Saturday, May 21, 2011
Living under the New Covenant (part I)
The Holy Spirit has a key role in the New Covenant. It is he who makes us the new temple by dwelling in us; it is he who guides us with the law that is now written on our hearts; and it is he who matures us as a Son of God.
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:
'No eye has seen, no hear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'
"but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)
However, just like the time of Paul writing to the Corinthians, today:
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as wordly--mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul [modern: Calvin]," and another, "I follow Apollos [modern: Arminius]," are you not mere men?" (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore, let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity...." (Hebrews 5:11-6:1)
So how do we grow in our maturity? By the constant use of solid food from the Holy Spirit.
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:
'No eye has seen, no hear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'
"but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)
However, just like the time of Paul writing to the Corinthians, today:
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as wordly--mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul [modern: Calvin]," and another, "I follow Apollos [modern: Arminius]," are you not mere men?" (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore, let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity...." (Hebrews 5:11-6:1)
So how do we grow in our maturity? By the constant use of solid food from the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
New Covenant Recap
The other day I was thinking how the progression of my study on the New Covenant has followed orderly. After looking at the breakdown of the New Covenant and the changes that came with it, I now plan to look at living under the New Covenant and then the implications the New Covenant has on end times (eschatology).
I. Breakdown
A. I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
B. I will put my law within them
C. I will be their God, and they shall be my people
D. I will forgive their iniquity
E. I will remember their sin no more
II. Changes
A. New Maturity
B. New Land Focus
C. New Mission
D. New Temple
E. New High Priest
F. New Sacrifice
i. Passover Lamb
ii. Day of Atonement
iii. Regular Sacrifices
iv. Inaugural Sacrifice
III. Implications
A. Living under the New Covenant
B. Eschatology from the New Covenant
I. Breakdown
A. I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
B. I will put my law within them
C. I will be their God, and they shall be my people
D. I will forgive their iniquity
E. I will remember their sin no more
II. Changes
A. New Maturity
B. New Land Focus
C. New Mission
D. New Temple
E. New High Priest
F. New Sacrifice
i. Passover Lamb
ii. Day of Atonement
iii. Regular Sacrifices
iv. Inaugural Sacrifice
III. Implications
A. Living under the New Covenant
B. Eschatology from the New Covenant
Friday, May 13, 2011
New Sacrifice under the New Covenant (IV. Inaugural Sacrifice)
The old covenant started with blood:
"Then [Moses] sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, 'We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.' Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, 'This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." (Exodus 24:5-8, see also Hebrews 9:19-22)
Likewise the new covenant started with blood:
"[Jesus] entered once for all into the holy places ... by means of his own blood. ... 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. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood." (Hebrews 9:12, 15-18)
Therefore, just with the old covenant, "God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank," (Exodus 24:11) it is with the new covenant: "after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:25-26)
"Then [Moses] sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, 'We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.' Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, 'This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." (Exodus 24:5-8, see also Hebrews 9:19-22)
Likewise the new covenant started with blood:
"[Jesus] entered once for all into the holy places ... by means of his own blood. ... 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. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood." (Hebrews 9:12, 15-18)
Therefore, just with the old covenant, "God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank," (Exodus 24:11) it is with the new covenant: "after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:25-26)
Thursday, May 12, 2011
New Sacrifice under the New Covenant (III. Daily Sacrifices)
"And every priest stands daily at his service ..." (Hebrews 10:11)
The priests never had time to sit down; they were always working. "... you shall offer to the LORD two male lambs a year old without blemish day by day as a regular offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight" (Numbers 28:3-4)
This daily sacrifice would be around 700 lambs a year*. Furthermore, "on the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year ... this is the burnt offering every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering." (Numbers 28:9-10)
The Sabbath sacrifices would add another 100 lambs. But it doesn't stop there: "at the beginning of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven males lambs a year old without blemish." (Numbers 28:11)
On top of these sacrifices a required two bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old, and a male goat were offered on the first day of Passover and on the day of the firstfruits. On the first day of the Feast of Trumpets and on the Day of Atonement one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old, and a male goat was also offered each year. Then during the Feast of Tabernacles a total of 71 bulls, 15 rams, 105 male lambs a year old, and 8 male goats were sacrificed. (Numbers 28:16-29:38)
But it doesn't stop there. It is almost uncountable the amount of sacrifices that individuals and their families brought for burnt offerings (Leviticus 1), peace offerings (Leviticus 3), sin offerings (Leviticus 4-5:13), and guilt offerings (Leviticus 5:14-7). Each family was also to sacrifice a lamb at Passover. At the time of David's Census, Israel had 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword. This number is probably a good estimate on the number of family units.
HOWEVER .....
"And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a SINGLE sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.... For by a SINGLE offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:11-14)
It was truly finished!
*: The Jewish calendar has historically been based on the moon. A twelve lunar month period is approximately 11 days different than one solar year. An extra lunar month is added every 2 to 3 years.
The priests never had time to sit down; they were always working. "... you shall offer to the LORD two male lambs a year old without blemish day by day as a regular offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight" (Numbers 28:3-4)
This daily sacrifice would be around 700 lambs a year*. Furthermore, "on the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year ... this is the burnt offering every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering." (Numbers 28:9-10)
The Sabbath sacrifices would add another 100 lambs. But it doesn't stop there: "at the beginning of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven males lambs a year old without blemish." (Numbers 28:11)
On top of these sacrifices a required two bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old, and a male goat were offered on the first day of Passover and on the day of the firstfruits. On the first day of the Feast of Trumpets and on the Day of Atonement one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old, and a male goat was also offered each year. Then during the Feast of Tabernacles a total of 71 bulls, 15 rams, 105 male lambs a year old, and 8 male goats were sacrificed. (Numbers 28:16-29:38)
But it doesn't stop there. It is almost uncountable the amount of sacrifices that individuals and their families brought for burnt offerings (Leviticus 1), peace offerings (Leviticus 3), sin offerings (Leviticus 4-5:13), and guilt offerings (Leviticus 5:14-7). Each family was also to sacrifice a lamb at Passover. At the time of David's Census, Israel had 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword. This number is probably a good estimate on the number of family units.
HOWEVER .....
"And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a SINGLE sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.... For by a SINGLE offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:11-14)
It was truly finished!
*: The Jewish calendar has historically been based on the moon. A twelve lunar month period is approximately 11 days different than one solar year. An extra lunar month is added every 2 to 3 years.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
New Sacrifice under the New Covenant (II. Yom Kippur)
Passover was one of three pilgrimage festivals. The priests would be extremely busy around the temple. However, no work would be done within the Most Holy Place. It would be another six months before the high priest would slip through the curtain into that inner sanctuary. I cannot imagine the thoughts of those priests who were in the temple when:
"Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." (Matthew 27:50-51)
"The LORD said to Moses: 'Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die.'" (Exodus 16:2)
On the traditional Day of Atonement, "Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household." (Leviticus 16:6)
On this day of Christ's Atonement, "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." (Hebrews 9:12)
Aaron would then choose a goat by lot: "The goat chosen by lot falls to the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat." (Leviticus 16:10)
"The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29)
"[Aaron] is to take some of the bull's blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover." (Leviticus 16:14)
"God put forward [Jesus Christ] as a propitiation [sacrifice of atonement, atonement cover] by his blood." (Romans 3:25)
"Therefore, brothers, 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." (Hebrews 10:19-22)
"Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." (Matthew 27:50-51)
"The LORD said to Moses: 'Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die.'" (Exodus 16:2)
On the traditional Day of Atonement, "Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household." (Leviticus 16:6)
On this day of Christ's Atonement, "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." (Hebrews 9:12)
Aaron would then choose a goat by lot: "The goat chosen by lot falls to the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat." (Leviticus 16:10)
"The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29)
"[Aaron] is to take some of the bull's blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover." (Leviticus 16:14)
"God put forward [Jesus Christ] as a propitiation [sacrifice of atonement, atonement cover] by his blood." (Romans 3:25)
"Therefore, brothers, 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." (Hebrews 10:19-22)
