In my previous post, I quoted Jeremiah 31:31-33 saying that the new covenant was to be made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It would not be like the former covenant God made with their fathers at Sinai, but would be written upon their hearts and in their minds, so they would want to obey him. It wasn't a different covenant with new conditions, but the same covenant written within them rather than on tablets of stone.
Where do Gentiles fit into this covenant? Exactly where they fit in within the framework of the Old Covenant. When Israel stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai to meet with God and enter into covenant with him, a mixed multitude of peoples who had joined themselves to Israel during the Exodus stood shoulder to shoulder with them. The terms of the covenant were for the twelve tribes of Israel and the strangers that sojourned with them. The stranger within their midst was to be treated as the "homeborn", if they were willing to worship and obey the God of Israel. Ex 12:49, " One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you." Provision was always made for any who would follow the God of Israel.
Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent to search out the promised land. He and Joshua were the only two who brought back a good report. We are told in Nu 13:6 that he was the son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah. In Nu 32:12 we are told he was the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite. We find in Gen 36:11 that Kenaz was the son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau, Jacob's brother. But see how God spoke of Caleb in Nu 14:24. " But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it." He was counted among the tribe of Judah, not by blood, but by joining himself with Judah and serving the God of Israel.
Other examples we read of in scripture are those of Rahab the harlot and Ruth the Moabitess, who sought to follow Israel's God. Both of these Gentile women are in the geneology of our Lord.
Gentiles have always been allowed access to God in accordance with the terms and conditions of the covenant. Israel was instructed not to oppress the stranger that sojourned with them, but to remember that they were once strangers in Egypt.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
The New Covenant
There's a well-known concept gaining ground in Christianity today regarding the new covenant. It is defined as replacement theology, and teaches that God has rejected the Jews/Israel and replaced them with the Gentiles via a new covenant. Christianity is "spiritual Israel". The old covenant, i.e. the Torah, is no longer valid. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior are now under grace. The Old Testament law has been nailed to the cross and we are no longer under it's authority. Many actually go so far as to practice and teach a license to sin, or disregard for the commandments of God given at Sinai. Is this what the bible teaches? Did Jesus really come to do away with the law and replace it with grace? What do the scriptures say with regard to this important subject?
First, the word "LAW" speaks of bondage to a modern Christian; something that imprisons us or burdens us with unreasonable demands. Actually, the English word LAW is translated from the Hebrew word TORAH, which means teaching or instruction. It was never meant to be a means to salvation, for Jews or Christians. The Torah was given to instruct us in the ways of God, to define the way of life. The Torah does three things; it instructs, it blesses obedience and curses disobedience. It does not save anyone. Salvation comes only though Jesus, whose Hebrew name means salvation.
Second, mercy is not a New Testament concept. God has always granted mercy to his people. In fact, the ark of the covenant that housed the tablets of stone containing the ten commandments, was covered with a mercy seat, signifying that Torah and grace were always meant to be joined.
The children of Israel were saved by grace from Egyptian bondage. They were saved by grace, through faith, when they applied the blood to their doorposts. Their faith in God's promise of redemption brought forth obedience, resulting in their freedom. It should also be noted that a mixed multitude also came out of Egypt with the Israelites.
The concept of grace is actually very prevalent in the Old Testament, appearing 39 times from Genesis to Malachi, and mercy appearing 212 times. King David wrote of God's mercy over 100 times in the Psalms alone.
So, how are the Covenant and mercy/grace connected. God wants his children to be blessed and knows that these blessings are the result of obedience to his instructions. Although Israel entered into covenant with God at Sinai and promised to follow him in obedience, they continually failed and incurred his wrath, resulting in ten of the tribes being removed from the promised land and dispersed among the nations. They eventually lost their culture and language, their very identity as they were merged among the Gentiles. The world lost sight of all except the tribe of Judah (Jews). They are spoken of today as the lost ten tribes of Israel. But, are they really lost to God? Has he put away Israel forever, replacing them with the New Testament "Church"? No! Even now he is extending Israel grace through his mercy. They may be scattered throughout all the earth and they may not know who they are, but they are as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands of the sea, according to the Word of God spoken to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and they will once again return to their creator.Many already are. How do I know? Because of God's promise.
Jer 31:31-33 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: 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, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 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.
First, the word "LAW" speaks of bondage to a modern Christian; something that imprisons us or burdens us with unreasonable demands. Actually, the English word LAW is translated from the Hebrew word TORAH, which means teaching or instruction. It was never meant to be a means to salvation, for Jews or Christians. The Torah was given to instruct us in the ways of God, to define the way of life. The Torah does three things; it instructs, it blesses obedience and curses disobedience. It does not save anyone. Salvation comes only though Jesus, whose Hebrew name means salvation.
Second, mercy is not a New Testament concept. God has always granted mercy to his people. In fact, the ark of the covenant that housed the tablets of stone containing the ten commandments, was covered with a mercy seat, signifying that Torah and grace were always meant to be joined.
The children of Israel were saved by grace from Egyptian bondage. They were saved by grace, through faith, when they applied the blood to their doorposts. Their faith in God's promise of redemption brought forth obedience, resulting in their freedom. It should also be noted that a mixed multitude also came out of Egypt with the Israelites.
The concept of grace is actually very prevalent in the Old Testament, appearing 39 times from Genesis to Malachi, and mercy appearing 212 times. King David wrote of God's mercy over 100 times in the Psalms alone.
So, how are the Covenant and mercy/grace connected. God wants his children to be blessed and knows that these blessings are the result of obedience to his instructions. Although Israel entered into covenant with God at Sinai and promised to follow him in obedience, they continually failed and incurred his wrath, resulting in ten of the tribes being removed from the promised land and dispersed among the nations. They eventually lost their culture and language, their very identity as they were merged among the Gentiles. The world lost sight of all except the tribe of Judah (Jews). They are spoken of today as the lost ten tribes of Israel. But, are they really lost to God? Has he put away Israel forever, replacing them with the New Testament "Church"? No! Even now he is extending Israel grace through his mercy. They may be scattered throughout all the earth and they may not know who they are, but they are as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands of the sea, according to the Word of God spoken to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and they will once again return to their creator.Many already are. How do I know? Because of God's promise.
Jer 31:31-33 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: 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, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 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.
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