God's Covenant with His Church Today

Mrs. Ang Siew Khim

15-04-2018

Hebrews 8:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

A New Covenant

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.

Jeremiah 31:31-40 New King James Version (NKJV)

A New Covenant

31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,[a] says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

35 Thus says the Lord,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The Lord of hosts is His name):

36 “If those ordinances depart
From before Me, says the Lord,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease
From being a nation before Me forever.”

37 Thus says the Lord:

“If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done, says the Lord.

38 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that the city shall be built for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39 The surveyor’s line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb; then it shall turn toward Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the Lord. It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever.”

God wants to talk to you about His Covenant with mankind and especially His covenant for His Church.

Our God is a Covenant-keeping God.

The First Covenant with Man - Adam

Genesis 1:26 New King James Version (NKJV)

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all[a] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Adam made in the image of God.

God is a Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

We are a tripartite being (body, soul, spirit).

Adam's part was to rule over it.

They (Adam and Eve) were dressed in the glory of God. 

When Adam sold his birthright to Satan for the forbidden fruit, God had to kill a lamb to cover his nakedness. (Genesis 3:21)

Genesis 3:21 New King James Version (NKJV)

21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

This became the signature of the covenant with Adam outside the garden of Eden. God put His signature on the covenant--the blood of the lamb--a lamb had to die.

Cain introduced religion to the world: I work hard, I do it my way, my good deeds should outweigh.

God prescribed a way--the way of the Cross, the way of the lamb.

The Second Covenant - Noah

Each new covenant supersedes the last but the former is embraced in the latter, never discarded.

God's covenant with Noah is that the earth will keep its seasons so that food can grow for them. (Genesis 8:22)

Genesis 8:22 New King James Version (NKJV)

22 “While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”

The blood sacrifice remains. (Genesis 8:20)

Genesis 8:20 New King James Version (NKJV)

God’s Covenant with Creation

20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Meat will be added to their diet to supplement reduced nutrition in grains and fruits. (Genesis 9:3)

Genesis 9:3 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.

The whole earth and its life will not be destroyed by flood. (Genesis 9:11)

Genesis 9:11 New King James Version (NKJV)

11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

The signature of the covenant was the rainbow. (Genesis 9:8-17)

Genesis 9:8-17 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 9 “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants[a] after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. 11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12 And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

It is a promise of God's care.

Noah's descendants challenged God--built a tower. (Genesis 10:1-11:32)

The Third Covenant - Abraham

Two parts:

1) With Israel (Genesis 15:17-18)

Genesis 15:17-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying:

“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—

Israel to inherit land.

2) Abraham to be a blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15-18, Genesis 17:2, Genesis 7-11)

Genesis 12:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV)

Promises to Abram

12 Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

All nations will be blessed through his offspring.

His name, Abraham, means the father of many nations. Through him, the Gentile nations will be blessed.

The signature: The circumcision of the flesh (Genesis 17:10-11, Genesis 17:14)

Genesis 17:10-11 New King James Version (NKJV)

10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.

Genesis 17:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

Covenant was renewed with Jacob and Isaac.

The Fourth Covenant - Moses

Moses was sent to deliver the Hebrews from Pharaoh.

We see the birth of a nation. The Laws were given--moral, civil, religious.

A perfect example of a perfect society under God. Admired by other nations. (Deuteronomy 4:6-8)

Deuteronomy 4:6-8 New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’

7 “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? 8 And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?

If only they followed them. Sadly they did not.

God always have the good in mind.

The signature: The keeping of the Sabbath.

Breaking the Sabbath Law was breaking the agreement with God. This time, it does not just affect the individual alone but the whole tribe--the whole fabric of a newly born nation, Israel--suffers. (Exodus 31:12-13; Exodus 31:16-17)

Exodus 31:12-13 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Sabbath Law

12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

Exodus 31:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV)

16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”

The Fifth Covenant - The Lord Jesus Christ

"5" is the number of grace.

In Jesus Christ, all the covenants are embodied.

Hebrews 8:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Jesus came as the Second Adam. He did what the first Adam failed to do. Adam sold his birthright.

Jesus paid the price to buy us back.

Adam sinned. Jesus overcame temptation by Satan. He became the sacrificial lamb to take away our sins.

Noah failed to raise up godly descendants. Jesus has millions of born-again children.

Abraham's tribes did not bring God to the Gentiles but Jesus has brought every tribe and tongue to worship God.

We can now claim the blessing of Abraham. Through His people, the gospel is preached everywhere.

Israel became inward looking, exclusive. We are not to fall into that trap.

Jesus has no identity crisis. He is who He is.

Jesus fulfilled the Law for us. He gave us a new Sabbath. We worship Jesus on the first day of the week, i.e. Sunday.

Worship God.

Don't condemn others.

Preach the gospel.

Matthew 5:17-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

Christ Fulfills the Law

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

God works through a man when a covenant is made because God gave man the authority on earth.

Because Jesus came as a man, He fulfilled the covenant.

Your new covenant with God:

1) The Grace Covenant of Salvation

All our good works is not enough to pay back a huge debt with growing interest every day. Jesus settled our huge impossible debt. Our good works are now credited into our savings, growing healthy interest in heaven.

Salvation is when you accept Him as Saviour.

The Signature: Baptism (Mark 16:16)

Mark 16:16 New King James Version (NKJV)

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

A symbol of death and resurrection.

2) The Covenant of His Return

(1 Corinthians 11:25-26)

1 Corinthians 11:25-26 New King James Version (NKJV)

25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

The Signature: Holy Communion

Your Rights and Responsibilities

This is your MEANTIME while waiting for the END TIME!

Keep our covenant.

1) Preach the Gospel; Holy Spirit will open hearts.

2) End material addictions and serve others; He provides all things.

3) Die to self ambition, you have a vision and calling of God and not an ambition; He exalts you.

4) Die to self; God gives you an abundant life.

Philippians 3:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Our part - Four steps; God's part - Empowering

1) Count all things as rubbish. (Philippians 3:8)

God positions us in His kingdom on earth. Material things are good servants but they are bad masters. 

2) That I may know Him. (Philippians 3:8)

An intimacy close to God's heart. Know His ways, His character, a friend of God. Many personal encounters with God. Feel the presence of God yourself. Secondhand food is no good.

3) The power of His resurrection.

Hebrews 6:5 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

a) Power of prayer

b) Power of command and declaration

Declare the kingdom of God. Declare the peace of God.

c) Ministering angels to help. Warrior angels to do battles.

d) Holy Spirit's 9 gifts.

e) Power of His Presence. The glory of the Lord manifested, new move. (Isaiah 60:1-2)

4) The Fellowship of His suffering

Revelation 12:11 New King James Version (NKJV)

11 ...the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Use the Power of His Resurrection!

Prayer; Preparation; Provision.