Tag new covenant

A New and Living Way; Hebrews 10:20

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The New and Living Way

“By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.” Hebrews 10:20

There is something striking about the way the Bible describes what God has done through Jesus Christ. It repeatedly uses the word new.

God promised a new covenant. Christ established it. Those who come to Christ receive new life. They become new creatures. They put off the old man and put on the new man. They receive a new identity and are called by a new name. They are taught to live differently.

This is more than an updated version of an old religion. Jesus opened “a new and living way.”

A NEW COVENANT

The coming of something new was not a surprise. God had promised it hundreds of years before Christ came.

Jeremiah wrote: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant…” Jeremiah 31:31

God promised a covenant in which He would forgive iniquity and write His law upon the hearts of His people.

The prophets also spoke of an everlasting covenant and a covenant of peace. Isaiah spoke of God’s Servant being given “for a covenant of the people” (Isaiah 42:6). Ezekiel spoke of an “everlasting covenant” (Ezekiel 37:26).

Then Jesus came. When He instituted the Lord’s Supper, He said: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins…” Matt 26:28

Hebrews explains exactly what happened: “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old.” Hebrews 8:13

Christ did not simply repair the first covenant. He established a new one. (see Heb 7:12-14)

And that new covenant is the covenant under which we live today.

A New LIFE and a New Creation

The new covenant calls for a new kind of life.

Paul wrote: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” 2Cor 5:17

That is personal. If I am in Christ, I am not supposed to remain the same person I was before.

Galatians 6:15 says that what matters is being “a new creature.”

The prophets had already pointed toward this kind of change. Isaiah recorded God’s promise: “Behold, I will do a new thing…” Isaiah 43:19

The New Testament shows us that this new work begins in those who obey the gospel of Christ.

God does not simply give us a new set of beliefs. He calls us to a new life.

Buried (IMMERSED in baptism) and Raised to Newness of Life

Romans 6 makes the connection even clearer. Paul says: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4

Notice the progression.

We are buried with Christ. We are raised with Christ. THEN we walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:12 describes us as being “buried with him in baptism” and raised with Him.

Galatians 3:27 says: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

What baptism is Paul talking about?

He is talking about immersion in water.

The word baptism means immersion, and the Bible repeatedly connects baptism with water. The Ethiopian eunuch went down into the water with Philip, and they came up out of the water (Acts 8:36-39). Peter commanded baptism with water (Acts 10:47-48). Ananias told Saul to arise and be baptized and wash away his sins (Acts 22:16).

This is not something man invented. Jesus commanded it.

Jesus said: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them…” Matthew 28:19

Mark records: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” Mark 16:16

Water baptism is therefore not a work that replaces faith. It is an act of obedient faith.

The question is not whether baptism is a human work that earns salvation. It does not.

The question is whether a person who believes Jesus should obey what Jesus commanded.

  • Jesus commanded baptism.
  • The apostles commanded baptism.
  • And when people believed the gospel, they were baptized.

Acts 2:41 says those who gladly received the word were baptized.

Acts 8:12 says men and women believed and were baptized.

Acts 18:8 says many Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized.

Faith does not make obedience unnecessary.

Faith obeys.

That is why Romans 6 connects baptism with being buried and raised with Christ and then walking in newness of life.

Baptism is not presented as an empty ceremony. It is connected with entering Christ, being raised with Him, and beginning a new life.

The Christian life is supposed to look different because the Christian has become different.

New Wine and New VESSELS

Jesus used another picture to describe what He was bringing.

“New wine must be put into new bottles.” Mark 2:22

The point is simple. The new work Christ was doing called for something new.

We cannot claim the new life Christ gives us while continuing to live according to the old life we left behind.

The gospel is not just something we add to our lives.

It changes our lives.

A New Man in a New IMAGE

Paul gives us another powerful picture in Ephesians 4.

He tells Christians to put away the old manner of life and: “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

Colossians 3:9-10 says: “Ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man…”

Then Paul explains that the new man is: “renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”

That is what Christ is doing in us.

We put off the old man. We put on the new man. We become more like Christ.

Christianity is not about becoming a slightly improved version of the old me. It is about becoming a new man in Christ.

A New NAME

God also promised that His people would receive a new name.

Isaiah wrote: “thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.” Isaiah 62:2

Isaiah 65:15 speaks of God calling His servants “by another name.”

Then we come to the New Testament.

Acts 11:26 tells us: “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

James refers to “that worthy name by the which ye are called” (James 2:7).

Peter says: “if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed.” 1 Peter 4:16

Revelation also speaks of a “new name” given to those who belong to Christ (Rev 2:17; 3:12).

God gives His people a new identity.

We are not defined by who we used to be. We belong to Christ.

New GARMENTS

The Bible also describes this new identity as putting on new clothing.

Isaiah wrote: “he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.” Isaiah 61:10

Paul uses the same kind of language when he says: “put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 13:14

And again: “put on the new man.” Eph 4:24

Colossians 3 tells us what these new garments look like. We put on mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love.

This is what the new life should look like.

We take off the old behavior and put on Christ.

The New and Living Way

Put all of this together and the message becomes clear.

God promised a new covenant.

Christ established it through His blood.

Those who come to Christ receive new life.

Through baptism, we are buried and raised to newness of life.

We become a new creation at baptism.

We put off the old man and put on the new man.

We receive a new identity and name.

We put on new garments of righteousness, holiness, and love. Galatians 3:27

And all of it points us back to Hebrews 10:20:

“A new and living way.”

Jesus did not merely make the old way easier. He opened a new way to God.

The question is not simply whether we believe that Jesus opened that way.

The question is whether we are walking in it.

If I have entered the new covenant, I should live a new life.

If I have been raised to newness of life, I should not keep living like the old man.

If I have put on Christ, people should be able to see Christ in the way I live.

That is the challenge of the new and living way.

Christ made all things new. He calls us to live as new people.

agape

spencer

Hebrews ch9 – Christ ENTERED Heaven for us

The Preacher 1 Comment

Hebrews 9 chapter overview.

The Earthly TABERNACLE. 9:1-10

Heb 9:2 For there was a TABERNACLE made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

Christ ENTERED heaven, the real tent, with his own blood. 11-14

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he ENTERED in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

The NEW covenant established by the blood. 15-22

Heb 9:5 And for this cause he is the mediator of the NEW testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

He entered the TRUE things, to God himself for us. 23-28

Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the TRUE; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Hebrews chpt 8

The Preacher 1 Comment

Hebrews chapter 8.

Heb 8:1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

Jesus is Seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. 1.

Jesus is A Minister, A Mediator, of a A Better covenant… 2,6.

“I Will…” Jeremiah 31:31-34; 8-12.

“A New Covenant.” 8:8, 13; Jer 31:31.

How is Jesus BETTER?

The Old Covenant is obsolete, growing old, and ready to vanish away. (now has vanished after the destruction of Jerusalem).

OLD TESTAMENT

Old Heb 8:13

For Transg. Gal 3:16

Limited. Heb 8:7, 10:4

Abolished. Eph 2:15

Was a Shadow. Heb 10:1

NEW TESTAMENT

Now in force Heb 10:9

Today Obey. Heb 3:7

Last one. Heb 10:26

Appeared to all. Titus 2:11

Water Required. Mark 16:16

New Testament Christianity

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“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” [Galatians 5:4]

This passage in Galatians is a warning for Christians that keeping any part of the Law of Moses will take you out of the grace of Christ. Some try to reinterpret it as a faith only passage. Not so. The followers of Christ are to be command keepers [Mat 7:21-23; Luke 6:46] of His New Covenant.

There is a reason why the churches of Christ do what they do (a Capella singing, simple worship, weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper). We recognize Christ as our Head [Col 1:18], He has all authority [Mat 28:18] and those that love Him will keep HIS commandments [John 14:15]. God the Father said this, “This is my beloved Son: hear him.” [Mark 9:7] This means that we listen to Jesus, not Moses, and especially not any man nor man made religion.

Jesus promised to build His church [Mat 16:18], and that this church [which is His kingdom Col 1:13] will begin within the lifetime of those that heard him [Mark 9:1]. On the first Pentecost after His resurrection, [Acts 2:1–47] the church began. No one spoke of it being in existence before that day, and thereafter it’s spoken of as being in existence.

The guiding rules of faith and practices are found in the covenant from Jesus, as delivered by the Holy Spirit [John 16:13; Eph 3:1-4] and not the Law of Moses from Mt. Sinai.

We need to pay attention to what The Holy Spirit reveals in the New Testament about the change from the Law of Moses to the Law of Christ.

• Hear Jesus, not Moses [Mat 17:5; Mark 9:7].
• Preach the gospel [Mat 28:18–20].
• The Word of Christ Judges [John 12:48].
• Dead to the Law of Moses [Romans 7:1–7].
• “Christ is the end of the law” [Romans 10:4].
• “Engraven in stones…done away” [2Cor 3:7–14].
• Broken down the wall [Eph 2:14].
• Nailing it to His cross [Col 2:14].
• A Priesthood change required a Law change [Hebrews 7:12; 9:11].
• He is the mediator of the new testament [Hebrews 9:16–17].
• He (Jesus) taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. [Hebrews 10:9].

No longer does man offer animals to atone for sin. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” [Heb 10:4] Jesus shed His blood “once for all” and has “sat down on the right hand of God.” [Heb 10:12]

No longer does man keep the Passover, abstain from certain foods nor keep certain days [Col 2:14-17]. No longer do we need a special group of priests, for those added to the church are now a ‘royal priesthood’ [1Pet 2:9]. This new Law of Christ doesn’t require it, and to revert to it is to sin against the One who shed His blood, ‘ye have fallen from Grace.’

In the New Testament, no longer do we burn incense, build temples (we are the temple Eph 2:21), dance or play instruments. Did God leave New Testament worship up for us to decide? No, God tells us what He wants, and we do it [Mat 28:20]. We are given unleavened bread, fruit of the vine, prayers, vocal singing, giving & teaching.

The Old Testament is for our learning, not for New Testament law. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,” [Rom 15:4]. We should read the Old Testament to learn about many things, some of which is how God communicates with and how He instructs man. However, to go back to the Law of Moses to bring forward any practice (musical instruments, clergy / laity, feasts) will remove you from the grace of Christ and obligate you to do it all. You will have fallen from Grace.

We here at the Franklin & Juniper church of Christ practice New Testament Christianity with the Bible as our creed book. We Welcome you to come find out what the Bible says.

When Forever is not

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One of the objections folks will bring against us, in the Lord’s church, is the one about us no longer holding to the commands of the Old Law. They will point to the regulations regarding the Sabbath and say, “it says we must keep it forever, but you say no. Who’s right, you or God?” this line of argument is most often used when we point out that although David used an instrument for worship, that is no authority for us today. They think they have us caught. However, as I will show in this article, it is they who are “caught” and it will be by the very way Jesus corrected the Sadducees; “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” [Mat 22:29]

When ‘forever’ is not

First, we need to point out to these folks that there are some ‘forever’ things that are not forever.

These things are called “eternal” and “perpetual” in the Bible, yet they have been abolished: The Feast of Unleavened Bread: [Ex 12:17]; Burnt offering: [Ex 29:39-42]; Day of Atonement: [Lev 23:28-31]. According to their logic, we should STILL HAVE ANIMAL SACRIFICES! If we still have animal sacrifices what then was the need for Jesus to die on a cross?! Surely, they have read Hebrews 10:10… “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

If the Sabbath day is to be observed because of the words ‘forever’ ‘everlasting’ ‘permanent’ ‘eternal’ [all of which are translated from the Hebrew ‘owlam’] then we ought also to keep all the Jewish holy days and feasts! Interesting side note, I met a lady this past week who intends on starting a “new” church that will do this very thing, KEEP THE JEWISH FEASTS because they were commanded to be kept ‘forever.’

Setting aside the admonition from Paul that if one keeps one part of the Law they are obligated to keep the whole law, and if they do, they ‘have fallen from grace’ that is, lose their salvation [Gal 5:1-4. (this particular woman has no salvation for she also said that she had asked Jesus into your heart, a primary error needing to be taught more accurately.)

The meaning of forever

We need to examine the meaning of ‘forever’ as well as the meaning of ‘throughout their generations’ as it was used in the Old Testament.

As pointed out above, the Hebrew word ‘owlam’ that is translated forever, everlasting, perpetual, eternal or permanent does not mean never ending rather it means ‘age lasting.’ In Jonah 2:6 Jonah says that he was in the fish forever, but he wasn’t, he was only inside the belly for 3 days!

Another example of ‘forever’ meaning ‘age lasting’ is with a righteous earthly king. It is said that these will have thrones established forever. “The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established forever.” [ Proverbs 29:14] Did they? Of course not, their throne only lasted as long as they were alive.

When God spoke about something being forever, everlasting, perpetual, eternal or permanent in the Old Testament He was limiting it to their generations, that is, He limited it to the Jewish age. The Jewish age stopped when Jesus died on the cross. The Sabbath, the feasts, all Jewish holy days and institutions were ‘nailed to the cross’ [Colossians 2:14].

‘shall surely be put to death’

Here is another problem that comes from ‘not knowing the scriptures.’ Are they going to keep ALL PARTS of the command to keep the Sabbath? You can read about it in Exodus 31:13-17;

“… Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant…”  [Exodus 31:13-17] [emphasis mine seb]

I know of no one today who advocates for keeping the Sabbath who will put to death any who don’t. Why follow it at all if you’re not going to keep it all? Which is the point Paul made to the Galatians, “o foolish Galatians” [Gal 3:1].

There are even more examples we could cite that destroys this foolish notion that the Sabbath, the feasts and the holy days be kept forever.

  • Will the Earth remain forever [Eccl 1:4; Ps 78:69; Ps 104:5]? Nope! [2Pet 3:10-12; Rev 20:11; Rev 21:1,4,23; Rev 22:5; Heb 12:26-27; 2Co 4:18]
  • Shall circumcision remain forever [Gen 17:10-14]? Better not. [Gal 5:1-4; Rom 2:28-29].
  • How about tabernacle candles or Tabernacle Shewbread [Lev 24:2-9]? I think not. [Heb 8:13-9:4]

This last one really freaks them out when I say I don’t follow the 10 commandments [Deut 5:1-29 Esp. v29]. Romans 7:1-7 explains how we are dead to the Law to be joined to the body of Christ!

Let’s abandoned all these attempts to bring back the Old Law, our High Priest and King has delivered to us a much better covenant.

ETERNAL LIFE

Under the better covenant of Christ, He promises eternal life. At the judgement, the last day of this physical realm, Jesus will separate all of humanity into 2 groups;

Mt 25:31-46 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left…And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

It’s at that time that those who have obeyed the Gospel will inherit “eternal life.”

Please, obey the Gospel so that you may enjoy the spiritual blessings promised in Christ. Ephesians 1:3