Category: The Amazing New Covenant

The Law of the Spirit of Life

spirit

Paul wrote in Romans Chapter 8 that something called “the law of the Spirit of life” has set us free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) In a previous chapter of the same letter to the church in Rome, he stated that sin will not rule over us because we are no longer under the law, but now we are “under grace.” (Romans 6:14) These two elements of the New Covenant sound wonderful, but I think that most of us Christians fail to experience anywhere close to the fullness of the freedom Christ promises. Are we free indeed?

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36 (NKJV)

If not, perhaps it is because we have not yet come to understand as perfectly as we should what it means to be “under grace” and to live in the power of the “law of the Spirit of life.”

The essence of the New Covenant is that Christ died and rose again to provide forgiveness for our sins, a right standing with his Father in heaven that is derived from his own righteousness, and, finally, to put his Spirit inside us so that we are inwardly motivated and empowered to obey and serve our Lord willingly from the heart.

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:33–34 (NKJV)

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)

I believe we can experience this freedom in Christ, but first we have to truly leave behind any reliance on our own efforts to make it happen.

The old covenant of law only served to point out how sinful we are. It did nothing beyond that to help us in any way. It is comparable to a nagging perfectionist boss who continually points out our mistakes, but never lifts a hand to assist. This tyrant has no intention of firing us. He simply exists to expose our flaws and make us feel continuously and hopelessly insufficient.

If the Law accomplishes its job, we will eventually discover that we cannot possibly save ourselves and give up trying.

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 (NKJV)

Any attempt to gain or maintain a right relationship with God via observing the law is a misguided effort that is doomed to failure and actually opposes God’s plan in Christ.

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:1–4 (NKJV)

Not surprisingly, having rejected Christ, the Jewish people today still pursue this false path to God. Members of the Chabad sect have a plan for everyone in the world to come under the law. It is called Tikkun Olam, which means “repairing the world.” This concept was developed in the Talmud and expanded in the Kabbalah. Today part of its fulfillment requires the Jewish people to observe the 613 laws of the Torah and the Gentiles to abide by what are called the seven Noahide Laws.

President George H.W. Bush signed the relevant legislation on March 20, 1991. This was Public Law 102-14 (H.J. Res. 104), a joint resolution from the 102nd Congress that designated March 26, 1991, as “Education Day, U.S.A.” It honored the birthday of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (the Lubavitcher Rebbe) and included language recognizing the Seven Noahide Laws (also spelled Noachide) as part of the “historical tradition of ethical values and principles” that form the “bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization.” (Grok)

Even though this is said to have been a non-binding resolution, it is remarkable that a US President would do such a thing since it is alien to the Constitution. This is just another example of how the executive branch has “gone rogue.”

Whatever the case, this reveals that the Jews are still pursuing a fruitless and rebellious path to God, and wish to corral the rest of us into joining them.

But the Jewish people are not the only ones who believe the law is how to best relate to God. There are plenty of people who call themselves Christians who embrace legalism in one form or another. The Roman Catholic Church, for example, requires its members to keep God’s commandments and some of their own to be in right standing with God. Some Protestant denominations have their own rules and regulations for measuring righteousness, too, rather than simply trusting in the righteousness that comes from faith in Christ, as Paul did.

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Philippians 3:8–9 (NKJV)

And even if we have all the right doctrines regarding justification by faith alone, chances are that we still measure how we are doing with God by using some performance scale or another. The reason we are so prone to such things is that by nature we are all legalists.

Almost all of us underestimate our own wickedness and inability to measure up to God’s standard of righteousness and maintain the illusive hope that somehow we can do better next time.

We may quote the following passage to seekers when we share the gospel, but I suggest that we don’t think its completely true, at least not for us. In that we are mistaken.

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10–12 (NKJV)

If we are still trying hard to finally get it right next time, we are far from true freedom. 

The way out of bondage to sin begins with an act of repentance.

God is working to bring us to see that we can do nothing on our own to save or liberate ourselves from the power of sin.

When we finally “give up” trying to be good enough, we will be in a perfect place to find out what it means to be “under grace” and to live by the power of the “law of the Spirit of life” in Christ.

In the Bible, when a “sinful” woman poured perfume on Jesus’ feet and washed his them with her tears of repentance, a Jewish Pharisee named Simon, who considered himself to be a righteous man, was offended. He found himself judging the woman for her former sins and Jesus for not identifying and judging her. He regarded himself highly but held them both in low esteem, which showed in his failing to show Jesus some common courtesies. The woman, on the other hand, knew how sinful she was, but Simon was blind to his desperate need for God.

Jesus brilliantly illustrated the difference between the two.

Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. 41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:40–50 (NLT)

The behaviors of the Pharisee and the woman revealed the condition of their hearts and how they viewed Jesus.

The Pharisee looked at Jesus with the eye of a critic. He was searching for faults he could condemn. He did not see anything in Christ that prompted him to treat him with the utmost respect and courtesy, much less the kind of deep appreciation shown by the woman. The woman poured out her soul in gratitude. She saw Jesus as someone who is infinitely valuable, who offered her forgiveness for her many sins. As a result, she was forgiven, but Simon, who felt no need for forgiveness, was not. Instead he was offended.

We can be offended or forgiven by Jesus. How we see and receive him makes all the difference. Our freedom is directly tied to our estimation of Jesus and our love and gratitude toward him. These two things depend greatly on how we perceive our own need for forgiveness.

Jesus told Simon that the woman’s behavior proved that she understood these things; so, he forgave her for her many sins. Simon the Pharisee, however, was unaware of his need. His spiritual blindness to his condition blocked him. 

The principle is that when we finally see the enormity of our sin and grasp how great is God’s mercy toward us, the more we will love Jesus. The greater our love, the greater will be our desire to serve him from the heart.

The less our love, the more legalistic we are likely to be. If we are in this condition, we look for faults in others and judge them (and ourselves) because we still pretend that we can eventually be good enough if we just try a bit harder next time.

The only way out of legalism is to admit we cannot possibly in any way measure up to God’s righteousness. Then we start to understand the magnitude of God’s mercy and his gift of righteousness.

Paul taught the beautiful principles of how we died to sin’s power in Romans Chapter Six. Nevertheless, he testified in the following chapter that the more he tried to keep the law, the more he became enslaved to sin.

For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. Romans 7:19–20 (NKJV)

Even though Paul had good doctrine and tried hard (willed), he was still caught in the death spiral of trying (willing) to keep the Law, just like many of us. It was only when he discovered that sin dwells in him (what the Bible calls the “flesh”) that he was able to experience real freedom. The flesh, that part of us still linked to Adam through the unresurrected body, can never be reformed. It doesn’t gradually get better. It must die, and it will when these bodies are finally transformed at the resurrection.

If you are not familiar with God's great salvation of our spirits, souls, and bodies, it will be helpful for you to learn more about that. Here is a link to a short teaching.

Until the resurrection, we all live with an internal contradiction: we love God in our spirits, but our flesh is hostile to him.

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:17–18 (NKJV)

Ironically, it is only when we realize that, apart from the grace of God, we are hopelessly enslaved to sin that we can experience true freedom.

Jesus recognizes our current condition and has made provision for us.

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 (NKJV) 

It is only when we stop pretending that we can overcome sin by trying harder that we can begin to more fully appreciate God’s unconditional love and how much mercy he extends to us. It is only then that we realize that Jesus never had any illusions about our purity and holiness. Nevertheless he died for us. He knew that without him we are hopeless failures condemned to death for our sin. But he loved us anyway, and still does, even when we mess up. 

Christ’s death and resurrection stripped sin of its power to rule us because it also removed the Law’s power to condemn us. 

Jesus said that we who put our faith in him will never, ever be condemned.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NKJV)

This is a highly significant statement when we understand that all judgment has been committed to Jesus (John 5:22). If he, the Judge, says we will never be condemned, then it must be true.

This means that no matter what a born-again believer may think, say, or do, he will never be condemned.

Does that seem too good to be true? It surely does, and that is why so many refuse to believe it and retreat back into legalism.

Paul agreed with Jesus completely when he wrote the following.  

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:1–2 (NASB95)

And here we are back again at Romans 8:2, but this time we are well on our way to gaining a better understanding of what it means. Notice that I quoted from the NASB in this case because it does not add the qualifying phrase that is not present in the earliest Greek New Testament manuscripts. Apparently some manuscript copyest did not believe God would possibly give us such a “get out of jail free” promise; so, he added the qualifier – “for those who walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.” By adding the qualifier, Paul’s statement disagrees with Jesus’ words in John 5:24, doesn’t it? Jesus added no qualifier. What kind of freedom can we have if it depends on how well we obey God? That qualifier places right back under the Law.

Now, no doubt some of you are thinking, if we are free from condemnation no matter what, will that not encourage people to sin? That is what naysayers accused Paul of saying.

And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned. Romans 3:8 (NLT)

But just the opposite is true. 

By setting us free from the power of condemnation, Christ set us free from the power of sin, too. This is because sin gains much of its power through condemnation.

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56–57 (NKJV)

By condemning us, the Law keeps our focus on ourselves and our inability. Once its power to condemn is removed, we are able to focus on the God who loves us beyond comprehension. This is a source of real freedom.

We can use this freedom selfishly to continue in sin, but that has tremendously negative consequences.

God will not condemn us, but he will correct us as necessary. He will not condemn us, but the negative consequences of sin will still come our way. God will not be mocked. We will reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7).

King David was a wonderful example. He committed sins deserving death – adultery and murder, but God mercifully spared his life. He did not condemn him; nevertheless, David, his family, and the nation suffered greatly from the consequences of his sin.

Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ” 13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” 2 Samuel 12:10–14 (NKJV)

Like David, those who are born again can choose to selfishly pursue sin, but it will not turn out well. It will not produce joy and peace. That being the case, we have no real incentive to continue in sin any longer. However, the opposite is also true. We are now free to serve God joyfully from the heart, knowing that he will never condemn our sins and mistakes. Instead he promises to reward us. Amazing!

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NASB95)

Our freedom allows us to choose to serve God without the threat of condemnation for non-compliance lurking in the shadows. 

Because the Spirit indwells us, we are now inwardly motivated to serve God and honor him because we love him and appreciate the tremendous mercy he has shown to us.

To choose to willingly love and serve him is a natural and supernatural response to God’s love.

Why would we not serve such an amazingly gracious and loving person? The words of the apostle John ring true.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3 (NKJV)

Rather than condemning us for our less than stellar obedience, these words describe a new reality. When we are loved by God and love him back, obeying him is no burden at all.

Obedience may not always be “fun,” but deep down it is a joy. What a glorious thing when God’s people serve him out of gratitude rather than mere obligation. What a life giving testimony it is to those who do not yet know him. How beautiful it is when we live under grace in the power of the law of the Spirit of life!

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Legalism and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

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treeThe fall of mankind is traced back to the fateful day when Eve, accompanied by Adam, ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in defiance of God’s command. The serpent cleverly seduced them into partaking of that which God said would kill them by combining a lie with a half-truth. The lie was that there would be no negative consequences from disobeying God’s command. They would not die. The half-truth was that they would become like God by knowing good and evil. They indeed gained that forbidden knowledge, but they did not become like God.

Only God, the Righteous One and Source of All Life, can know good and evil without dying. 

This raises an interesting question. What killed them, their disobedience or partaking of that forbidden knowledge? Or are those two things one and the same? Whatever the case, possessing such knowledge was deadly and still is.

Today many still try to be like God by drinking from the poisonous well of legalism. 

Legalism is based on our having the knowledge of what is good and right as opposed to what is evil and wrong. The Law of God with its ten commandments give us such knowledge. Any time we try to live by such a code of conduct, it ends up destroying us because we are unable to do it.

The law of God always kills its would be practitioners.

We learn from the law God’s standards of righteousness and that we are sinners who desperately need a Savior.

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 (NKJV)

The law effectively imprisons those who try to practice it until we are released by placing our faith in the finished work of Christ.

But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:22–25 (NKJV)

Once we find forgiveness and justification in Christ, we are no longer under that which condemns and kills us. We are released to live by a “new and living way,” (Hebrews 10:20) in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Romans 7:4–6 (NKJV)

Experiential righteousness comes from being in relationship with Christ, not in keeping the Law. The Law condemns us, but Christ inspires and empowers us. Through Christ, the Holy Spirit writes God’s law upon our hearts causing us to will and do that which pleases God and reveals his love to the world. 

The first step in gaining experiential freedom from the killing power of the Law is to believe in Jesus and his finished work.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:1–2 (NASB95)

Once we confess him as our Lord, we begin a discipleship journey during which the Holy Spirit works inside us to transform us into the image of Christ as we learn to hear his voice and obey his promptings.

The second step is to believe what Paul and Jesus taught: we are no longer condemned, even when we sin.

Condemnation, strangely enough, is what empowers sin in our lives.

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56–57 (NKJV)

When we sin, it is altogether appropriate for us to regret it and repent, but it produces death inside us and actually makes sin stronger in our lives if we sink into the mire of feeling condemned. Jesus happily informed us that those of us who believe him will never be condemned, but have passed from death to life. 

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NKJV)

He is the one to whom has been given the authority and responsibility to judge; so, if he tells us that we will not come under judgment, we are assured that it is true. 

The trouble is that we have been preconditioned by the Law and our own nature to want to be good in our own right, rather than simply accepting that such is impossible. Our right standing with God, from start to finish, is based on our being given Christ’s right standing. We are “in” him and benefit from all that he earned by living in complete obedience to his Father.

We have absolutely no righteousness of our own. It all comes from Christ.

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Philippians 3:7–9 (NKJV) 

Every single time we try to go back to some form of legalistic striving to somehow measure up in God’s eyes, it is as if we take another bite from the forbidden tree.

Legalism is a deadly transgression. Paul wrote that by trying to live that way we estrange ourselves from the grace of God.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:1–6 (NKJV)

Therefore, let us firmly resist every legalistic encroachment upon the gospel of grace and resist the inner impulse to measure ourselves by some standard of righteousness. We are not supposed to look at ourselves at all, but must keep our lives on the prize, our Lord Jesus, the only Righteous One.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13–14 (NKJV)
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Part 5 – A New Covenant Understanding of the Holy Land

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I hope to demonstrate in this article that the New Covenant forever changed how we should view the Jews and the land occupied by Israel.

There is nothing quite so humiliating and infuriating as being deceived by a con man. The devil is a master liar who has been deceiving mankind for a long time. He is so good at what he does that he has even been able to persuade many Bible believers into accepting and promoting anti-biblical principles and teachings. This article will attempt to show that such has been the case when it comes to claiming that the modern nation of Israel is located on what should still be identified as the “Holy Land” and to believing that the Jews still retain the status as “God’s chosen people.”

It is important for us first to make a couple of important distinctions.

There is a huge difference between Old Testament Judaism and modern

Talmudic Judaism, which derives largely from ancient Babylon.

In addition, there is firm distinction between modern Judaism and what is called Zionism. 

Talmudic Judaism is quite different from what the Jews practiced during the time of Moses for example. Suffice it to say at this point that the Talmud contains occult and anti-biblical teachings.

The god of the Talmud is not God the Father of Christians. Jesus said that we cannot deny the Son and still claim the Father.

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:23 (NASB95)

Any person, group, or religious doctrine that denies that Jesus is the Messiah is by definition antichrist. Any nation that persecutes Christians is being motivated by the antichrist spirit.

I will leave it to you to do your own research into Talmudic Judaism. Here is a link to some questions I posed to Perplexity AI about the matter.

The political movement called Zionism began in 1897 when when Theodor Herzl convened the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. Continuing persecution of the Jews in Europe led to the idea of creating a Jewish homeland where they could dwell in relative peace. Perplexity AI put together the following summary.

Theodor Herzl had a profound influence on later Zionist leaders by laying the ideological and organizational foundation for the Zionist movement. He transformed Zionism from a scattered set of ideas and local initiatives into a political movement with a clear goal: establishing a Jewish state. Herzl’s vision and actions provided a unifying framework and a diplomatic strategy that later leaders would build upon.

Key Influences on Later Leaders

    • Herzl’s publication of Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State) laid out the political rationale and vision of a Jewish homeland, inspiring subsequent Zionist leaders to pursue statehood as a realistic goal rather than a mere aspiration. 

    • By convening the First Zionist Congress in 1897, Herzl created the World Zionist Organization, establishing a structured political entity that later leaders used to mobilize Jewish communities worldwide and coordinate efforts toward state-building.

    • Herzl’s diplomatic initiatives, though not immediately successful, set a precedent for Zionist leaders to engage with global powers to gain political and territorial support for Jewish statehood.

    • His emphasis on the necessity of Jewish immigration and settlement in Palestine became a central strategy for later Zionist pioneers and leaders.

    • Herzl’s inclusive vision of a democratic and pluralistic Jewish state shaped the political culture and aspirations of the Zionist movement, influencing leaders such as Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion.

    • He instilled a sense of Jewish national identity and collective responsibility that helped overcome divisions within the Jewish diaspora, uniting different factions under the goal of statehood.

Herzl is often referred to as the “spiritual father of the Jewish State” because his vision and leadership inspired the political, diplomatic, and practical efforts of subsequent generations, ultimately culminating in the founding of Israel in 1948. His ability to combine political activism, visionary writing, and diplomacy provided a blueprint for Zionist leadership that endured long after his death in 1904.

Initially Western nations, such as the USA, were lukewarm toward the proposal. “Coincidentally” Cyrus Scofield, a proven fraud who abandoned his first wife and children and later claimed to have a PhD, but did not, developed and published what is called the Scofield Reference Bible about this time.

In it he proposed and taught an entirely new way of interpreting end-time scriptures. He and John Darby taught that God worked with mankind on the basis of “dispensations” rather than covenants. He also taught that the nation of Israel is still the focus of God’s kingdom activity on the earth, the church being a sort of “plan B”. I have written several articles about this serious error, which can be accessed through the following link.

By syncretistically blending the Old Covenant with the New, Scofield created a false gospel (Galatians 1:7) that has convinced multitudes of well-meaning Christians to unconditionally support national Israel.

The thinking is that for Jesus to return, Israel must once again possess the land promised to Abraham. The current residents are compared to the ancient Canaanites and must be driven out and even at times annihilated, even though many of those residents have been there for centuries and are believers in Christ.

We have been taught that any refusal to support Israel will bring God’s curse upon us. God did promise Abraham that those who blessed him would be blessed (Genesis 12:3), and those who cursed him would be cursed. This blessing must have been passed from Abraham to Isaac because we see Isaac pronouncing the same blessing upon Jacob in Genesis 27:29. These men experienced God’s blessing and protection under the covenant God established with Abraham, through which all the nations of the earth would be blessed. (Genesis 12:3) We know now that this promise was fulfilled perfectly by the coming of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who died for our sins and rose again as the glorious Lord of lords. 

This same Jesus delivered us from the curse of the Law and procured for us the blessing God promised to Abraham.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13–14 (NASB95)

Consequently, the idea that our relationship to national Israel determines whether we are blessed or cursed is an unfounded and harmful idea which denies what Christ accomplished on our behalf.

Everything in the Old Covenant pointed toward Christ. Once our Lord fulfilled the Old Covenant promises, patterns, and symbols, they were no longer of any use and have been set aside or rendered obsolete..

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:13 (NASB95)

When we retain Old Covenant symbols and practices and incorporate them into New Covenant practice, we are guilty of syncretism and falsifying the gospel.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 “But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. Luke 5:37–38 (NASB95)

Paul warned against such syncretism which he discovered existed in the church located in Galatia.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. Galatians 4:9–11 (NASB95)

The New Covenant has nothing whatsoever to do with maintaining elements of the Old Covenant.

Today if we become enamored with facets of Old Covenant Judaism and begin to celebrate and observe feast days, sabbaths, and dietary laws as a means of attaining to a deeper spirituality,  it means we have fallen from relying upon grace, replacing faith with obsolete religious observances.

And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:3–4 (NASB95)

Likewise, just as Christ fulfilled the Law, Israel’s purpose was fulfilled when Christ arrived on the earth.

God used that nation to preserve his promises and the scriptures and to provide a human pedigree for the Messiah.

who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9:4–5 (NASB95)

Once the Messiah appeared, Israel’s role, as was John the Baptist’s, was to give the preeminence to Jesus and recede from view. (John 3:30)

God removed John through his execution at Herod’s hands. The nation of Israel proved to be very recalcitrant, however. Israel’s leaders resisted, rejected, and finally murdered their long awaited Messiah and afterward persecuted the fledgling church.

Knowing this would happen, Jesus prophesied the action God the Father would take in coming days.

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. 44 “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. Matthew 21:43–45 (NASB95)

The Lord was extremely patient with the Israelites leading up to this final rebellion against Christ’s rule because his plan was to use this disobedient people to provide his Messiah King to save the world and reestablish his authority upon the earth.

After their final act of defiance against God, his patience ended, Israel’s purpose having been fulfilled.

Israel’s arrogant rejection and murder of their Messiah, followed by the martyrdom of Stephen, brought to a climax that nation’s long history of rebelliousness and idolatry, which extended all the way back to Mt. Sinai. The murder of Stephen was a prophetic marker provided by Daniel, which signified that Israel’s place in salvation history had come to a close. The final working out of that judgment was fulfilled years later when the Roman army sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the glorious old covenant temple in 70 AD, ending the sacrificial system.

Once the Lamb of God shed his blood, animal sacrifices became an abomination.

Now God’s true worshipers, those who come to God through faith in Jesus, worship in Spirit and truth in God’s temple, the body of Christ, the church. (John 4:24)

When the old covenant ended, everything connected to it became obsolete and faded away.

  • The Jews who were previously called “God’s chosen people” were a type of that which was to be revealed. God’s “elect” from every tribe and kindred from all over the earth are now understood to be God’s chosen people. The old covenant Israelites who trusted God by faith are included in this group. There is only one “chosen people,” those God foreknew and drew to Christ from before the foundation of the world, the church, the “one new man”, the body of Christ. (Ephesians 1:4) Some denigrate this truth by labeling it “replacement theology.” It is New Testament theology, a fulfillment of what was prefigured in the Old Testament. 
  • The new birth is the defining “marker” by which a person gains entrance into God’s kingdom. Physical lineage and outward circumcision were replaced by the inner work of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 6:15-16)
  • The significance of Jewish religion, including the sacrificial system, adherence to the Law of Moses, the keeping of feasts and the Sabbath, the dietary laws, and other traditions came to a close. (Hebrews 8:13) These things still have cultural significance to modern Jewish people, but we now can only come to God through Jesus. (John 14:6) We now worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), not using old covenant traditions. If Gentile Christians adopt Jewish traditions in a vain attempt to pursue a deeper way of relating to God, it reveals a dreadful lack of understanding of the New Covenant and opens the door to more errors.
  • In addition, the old covenant “Holy Land”, as it is often called, has been superseded by a much larger and more inclusive “promised land” that swallows up that small area of land in the Near East. 

Holy means set apart. God set apart Canaan as a land of promise to Abraham and his descendants. That promise was fulfilled during the days of Joshua and the reigns of Kings David and Solomon. It was the land upon which Jesus’ feet trod and where he was crucified, and God may yet accomplish some significant things there, but it is not set apart to God’s people (the Israel of God) any longer.

The land promised to Abraham has been replaced in the New Covenant by God’s promise of new earth. (Revelation 21:1, 2 Peter 3:13)

Jesus told us that those who follow him will inherit the entire earth (Matthew 5:5). Paul corroborated this interpretation of the Greek word “ge” as pertaining to the whole world and not just the land promised to Abraham. 

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world [cosmos] was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13 (NASB95)

God will be glorified in Christ and his church through all eternity, not in the nation of Israel. We will occupy a new heaven and earth, not the Old Covenant Canaan land.

Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:21 (NLT) 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:1–2 (NASB95)

Only those descendants of Abraham who acknowledge that Christ is Lord will be included in what is called the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)

When all the elect Jews and Gentiles are finally born again and become part of the church, the “one new man” in Christ, the end will come and “all Israel” (the true Israel of God) will have been saved. (Romans 11:26)

If that includes a large number of biologically Jewish people coming to Christ at the very end, I am all for it. Nevertheless, God told us that only a remnant will be saved. (Romans 9:29) Today the true born-again Israel of God is being assembled from every nation under heaven.

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:9–10 (NASB95) 
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What Does It Mean to Be “Grafted” into the Olive Tree?

grafted

A commonly misunderstood concept associated with the New Covenant is that of Gentiles being grafted into the olive tree mentioned by Paul in Romans 11.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Romans 11:17–21 (NASB95)

Here are five points I will make regarding this passage.

  1. The only way to be attached to the olive tree is by faith.
  2. The “natural” branches, meaning the “natural” or biological descendants of Abraham, were broken off for failing to accept or believe in Jesus the Messiah.
  3. Branches from a “wild olive tree,” meaning the Gentiles, are grafted into the same tree through believing the gospel. Both the natural branches and the wild branches can only connect to the tree through faith.
  4. No one can graft themselves into the tree. God must do this for us.
  5. The purpose of this illustration is to emphasize that faith in our Lord Jesus is the only means by which anyone can be saved and become part of God’s kingdom or the true Israel, which is represented by the olive tree.

This illustration hearkens back to one of Daniel’s visions (Daniel 4) and a parable of Jesus (Mark 4:30-33) in which the kingdom of God is represented by a tree.

In God’s new covenant kingdom, it makes no difference whether one is a Jew or Gentile. All that matters is whether a person is part of the tree through believing the gospel. 

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6 (NASB95)

Jesus used another illustration to describe how we draw our life from being part of the vine, which clearly refers to our becoming one with him through the new birth.

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. John 15:1–6 (NASB95)

The new birth is the only way a person can be joined to the vine, become part of the body of Christ and the kingdom of God, and be reckoned to be “in Christ.”

There is simply no other way.

Jesus told Nicodemus, a Jew and a Pharisee, that anyone who wishes to become his disciple must be born again. 

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:3–6 (NASB95) 

Here Jesus contrasted natural birth to the new birth carried out by the Spirit of God.

Every person who comes into the world does so through a natural birth process, which does not and cannot qualify anyone for the kingdom of God. This is true for both Jews and the Gentiles.

To this Jewish spiritual leader, who was regarded by most Jews to be the epitome of spirituality, our Lord said that, unless he experienced the new birth, he would have no part of God’s kingdom. What a shock this must have been to one who thought being a physical descendant of Abraham, a Jew, qualified him for the kingdom of heaven!

John the Baptist preached a similar message.

Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Matthew 3:8–10 (NASB95)

Failure to properly respond to the Messiah who was now on hand would result in their being “cut off” from the kingdom of God. This is what Moses had warned Israel centuries before.

“Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. 23 ‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’  Acts 3:22–23 (NASB95)

The new birth takes place when a person believes the gospel. It is what joins us with the Lord.

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 1 Corinthians 12:13–14 (NKJV)

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)

Being “in Christ” is a supernatural consequence of the new birth. This is the only way to be “grafted” into the olive tree or become part of the vine.

In the vine illustration, we see an obvious parallel to Paul’s analogy of the olive tree. In both cases we see that existing branches that do not “abide” in or are a part of Christ by faith are removed. These branches would be considered waste and burned, which is a reference to the last judgment. 

The natural offspring of Abraham, meaning biological Israelites, who do not have faith in Jesus, are removed from the vine or olive tree. This can only mean that something about the olive tree changed. Before Christ, under the Old Covenant of circumcision, natural birth made you a part of the tree. Now under the New Covenant, everything is different. Now it is a spiritual circumcision, which is part of the new birth process, that qualifies one for the kingdom of God. This is something that can be experienced by both males and females.

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.  Romans 2:28–29 (NASB95)

The New Covenant changed the definition of what it means to be a Jew. It is no longer reckoned by physical descent or externals. It is entirely spiritual based on the new birth.

Being on the outside and cut off from the life in the tree or the vine (Jesus), the rejected faithless branches wither and perish and await burning. Unless faithless Jews repent and believe the gospel, they will be lost. This is also true for any non-Israelite who never had any part of the vine to begin with and were always on the outside looking in.

The New Covenant erases the distinction between Jew and Gentile. Anyone without Christ will perish at the last judgment.

The big difference between the Jews and Gentiles is that God gave to the Jews the advantage of being familiar with the Messianic promises, which should assist their coming to faith in the gospel and Jesus, who fulfilled those promises.

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. Romans 3:1–2 (NASB95)

The Jews knew that God promised to send a Messiah. In fact, in Jesus’ day, the air of expectancy was at a fever pitch. The problem was that, despite having this advantage, most Jewish people rejected their Messiah when he showed up, thus bringing on themselves a stricter judgment. The more we know, the greater our responsibility is and the stricter our judgment. (Luke 12:48, Matthew 11:23-24)

The Jews (“his own” people) did not receive him on a large scale; however, a remnant did and still does.

He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:11–13 (NASB95)

The remnant of Jews who believe the gospel and declare allegiance to Christ are born of God and enter God’s kingdom, just as are believing Gentiles.

I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” 4 But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; Romans 11:1–7 (NASB95)

There has always been a remnant or small group of people out of the whole of humanity who have believed in God and related to him on that basis. Jesus made it clear that the difference between the remnant and the rest is a matter of God’s choice. Like it or not, and many do not, that is the way it is.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16 (NKJV)

And here we are back at the illustration of the vine and branches! We cannot be part of the vine outside of God’s election and the new birth. How humbling for those of us who insist on somehow trying to qualify ourselves through being good enough or smart enough!

...(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Romans 9:11–16 (NKJV)

Being a natural child of Abraham has never qualified anyone to be a part of God’s elect or kingdom. It has always been a matter of supernatural qualification. 

Therefore, it is incorrect to think that being a natural descendant of Abraham makes a person somehow “special” in God’s kingdom. Such thinking is a form of racism and a residue from the Old Covenant. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

The old covenant scriptures all pointed to Christ, the only descendant or “seed” of Abraham who is truly special and different.

Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:27 (NASB95)

Becoming one with Christ through faith and the new birth qualifies both Jew and Gentile to inherit the promises and blessings of Abraham.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13–14 (NASB95)

 

Link to all the articles in this series.
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Introduction to the New Covenant

spirit

The New Covenant is more amazing and wonderful than most dare to imagine. It is so completely different from the Old Covenant of Law given to Moses that we usually find it difficult to grasp. As a result, we sometimes are tempted to mix in concepts taken from the Old Covenant with which we may be more comfortable or familiar, which is called syncretism. When we do this we create an unbiblical hybrid that contradicts and falsifies the gospel and negates what God provided for us in Christ.

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! Galatians 1:6–8 (NASB95)

Our failure to grasp and believe what the Bible says about the nature and beauty of the amazing New Covenant keeps many of us in bondage to some form of legalism.

My hope is that this series of teachings will awaken us to the wonder and glory of who Christ is and what he accomplished on our behalf.

A Brief Review of the Covenants

A covenant is a formal promise of loyalty between a sovereign and his people or between equals.

  • Some covenants are unilateral or unconditional, the performance of which rests entirely upon the one making the covenant. God made this sort of covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15.
  • Conditional covenants require both parties to keep the conditions of the covenant. These can be between two equals, such as in marriage, or between unequals, such as between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18). These are called bilateral covenants. Multilateral conditional covenants, such as between a king and his people, are between an individual and a group. An example of this kind of covenant was when God instituted the Law at Mt. Sinai. It is also possible to have two groups of people pledge covenant loyalty to one another, as existed between the Israelites and Gibeonites (Joshua 9).

Biblical covenants are often sealed with blood and have some sort of sign or token attached to them. Blood was shed in the covenant God made with Abraham and circumcision was the token or sign. Jonathan gave David his robe, weapons, and armor as a token of their pledge of mutual allegiance. In marriage the giving of rings is a token or sign of the covenant vow to remain faithful until death. Blood was shed at the institution of the New Covenant. Water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are its tokens.

God has always related to his creatures via covenants from Genesis through the New Covenant.

This is in stark contrasts to the idea of God’s instituting various “dispensations” of grace throughout human history. All of the covenants are Christ-centered; whereas, Dispensationalism tends to be Israel-centered. When our Lord Jesus appeared as Savior and Lord, Israel’s role as preserver of the scriptures and provider of the biological pedigree for the Messiah came to an end. The focus from this time forward is Jesus. Just as John the Baptist understood that he must decrease in order for Jesus to have the ascendancy (John 3:30), Israel was meant to step back from the spotlight and not move to the front and center as Dispensationalists claim.

The main covenants that relate to the gospel are as follows: Edenic, Abrahamic, Mosaic – the Law, Davidic, and the New Covenant. Each of these covenants points to Christ, who is the focus and theme of the entire Bible.

Following Christ’s death and resurrection, two disciples, who did not understand the significance of what had just taken place, had arrived at the false conclusion that their messianic hopes had been dashed at the crucifixion. Seeing their despondency, Jesus appeared in a disguised form and joined them on their journey to Emmaus. He entered into conversation with them, which gave him the opportunity to correct their wrong interpretation of things.

And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:25–27 (NASB95)

Unless we understand the foundational truth that everything in the Bible points to Christ, we can lose ourselves in the weeds and fail to properly understand the covenants.

The following chart refers to the covenants that most clearly pertain to the gospel.

Covenant Promise OT Fulfillment NT Fulfillment Personal or Future Fulfillment

Edenic

Unilateral or Unconditional. Here God promised to send a savior, Jesus.

(Spoken to the serpent in the garden)

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” Genesis 3:15 (NASB95)

 None

Jesus’ death upon the cross fulfilled the promise that Satan would bruise our Lord’s heel. His resurrection crushed Satan’s head.

In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.  Colossians 2:15 (NLT)

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:20 (NASB95)

Abrahamic – One Seed

Bilateral and Conditional on Abraham’s obedience.

Jesus was the promised “seed” who became a blessing to the entire world.

“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22:18 (NASB95)

 Isaac and all following children

Jesus –

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. Galatians 3:16 (NASB95)

The gospel allows us to become partakers of that blessing…

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13–14 (NASB95)

Abrahamic -Descendants

Unilateral and Unconditional .

This shows how important it is for us to respond in faith to God’s unconditional promises. Such faith please God and benefits us. We partner with God as we become part of the means whereby he accomplishes his desired end.

And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.  Genesis 15:5–6 (NASB95)

Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE. Hebrews 11:12 (NASB95)

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:26–29 (NASB95)

Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3 (NASB95)

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 1 Corinthians 15:41–42 (NASB95)

Abrahamic -Land

Unilateral and Unconditional – Genesis 15

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: Genesis 15:18 (NASB95)

Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. 1 Kings 4:21 (NASB95)

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13 (NASB95)

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 (NASB95)

Davidic

Bilateral and Conditional upon the obedience of the descendant.

Jesus was the only son of David who fulfilled the covenant conditions.

When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:12–13 (NASB95)

Solomon – unfaithful to the Lord…

And now the LORD has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 1 Kings 8:20 (NLT)

Jesus – fulfilled covenant obligations…

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. Luke 1:31–33 (NASB95)

And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:16 (NASB95)

Mosaic

Multilateral and Conditional upon obedience of Israel.

Only Jesus was able to keep the Law. He both fulfilled its conditions and paid the penalty for our non-performance.

But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Galatians 3:22–23 (NASB95)

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; Hebrews 8:7–8 (NASB95)

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, Philippians 2:8–9 (NASB95)

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:2–4 (NASB95)

New

Bilateral between the Father and Son and Conditional upon obedience of Jesus.

For us it is unilateral or unconditional since Christ fulfilled its conditions for us.

But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. Jeremiah 31:33–34 (NASB95)

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:13 (NASB95)

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. Hebrews 8:6 (NASB95)

Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4 (NASB95)

Some biblical covenants have attached blessings and curses. The blessings accompany keeping the stipulations of the covenant, and curses (judgments) fall on those who violate it. The covenant of Law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai required the Israelites to keep God’s commandments in order to obtain and maintain his blessings, favor, and protection. Violating those laws brings judgment or curses upon the people.

Christ Fulfilled the Law and Removed Us from Its Jurisdiction

Joshua told the Israelites that they would be unable to keep the Law (Joshua 24:19). This is because it is impossible for any human to measure up to God’s standard of righteousness.

as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; Romans 3:10 (NASB95)

Later Paul the apostle informed us that the Law was never meant to gain or maintain for us a right relationship with God. Its purpose was to point out our shortcomings and sin.

God’s purpose for the Law was to make us realize how desperately we need a Savior.

Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. Galatians 3:21–24 (NASB95)

The reason we cannot keep the Law is because we are fatally flawed through sin inherited from Adam and practiced by us. Therefore, God had to introduce a totally different way to be reconciled to him.

For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; Hebrews 8:8 (NASB95)

The prophet Jeremiah promised that God would introduce a new covenant of an altogether different kind.

"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32  not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. 33  "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34  "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NASB)

The only possible way for God to introduce such a new way of relating to his people was for the demands of the Law to be fulfilled and the punishment for its violation to be paid. This is exactly what Jesus did for us. He lived in perfect obedience to his Father in heaven and afterward died for our sins.

Therefore, Jesus completely fulfilled the Law of the Old Covenant in order to make it possible for the establishment of a new way to relate to God.

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. Hebrews 10:20 (NLT)

The law of Moses illustrated God’s holiness to Israel, but its purpose was to lead us to Christ.

Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:24–25 (NASB95)

Once it accomplishes that role, its usefulness and importance to believers in Jesus fades away since Christ has already fulfilled the Law’s purpose or end.

For Christ has already accomplished the purpose [Greek: telos = fulfillment or end goal] for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:4 (NLT)

Therefore, not only did Christ fulfill the Law, but he also abolished its jurisdiction over God’s born-again children, too.

Since its purpose was to point to Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, who offered himself to God on our behalf, once Jesus came, died, and rose again, the Law had to recede in importance to the extent that God abolished the temple and its sacrifices. He also abolished its power to condemn us for our sins after we are justified by faith in our Lord Jesus.

This is the only covenant that was rendered obsolete after its fulfillment.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Ephesians 2:14–15 (NLT)

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:13 (NASB95)
 
The New Covenant Fulfills All Previous Covenants

Although the New Covenant fulfills and leaves behind the Old Covenant of Law, it simply fulfills the earlier covenants made in the Garden of Eden, to Abraham, and to King David.

In each of these prior covenants, God promised to send a Savior who would crush the power of Satan, bless the entire earth, and rule forever on God’s throne.

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” Genesis 3:15 (NASB95)

“It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ 26 “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” Acts 3:25–26 (NASB95)

“He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:13 (NASB95)

All these covenants pointed to Jesus who is both Savior and Lord.

Therefore, the New Covenant is the fulfillment of every covenant that came before, including the covenant of Law given to Moses.

The Uniqueness of the New Covenant

One thing that makes the New Covenant so dramatically different is that it is a bilateral covenant between God and Jesus, in which we are included because we are “in” Christ.

We died with our Lord on the cross as a just payment for our sins, and we rose with him from the dead to cross over into life and God’s kingdom. All the blessings attached to obeying God’s Law are ours in Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3 (NASB95)

Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 (NASB95)

The keeping of the covenant provisions of the Law fell upon our Lord because we could not possibly keep them ourselves. In addition, Jesus paid the penalty for our covenant violations by dying in our place. He thereby put us into a right relationship with God the Father. On top of that, he has sent his Holy Spirit to indwell and live God’s life in and through us. He promised that one day he will raise us from the dead at which time we will receive brand new glorified bodies! The New Covenant is a work of grace from start to finish!

Therefore, the New Covenant, from our perspective, is a unilateral covenant in which God takes sole responsibility for our salvation!

Sadly, many cannot or will not believe that the New Covenant can possibly be so wonderful. Surely Jesus did not do it all for us! Surely our performance must have something critical to do with it! We do participate in the process from start to finish, but when it is all said and done, God alone will receive the glory.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36 (NASB95)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB95)

At the last judgment, it will be apparent that we could not possibly save ourselves. If we now believe otherwise, it means the Law has not completed its work in our lives. We have not yet understood how hopelessly lost we are without Christ!

Those of us who still labor under the deception that we can somehow save ourselves will adopt or add some form of legalism to the gospel, thus making it no gospel at all.

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:6–7 (NASB95)

I have heard well-meaning people teach that we who believe in Christ are still under the Law of Moses. They sometimes use Deuteronomy Chapter 11 as their text, explaining that we earn either a blessing or a curse, depending on our obedience to God’s commandments. The gospel is not present in that message. It fails because it does not recognize that blessings come to us only through Christ, not because of our own performance. It is sad to see how readily people believe this false gospel of works.

The Good News is that Jesus took upon himself the condemnation and punishment that our sin deserved. He substituted for us by taking the brunt of God’s just wrath against our sin; even though he was completely innocent, having been perfectly obedient to his heavenly Father all the way to the cross.

When Jesus died, he removed condemnation once and for all from all those who would afterward put their faith and allegiance in him.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB)

By taking our punishment, Jesus also removed the Law’s power to rule us, which it does through condemnation.

The Law’s power comes from its ability to identify and condemn us for our sin.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (NASB)

Through Christ the Law lost its power to condemn and rule us. By taking away our condemnation,  Jesus set the stage for us to live in a radical new way – in the freedom and power of the Spirit.

But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. Romans 7:6 (NASB95)

This is done by believing the truth (the Word of God), denying ourselves (repenting from directing our own lives), and walking in the Spirit (actively cooperating with the Spirit of God, who lives in and through us). Paul summarized this life in the following verses.

"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:19-20 (NASB)
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The Mystery of Christ and the New Covenant

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A biblical mystery is something God has hidden that can only be seen or understood by revelation from the Holy Spirit.

The New Covenant is a mystery, a profound one, regarding our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is not some sort of new religion built upon a Jewish foundation, but is a radically “new and living way”  to relate to God (Hebrews 10:20). Rather than focusing on rules, rituals, or other externals usually associated with religious observance, the New Covenant is centered on a person, the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ.

In fact, in its essence, Jesus is the new covenant.

...I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison. 8 “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images. 9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.” Isaiah 42:6–9 (NASB95)

Faith in what he accomplished for us as God’s crucified Lamb and allegiance to him as the risen Lord of lords who will one day return to judge the world as the glorious Son of Man allows us to participate in this glorious covenant.

...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9–10 (NASB95)

From the beginning, God’s plan was for us to draw our life and all that we need from him. He wants us to pursue him because we value him above all. He delights in hiding himself and his truth so that we must seek him in order to properly know him. 

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2 (NASB95)

At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 “Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. Matthew 11:25–26 (NASB95)

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB95)

Paul expressed how important it is for us to avidly pursue the one who is unknowable without divine assistance.

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, Philippians 3:7–8 (NASB95)

Legalism, on the other hand, focuses on externals such as groups, rites, and rules that can be understood with the human mind and practiced with human effort.

Legalism is a logical derivation; whereas, the New Covenant requires revelation of that which is otherwise hidden in Christ.

The human mind always gravitates toward legalism because we are up to the task of understanding it. The wise and intelligent are usually the most gifted in explaining it. Those wanting some sense of stability and permanence gravitate toward it. But it never satisfies.

The spirit of man, the deepest part of our being, is drawn toward the revelation of Christ in all his glorious majesty and beauty.

Once God opens our hearts and minds to behold the glorious new covenant truth about Christ, we can do our best to explain it to others, but we always fall short since God will not allow anyone to come to him unless he personally draws us and reveals Christ to us.

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. John 6:44–45 (NASB95)

On the one hand this can be quite frustrating to us, but on the other hand it is very freeing. It means we are not personally responsible for the salvation of others. We share the message of the gospel, but only God can do the internal work that brings us to Christ.

God gave the apostle Paul the responsibility to “steward” the mystery of Christ which was revealed to him in a special way. 

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, Ephesians 3:1–4 (NASB95)

The other apostles, who walked and talked with Jesus for three years, experienced the mystery of Christ first hand, as related by John.

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 1 John 1:1–4 (NASB95)

Paul, on the other hand, knew Christ by revelation only, just as we must. He was privileged to have our Lord appear and speak to him audibly, but his insight into the mystery of Christ came by revelation from the Spirit of God.

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:11–12 (NASB95)

Everyone who receives New Covenant revelation must be personally taught by God.

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. John 6:44–45 (NASB95)

As someone once said, God has no grandchildren. We do not get into God’s kingdom by being the child of another believer. We must be personally born again by the operation of God’s Spirit.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12–13 (NASB95)

After we are born again, we begin a continuing journey of getting to know him better.

This also requires that we rely upon the Spirit of God. We must continue our faith journey in the same way we begin (Colossians 2:6), with complete reliance upon God to reveal more of himself to us.

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galatians 3:2–3 (NASB95)

Paul wrote the above admonition to the church in Galatia, which fell victim to the legalism of those who were called Judaizers. The Judaizers told the mostly Gentile church in Galatia that to be good Christians they must become good Jews by practicing the rites and rituals of Judaism, most particularly male circumcision. These legalists had the Law on their side, which teaches that one cannot be part of God’s covenant people without being circumcised.

But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” Genesis 17:14 (NASB95)

This was all very easy to understand and quite logical. Circumcision, according to the Law, was a permanent sign of the covenant. Since it was permanent, it must still be in effect. Enough said!

Nevertheless, part of the mystery of the New Covenant is that Christ has completely fulfilled and satisfied the requirements of the Law.

In the New Covenant circumcision still exists, but it is spiritual. The old covenant rite always pointed to something deeper which only became apparent in the new covenant. 

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:8–14 (NASB95) 

The mystery of Christ in the new covenant is that the Law has been fulfilled by Christ so that all of God’s righteousness is now found in him alone.

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Philippians 3:8–9 (NKJV)

The Law can never make anyone righteous because no one can keep it.

The only righteousness that is available is that which is found in Christ, which becomes ours when we put our faith and allegiance in him, something we cannot do unless God opens our eyes to see him for who he is.

Those who still hold to keeping rituals, feasts, dietary laws, and commandments as a way to gain and sustain a right standing with God have yet to have their spiritual eyes opened by God. The only thing that matters now is faith in our Lord Jesus, who has perfectly fulfilled every aspect of the Law on our behalf.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. Galatians 4:9–11 (NASB95)

Anyone who reverts to keeping the Law in some fashion or another has either never been born again or has been deceived by legalism into departing from relating to God through faith and grace.

Those whose eyes have been opened by God to see Christ for who he is are completely satisfied in him and could never return to a barren form of religion.

Nevertheless, Satan seeks to beguile us into turning away from the glorious truth about Christ to embrace man-made religion all over again.

For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:1–10 (NKJV)

The mystery of Christ includes both Jew and Gentile, which was God’s eternal purpose, not some plan B, as taught by misguided Dispensationalists.

By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, Ephesians 3:4–11 (NASB95)

The mystery of Christ is that the church is composed of people from every nation and ethnicity, which has always been God’s plan.

God used the nation of Israel to provide the humanity of the Christ who would save the world. The Lord came from the Jews, but saving the people of world has always been God’s heart. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB95)

Those who still think that the nation of Israel is the focus of God’s plan have yet to understand the New Covenant.

...to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. Colossians 1:27–29 (NASB95)

God’s purpose is to obtain glory through the church, which is the spiritual body of Christ composed of Jews and Gentiles, for all eternity.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21 (NASB95)

Those who think the church will recede into the background so that Israel can reemerge as the “apple of God’s eye” have yet to grasp the glorious mystery of the New Covenant.

...and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:10–11 (NASB95)

May God deliver us from every cunning deception of legalism and open our eyes to the glories of the mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Exploring the Mystery of New Covenant Life

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Life under the New Covenant is a radical and mysterious departure from anything else we may have experienced. It is so wonderfully at odds with life under the Law that most of us find it difficult to grasp or believe. It is mysterious in the biblical sense in that we cannot understand it without revelation from the Holy Spirit. It literally seems to be too good to be true. As a result, many of us never experience its fullness but continue to live as if we are still under the law, vainly trying to earn or maintain a right standing with God through our performance. This always ends poorly. My hope is that what I have written here will help us to gain a greater understanding and experience of all that Christ died to provide for us.

If we were able through extreme dedication, self-denial, and will power to live a life that measures up to God’s standard of righteousness, Christ would not have had to die for our sins.

“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” Galatians 2:21 (NASB95)

But just as the unrighteous steward could not accept that his extreme debt to his master was fully forgiven, we still think we have a chance of finally getting it right, if we just try again a little harder. The longer we stay on the treadmill of self-effort, the more likely it is we will end up depressed, angry, or extremely deceived.

God gave us the Law to deliver us from all forms of self-righteousness by forcing us to finally come to terms with our desperate sinfulness and need for a savior.

Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:21–25 (NASB95)

Even though the Bible plainly teaches we are no longer under the dominion of the law and its power to condemn us, we generally find it very difficult to leave this abusive spouse. We seem to prefer to “security” it offers to the freedom available to us in Christ.

Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. Romans 7:4–6 (NASB95)

We just cannot seem to let go of our need to be able to measure our spiritual standing or progress, which the law seems to provide. We cannot seem to find comfort in being released from the need to measure anything ever again because Christ has perfectly and finally fulfilled the law on our behalf. There is nothing left to do or prove ever again.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4 (NASB95)

The English word “end” is translated from the Greek word “telos,” which means completion or fulfillment. The NLT accurately translates this verse as follows.

For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:4 (NLT)

This leaves nothing for us to do regarding the Law. We have been released from its power to condemn us. But all this does is end the futility of striving to gain God’s favor under the old covenant. How then shall we now live under the new covenant? How do we experience what Paul called living in the “newness of the Spirit?”

Jesus: The Fusion of the Eternal with the Temporal

God is not limited by any created dimension, such as time. However, God assigned us to live in a world fenced in by the dimensions of space and time.

Those who put their faith and allegiance in Christ and experience the new birth experience life in another greater reality – the eternal spiritual realm.

By virtue of our tripartite nature (spirit, soul, and body – 1 Thessalonians 5:23), we are uniquely and amazingly designed to interface with both the material world and the spiritual one.

To God, all things are in the present. His revealed name, given to Moses, is the “I Am.” Jesus, the Second Person of the Godhead, has existed from all eternity as the Logos (John 1:1).

In obedience to his Father’s will, Jesus entered our time-space experience as a human being through a miraculous fusion of the eternal with the temporal inside Mary’s womb called the Incarnation.

He was a true extra-terrestrial, being the only person who came from heaven and is truly God and truly man, the “monogenes” or only begotten Son of God. The truth of the Incarnation has been held fast by the church since its inception and is clearly stated in Scripture.

Jesus understood that his “origin” was and is divine and that he has always existed.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NASB) 

And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. John 8:23 (NASB) 

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57  So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58  Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." John 8:56-58 (NASB)

In Jesus the Messiah, the eternal “I Am” became a human being.

As a human, he was subject to the limitations of time and space. He entered the world as a baby and grew and developed into a man in the ordinary way. The mystery of the Incarnation produced a person who was and is truly human and truly God, thus making it possible for the elevation of humanity beyond our comprehension.

The New Birth and the Mystery of Christ in Us

Jesus had a dual nature. He was truly God and truly man. As a man, he was subject to human weakness, but his core identity was derived from his Abba Father. He lived his human life in agreement with his core identity. He never violated his God-ness by catering to his humanity.

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8  Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9  And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10  being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5:7-10 (NASB)

Jesus was said to learn obedience because he endured temptation as we do without succumbing to it. By living out from his core identity as God’s only begotten son, he triumphed over sin and temptation in every case, all the way to the cross. He showed us how to live.

Before the new birth, our core identity was rooted in Adam. We were weak and enslaved to sin.

...knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, Romans 6:6–8 (NASB95)

When we are born again, our spirits come alive. The Bible says we become a new creation (Galatians 6:15, 2 Corinthians 5:17). We are joined to God in the spirit and become one with him (1 Corinthians 6:17, Galatians 2:20).

God wants us to learn to live out of this new spiritual part of our being and from there derive our identity going forward. This is the mystery and secret of the Christian life – Christ in us, the hope of glory.

For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. Colossians 1:27 (NLT)
Learning to Walk in Step with the Holy Spirit

There was nothing in Jesus that was “out of step” with the Holy Spirit. It was completely “natural” for him to hear his Father’s voice, see what his Father was doing, and follow his Father’s lead without hindrance.

So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. John 8:28 (NASB)

Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. John 5:19 (NASB)

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38 (NASB)

The eternally perfect Logos became an historically perfect human being over time through continued obedience to his Father. 

Our Lord worked out in his time-bound human life that which was eternally true about him on the inside.

He had to make choices along the way to obey his Father, even when it cost him supremely. He learned obedience from the things he suffered as he lived out of his union with his Father.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)

This gives us a key to understand how our own sanctification and spiritual transformation takes place.

We too must undergo the process of learning obedience to God over a lifetime during which the Holy Spirit works to transform our thinking, words, character, and behavior to match what Christ already accomplished for us through his death and resurrection. God puts within each of us a newly recreated spirit that is united with God, whose desire is to please God always.

“Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38 (NASB95)

For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:22–25 (NASB95)

Unfortunately, the residue of what the Bible calls the “flesh” still pulls us toward sin. This creates an internal battleground. By placing us in a world governed by time and space, God requires us to believe and live by faith in his promises, to obey the Holy Spirit, to treasure the fear of the Lord, and to rely on the transforming power of grace.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 (NASB)

Living by grace is a cooperative effort between us and God in which we too learn to live out what is true spiritually on the inside through the new birth. Jesus the Messiah did the hard lifting at Calvary. However, the salvation he won for us must be actively worked out in our personal histories through belief in the truth and cooperation with the indwelling Holy Spirit.

God was not content to merely forgive us. The Spirit is committed to making what is true spiritually and eternally about us become our experience and history.

The only way this is possible is if we believe the truth that God has removed from us every trace of condemnation.

This is a corollary of the believing that Christ perfectly and finally fulfilled the Law on our behalf. Paul taught that when Jesus died on the cross, we died with him.

Since we are dead now, the Law has no more jurisdiction over us and no ability to point out our faults and condemn our failures.

This is why Jesus and Paul both emphasized that we will never ever again be condemned.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB95)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NASB95)

The judge himself assures us that he will never condemn us. That settles it. 

Once the law loses its ability to condemn us, sin loses its power over us.

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56–57 (NKJV)

Because of what Jesus did for us through his death and resurrection and through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are now able to live for God. This is the new covenant mystery of God writing his law on our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33)

When we learn to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit, we will experience the freedom of what Paul called the “law of the spirit of life.”

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:1–2 (NASB95)

This is the outworking of the mystery of new covenant life in the Spirit.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 (NASB)

God has given us the responsibility to live by grace in a dynamic cooperation between us and the Holy Spirit as we steadfastly hold on to the truth of God’s Word.

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Clarifying Some Important New Covenant Concepts

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In order to understand some of the important concepts related to the new covenant, it is necessary to clarify some potentially confusing terms. We sometimes use words and ideas which we assume we understand because they sound familiar, but, when pressed to explain them, we realize that we do not. We sometimes communicate in what some call “Christianese,” which is the use of idiomatic terms that have little or no meaning to those new to church life. An example would be when we speak of being “washed in the blood.” Church people understand that phrase to mean that Jesus’ blood which was shed on the cross cleansed our consciences from the deadly effects of sin.

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22 (NASB95)

To those outside the church community, these words may seem quite odd. Even when we try to avoid “Christianese” terms, people may not understand the meaning of our words, especially theological terms such as the words and phrases that I will cover in this article.

Our understanding of the New Covenant will grow as we gain greater insight into what Paul meant when he used the concepts mentioned in this article to show how Christ’s death and resurrection impacted our lives.

The “old man” – (Greek: palios anthropos)

When God created Adam, he formed his body out of the dirt and imparted the spirit.

Then the LORD God formed man (his body) of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath (Hebrew: breath, wind, spirit) of life; and man became a living being (literally: soul). Genesis 2:7 (NASB)

As a result, Adam became a living soul or being. I and many others define the soul as the mind, will, and emotions, what we call the personality. The Greek and Hebrew languages use three distinct words for spirit, soul, and body. In both languages the word for spirit also means breath or wind. Paul acknowledges this tripartite makeup of humans in 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NASB)

The author of the letter to the Hebrews confirms that the spirit and soul are distinct.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95)

God created us in his image. He is a Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and so are we (spirit, soul, and body).

Understanding how salvation affects each part of our being will increase our understanding. Failure to make these distinctions can lead to confusion.

(If you wish to learn more about spirit, soul, and body, I encourage you to read the linked articles.)

Before the Fall, Adam’s spirit, body, and the resultant soul were in complete harmony. Neither sin nor death had entered the world. Sadly, however, Adam’s state of moral innocence was no match for Satan’s temptation to become independent from God by knowing good and evil for themselves instead of simply relying upon the Lord. Satan still lures us away from simple faith and obedience to God.

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV)

When Adam believed the devil’s lie and disobeyed God’s clear command, his spirit became alienated from God, which initiated the death process, just as God warned.

but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:17 (NASB95)

Spiritually he died that very day, just as God said he would; even though it took years for death to finally destroy his body. Ever since every person born into the world has inherited sin and death from Adam. Paul described this dismal situation in the following verses.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— Romans 5:12 (NASB95)

remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12 (NASB)

Death permeated humanity spiritually, physically, and in the personality or soul. In addition, when Adam sinned, the entire creation was negatively affected, which Paul called “slavery to corruption.” (Romans 8:20-21)

This post-fall-of-man combination of a spirit alienated from God and a body programmed to die resulted in a new version of the soul that was at odds with God and in harmony with sin and deception. Instead of being in submission to and in partnership with God, as God intended, we are fully committed to living independently from and in opposition to God.

because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, Romans 8:7 (NASB95)

This fallen death-permeated spirit-soul-body configuration is called the “old man.”

The “old man” we all inherit from Adam at conception is naturally inclined toward evil and is the driving force behind sin.

People who have never been born again (the regeneration of the spirit) can only experience human life as the “old man.”

The “old man” is incapable of being reformed or rehabilitated because the core problem is a dead and alienated spirit.

If we are ever going to experience God’s life, the old man has to be put to death and replaced with what the Bible calls  the “new man.”

This is precisely what Christ did for us over 2000 years ago. Paul described how Christ freed us in the following verse.

We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. Romans 6:6 (NET1)
 

The “new man” – (Greek: kainos anthropos)

When a person is born again, God regenerates the spirit, the innermost part of our being, which previously had been alienated from God and was spiritually dead.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6 (NASB)

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5 (NASB)

This supernatural rebirth makes us new people spiritually. The sin generating “old man”  is negated by the introduction of a reborn spirit which is in complete harmony with God.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB) 

...put on the new man who has been created in God’s image — in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth. Ephesians 4:24 (NET1)

God’s Spirit becomes one with our spirit, fusing God’s life to ours in the innermost part of our being.

The “new spirit” or “new heart,” which was promised by the prophets (Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:26-27), is the result of a supernatural union with God in the spirit.

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB)

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 (NASB) 

If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. Romans 8:10 (NASB)

The “new man” is the combination of the recreated spirit (“inner man” – Greek: eso anthropos), which resides in every born-again believer, with the not-yet-resurrected body inherited from Adam. 

The regenerated spirit only desires God’s will, but the residual pull of sin, called the “flesh,” remains and is associated with the Adamic body.

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22  For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23  but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Romans 7:21-23 (NASB)

This conflict makes us spiritually “bipolar.” We all experience this inner battle between conflicting forces, which Paul calls the “flesh” and the “spirit.”

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galatians 5:17 (NASB95)

The “inner man” or recreated spirit is the source of the believer’s new identity in Christ.

But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Romans 7:20–23 (NASB95)

Eventually, at his Second Coming, Jesus will raise our Adamic bodies from the dead, completing our salvation. At that point, there will no longer be any inner disharmony. Our recreated spirits will live in complete agreement with our new spiritual bodies, eliminating the flesh-spirit warfare. For now, however, we only have the “down payment” of the new birth and our union with the indwelling Spirit, which guarantees that God will eventually fulfill his promise to fully redeem us – spirit, soul, and body.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14  who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASB)

The soul in this “in between time” – the period between the new birth and the resurrection – is being transformed or sanctified (made holy or set apart to God) by the Spirit of grace on a daily basis as we choose to believe the truth (the renewing of the mind) and “walk in the Spirit” – living in dependence, harmony, and obedience to God’s Spirit who indwells us.

But you did not learn about Christ like this, 21  if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus. 22  You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, 23  to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24  and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image — in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NET1)

The challenge for us followers of Christ is to identify with Christ’s Spirit, who indwells and is in union with the “inner man,” and realize that the Holy Spirit empowers us to live above the downward pull of the Adamic body of death, which is called the “flesh.”

 The “flesh” (Greek: sarx)

The flesh is the sinful pull still present in the born again person’s soul, which is connected to the old Adamic order through the body, which has not yet been fully redeemed through the resurrection.

Until then, we are “saved in hope,” which means we are still waiting confidently for the last installment of our great salvation.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23  And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24  For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. Romans 8:22-25 (NASB)

We are completely confident (the meaning of the Greek word for hope which is elpis) that God will fulfill his promise to raise us from the dead, which will set us free from our current conflicted state and make us whole again by transforming the Adamic body into something radically new and unaffected by sin and death.

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53  For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54  But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" 56  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Corinthians 15:52-57 (NASB)

After the resurrection, we will no longer have a struggle between that which is connected to Adam (the “flesh”) and that which is reborn by God, since there once again will be complete harmony between spirit and body, but this time oriented fully toward God.

In the present however, the “flesh” is the source of spiritual weakness.

I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Romans 6:19 (NASB)

Even though all believers have “flesh,” we are not ruled by it so that we must live “in the flesh,” which means under the domination of sin.

For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. Romans 7:5 (NASB)

Walking in the Spirit means we set our minds on God’s truth – the things of the Spirit. When we do this, the power of God enables us to walk in freedom from the downward pull of sin.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4  so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5  For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7  because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8  and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:1-8 (NASB)

Walking in the Spirit is called “putting on Christ,” which is an act of faith by which we choose to identify with the regenerated “inner man” and rely on the indwelling life of God’s Spirit to give us victory over sin.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Romans 13:14 (NASB)

Even though, the “old man” has already been crucified with Christ, the flesh must be put to death by us on a daily basis. This is equivalent to what Jesus called denying ourselves.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:24-25 (NASB)

In summary, our great salvation has past, present, and future components. Jesus accomplished our justification in the past, making us perfectly right with God, when he died and rose again. This was a once for all time event. In the future, we confidently expect God to raise us from the dead, fulfilling his promise and completing our salvation. In the present, we are engaged in an ongoing process called sanctification or transformation, during which we cooperate with the Holy Spirit through belief of the truth and obedience.

God is changing us day by day into Christ’s image in how we think, speak, and act.

Living in the present requires us to draw upon the eternal truth of justification and lock on to the hope of the resurrection.

It requires us to walk by faith in Christ’s finished work while dealing with the unfinished business of still living in a pre-resurrection-Adamic body. It leaves us in a “conflicted” state that necessitates our keeping our eyes firmly upon Christ and his promises.

The “body of sin” – (Greek: soma tes hamartias)

We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. Romans 6:6 (NET1)

This term is more or less synonymous with “flesh.” The body is not evil, but before the resurrection it is linked to Adam’s fall and is an instrument through which we sin.

We can say that the “flesh” is derived from the “body of sin,” since it will only be present as long as these fleshly bodies are still alive. Once the body dies and is resurrected, it will no longer be a “body of sin,” and the “flesh” will disappear.

The “body of sin” participated in Christ’s crucifixion in the sense that we were spiritually identified with (or “in”) Christ when he died and rose again. Obviously our human bodies were not crucified, only the spiritual component. What this accomplished was the nullification of sin’s power or authority to enslave us.

We can still choose to sin, but those who died with Christ now have the ability to walk in the Spirit rather than in the flesh.

The “body of sin” and the “flesh” were not annihilated at the cross. They were rendered ineffective in their power to rule us. We can allow them to dominate us, but we do not have to submit to them. In fact, now it is against our inmost being, spiritual nature, and or our identity in Christ to do so.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body (Greek: thneto somati) that you obey its lusts, 13  and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:12-14 (NASB)
 

The “body of death” – (Greek: somatos tou thanatou)

This term is synonymous with “body of sin,” but emphasizes the pre-resurrected body’s connection with death through Adam’s sin.

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:24-25 (NASB)
 

The “body of flesh” – (Greek: somatos tes sarkos)

and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12  having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. Colossians 2:11-12 (NASB)

This term is synonymous with “body of sin” and “body of death.”

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5  Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6  For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7  and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8  But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9  Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10  and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11  a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:1-11 (NASB)

By faith we understand that the power of the flesh, the sinful tug of the pre-resurrected-Adamic body, has been stripped of its power to rule us. As long as we “walk in the Spirit” by faith in Christ’s finished work and in cooperation with the Spirit’s ever present power indwelling us, we are able to live above the downward pull of sin. This is a daily, even moment by moment, interaction with God’s grace.

Conclusion

My purpose in this article is to provide clarity to some potentially confusing terms. Some may disagree with my definitions, which are an attempt to better understand a mystery. Perhaps God has given you a better understanding than I have. In that case, I hope you will share your insights with me. The important thing is for us to believe what the Bible teaches. We never want to nullify the Word of God just because it has not yet become our experience or is difficult to comprehend. To the degree that what I have written helps our faith, I will consider that I have been helpful. Now we can move on to applying these marvelous truths.

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Can We Sin after We Are Born Again?

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Recently I was challenged by a student to respond to his statement that those who are truly born again do not sin. He cited the following verse to uphold his point.

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:9 (NKJV)

My answer to his question required me to summarize an important teaching on spirit, soul, and body, which I will do here as well. If you wish to read the more detailed version, click here.

To begin, another passage seems to refute the argument made by the student and shows how important it is to take into account the entire Bible before making a claim.

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:8–10 (NASB95)

Now we have a clear case of two passages which seem to make opposing claims, which requires us to dig deeper to find the solution.

The Bible says that God often conceals his truth, which requires us to search the Word of God while relying upon the guidance and revelation of the Holy Spirit. The Bible cannot be properly understood merely using our mental abilities.

Unless the Spirit of God opens our hearts and minds to his truth, we cannot understand it.

At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 “Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. Matthew 11:25–26 (NASB95)

Since God does it this way, it effectively “levels the playing field” so that those who are more educated and intelligent have no advantage over a child. We all need the Holy Spirit, or we are lost.

Paul shared the following important passage in his first letter to the church in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 (NASB95)

It is clear from these verses that we are a tripartite being.

Some claim that we only have a soul and body, but if that were the case, why did Paul distinguish between spirit and soul? Likewise, the author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote that the Word of God divides between soul and spirit, thus confirming the distinction.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95) 

When Adam sinned, his spirit “died” the day he ate the forbidden fruit in the sense that he was cut off from his previous connection with God and his glory. He immediately became aware of his nakedness, guilt, and shame, all of which were unknown to him before. It was only years later that his body succumbed to death. Death began in the spirit of man eventually resulting in the death of the body. The soul, the combination of spirit and body, according to Genesis 2:7, was also damaged beyond repair.

Since death began in the spirit, it is only reasonable that our salvation should begin there.

The first step of our great salvation is the new birth, at which time our spirits, the innermost part of our being, are regenerated and joined unto the Lord.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:6–7 (NASB95)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB95)

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)

When we are born again, we are recreated or made new in the spirit.

It is readily apparent that we do not receive new bodies and our souls (mind, will, and emotions – our personalities) are not changed immediately either. God works from the inside out, making true Christianity completely different from other religions that seek to change us from the outside in, focusing on behavioral change instead of internal transformation. This internal work is done by the Spirit, whether we understand what he did or not, and it is based on our being joined to Christ and benefiting from his death and resurrection. (See my article on justification.) Justification is a once for all past work of God.

The body will not be saved until the resurrection upon Christ’s return. It will be the climax or fulfillment of our salvation, at which time these mortal bodies will be gloriously transformed. It is very much a future event. (See my article on glorification.)

This leaves the soul. God works in our souls in a very different way. Whereas justification and glorification are done to us and for us as once for all events, the salvation of the soul, which is called sanctification or transformation, requires our daily participation. It is an ongoing present work of grace. (See my article on transformation.)

Therefore, having been justified [past tense] by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand [present transformation]; and we exult in hope of the glory of God [glorification at the future resurrection]. Romans 5:1–2 (NASB95) 

What God does in our spirits is what makes us children of God. The new birth forever alters our identity. We are joined to God in our innermost being. That part of us does not sin.

Paul expressed this glorious truth in the seventh chapter of his letter to the church in Rome.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. Romans 7:18–20 (NASB95)

Unless we understand the dynamic difference between spirit, soul, and body, these words are very strange. But once we do understand, they make perfect sense. Paul identified with his born again spirit, which does not sin. Nevertheless, he committed sin since he had not yet been glorified. There was still a sinful pull away from God generated by the residual connection with the old order of the adamic creation.

Paul was responsible before God for this sin, but it did not define him. His identity was in Christ, not in the flesh.

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” Galatians 2:20–21 (NASB95)

We all will have this relentless battle in the soul between the regenerated spirit and the adamic “flesh” until our bodies are resurrected.

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Galatians 5:17–18 (NASB95)

After the resurrection, our souls will be unified in devotion to God, being the combination of a regenerated spirit and a glorified body. 

The only way for us to experience Christ’s victory while we live in these mortal bodies is to reckon ourselves to be dead to the power of sin and to the condemning power of the law, but alive to the Holy Spirit who indwells us. (Romans 6-8)

So we see that our spirits do not sin, but we do, because we have not yet been fully saved or glorified, which will happen at the resurrection. Until then, we live by faith in the risen Lord, free from condemnation (Romans 8:1 and John 5:24), and completely dependent upon the help of God’s indwelling Spirit.

To read my other articles about the Amazing New Covenant, click here.
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Does the Holy Spirit Abandon Us When We Sin?

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Recently I was asked if the Holy Spirit abandons us when we sin. The questioner cited King David’s plea which he made to the Lord following his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and consequent murder of her husband, Uriah. 

Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11 (NASB95)

The logical assumption is that David could lose the presence of the Holy Spirit. The questioner concluded that we, too, can lose the Spirit if we sin. To properly answer this great question, we must compare the nature of the New Covenant to what David experienced under the Old.

The Old Covenant required people to keep God’s Law as given to Moses at Mt. Sinai and in subsequent “downloads” from above. Blessings were attached to obedience, and curses to disobedience.

Because no one is capable of keeping the Law, it always brings a curse or judgment upon those who try.

Paul summed this up in his letter to the Galatians.

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.” Galatians 3:10 (NASB95)

We learn from Paul that God did this to convince us that we are hopelessly lost and desperately need a Savior.

But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. Galatians 3:22–24 (NASB95)

King David was an extraordinary man who related to God by faith, as did Abraham before him. As a result, they experienced some aspects of the New Covenant, which requires us to connect with God by faith in Christ and his finished work on our behalf. 

The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. Galatians 3:8–9 (NASB95)

Before the Law was given to Moses and before God instituted circumcision as a sign of the covenant, God declared that Abraham was justified by his faith in God’s promise.

Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Galatians 3:6 (NASB95)

God is not bound by time as we are. Time is a temporary creation which will eventually be abolished. God sees the end from the beginning. (Isaiah 46:10) He can declare that something is done before it ever takes place within our time frame because he has already seen its completion. That is why he says that we are already glorified, even though it is still a future event for us. (Romans 8:30)

Once we see that the New Covenant promise of eternal life in Christ has already been secured, it should change how we think.

Under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit was with God’s people, but not in them. The New Covenant changed this radically. 

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16–17 (NASB95)

The gift of the indwelling Spirit is permanent. Jesus said that the Spirit will indwell us forever. This is because through the miracle of the New Covenant the Holy Spirit becomes one with our spirit.

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)

The importance of this cannot be overstated! The Old Covenant depended on our performance in keeping the Law. Therefore, the Old Covenant could not possibly save anyone.

Since no one can ever keep the Law, God instituted the New Covenant which depends entirely on Christ’s keeping it for us.

For Christ is the end [Greek: telos - fulfillment] of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4 (NASB95)

Not only did our Lord fulfill the Law on our behalf, he also paid the penalty for our violation of the Law. 

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB95)

To suppose that the Holy Spirit will abandon us if we sin is to fail to comprehend the nature and essence of the New Covenant.

We cannot attain or maintain a right relationship with God. It is by grace from beginning to end. To think otherwise reveals that we have yet to grasp the glorious truth of the gospel. We begin our discipleship journey by faith in Christ’s finished work, and we continue on that faith walk until the very end when we are resurrected from the dead and instantly changed into the glorious state promised to God’s children.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:2–3 (NASB95)

Jesus, the one who will judge us at the end of time, revealed that we have no worries about his condemning us. 

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB95)

Hopefully this will conclude the matter for us, unless we do not take Jesus at his word. But, just in case we need more “proof,” consider Paul’s words.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NASB95)

If we properly understand  and believe Romans Chapters six and seven, we will conclude with Paul that we have no worries or fears of ever being condemned. Unfortunately, some who copied the scriptures could not believe that this could possibly be true; so, they appended the phrase “who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit.” However, the earliest manuscripts, which are of greater authority, do not contain this phrase.

Sadly, even devoted Christians have a very difficult time believing that we have no fear of being condemned by God at the judgment. 

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 (NASB95)

Many Christians refuse to believe that Christ already took the punishment for our sins. They imagine that somehow we still must attain perfection through our own efforts in order to be pleasing to God. Such thinking reveals that we do not understand justification, whereby Christ gave us his perfect right standing with God. This the very issue that the Galatian church had such a hard time grasping. Paul asked them:

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galatians 3:3 (NASB95)

The answer, of course, is that we must walk with God on a daily basis in the same way we began, by faith in what Christ accomplished on our behalf. We live in the Spirit; therefore, we must learn to daily walk in the Spirit by faith.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NASB95)

The sure hope of experiencing God’s glory in the resurrection motivates us to cooperate with the daily operation of grace in our lives called sanctification or transformation. After we are born again, God works inside each of his children to transform how we think, speak, and act to bring us into alignment with our new spiritual identity. We experience ups and downs on this discipleship journey, but the end is already guaranteed. God made us more than conquerors, which gives us strength and determination to persevere.

To read my other articles about the Amazing New Covenant, click here.
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