Paula Wiseman

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All Things New: The Covenant

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All Things New The Covenant title graphic

It’s a new year and our thoughts naturally tend toward making a fresh start. As believers, we have already experienced the freshest start possible. Our sins have been wiped away completely, and we are a new creation. Paul says as much in 2 Corinthians 5:17. We have a new birth, new life, new position, new nature, new goals, new relationships, a new mission, a new purpose … and many more. But the key to all of this, we learned last week, was God’s divine initiative. One of the ways that initiative was manifested was God initiating a covenant with individuals and with groups of people. And we learn about those in Hebrews.

Before we discuss the covenants themselves, it’s important to realize that they are solely a function of God’s grace. Yes, Abraham was a man of faith, but God’s decision to cut a covenant with the patriarch came before Abram exercised any faith in God. It wasn’t a case of God reviewing humanity and deciding Abram was someone He could work with, someone He wanted on His team. No. Fallen humanity never seeks God or the things of God. But God does seek us, and He graciously calls us into a relationship with Him. Abram wasn’t a party to the first covenant in Scripture but his is the first we’ll consider.

Abraham

In Hebrews 6:13-14, the writer recalls the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 22.

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”

Even though the writer doesn’t cite the entire covenant and its promises, they were certainly in view to him and to his readers. Those promises included an inheritance of land in Canaan and a unique identity as God’s people. God chose a people for Himself, the descendants of Abraham. Later, we’ll find out just what it means to be a descendant of Abraham.

Moses

When we think of covenants, we think of the covenant God made with Israel through the Exodus. In Exodus 19 God invites the people to live as His people, under His law. While the people immediately accepted that offer, especially after seeing the miraculous deliverance from Egypt, things went south quickly.

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?

Hebrews 3:15-16

The covenant based on keeping God’s law was a failure because the people were rebellious. Note it was not a problem with God’s law. Paul explains in Romans 7 the law was good. It points out how high God’s standards are and how short we fall. Even if we think things would have been different if WE had been at Sinai, if WE had seen those miracles … the truth is, WE have already failed. A quick dip on social media provides enough evidence that, left to ourselves, we are in deep trouble. Better evidence is in Romans 3 where Paul plainly tells us that none of us are good, none of us seek after God.

While that first covenant had a system in place to cover our sins and delay judgment, there was no permanent way to erase our sins. That’s why God initiated a New Covenant in Christ.

The NEW Covenant

Christ Himself explained in the Upper Room that He was inaugurating a new covenant, guaranteed by His blood. The writer of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 about the New Covenant.

For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant…”

Hebrews 8:8-9

This is how we know the New Covenant wasn’t a last-minute idea God threw together when Israel couldn’t keep the Law. HE knew we wouldn’t be able to keep the Law. We, however, had to see for ourselves. (We’re stubborn that way.) God knew all along that redemption through the blood of Christ was the only way our sins could be dealt with and satisfy both His justice and His grace.

Hebrews 9 explains (and it is absolutely worth the long quote):

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9:11-15.

The blood of goats and bulls could only go so far. How much MORE will the blood of Christ Jesus Himself, freely offered, purify us! This is how we become the people of God by faith like Abraham. We believe God that Christ’s death is sufficient and is available to us. God accounts that to us and we are considered righteous.

Now that’s not the end of the story, and we don’t get to simply sit around patting ourselves on the back. Under the covenant made while Moses led the people, obedience was expected in order to enjoy the blessings of the covenant. Deuteronomy 27 describes how the Israelites lined up on Mounts Ebal and Gerizim to rehearse the curses for disobedience and the blessings for obedience.

Even under the New Covenant, believers have a responsibility. While we’ll look at the charge more next week, here’s how the writer of Hebrews lays it out.

Therefore, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Hebrews 10:19-24

Christmas with Paul: The Panacea

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Christmas with Paul The Panacea title graphic

When we think of Christmas, we think of the gospels or maybe the Old Testament prophecies that told of Christ’s coming. This Christmas season let’s dig a little deeper and see what the Apostle Paul said about Christ’s birth. While Paul never wrote at length on the subject, he does tell us some things that are critical to understanding who Christ is and why He came. Galatians is one of Paul’s earliest letters. In it he tackles some major doctrines including Christology (who Christ is) and soteriology (what salvation is). Toward the end of the book, he explains Christ’s birth, His coming in the flesh, was the panacea, the cure-all, the solution, to our greatest problem.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-5

The Problem

Exclusion – Ever since that day in the Garden, when mankind, through Adam, rebelled against God’s most basic command, we have been excluded. It began as Adam and Eve were excluded from His presence in Eden. It continues to eternal exclusion from His presence in hell.

Edict – God decreed that anyone who ate of the tree in the center of the garden would die. (Gen. 2:17) Later, He reiterated the soul that sins, it shall die (Ezek. 18:4, 20). We are under a decree of death.

Enemies – Not only that, but because of our rebellion, we have made ourselves God’s enemies. (Col. 1:24, Romans 5:10).

To put it bluntly, we were hopeless. We can’t undo our sins. We can’t do enough good works to pay for them. Unless God Himself took action we had no way out of the mess we were in.

But God took action. Substitutionary atonement on a breathtaking scale.

The Panacea

Paul says God sent His Son. Better than His personal representative, because of the triune nature of God, He came Himself to do what we could not — to redeem those under the curse because of the law of God.

The punishment wasn’t erased, mind you. God’s justice was satisfied. His holiness and righteousness were maintained. The penalty was paid. We were set free.

And then it gets better.

So complete was God’s solution to our problem, His cure for situation, that He then adopted us into His family. Think of it. When felons are released from prison in our society, they are given the most meager resources to start anew. A few dollars. Perhaps a change of clothes. Maybe a bus ticket.

Not so with God! He opens His arms and welcomes us as lavishly as He welcomes His Son. We can respond like John:  Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1).

Before we were even aware of our desperate state, Jesus worked out our redemption and salvation.

This panacea, though, would not be available if Christ had not been born of a woman, born at Christmas!

Christmas with Paul: The Prophecy

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Christmas with Paul The Prophecy title graphic

When we think of Christmas, we think of the gospels or maybe the Old Testament prophecies that told of Christ’s coming. This Christmas season let’s dig a little deeper and see what the Apostle Paul said about Christ’s birth. While Paul never wrote at length on the subject, he does tell us some things that are critical to understanding who Christ is and why He came. The book of Romans is Paul’s great treatise on what the gospel is and what it means for Jews and Gentiles. Not surprisingly it begins with the birth of Jesus as fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, specifically the prophecy given to David. An once again, Paul uses very few words to tell us quite a bit.

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,

Romans 1:1-3

The First Promise

In Genesis, God Himself makes the first promise and prophecy of a coming Redeemer.

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

Last week we saw how the coming of Christ was the key piece of God’s eternal plan. Here, Paul shows us that from the beginning, God revealed that plan through the prophetic word.

The Prophecy of the Son

Even more amazing than the fact that God would send a Redeemer was that the Redeemer would be none other than the very Son of God. Paul says so every chance he gets, but he is pulling from his knowledge of the Old Testament too. Psalm 2 tells us:

“I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Psalm 2:7

All of Psalm 2 looks forward to the rule of the Son and His Kingdom. Which brings us the final point in Paul’s declaration about the Christ.

The Prophecy of the King

In stating that Jesus was born a descendant of David, Paul refers to the prophecy given to King David in 2 Samuel 7.

“Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”‘” 2 Samuel 7:16

The gospel is not just our salvation. The Good News also includes the coming Kingdom which establishes Christ’s rule over all creation. It is the consummation of our redemption. But the eternal kingdom is a continuation of the earthly kingdom of David.

As Paul shows us, the fulfillment of that astounding prophecy (and so many others) was set in motion at Christmas.

Next week, we’ll learn about the solution to a problem we didn’t realize we had.

Christmas with Paul: The Plan

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Christmas with Paul The Plan title graphic

When we think of Christmas, we go to the gospels or maybe the Old Testament prophecies that told of Christ’s coming. This Christmas season let’s dig a little deeper and see what the Apostle Paul said about Christ’s birth. While never wrote at length on the subject, he does tell us some things that are critical to understanding who Christ is and why He came. In Romans 9, Paul outlines God’s plan of redemption by highlighting Israel’s role.

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9:4-5

The Not-Christmas Part of the Plan

Paul says quite a bit in a very short space. While each of the items deserves an extensive explanation, we’ll just stick with a skeleton of the plan. (Of course, feel free to chase your own footnotes. It’s good stuff!)

The Adoption – In grace, God chose a people to call His own. And the Old Testament makes clear His people were to be a light for all people to come to know Him.

The Glory – God showed His glory to Israel and then dwelt with them.

The Covenants- God entered into an unbreakable relationship with His people.

The Law – God revealed His character and holiness through His Law. His plan also prescribed a way of life that would set His people apart from all others.

The Worship – The sacrifices, feasts and offerings underscored the worthiness of God and the poverty of His people. The worship celebrated all the aspects of His character and His works.

The Promises – God made promises to His people that He would remove their sins so that they could enter into His rest and their inheritance.

The Patriarchs – These (the promises, the worship, the Law, the covenants, the glory, the adoption) have been passed down so they were not limited in scope by time or geography, but reflect the eternal, unchanging God who declared them. The patriarchs set the example of faith, trusting God would do all that He promised.

The Christmas Part of the Plan

The key piece of God’s plan was removing the sins of a sinful people. His justice demanded the sins must be paid for. He couldn’t simply indulge us and look away. His love moved Him to protect us from having to make that awful payment.

His grace … and the Incarnation, that is Christmas, resolved that conundrum. God took on flesh. I know, it sounds crazy. God laid aside His glory long enough to become one of us so that He could then become one with us.

While he doesn’t spell it out explicitly, Paul tells us that at Christmas, the Plan leaves the drawing board. Faith has its first taste of sight in the manger in Bethlehem.

A Holy Priesthood: Cleansed

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A Holy Priesthood Cleansed title graphic

Peter says believers are a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5), drawing parallels with the priesthood established under the Law. Peter packs a lot of information and theological truth in that one metaphor. So let’s take a few posts to break down what Peter wants us to understand. The first thing is God has cleansed us from our sin.

The priests were cleansed by a series of sacrifices.

As the priesthood was inaugurated, before the priests could serve, God instructed Moses to bring Aaron and his sons before all the people and perform a detailed ritual. You can read about it Leviticus 8. The first step, though, was a a regular physical washing to get rid of dirt. Aaron and his sons were dressed in special garments (we’ll talk about those later) and anointed with oil (we’ll also talk about this) before they offered a series of sacrifices.

First was a sin offering. This was for unintentional sins and restored the offerer to a right relationship with God. The burnt offering was also a payment for sins. These two together illustrate the seriousness of sin and a recognition of its awful consequence. Finally, they offered a wave offering. The wave offering seems to be a subtype of the peace offering. It was meant to express thanks to God.

Jesus cleansed us from sin by His death.

The Old Testament sacrifices were a temporary measure to stay God’s judgment until a perfect sacrifice could be made. This is one of the major threads in Scripture. Christ was that perfect sacrifice. Paul explains

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 5:8-9

Jesus’s death did all the things that series of sacrifices did (and more). It paid for our sins and restored our relationship with God, a relationship that had been broken since Eden. Then John affirms that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). In Romans 8:1 Paul further says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” NO condemnation. The cleansing is complete and final. No more guilt. No more shame.

We no longer offer wave offerings but thanks and gratitude for this amazing gift are certainly warranted. One way we can show our thanks is to live a life that keeps us unspotted from the world (James 1:27).

Next week we’ll look into the clothes Aaron and his sons wore for service.

Influencing or Conforming

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Influencing or Conforming title graphic

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

The word influence comes from an Old Latin word that means to flow into.
Think of water. It flows in and around the tiniest spaces with just a little help from gravity.

Jesus intends for us to take the things we’ve learned and seen from Him and influence the world around us.
It flows from Him through us to others.

But what happens if the flow stops?
It’s contained.

That’s the other thing about water.
If it’s contained, it conforms to the shape of its container.

If we are contained …
By society, by fear, by lack of compassion,
Then we conform to that container.

We are either influencing the world for the Kingdom, or the world is conforming us to its container.

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