THE CONVENANT WHICH OTHER COVENANTS PROMISED
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Priceless Covenant
a) This covenant is the constitution of the church of Christ. We see it as the covenant which previous covenants promised, the covenant which all mankind must obey, a covenant of both grace and works.
Ephesians 2:1-2
“And you he has made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. In them you walked in time past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.”
Ephesians 2:12
“At that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”
Ephesians 2:7-10
“[But God made us alive showing] the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before ordained that we should walk in them.”
2. The Covenant Which Other Covenants Promised
a) God made covenants with man from Creation. For example, he made covenants with Adam, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, David, and others. The covenant he made with Israel through Moses is the one that is detailed and emphasised in the Bible. The covenants were "covenants of promise" in that they looked forward to Christ the Saviour. The prophets of old promised "a new covenant" (Jeremiah 31:31).
b) he new covenant in Christ would take the place of the earlier "covenants of promise". Of course the new covenant has promises too, magnificent promises, but these do not rely upon another covenant to be fulfilled. The "covenants of promise" could not fulfil their promises, but relied upon the new covenant to come. The new covenant itself, however, is all sufficient because it is the covenant of the all sufficient Christ. That, incidentally, is one reason why we must not to add anything to this covenant or take anything from it.
The End ...
1. The Priceless Covenanta) This covenant is the constitution of the church of Christ. We see it as the covenant which previous covenants promised, the covenant which all mankind must obey, a covenant of both grace and works.
Ephesians 2:1-2
“And you he has made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. In them you walked in time past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.”
Ephesians 2:12
“At that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”
Ephesians 2:7-10
“[But God made us alive showing] the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before ordained that we should walk in them.”
2. The Covenant Which Other Covenants Promised
a) God made covenants with man from Creation. For example, he made covenants with Adam, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, David, and others. The covenant he made with Israel through Moses is the one that is detailed and emphasised in the Bible. The covenants were "covenants of promise" in that they looked forward to Christ the Saviour. The prophets of old promised "a new covenant" (Jeremiah 31:31).
b) he new covenant in Christ would take the place of the earlier "covenants of promise". Of course the new covenant has promises too, magnificent promises, but these do not rely upon another covenant to be fulfilled. The "covenants of promise" could not fulfil their promises, but relied upon the new covenant to come. The new covenant itself, however, is all sufficient because it is the covenant of the all sufficient Christ. That, incidentally, is one reason why we must not to add anything to this covenant or take anything from it.
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