blessings, the Old was however based on conditions, the New is made UNCONDITIONAL, because it has ALL been paid for by Christ’s death! To attempt to marry these two covenants will fail the test of rightly dividing the word of truth . 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Under the Old covenant, blessings came based on obedience. With the New Covenant, we are BLESSED to obey! As all things are freely given to us in Christ! Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all ! Blessed? Say, I am a product of Grace. I am a recipient of the benefits of Christs sufferings and obedience! I am thankful for the New Covenant! Have a Christ / New Covenant Conscious Weekend ! Jesus is Lord,We win!
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 19:18:58 +0000
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