Sunday, June 30, 2013

Wkly Bible Study for Dial-Up/Broadband, July 1, 2013

The Mosaic Law. Why believers are not under the Law.

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PLEASE READ FIRST

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: If available on the website you're viewing this on, a few links (i.e., those without an already written scripture quote or brief explanation) are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), they work best using the Firefox browser – pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome & other browsers only appear for a few seconds at best. If you don’t have Firefox (or hover pop-ups aren’t available on the website you’re viewing this on), that’s OK, move your cursor off and on the link until it is read; or left click the link which will open the verse at the online bible; or you can always use your Bible to look up the verses.

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:


Study to show yourself approved to God!

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Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries


The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
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STUDY TITLE:


The Mosaic Law. Why believers are not under the Law.



OPTION: If you would prefer to go directly to the Grace Bible Church website to read this study message, all verse reference links are active there (but not hover active) and Enlarged Text is also an available option – right click the above link then left click “Open Link in New Window” or “New Tab”


Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

To look up other “terms”, go to:

Alphabetical Listing


BEGIN BIBLE STUDY

Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible



We have been noting the Doctrine of the Mosaic Law and we have noted the following points so far:

1) Definition. 2) Who are the recipients of the Mosaic Law? 3) Limitations of the Mosaic Law.

Point 4 in our study is Legalism and the Mosaic Law. There are three basic categories of salvation by works: 1) Salvation by works alone. 2) Salvation by faith plus works which includes such things as faith plus commitment, lordship, repentance, baptism, emotion, or psychological activity. 3) Salvation by works without faith, such as inviting Christ into your heart, when JER 17:9 says, the heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. Then there is inviting Christ into your life, you are spiritually dead; therefore that is inviting Christ into a tomb. In GAL 1:1-6, Paul is rebuking the Galatians for compromising with legalism when presenting the Gospel, Paul, an apostle (not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen. I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; He can't believe how easily they have turned on the One who called them by the grace of Christ! Remember that Galatians is the book that deals with legalism at Salvation, and in the Christian way of life. The Galatians had become legalistic, self-righteous, pious, and inflexible in their moral degeneracy. Satan and the kingdom of darkness know that the only thing that matters is the extent to which they can separate the believer from God. It does not matter how small the sins, or the distractions are, so long as the effect keeps the individual away from the Light. The surest road to carnality, and eventually reversionism is the gradual one, the gentle slope without signposts. In many cases, Satan will even use the Church itself as a weapon against the Christian faith. Today, all the average believer sees is the erection of a new building, or a place of programs and gimmicks instead of a consistent teaching of grace and truth. They see a nice choir, programs of human altruism and human good, feeding the homeless, clothing the naked, but without executing the spiritual life. A life without knowing 1PE 3:15 “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”

Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Sadly, the average Christian today is full of hazy thoughts, many times actually disappointed in his own Christian walk. Add in a few negative thoughts about others, mix in some legalism from the Mosaic Law, and you have a defeated believer. One who does not fit into JOH 8:32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. You must learn to distinguish between the truth and the lie.

Point 5. The Principle of Precedence Related to the Mosaic Law.

The Christian way of life or the PPOG takes its precedence from the Lord Jesus Christ during the dispensation of the Hypostatic-union rather than from the Mosaic Law in the dispensation of Israel. This means that precedence for the PPOG is not taken from any of the commandments of the Mosaic Law, whether tithing, Sabbath observance, or learning the Ten Commandments. The PPOG is classified as mystery doctrine, defined as never being revealed to Old Testament writers. Not one word regarding the uniqueness of the Church-age is found in the Old Testament (ROM 16:25). All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long.
Paul would say to the Ephesians in EPH 3:1-6, “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 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; 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,” In COL 1:25-27, “of this church I was made a minister according to the dispensation from God bestowed on me for your benefit that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to his saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the confidence of the glory.”

We are now under a new set of commands. The Mosaic Law has been completely fulfilled by our Lord, therefore it can, and has been abrogated (abolished, cancelled or terminated). Therefore, the lifestyle of the PPOG for the Church-age can never take its precedence from something that has been totally abrogated. No precedence for the Church-age is taken from Israel. This means that the Mosaic Law has nothing to do with the Christian way of life. God provided establishment principles for Gentiles long before He provided the Mosaic Law. God also provided establishment principles for the Church after He abrogated the Mosaic Law. But when it comes to spiritual life, the PPOG for the Church-age supersedes the ritual plan of God for Israel. Precedence for the PPOG is derived from the dispensation of the Hypostatic-union only. Most reformed denominations include the Mosaic Law as a part of the Christian way of life. The book of Romans and Galatians repudiate the Law as part of the Christian way of life. Neither Salvation or spirituality are related to keeping the Law. The substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the Cross fulfilled in detail Codex Two of the Mosaic Law, which is the spiritual part found in the book of Leviticus in the animal sacrifices. However, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the basis for a New Spiritual Species, a Royal Family of God, and the PPOG. The PPOG and the Mosaic Law are mutually exclusive. All precedence for the PPOG is based on the power or the omnipotence that raised Christ from the dead. This excludes the Mosaic Law because it (the Law) cannot provide spirituality, and neither can it provide resurrection. All doctrine related to the way of life for the Church-age is classified as mystery doctrine which was hidden from the Old Testament writers. The sooner you get straight on this point, the sooner you start glorifying the Lord. God calls the human works done without the power of the Holy Spirit, filthy garments in ISA 64:6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf. You can work hard, but the disappointment or anticlimax which is certainly coming your way will wear you out. Desiring our freedom, God refuses to bless us when we perform human good. Any of the goals which God sets for us, He leaves us with a choice of doing it our way or with His help using the power of God (Acts 1:8; HEB 4:12). But, how can you use this power when you don't know a thing about it? How can you use this power when you think that the spiritual life is quitting sin rather than rebound, the filling of the Holy Spirit, and the PMA of Bible doctrine, all based upon the grace of God? Those who are under the influence of legalism and self-righteousness misunderstand the grace of God and sometimes even state that grace a license to sin. TIT 2:11-12 says, For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, There lies our opportunity, but also our danger, if we abuse the grace of God. Satan knows that once we understand these principles and get through the initial state of spiritual dryness successfully, we will become much less dependent on emotion, and therefore much harder to tempt. This is why he uses the Strategy of Diversion. He knows that if a believer can't be cured or diverted from his PVTD, the next best thing is to send him all over the place looking for a church that suits him. The reasons are obvious. In the first place, doctrinal churches will always be attacked, because being a place where truth concerning the spiritual life, is really taught it brings people of different classes together in the kind of unity that God desires. On the other hand, those churches involved with religion, following the Ten commandments and the Mosaic Law turn into a kind of club, and finally into a place for fellowship rather than doctrine. The search for a suitable church makes the believer a critic where God wants him to be a pupil. What God desires for believers in church is an attitude which may, indeed be critical in the sense of rejecting what is false, but which is wholly uncritical in the sense of judging the one who teaches. This is why you are to pray for them and support them (EPH 6:19-20).

Point 6. The Present Purpose of the Mosaic Law in the Church Age.

The Mosaic Law was abrogated as a total code for the Church-age, but there are some principles in the New Testament repeated from the Mosaic Law. So while the Jews of the Old Testament lived by the Mosaic Law, Church-age believers live by the PPOG. The dispensation of the Hypostatic-union stands as a permanent line of demarcation between Israel and the Church. Therefore, during the dispensation of the Hypostatic-union, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law on the one hand, and through life in the PPOG, established the precedence for the Church-age on the other. This is why the Lord said in MAT 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” In ROM 10:1-4, “Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” The Mosaic Law is a particular expression of God's eternal and Holy character (Exo 19). While the Law regulated the life of the Jews in the dispensation of Israel, its primary purpose was to anticipate the First Advent of Christ. After the Law was fulfilled by Christ, this code no longer governs any people or any nation. However, the abrogation of the Law does not leave either unbelievers or believers in a state of lawlessness, ROM 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!

Point 7.Dr. Charles E. Feinberg's Seventeen Points on Why the Believer is not under the Law.

1) A believer under the Law makes Christ a minister of sin, GAL 2:17 “But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!” It’s no great surprise that some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect. Are you ready to make the accusation that since people like you and I, who go through Christ in order to get things right with God, aren't perfectly virtuous, Christ must therefore be an accessory to sin? The accusation is silly, and as GAL 2:17 says May it never be! So a believer who puts himself under the Law makes the Lord Jesus Christ a partner with his guilt or as Paul says a minister of sin.

2) The believer has died to the Law, GAL 2:19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, that I might live to God.” Paul is saying that he tried keeping rules and working hard to please God, and it didn't work. So he quit being a law man so that he could be God's man. Under the operation of the curse of the Law, Paul died to the Law and all the Law's demands upon him.

3) A believer has received all the benefits of the Holy Spirit through faith. GAL 3:1 “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?” Paul is saying that something crazy has happened, for it's obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the Cross was certainly set before you clearly enough. GAL 3:2 “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?” Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith? GAL 3:3 “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it or make it any better than God did? You can see, the arrogance behind self-righteousness and legalism. GAL 3:4 “Did you suffer so many things in vain, if indeed it was in vain?” Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? GAL 3:5 “Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” Does the God who lavishly provides you with His own presence, His Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving, or because you trust Him to do them in you? Well, I think you know the answer to that question by now.

4) The Law brings nothing but condemnation (GAL 3:10-14). All who depend on the Law, who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction. Anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure. Scripture backs this up. The Scripture says in HAB 2:4 The man in right standing with God [the just, the righteous] shall live by and out of faith and he who through and by faith is declared righteous and in right standing with God shall live. The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with God that way. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more rule-keeping. Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the curse or doom of the Law and its condemnation by Himself becoming a curse for us. The Lord Jesus Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into Himself. That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the Cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. Through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, the blessing promised to Abraham comes upon the Gentiles, so that through faith, we all might receive the realization of the promise of the Holy Spirit. We are all able to receive God's life, His Spirit, in and with us by believing, just the way Abraham received it.

5) God's promised blessings to Abraham, of which Abrahamic root all believers partake of, (Rom 11), preceded or came before the giving of the Law, therefore, the law cannot be a prior claim. GAL 3:15 “Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.” If a man makes a last will and testament, no one sets it aside or makes it void or adds to it when once it has been drawn up and signed ratified, or confirmed. Once a person's will has been ratified, no one else can annul it or add to it. GAL 3:16 “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.” Observe that Scripture, in the careful language of a legal document, does not say “to descendants,” referring to everybody in general, but “to your descendant” (singular), referring to Christ. GAL 3:17 “What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.” The Law, which began 430 years after the covenant [concerning the coming Messiah], does not and cannot annul the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the promise and make it void. 6) The Law has no power to give life or to sustain life, GAL 3:21 “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.” As we have noted in this doctrine, the laws purpose was to make obvious to everyone that we are, in ourselves, out of right relationship with God. Therefore, the Law was given to show us the futility of devising religious systems for getting by on our own efforts what we can only get by waiting in faith for God to complete His promise. If any rule-keeping had power to create life in us, we would certainly have gotten it by this time.

7) The Law is intended only for the immature, while positionally, believers are full-grown sons (GAL 3:23-4:7). Before the faith or doctrine came, the truth that set us free, we were perpetually guarded under the Law, kept in custody in preparation for the faith that was destined to be revealed unveiled, or disclosed. Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law. The Law served to the Jews as their trainer, or guardian, or guide to Christ, to lead them until Christ came, that they might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) through faith. The Law was like those Greek tutors, with which the Galatians were familiar with, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for. We are no longer under a trainer but now have arrived at the destination. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe, Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise. In Christ's family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. We are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. If you are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed, then you are Abraham's offspring and spiritual heirs according to promise. God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to the regulations of the Law, born under the conditions of the Law so that He might redeem those who had been kidnapped by the law (GAL 4:5). You are no longer a slave bond servant but a son; and if a son, then it follows that you are an heir by the aid of God, through Christ. Your privilege of being able to have an intimate conversation with God makes it plain that you are not a slave, but a child.

8) The Law is a bondage to the believer, GAL 4:9 “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?” Now that you have come to be acquainted with and understand and know the true God, or rather to be understood and known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary things of self-righteousness and legalism and religion. How can you possibly subject yourselves again to those elementary principles of the law.

9) Law and grace are mutually exclusive principles; therefore, choose one or the other. GAL 4:21-31. GAL 4:21 “Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? Have you paid close attention to that law? GAL 4:22-23, “For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman [Ishmael] was born according to the flesh [human plans and ingenuity], and the son by the free woman [Isaac] through the promise [of God or divine ingenuity or power].” The child of the slave woman, Hagar, was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, the son of the free woman, Sarah, was born in fulfillment of the promise. GAL 4:24 “This is allegorically speaking: for these women are two covenants, one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.” The two births represent two ways of being in relationship with God. One is from Mount Sinai in Arabia. These two women represent two covenants. One covenant originated from Mount Sinai, where the Law was given, and bears children destined for slavery; this is Hagar. GAL 4:25-26, “Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.”But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.” The Jerusalem above refers to the Messianic kingdom of Christ. There is an invisible Jerusalem, a free Jerusalem, and she is our mother, this is the way of Sarah. GAL 4:27-29, For it is written, "Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; For more are the children of the desolate Than of the one who has a husband. And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. We are children, not by physical descent, as was Ishmael, but like Isaac, born in virtue of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.” Just as at that time the child of ordinary birth (Ishmael), born according to the flesh despised and persecuted him who was born remarkably according to the promise and the working of the Holy Spirit, so it is now also. [GEN 21:9.] In the days of Hagar and Sarah, the child who came from faithless connivance (Ishmael) harassed the child who came empowered by the Spirit from the faithful promise (Isaac). So, the apostle Paul is saying to the Galatians: Isn't it clear that the harassment you are now experiencing from the Jerusalem heretics follows that old pattern? Those under legalism will never enjoy the inheritance that those under grace experience and enjoy.

10) The believer has an abiding freedom in Christ, GAL 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. In this freedom Christ has made us free and completely liberated us. So, we are to stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held or ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery which you have once put off. Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.

11) The believer must keep all the law if he would attempt to keep even part of it, and that is an impossibility, GAL 5:2 “Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.” Paul says that the moment any believer submits to any other rule-keeping system, Christ's hard won gift of freedom is wasted. GAL 5:3 “And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.” The person who accepts the ways of the Law trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. GAL 5:4 “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and programs, you are cut off from Christ and you fall out of grace. If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and separated or severed from Christ. You have fallen away from grace or from God's gracious favor and unmerited blessing.

12) The persuasion to put the believer under the Law is not from God. GAL 5:8 “This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.” It is a detour from Satan and the kingdom of darkness that doesn't come from the One who called you into the race in the first place.

13) Legalism of the believer does away with the offense of the Cross, GAL 5:11 “But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.” If Paul still preached circumcision as some accuse him of doing, as necessary to salvation, why was he still suffering persecution? The rumor was that he continued to preach the ways of circumcision as he did in those pre-Damascus Road days. He says if I were preaching that old message, no one would be offended if I mentioned the Cross now and then, it would be so watered down it wouldn't matter. But he wasn't teaching circumcision or the Mosaic Law, he was teaching the grace of God.

14) All the Mosaic Law is fulfilled by the Holy Spirit (GAL 5:16-24). GAL 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” If you walk and live habitually in the Holy Spirit, being responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh which is the human nature without God. Paul says my counsel is this: Live freely, motivated by God's Spirit and then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. GAL 5:17 “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.” The desires of the flesh are opposed to the Holy Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are opposed to the flesh, the godless human nature. These are antagonistic to each other, continually withstanding and in conflict with each other, so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do. This is why you should never get shocked with mankind. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. GAL 5:18 “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law dominated existence in the flesh? GAL 5:19 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,” It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and vain grabs for happiness. GAL 5:20 “idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,” Factions are party spirits with their own self-righteous and legalistic opinions. GAL 5:21-22, “envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the work which His presence within accomplishes in our lives. What happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard, things like affection for others, and exuberance about life. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic dedication and devotion to the spiritual life permeates things and people. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; in fact it only gets in the way. Those who belong to the Messiah have crucified the godless human nature with its passions and appetites and desires.

15) The life of the believer must be sustained on the same principle as his new birth or regeneration. GAL 5:25 “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

16) The believer's proneness to sin calls for his dealing with grace, not dealing according to the Law, GAL 6:1-5.

GAL 6:1 “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.” If any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual, who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit, should set him right and restore and reinstate him. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. GAL 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.” Notice, you are to fulfill the Law of Christ. What is the Law of Christ? GAL 5:14 “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the {statement}, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

GAL 6:3-4, “For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.” Let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable in itself alone without resorting to boastful comparison with his neighbor. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. GAL 6:5 “For each one shall bear his own load. ” Every person will have to bear his own load of oppressive faults.

17) All who advocate the law for the believer cannot keep it themselves, and their intention is ultimate glory in the flesh. GAL 6:13 “For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.” Even the circumcised Jews themselves did not really keep the Law, but they want to have others circumcised in order that they may glory in the flesh, their subjection to external rites. Paul says they only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible!

Point 8. The Basic Law the Church Age Believer Is under.

There are four laws in the Christian life when it comes to methods of procedure: a. The perfect law of liberty. You are free as a child of God. By now you know you are not under a the Law. You have been delivered from every aspect of the law. So the law of liberty is the law that all believers operate in when they are filled with the Holy Spirit. The law of liberty is a reference to the freedom we have to serve the Lord not the freedom we have to sin. There is no freedom in sin, rather there is just the guarantee of bondage and death. The law of liberty and freedom is the freedom to serve the Lord and the freedom to produce Divine good. It is a law based upon the filling of the Spirit. The law of liberty means that no one else has the right to tell you how to live your life. The word of God is your authority and under the word of God you are to live your life as unto the Lord, without any outside interference or harassing or intimidation from others. The word liberty is defined as the state of being exempt from the dominion of others or from restricting circumstances. It is freedom to do according to ones own preference and choice. Grace glories in true liberty and freedom. Grace is not a way of escaping obedience to God; it is the only way in which true obedience can be achieved.

b) The law of love. There comes a time when the law of love will take precedence over the law of liberty. The law of liberty is directed toward self, the law of love is directed toward others. This means that there are times when you will impose upon yourself certain standards that you don't normally observe. You refrain from certain things that are legitimate in order to be of help to other believers in their spiritual growth. The liberty and the freedom that believers have is revealed by the love that they have for others. The law of love allows the conscience of the weak to determine action. 1CO 8:8-13, But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And thus, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, that I might not cause my brother to stumble.

c) The law of expediency. This law is directed toward unbelievers. The law of expediency says in effect that in order for the Gospel to be made clear, and that false issues do not come in and sidetrack the Gospel, it is expedient that certain types of procedure be followed. The law of expediency says make the issue the Gospel. 1CO 6:12 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” This law takes into consideration the danger to the believers own life in the matter of personal habits or trends and the responsibility to others in the matter of edification. When considering the law of expediency we do not ask what harm is there in this or that? But rather what is the good in that which I am doing? This is why EPH 5:15 teaches that in our liberty we are to walk accurately, Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise.

d) Then there is the law of supreme sacrifice. This is the law where the believer sets aside normal and legitimate functions of life to progress in the Plan of God. Paul in 1CO 9:12 illustrated this when he said he couldn't get married because of the nature of his ministry. 1CO 9:12 “If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.”


The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Internet Church Service, Sunday, June 30, 2013

This week’s sermon title:
Some of the similarities of being a
soldier as far as the word of God teaches. Part 2

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Today’s Sermon Message:
Some of the similarities of being a
soldier as far as the word of God teaches. Part 2
Video & Audio


Please join us as we fellowship in the Word of God, listen to
Christian Music, Pray in Christ’s Name and Praise the Lord
in our Hearts and Minds.

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

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from - Romans 8:38-39


Thank you for joining us for today’s worship service. Please enjoy the music before you watch and|or listen to today’s message.

TIP to enlarge the print hold down the “Ctrl” key on your key board, while it is being held down, move your mouse forward until the desired print size is just right for you. To return to normal screen size, reverse the process (some will see a % in the lower right corner of your screen, normal is 100%)

The lyrics have been provided so you can sing along with the artist in your mind and soul; imagine that the artist’s voice is your voice. I’m not a very good singer myself so I often get the lyrics for some of my favorites and sing along in my mind and soul, this way it’s as if I’m doing the singing to the Lord; try it.

Hymn #1

It Is Well – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)



Hymn #2

Jesus Pain it All – Lyrics in video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)




Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is— you have trusted in Him for eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to take-in God’s Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge your sins privately to God the Father.

1 John 1:9 says—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NKJV (New King James Version)

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is faith alone in Jesus Christ alone:

John 6:47 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” NKJV

Notice again what John 6:47 says, “he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” It doesn’t say, “will have”; it says, “has.” Therefore, the very moment you believe Jesus Christ’s promise of everlasting life, you have it (it’s really just that simple), and it can never be lost or taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God’s Word, if there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Lectionary

The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Heb. 4:12) GNB-UK

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. (2 Tim. 3:16-17) GNB-UK

Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth. (2 Tim. 2:15) GNB-UK

Study to show yourself approved to God!

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Opening Prayer
(Do your best to make it your own – below is a sample prayer)

Heavenly Father, we pray that we will all be richly edified by Your Word today and that You will make what we study today clear to us. We pray that all participants in this service as well as those who review it at a later date will be edified and blessed by today’s message. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Our guest Pastor-Teacher is:



This ministry is non-denominational and is dedicated to teaching the Word of God from the original languages and making it available at no charge throughout the world.

Today's Sermon


(To view the sermon right click the above link then click on open in “new window” or “new tab” and 3 windows will open – 1) audio or video player which should start automatically, 2) slide show, 3) note pad. When finished return to previous window or tab to finish the service with Hymn and Prayer.)


If you wish to use it, right click the link and in the drop-down box, left click the "Open Link in New Window"; when the new window opens, reduce the window size of both the on-line bible and the slideshow and configure them to be side-by-side. Also, the window opens to John 3:16, click the word “more” below the verse, you will then see two online bible columns, Use the column on the left as it is set for the NASB95, at the top of the column where you see John 3:16 in the search box, type the book and verse the Pastor asks you to go to a particular Bible verse, e.g., 1tim 5:21, or eph 3:10, etc., then click “Enter” on your key board. You can use the “right column” if you wish for a different bible version but you’ll need to type in the verse you want each time as I directed you for the column on the left side.

Hymn #3

Jesus What A Beautiful Name – Lyrics in video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)



CLOSING PRAYER:
(Again, below is a sample prayer, do your best to make it your own)

Heavenly Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit will make what I’ve learned today clear to me, for I pray this in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s name. Amen

If you have any questions that are pertinent about today’s message, please don’t hesitate to ask, you are welcome to ask them via a private message or by a reply in today’s post. However, sometimes questions can be real short but require a much longer answer in order to give an adequate answer. If I don’t think that the question is able to be answered quickly I’ll reply back telling you that I’ll research it and get to you with the answer (it may even be a few days as I’m a little slower than I used to be). Please don’t let what I’ve just said make you hesitate to ask questions.

I want to thank all of you who have attended this Sunday service as well as those who will view it at a later time or date.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can instantly receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Wkly Bible Study for Dial-Up/Broadband, June 24, 2013

The New Covenant with Israel.

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PLEASE READ FIRST

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: If available on the website you're viewing this on, a few links (i.e., those without an already written scripture quote or brief explanation) are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), they work best using the Firefox browser – pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome & other browsers only appear for a few seconds at best. If you don’t have Firefox (or hover pop-ups aren’t available on the website you’re viewing this on), that’s OK, move your cursor off and on the link until it is read; or left click the link which will open the verse at the online bible; or you can always use your Bible to look up the verses.

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:


Study to show yourself approved to God!

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Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries


The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings

STUDY TITLE:


The New Covenant with Israel.



OPTION: If you would prefer to go directly to the Grace Bible Church website to read this study message, all verse reference links are active there (but not hover active) and Enlarged Text is also an available option – right click the above link then left click “Open Link in New Window” or “New Tab”


Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

To look up other “terms”, go to:

Alphabetical Listing


BEGIN BIBLE STUDY

Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible



We have noted the first three Covenants to Israel:

1. The Abrahamic covenant which emphases the Jewish race.

2. The Palestinian covenant emphasizes the land for Israel.

3. The Davidic covenant emphasizes the promise seed.

The fourth unconditional Covenant which God entered into with Israel (not the Church), is called The New Covenant. It guarantees Israel a converted heart as the foundation of all her blessings. The New Covenant promised to Israel is stated in JER 31:31-32, “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” [the two kingdoms of Israel]. “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 [Mosaic Law], “My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. It won't be a repeat of the Covenant they broke, even though God did His part as their Master. JER 31:33 ““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.” This is the New Covenant that God makes with Israel when the time comes. He will put His doctrine within them, write it on their hearts, and be their God, and they will be His people. JER 31:34 ““And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall 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.” They will know God first-hand; He will wipe the slate clean for each one of them. Notice that He'll forget that they ever sinned.

These are provisions for Israel; they are the people of the New Covenant who have believed in Christ alone, by faith alone. The provisions of this covenant are as follows: a) It is an unconditional-grace covenant resting on the five “I will's of God. The five “I will's of Satan, in Isa 14, all had to do with self-exaltation. These are the five “I will's of God, all having to do with the grace of God. Five times (the number for grace), the Phrase “I will is used in JER 31:31-34.

EZE 16:60-62 teaches the same, ““Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, {both} your older and your younger; and I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. Thus I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord,”

Who was this said to? Look at EZE 16:1-7, where God affirms His love for Israel in her infant stage. EZE 16:1-4, “Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem, Your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite, your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing; you were not rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths.” In other words, there was nothing good and clean about you.

EZE 16:5-7, ““No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the open field, for you were abhorred on the day you were born. When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you {while you were} in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ “I made you numerous like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall, and reached the age for fine ornaments; {your} breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare.”

In EZE 16:8-14, God reminds Israel that she was chosen and related to Jehovah by marriage, ““Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love [you needed to be loved and wanted]; “so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord God. “Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you, and anointed you with oil. [He cleansed them (salvation) “and anointed them with oil referring to the ministry of God the Holy Spirit]. “I also clothed you with embroidered cloth, and put sandals of porpoise skin [leather sandals] “on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk, And I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, and a necklace around your neck. I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord God.

But in EZE 16:15, she (Israel) played the harlot. EZE 16:9-15, “But you trusted in your beauty [became arrogant] “and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by who might be {willing.}

Their beauty went to their head and they became a common whore, grabbing anyone or anything coming down the street and taking them into their bed or their place of intimacy.

EZE 16:20-34, ““Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me, and you sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter? You slaughtered My children, and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass through {the fire.} And besides all your abominations and harlotries you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare and squirming in your blood. Then it came about after all your wickedness ('Woe, woe to you!' declares the Lord God), that you built yourself a shrine and made yourself a high place in every square. You built yourself a high place at the top of every street, and made your beauty abominable; and you spread your legs to every passer-by to multiply your harlotry. You also played the harlot with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, and multiplied your harlotry to make Me angry. Behold now, I have stretched out My hand against you and diminished your rations. And I delivered you up to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd conduct. Moreover, you played the harlot with the Assyrians because you were not satisfied; you even played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied. You also multiplied your harlotry with the land of merchants, Chaldea, yet even with this you were not satisfied. How languishing is your heart,” declares the Lord God, “while you do all these things, the actions of a bold-faced harlot. When you built your shrine at the beginning of every street and made your high place in every square, in disdaining money, you were not like a harlot. You adulteress wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband! Men give gifts to all harlots, but you give your gifts to all your lovers to bribe them to come to you from every direction for your harlotries. Thus you are different from those women in your harlotries, in that no one plays the harlot as you do, because you give money and no money is given you; thus you are different.”

Therefore, the punishment of dispersion was dealt to Israel in EZE 16:35-52
.

However, this is not the final setting of Israel since there will be restoration (EZE 16:53-63). EZE 16:53 ““Nevertheless, I will restore their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and along with them your own captivity,” God is going to reverse their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters. After all of their sin, shame, and guilt God says this in EZE 16:60-63, ““Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, {both} your older and your younger; and I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. Thus I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, in order that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord God declares.

It is any wonder that Paul wrote in ROM 2:4 ““Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” We have learned about this many times. We have learned how important it is to keep persevering until the end, and how the Lord gives positive believers incredible gifts along the way to keep us properly motivated. One of those incredible gifts is the insight into our sorrows and difficulties and trials and how all divine discipline is administered in grace.

So the New Covenant is an unconditional-grace Covenant resting on the five I will's of God.

The New Covenant is also an everlasting covenant meaning that it is eternal.

The New Covenant also promises the impartation of a renewed mind and heart which may be called regeneration (JER 31:33; ISA 59:21).

The New Covenant provides for restoration to the favor and blessing of God (HOS 2:19-20; ISA 61:9). Forgiveness of sin is also included in the covenant (JER 31:32).

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is also included in the New Covenant. Not permanent indwelling, like the Church-age believer, who has God the Father, Son, and H.S. within, but the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to teach the believer (JER 31:33-34; EZE 36:27). There will be materialistic blessings for Israel in the land according to the provisions of the New Covenant (JER 32:41; ISA 61:8; EZE 34:25-27). The sanctuary will be rebuilt in Jerusalem (EZE 37:26-27). War shall cease and peace shall reign according to (ISA 2:4). The fact that this is also a definite characteristic of the Millennium (ISA 2:4). The blood of The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of all the blessings of the New Covenant (ZEC 9:11). The New Covenant then was made with the Jewish people. Confirmation of this Covenant is given in the statement in ISA 61:8-9, where it is called everlasting, and again in EZE 37:21-28
. The following points are to be observed: a) Israel is to be re-gathered. b) Israel is to be one nation ruled by one king. c) Israel is no longer to be idolatrous but to be cleansed and forgiven. d) Israel is to dwell forever in the land after the re-gathering. e) The covenant of peace is to be everlasting. f) God's tabernacle is to be with them; He will be present with them in a visible way. g) Israel is to be known among the Gentiles as a nation blessed of God.

This covenant then has to do with the regeneration, forgiveness, and justification of Israel. Also there will be the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with His subsequent ministries, and Israel's re-gathering and restoration to the place of blessing.

This covenant is a gracious Covenant that depends entirely upon the five “I wills of God for its fulfillment (JER 31:31-34). This Covenant does not depend upon man. This covenant amplifies the third great area of the original Abrahamic covenant, the area of blessing.

You see, first we have the Abrahamic covenant with its main three promises: land, seed, and blessing. The land is then emphasized in the Palestinian covenant, the seed is emphasized in the Davidic covenant, and the blessing is emphasized in the New Covenant.

This covenant is largely occupied with the question of salvation and the impartation of the new heart. Covenant theologians and the Amillenial view teaches that the reference to the New covenant in the New Testament is proof that the Church is the New Israel. Therefore they teach that there is no need for a future earthly Millennium since the Church is the kingdom now.

They use HEB 8:8-12 to justify their erroneous position. HEB 8:8-13, “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; Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers On the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care for them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them upon their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ For all shall know Me, From the least to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more. When He said, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.”

In reply to this position, it is necessary to observe certain important facts about the New covenant. First of all it should be clear that this Covenant was made with Israel, the physical seed of Abraham according to the flesh, and with them alone (JER 31:31; ISA 59:20-21; JER 32:37-40; JER 50:4-5; EZE 16:60-63; EZE 34:25-26; EZE 37:21-28). It is called the New Covenant because it replaces the old covenant. As we have seen the scripture clearly teaches that the Mosaic Covenant or the Law was made with the nation Israel only (ROM 2:14, GAL 24-25, LEV 26:46, DEU 4:8). There can be no question that the Law pertains to Israel only, and since this old Covenant was made with Israel, the new Covenant is made with the same people (JER 31:25-37).

The sequence of events set up by the prophet Jeremiah in JER 32:37-41 is that Israel will first be re-gathered and restored to the land, and then will experience the blessings of the New Covenant in the land. God cannot fulfill the Covenant until Israel is re-gathered as a nation. Her complete restoration is demanded by the New Covenant and this has not taken place yet.

Principle, fulfillment of the prophecies requires:

1) The regathering of Israel.

2) Their spiritual rebirth.

3) The return of Christ, ROM 11:26-27.

This New covenant then will be realized in the Millennial age, JER 31:34; EZE 32:35; ISA 11:6-9. The covenant can only be fulfilled literally by those with whom it was made and since the Church is not Israel, the Church can not fulfill that covenant.

These four covenants with the nation Israel have been surveyed to show that they are unconditional and eternal Covenants. They are to be fulfilled because of the faithfulness of the One making the Covenants, not the ones to whom the covenant is made!

When the Covenants are studied we find seven great features which need to be understood: 1) A nation forever. 2) A land forever. 3) A king forever. 4) A throne forever. 5) A kingdom forever. 6) A new covenant. 7) Abiding blessings.

Back to our main passage in our corrected translation of Rom 9. So far, ROM 9:1-4, “I am communicating doctrine, I am not lying, my conscience bearing joint testimony with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have a great sorrow and constant pain in my right lobe, for I could wish, that I, myself would be accursed, consequently separated from the Christ, but it cannot be, for the sake of my brethren [the racial Jews], “my fellow countrymen [the national Jews], “according to earthly descent [descent from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,], “who are Israelites, to whom is the adoption, and the Shekinah glory, and the covenants [we have just completed studying those covenants in detail], “and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,”


The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.