Keys to the Covenants
Keys to Understanding the Scriptures
2 Pet 3:1 -- I stir up
your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be
mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy
prophets and of the commandment of us the apostles of the
Lord and Saviour:
Old vs. New Testament
This is very
simple, and very simply misapplied by many in the Church.
The Old Testament contains the types and shadows which
point to the fulfillment of these in the New Testament.
What is testified in the Old Testament is made visible in
the New. Do not make the mistake of some who try to use the Old Testament
to explain the New when it is the New which explains the
Old. The Old Testament and most of the Gospels speak to
the flesh and soul. The New Testament beginning with the
resurrection of Jesus as Savior and Lord, speaks of and
to the spirit.
Heb 1:1, 2 God, who at sundry
times and in divers manners spake in time
past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days
spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also
he made the worlds;
- God spoke in past
times by the prophets of the Old Testament of
things which would come.
- Today we have the
visible revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ Who
was and is and is to come.
Heb 10:1, 2 For the law having a shadow
of good things to come,
and not the very
image of the things, can never with
those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then
would they not have ceased
to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged
should have had no more conscience of
sins.
- The Law is a shadow of what is to come
- The image (visible manifestation) is the fulfillment of the Law in Jesus Christ
Rom 1:1-4 Paul, a servant of
Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated
unto the gospel of God, (Which he had
promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made
of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared
to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit
of holiness, by the resurrection
from the dead:
- Promised before through the Old Testament prophets
- Shown openly in the flesh by the resurrection
Heb 8:6, 7 But now
hath he obtained a more excellent
ministry, by how much also he is the
mediator of a better covenant,
which was established upon better
promises. For if that first covenant
had been faultless, then should no place have been sought
for the second.
- The ministry of Jesus Christ is now
- It is a more excellent ministry
- We have a better covenant the New Covenant (Testament)
- It is established on better promises
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new
covenant, he hath made the first old.
Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready
to vanish away.
- The new covenant supercedes the old
Doctrines of Men
Col 2:16-2:22 Let no
man therefore judge you in meat, or in
drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon,
or of the sabbath days: Which are a
shadow of things to come; but the body
is of Christ. Let no man beguile
you of your reward in a voluntary humility and
worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which
he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by
joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit
together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore
if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the
world, why, as though living in the
world, are ye subject to ordinances,
(Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to
perish with the using;) after the commandments
and doctrines of men?
- We are not to allow ourselves to cater to the dictates of men in will worship
- We are no longer subject to the Law for righteousness
- We now hold the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is NO other.
- We are dead to the rudiments of the world with its concerns over soulish behavior
- We are not to follow the doctrines of men
The Power of God
Rom 1:16, 17 For I am not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God
unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek. For therein
is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall
live by faith.
- The Gospel is the power of God
- It reveals the righteousness of God in those who are His
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but
by the faith of Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not
by the works of the law: for by the works of the law
shall no flesh be
justified.
- No justification is found in the keeping of the Law
- Our justification is by faith in Christ not by works of the Law
- No flesh is justified by the works of the Law
Christ the Fulfillment
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have
a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
our profession.
- We have our High Priest, Jesus the Son of God
- We must now hold fast our profession (of faith in Him)
Gal 2:19-21 For I through the law
am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the
grace of God: for if righteousness come
by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
- In Christ we are dead to the Law having been crucified with Him
- We gave up our old spirit and now have a new creation spirit alive with the life of Jesus himself!
- Righteousness comes only by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God on the Cross
Gal 3:10-13 For as many
as are of the works of the
law are under the curse:
for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth
not in all things which are written in the book of the
law to do them. But that no man is
justified by the law in the sight of
God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them
shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed
us from the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every
one that hangeth on a tree:
- Trying to live by the Law is to live under the curse of the Law
- Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law (sickness, poverty and death)
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth
the law? It was added because of transgressions, till
the seed should come to whom the
promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the
hand of a mediator.
- The Law was given to show us the deadliness of sin
- Jesus Christ came and died for us and completely set us free from the Law and the sin it made clear
How We Hear
Heb 5:11,--6:3 Of whom we have many
things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull
of hearing. For when for the time ye
ought to be teachers, ye have need that one
teach you again which be the first
principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as
have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one
that useth milk is unskillful in the word of
righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat
belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by
reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and
evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of
Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again
the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of
faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of
laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and
of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.
- Trying to live by the provisions of the Old Testament keeps us flesh -- and sin minded
- We become dull of hearing because we hold to the dead works with which the Law dealt
Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having
begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the
flesh?
- Choose this day spirit or flesh!
Gal 3:5 He therefore that
ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among
you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the
hearing of faith?
- God deals with us through the Spirit not through the Law
Stand Fast in Faith
Heb 10:55-57 Cast not away therefore
your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
For ye have need of patience,
that, after ye have
done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will
come, and will not
tarry.
- Stand in faith placing your confidence in Christ and His finished work
- He is coming quickly, He will not be late
Rom 5:2-5 By whom also we have
access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of
the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience;
and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love
of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto
us.
- We have access by faith into the very Presence of our Heavenly Father
- Even in trials we stand in patient hope of His promised deliverance
- His Love is never a disappointment working in us by the Holy Spirit Who indwells and anoints us
1 Cor 16:15 Watch ye, stand fast
in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
- By the power of the Holy Spirit we can and must stand strong
Eph 6:15-17 Wherefore take unto
you the whole armour
of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand. Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel
of peace; Above all, taking the shield
of faith, wherewith ye
shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked. And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God:
Having done all, stand in the power and protection of God wielding the sword of the Spirit.
Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
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