THE COVENANT ALL MANKIND MUST OBEY
(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 All Mankind Must Obey
a) It goes without saying that "children of disobedience" will not be saved. They are "children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3) until they become children of faith and obedience. And what must they obey if not the covenant God has made with them?
b) God prepared beforehand that people should walk in good works (Ephesians 2:10), and these are laid down in the covenant God has given us in Christ. People must obey these requirements or else.
c) Is a covenant an agreement?
i) We often hear the word covenant explained as "an agreement". This can be misleading if we think that the covenant is something negotiated between man and God, or if we get the idea that the covenant does not apply to us unless we agree to it. That is wrong.
ii) The covenant is handed down to us by God, and mankind has no say in its terms, conditions, and requirements. It does, however, require our agreement, consent, and obedience, if we are to be saved by it. If we refuse our agreement and do not obey, then the covenant condemns us. This is because a lack of acceptance and obedience consitutes a lack of faith. Since we are saved "though faith" (Ephesians 2:8) then we are necessarily condemned without 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 All Mankind Must Obey
a) It goes without saying that "children of disobedience" will not be saved. They are "children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3) until they become children of faith and obedience. And what must they obey if not the covenant God has made with them?
b) God prepared beforehand that people should walk in good works (Ephesians 2:10), and these are laid down in the covenant God has given us in Christ. People must obey these requirements or else.
c) Is a covenant an agreement?
i) We often hear the word covenant explained as "an agreement". This can be misleading if we think that the covenant is something negotiated between man and God, or if we get the idea that the covenant does not apply to us unless we agree to it. That is wrong.
ii) The covenant is handed down to us by God, and mankind has no say in its terms, conditions, and requirements. It does, however, require our agreement, consent, and obedience, if we are to be saved by it. If we refuse our agreement and do not obey, then the covenant condemns us. This is because a lack of acceptance and obedience consitutes a lack of faith. Since we are saved "though faith" (Ephesians 2:8) then we are necessarily condemned without it.
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