THE COVENANT WITH GOD: THE COVENANT'S SCOPE
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Covenant With God
a) The Bible tells us that "Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry, because he is the mediator of a better covenant, which is based on better promises" (Hebrews 8:6-8). This makes us realize that, if we want an involvement with God that accords with God's grace and will, then we must comply with the covenant Jesus Christ has mediated to us.
2. The Covenant’s Scope
a) Our right involvement with God is often described as a "covenant relationship with God." The Holy Spirit never speaks of "a covenant relationship". The unscriptural term may be connected to the idea that the covenant of Christ has application only to those who honor it. The Bible's view is quite different...
b) The covenant is mediated to all men. "There is one mediator between God and men" and he became "a ransom for all" and through him God "desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4-6). How can a covenant not apply to one to whom it has been mediated? To whomever the covenant is mediated, upon them the covenant is binding.
c) The covenant in Christ's blood applies to all for whom his blood was shed. Christ's blood is the "blood of the new covenant" (Matthew 26:28). His blood was shed "for the whole world" (1 John 2:2). How can a covenant not apply to one for whom the blood of the covenant was shed? For whomever the blood was shed, to them the covenant is ratified.
d) The covenant applies to all for whom God confirmed his promise by an oath. God made a promise to all mankind (John 3:16). God backed up that promise by making an oath to Christ concerning the validity of his high priesthood under the new covenant (Hebrews 6:16-20, Hebrews 7:21-22). How can a covenant not apply to one to whom God has made a promise that the covenant contains and guarantees with an oath? Whoever are able to believe like Abraham the promise and oath of God, to them the covenant applies.
e) The covenant applies to all who are accountable in the day of judgment. Christ, at his second coming, will deal out "retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10). How can a covenant not apply to one who is condemned for not obeying it? Whoever is accountable for not obeying the covenant, to them the covenant applies.
f) The covenant dispenses both blessings and curses. The old covenant, mediated by Moses, contained both "blessings and curses" (Deuteronomy 28:58-63, Deuteronomy 30:9-10,15-20). The new covenant, mediated by Christ, also contains blessings and curses. Fortunately the blood of that covenant, Christ’s own blood, provides the means of removing its curses and bestowing its blessings (Galatians 3:6-28). The covenant applies not only to those whom it blesses, but also to those whom it curses so that the curses can be replaced with the blessing.
The End ...
1. The Covenant With Goda) The Bible tells us that "Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry, because he is the mediator of a better covenant, which is based on better promises" (Hebrews 8:6-8). This makes us realize that, if we want an involvement with God that accords with God's grace and will, then we must comply with the covenant Jesus Christ has mediated to us.
2. The Covenant’s Scope
a) Our right involvement with God is often described as a "covenant relationship with God." The Holy Spirit never speaks of "a covenant relationship". The unscriptural term may be connected to the idea that the covenant of Christ has application only to those who honor it. The Bible's view is quite different...
b) The covenant is mediated to all men. "There is one mediator between God and men" and he became "a ransom for all" and through him God "desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4-6). How can a covenant not apply to one to whom it has been mediated? To whomever the covenant is mediated, upon them the covenant is binding.
c) The covenant in Christ's blood applies to all for whom his blood was shed. Christ's blood is the "blood of the new covenant" (Matthew 26:28). His blood was shed "for the whole world" (1 John 2:2). How can a covenant not apply to one for whom the blood of the covenant was shed? For whomever the blood was shed, to them the covenant is ratified.
d) The covenant applies to all for whom God confirmed his promise by an oath. God made a promise to all mankind (John 3:16). God backed up that promise by making an oath to Christ concerning the validity of his high priesthood under the new covenant (Hebrews 6:16-20, Hebrews 7:21-22). How can a covenant not apply to one to whom God has made a promise that the covenant contains and guarantees with an oath? Whoever are able to believe like Abraham the promise and oath of God, to them the covenant applies.
e) The covenant applies to all who are accountable in the day of judgment. Christ, at his second coming, will deal out "retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10). How can a covenant not apply to one who is condemned for not obeying it? Whoever is accountable for not obeying the covenant, to them the covenant applies.
f) The covenant dispenses both blessings and curses. The old covenant, mediated by Moses, contained both "blessings and curses" (Deuteronomy 28:58-63, Deuteronomy 30:9-10,15-20). The new covenant, mediated by Christ, also contains blessings and curses. Fortunately the blood of that covenant, Christ’s own blood, provides the means of removing its curses and bestowing its blessings (Galatians 3:6-28). The covenant applies not only to those whom it blesses, but also to those whom it curses so that the curses can be replaced with the blessing.
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