Interesting post.
Aaron...I am not well versed in "Covenant Theology" by name, but from what I have heard of it, it sounds fishy.
What is fishy about covenat theology?
As someone else has already stated, a covenant is basically a contractual agreement, inaugurated by one person usually for their betterment, or for the betterment of both parties. The covenant goes like this, Person "A" states that they will do such and such if person "B" will do such and such. That is a basic covenant, usually mediated in blood.
Which of the covenants is not sealed in blood? The real distinction of a covenant is thae fact that it is sealed in blood espceially when it comes to one with God.
I also have an issue with this "covenant of grace" nonsense, as if grace did not exist in the old covenant God made with Israel. Grace has always been a part of all God's covenants with mankind (for grace is God's love in action towards man, just as true living faith is man's love in action towards God). We here in this county (USA) have been subject to numerous false teachings that began back 100 years ago or so, from preachers and teachers that didn't have any business teaching or preaching in the first place. They were uneducated in scripture, and my bet is they didn't understand diddly about the covenants of God to us, nor do I believe most of them to be not walking in the spirit, therefore void of godly understanding or wisdom in the things of God. Basically, most of them were unable to "rightly divide the Word of God."
Why is it nonsense to you? Covenant of grace is merely a descriptive name of the New Covenant or second which are both used in the Bible. Where can you show that grace is administered by the law. You can't even show where it is provided for in the law. You can show where grace was given by God opposing the law. Grace always opposes law anywhere. No law requires it anywhere.
I certianly agree that there are many unqualified people preaching in the past and these days. People want - no demand their ears tickled. Many preachers are only preaching what they have heard. Why not it appears to work. If it ain't broke don't fix it. They haven't even looked at or consider what they say. Attitude of the good ole boys club. They are making merchandise of many. They aren't just fleecing the sheep they're consuming them. Easy money. One even told me that.
There never was a "covenant of works" and we most certainly are not in a covenant of grace (let me qualify that statement before you throw the baby out with the bathwater). The old covenant God made with Israel was simply this...(1) faith (trust in God for...whatever) and (2) obedience to His voice. Guess what, the New Covenant in Christ's blood is based upon (1) faith (trust in Christ for...whatever) and (2) obedience to the voice of His Spirit (today we do not obey the "law" - which was the sacrificial system for cleansing from sin (( NOT the 10 Commandments)), instead, we serve God in the "new and living way" of obedience to His Spirit ((Romans ch.6-8)).
If it isn't or wasn't a covenant of work(s), Why did God offer them rest? Jesus ooffered them something they didn't have in Mat 11:28-30. If He did He was just talking to hear His head rattle and they rightfully shouldn't have given Jesus a second thought as just another babbler.
The means of participating in the New Covenant are exactly the same, that has NOT changed, and a forthright study of the New Testament demonstrates this. The New Covenant was inaugurated by Christ through His perfect blood, He once and for all fulfilled the LAW regarding the sacrificial system for eternal life...He did not do away with the 10 commandments (except for the Sabbath, for He is now our rest). Christ fulfilled the law (of the sacrificial system) on our behalf because we never could - not because we can't (Paul said that according to the law he was blameless, but he had to be a Pharisee in order to accomplish such a feat), but because most of us will never be that dedicated (John the Baptist's father was also acknowledged as "blameless" before God" in the first chapters of Luke).
Whopps! You just said above that we don't obey the "law." I think that you should have included the word 'the' in your quote marks. After all wer're not alking about 'a' law, we're talking about '
the law.' Any wherre the law is talked about in the NT it is spoken about as a single undivisible unit per Gal 3:10, 5:3 and James 2:10. James even uses one of the 10 commandments (adultery) to make his point. So the 10 commandments must be 'the law.' Paul also does the same thing in Romans 7:7 when talking about the law. He says in v 6 that we're delivered from that law and in Gal 4:30 says to throw it out.
What is the purpose of the law? One of those statements is found in Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Therefore one of those purposes must be to establish righteousness. I ask is it ours? If it is no one can qualify and there can be no salvation. Jesus said our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and pharisees? Does your personal righteousness achieved by the law make the grade? Nope because there is none no not one that is righteous - Ps 14:3, 53:3 and my favorite Rom 3:10 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: That is why redemption is necessary. The righteousness that God requires is not achievable by men and can only be had through a direct gift.
The method by which we participate in the NC has changed from the way which was provided by the law (Torah/Pentateuch) according to Jer 31:31-34 and demonstrated in the NT both by historical statements found in Acts and teaching found from Romans to Jude.
Today, we fulfill the commandments by loving on people, and in I John we are told by God through John that in order to be in Christ (God) we (1) put our faith in Christ, and (2) obey God's commandments. The only thing that changed between the old and new covenants was the mode and the mediator...Christ, eternally, after the order of Melchizedek.
When you say commandments, I take it you mean the 10 commandments. And that is simply not correct. I say that because there are many that try to follow at least parts of the law as it is preached today. The law only condemns. It doesn't provide for life because no one can keep it. If that were true then there would be no need of Christ. The law is for the unrighteous/ungodly - Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; I Tim 1:9, 10. Obedience by incident is not obedience to anything. If that were so then my unregenerate neighbor is righteous and doesn't need Jesus. Then really this whole religious thing is a sham.
In this New Covenant, we are promised the indwelling of the Spirit of God, the New Birth in God by His Spirit, power to overcome sin, eternal life, a kingdom, and many more promises that the old covenant didn't give. Entrance into this New Covenant is through Christ...if we are abiding in Christ, then we are abiding in the New Covenant in His blood, for we are baptized into Him, becoming the people of the covenant, the people of God, what is also called the Kingdom of God. Christ is the door by which we must enter.
The problem as I see it is that many demand this from the flesh and body that we see. Even Paul battled with this issue as noted in Romans 7:14, 25.
I would highly recommend studying both the Tent of Meeting and the Temple of God, for in these we find analogies of Christ in everything, and the temple (or tent of meeting, which gave way to the temple) is intimately connected with the old covenant. One cannot understand the New Covenant unless they fully understand the old, and in order to understand the old, you must also have a good understanding of the temple...the furniture, the oil in the golden lampstand, the laver...all of it...even the coverings of the Tent of Meeting had significant meanings and forshadoings of Christ's office to come.
It isn't necessary to understand these thing to be saved. Understanding is not required to be saved. Faith is required. Faith believes and accepts as fact that which it doesn't understand. Every thing you think you know is so based. You accept simply because someone told you it was so and is enforced by the mass of others accepting the samething.
You have a lot of studying to do, my friend...and it's exciting and worth the time and effort!
Yeppers so start studying. A teacher never quits studying and is forever a student. And blessings to you!
