Click Here to Download this
FREE Book 

 

DISCIPLES  OF  CHRIST

 

 

Volume Two

 

Covenant Epistemology

 A Comparative Analysis

 

  

 

by

 

Apostle Daniel A. Briggs, Ph.D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olive Press © 2007
University of World Christian Ministries Association

 

Publishing Headquarters
World Christian Ministries Association, Inc.
1015 Atlantic Blvd., Ste 456

Jacksonville, FL 32233

 

 

Official Website:

 

www.wcma-usa.org

 

TABLES OF CONTENTS

 

                                CHAPTER ONE

Covenant Defined

                                CHAPTER TWO

                                Divine Covenants

                                CHAPTER THREE

The Messianic Covenant
The Coniah (Jeconiah) Impasse and Paradigm Shifting

                                 CHAPTER FOUR

The Messianic Covenant
The Work of Christ

                                 CHAPTER FIVE

The Messianic Covenant
Adopted Child, Different Fold or Fifth Wife

                                 CHAPTER SIX

                                Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic and Messianic – A Comparative Analysis

                                CHAPTER SEVEN

                                Enjoining the Messianic Covenant

 

 

 

 

 

PREFACE

 

 

                This book will lay essential fundamental salvific building blocks that have been missing from the minds of far too many Christians.  Christianity is comprised of both thought and experience and one without the other dissolves Christianity into unstableness and shifting sands, void of elevated spiritual reality. 

 

 

            "...we walk by faith, not by sight". 

 

            2 Corinthians 5:7

 

 

"So then faith cometh by hearing (akoe), and hearing (akoe) by the word of YHVH."

 

            Romans 10:17

 

 

The Greek word akoe means to "give audience to"; "to understand".     

 

 

            "But without faith it is impossible to please him..."

 

            Hebrews 11:6

 

            Faith requires both cognition (thought) and the senses.  Sight is only a sense and can be misleading.  YHVH's truths are spiritual and require faith that, yes, affect the physical, but are not understood by the senses.  Only the mind can comprehend.  The senses merely convey information to be assimilated and synthesized by the brain, the seat of the human spirit and origins of faith.  And without faith, it is impossible to please YHVH.  Thus, the only scriptural way to increase faith is to "hear" (akoe) the word of YHVH.

 

Hearing the word of YHVH requires self-discipline since it helps a person maintain an attention span long enough to “hear”.   Once the information is assessed, it can be added to the knowledge and enlightenment base, which increases one's faith.  This knowledge and enlightenment base is not just information, but specific spiritual information found within the scriptures.

 

            This book will provide essential information critical to the establishment of strong faith in the hearts and minds of believers.  It will also aid you to better grasp subsequent teachings.  The reader will discover WHO they are and WHY they are who they are in the current context of human history.  The reader will be introduced to WHY they think and believe the way they do and so on.

 

 

 

DISCLOSURE

 

 

Theology is known as the science or the study of God (Theos) and of the relations between God, man and the universe.  However, even the word Theos and Theology come from Greek influences (Hellenism).  The word Theos is a Greek deity which is not a term that Christ or the Apostles used.  The Messiachim (a name used by Jews to collectively refer to the believers of Christ as Messiah) would have used the name YHVH instead of God and Yahweh for the Tetragrammaton YHVH.  Christ's name was Yahshua (or Yeshua), not Jesus.   Jesus is an English translation of a Greek name Iesous.   Some Jewish Messiachim historians believe that it probably came from origins of Zeus, a Greek God. (Wiseman, 1990).  It is also believed that the name Jehovah was given prominence by the Vatican.  It emerged by inserting the vowel points of Adonai into the sacred Tetra gram YHVH and symbolized the ecumenicalism of that period. (ibid).

 

"Thou shalt call his Name Yeshua (YHVH + Hoshua--Savior) BECAUSE He shall save his people from their sins."

 

            Matthew 1:21 (From the Holy Name Bible--Hebrew N.T.)

 

Therefore, this book will use YHVH and Yeshua throughout this text referring to the English translated words God or Jesus respectively.

 

 

 

Chapter

 

- 1 -

 

  

COVENANT DEFINED

  

PURPOSE

 

            Jews and lawyers are generally familiar with the term covenant and its use, but most people on the planet are not Jews or Lawyers.  Therefore, since the meaning and use of covenants are generally unfamiliar to common folk, especially Gentiles, it is critical to educate people on what it means, how to enjoin one, how to comply with one and how this relates to eternal salvation. 

 

            As learned in Disciples of Christ: Volume One (Briggs, 2007), YHVH has made great plans for humanity, in particular, those whom YHVH loves and those who love YHVH and are called according to his purpose (will) (2 Timothy 1:8-10).   YHVH’s will is that all people everywhere enjoin and comply with the Messianic Covenant.  And by enjoining said covenant participants are promised to receive the Holy Spirit by which YHVH’s LOVE is shed abroad in their hearts.  Enjoinment details are to follow in Chapter 7.  Conversely, if one does not enjoin said covenant there is no hope of salvation, not even for those who call themselves Christians (Matthew 7:21-24), go to church every Sunday, have a form of godliness (2 Timothy 3:5) or even received a deposit (seal) of the promise.    

 

            If an eligible party does not know about the covenant, does not participate in it or does not know how to comply with it, then they will be excluded from the covenant promises.  It is that plain and simple.  Furthermore, if an individual enters into a covenant and breaches it, said breach negates covenant promises and triggers applicable consequences.  There is no excuse for ignorance (Acts 17:30).  For this reason, it is incredibly important that all eligible covenant parties become cognizant of the Messianic Covenant and all its promises, regulations and the consequences for breach of covenant. 

 

Finally, divine covenants clearly define YHVH’s will (intentions), relationship criteria for both parties, expected promises (expected outcomes if covenant is entered into and is not breached) and consequences if breached.  All this determines an individual’s inclusion or exclusion in YHVH’s eternal redemption. 

 

 

PRELIMINARY DEFINITION

 

            The first question that must be asked is, `What is a covenant?’  A covenant is a legal term that is often found in Contracts, Agreements, and Property Deeds.  A covenant is defined as:

 

1.      A binding agreement; a compact.

2.      Law

a.)    A formal sealed agreement or contract

b.)    A suit to recover damages for violation of such contract.

3.      In the Bible, YHVH’s promises to the human race.

 

[Middle English, from Old French, from present participle of convener, to agree; see convene.] (The Free Dictionary by Farlex)

 

            Now, the second question that must be asked is, ‘Why and for what purpose would YHVH enter into a covenant relationship with humanity?'  This is a similar question the psalmist asked.

 

            "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest             him?  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy     hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:..."

 

            Psalms 8:4-9

 

The psalmist spoke of humanity in general but also prophetically of the Messiah.  Apostle Paul confirms this.

 

"But we see Yeshua, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of YHVH should taste death for every man.  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation         perfect through sufferings...for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church...And again, Behold I and the children which YHVH hath given me..."

 

            Hebrews 2:9-18

           

 

            As discussed in Disciples of Christ Volume One, because of YHVH’s LOVE for humanity, YHVH has made tremendous plans for the future of believers.  These plans are far greater than most have even thought of or could even comprehend.  But minimally they include YHVH wanting believers to rule and reign with him.

 

 

"But to which of the angels said he at any time, `Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?'"

 

            Hebrews 1:13

 

 

"For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we           speak."

 

            Hebrews 2:5

 

           

"And again, Isaiah saith, `There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.'"

 

            Romans 15:12

 

 

            "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he will also deny us:"

 

            2 Timothy 2:12

 

 

"...'...for thou hast redeemed us to YHVH by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our YHVH kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.'"

 

            Revelation 5:9-10

 

           

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

 

            1 Corinthians 2:9

 

 

YHVH has pre-planned that the Church (as a collective body and individually) would be the wife of YHVH in Christ.  It, therefore, stands to reason that YHVH would want his wife to rule and reign with him. 

 

In YHVH’s foreknowledge, he knew that Adam and Eve would disobey his commandments and usher the human race into sin.  If this was not true, then why did YHVH plan on Christ’s death before the creation of the earth (John 17:24; Revelation 13:8; Romans 16:25-26)?

 

            "Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not

 

 

            sinned after the similtude of Adam's transgression...throught he offense of one    many be dead..."

 

            Romans 5:14-15

 

 

            So YHVH made provisions.  In the mind of YHVH, long before the earth was ever formed (John 17:24), YHVH had planned an eternal destiny for man.  Although YVHV knew that Adam and Eve would sin, YHVH’s plan included remedies for sin (Revelation 13:8).  Therefore, this master plan, that was developed in YHVH's great architectural drawing and planning room of the portals of heaven, had to be  kept secret (a "mystery") until the fullness of time—after the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua Christ (1 Corinthians 2:7; Colossians 1:25-27).

 

Intermittently, however, YHVH leaked glimmers of light to humanity through his holy prophets via promises, covenants, and prophesies.  But for the most part, HE kept his plan a hidden secret.

 

 

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Yeshua Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting YHVH, made        known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"

 

            Romans 16:25-26

 

 

            "...although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."

 

            Hebrews 4:3

 

           

            "...for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."

 

            John 17:24

 

 

            "...the glory I had with thee before the world was."

 

            John 17:5

 

           

           

"...of the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

 

            Revelation 13:8

 

 

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things...But            with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:    who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest     in these last times for you."

 

            1 Peter 1:18-20

 

 

"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying, `I will open

my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.'"

 

            Matthew 13:35

 

 

Why was it kept a secret?

 

"But we speak the wisdom of YHVH in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which YHVH ordained before the world unto our glory:  Which none of the princes of the world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

 

            1 Corinthians 2:7-8

 

 

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”

 

Acts 2:23
           

 

            Why was it necessary that the princes kill the Lord of glory?  It was part of YHVH's plan to buy back (redeem) sinners who were not purchasable, to correct the wrong that started in the Garden of Eden and build a bridge by which humanity could be reconciled back to YHVH.  Christ had to suffer and die and shed his blood to satisfy multiple covenant requirements including becoming our atonement. 

 

 

            "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things...But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
            without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last
            times for you."

 

            1 Peter 1:18-20

 

 

            YHVH designed the use of covenants as a means to clearly define relational expectations and outcomes as well as a way to engage humanity in a cognitive and behavioral commitment to him.  Therefore, the scriptures conclude that covenants between YHVH and humanity were part of YHVH's divine plan to restore and elevate humanity from its fallen state to a restored state, from the pit to the palace, from paupers to kings, from untouchables to priests, from unredeemable to a purchased prized possession.

 

So, how significant is this study on covenants?  It is paramount since every believer must acquire relevant and equitable understanding of their current and future relationship with YHVH.  Said relational expectations (covenant regulations) are to be delineated (spoken out load) to a candidate party prior to their enjoinment whereupon their verbal agreement and willingness to enter and comply with the covenant is given and expected.  Hearing the covenant read brings understanding, “meeting of the minds”, faith in the author (testator) and faith in the veracity and purpose of the covenant.  Faith is a minimum requirement of each enjoinment procedure. 

 

Without the preceding practice, a breach of covenant requirements is inevitable.  Such a breach would negate the promises delineated in the covenant and activate breach of covenant consequences.  Keep in mind, covenants cannot be entered into by unbelieving non-participating individuals.  Covenants exist only between two mutually agreeable parties (whether comprised of one person per party or a large group) who remain engaged and remain in compliance.

 

EXPANDED DEFINITION OF THE WORD COVENANT

 

            Since will be discussed covenants extensively, it is appropriate to expand the definition.  The word covenant is not a common word and rarely used outside of legal documents.  The best place to start would be to research Hebrew history.

 

            A covenant is a binary legal document comprised of seemingly two polarized documents, a contract and a will.  A contract is quite familiar to most people as is a will.  The confusing part for modern thinkers is a covenant is comprised of both.  Not only is it confusing, but repulsive because in order to seal and activate a covenant a death had to occur.  A dead body had to be cut up into pieces, the pieces laid out and then the two agreeing parties had to pass between the pieces of flesh. 

 

 

“And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. ¹⁸ In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram...”

 

Genesis 15:17-18

 

 

Another common Biblical word used interchangeably with the Mosaic Covenant and Messianic Covenant is “testament”.

 

“For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷ For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. ¹⁸ Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, ²⁰ Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.”

 

Hebrews 9:16-20

 

 

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; ¹⁷ And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. ¹⁸ Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”

 

Hebrews 10:17-18

 

 

“Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

 

Hebrews 10:29

 

 

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

 

Hebrews 12:24

 

 

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,”

 

Hebrews 13:20

 

 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 

            The Hebrew word "beriyth" inherently means "select cutting in a compact (made by passing between pieces of flesh): confederacy, covenant, league."  Contextually the meaning is very similar with additional emphasis.  A covenant is similar to the modern idea of a contract AND the modern idea of a will combined into one legal document.

 

            In times of antiquity, when covenants were made, two parties discussed and agreed to contractual regulations, parameters, and promises.  Instead of shaking hands, or signing a document as is done in Western cultures (and cultures influenced by Westernization), they sealed the covenant by proxy death, by killing an animal so they could cut pieces of flesh, pass between them and sprinkle blood.

 

            The following analysis identifies the components that comprise a contract and a will which are the basic components of a Biblical covenant (specific details will follow in separate chapters):

 

 

                        CONTRACT                                                   WILL

 

1. Two parties (entities) acknowledge   1. Two parties (entities): a)

mutual interests                                     (Testator) and b) Beneficiary (Heir).

 

2. Both entities discuss guidelines, criteria,         2. Instruction of benefits, goods, and/or standards, etc.                                                  assets (distribution criteria).

 

3. Promises are given.                                       3. Death of the Benefactor.

 

4. Meeting of the minds occur.              4. Collection of the heirs/reading of will.

 

5. Binding of the contract by proxy death          5. Meeting of the Minds

(rather than signature)

 

6. Compliance with guidelines, criteria, 6. Compliance with guidelines, criteria,                         standards, etc.                                                   standards, (especially proving one's I                                                                                         dentity).

 

7. Receipt of the promises (payments).  7. Receipt of the promises.

 

 

An investigation on covenants will reveal an integration of the above components.

 

BIBLICAL METHODS OF ACTIVATING A COVENANT

 

              The scriptures clearly illustrate that the covenant of the Mosaic Law was activated (consummated) according to the process by which a covenant is enjoined (see Chart 1.1, page 73).

 

            "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  For a testament IS OF FORCE AFTER MEN ARE DEAD: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.  Whereupon neither the first testament was   dedicated without blood.  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water,        and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying `This is the blood of the testament which YHVH hath enjoined unto you.'"

 

            Hebrews 9:16-22 (Exodus 19)

 

 

            Proxy death was the only way individuals could enjoin a covenant so that they could live to participate in the covenant as well as being able to ensure that all regulatory and promise components of the covenant were complied with.  However, as we shall see, the New Covenant was not activated (consummated) by proxy death, but the testator himself died literally, activating the covenant immediately. 

 

            Needless to say, the Hebrew process of entering into a covenant was a gruesome and bloody one.  It was not pretty in any sense of the word.  None-the-less it was very vivid, binding, merciful, and memorable.  Thank YHVH that Christ’s death afforded people an exemption from death and provided life so people could enter and enjoy the covenant relationship.

 

            It is also important to stress that most all covenants required something from both the benefactor and the beneficiary.  Some theologians often overlook this fact and exclude it from sermons robbing the hearers of covenant promises.  In other words, if all covenant regulations are not met by the beneficiary, then the covenant promises are void.  Therefore, it is imperative that full disclosure be given with regards to these sacred covenants.

 

           

 

  

 

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

  

On the space provided below write a one-page response to this Chapter.  Express your thoughts and feelings about this Chapter and how you have received it!
 

 

 

Chapter

 

- 2 -

  

DIVINE COVENANTS

 

 

            Now that the word covenant is defined and the purpose of covenants is established, it is time to examine the major covenants found in the scriptures.  There are numerous covenants found in the Bible, but this book will focus on those between YHVH and humanity.  Therefore, the following discussion on covenants will start with the earliest one found with subsequent covenants discussed chronologically.  You will also notice that these covenants were covenants of promise.  Although, the Mosaic Covenant (known as the LAW, Old Covenant) was highly regulated, it still contained many promises, contingent, of course, on extensive regulatory compliance.

 

            This chapter will also reveal a number of aspects about each covenant.  Subsequent chapters will offer a comparative analysis of the two more prominent covenants—the Old Covenant of Law (Mosaic) and the New Covenant (Messianic).  Now let’s begin by identifying the divine covenants found in scripture chronologically.

 

 

NOAHIC COVENANT

 

            The first covenant of promise was between YHVH, Noah and humanity and can be found in the Genesis story of Noah and the ark.

 

"And behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breadth of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.  But with thee will I establish my covenant: and thou shalt come into the ark, thou and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee."

 

            Genesis 6:17-18

 

 

"And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD: and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savor; and the LORD said in his heart, `I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth: neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.  While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.'  And YHVH blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, `Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.  And fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you;          even as the green herb have I given you all things.  But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.  And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at         the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.  Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of YHVH made he man.  And you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.'  And YHVH spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him saying, `And behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every live creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.  And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.'  And YHVH said, `This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.  And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:  And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.  And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between YHVH and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.'  And YHVH said unto Noah, `This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.'"

 

            Genesis 8:20-19:17

 

 

            Before identifying the next covenant, there are seven things that need to be highlighted and underscored: 1) Noah offered a voluminous burnt animal offering unto the LORD.  To do this, animals had to be slaughtered, blood had to be shed, and animals butchered, 2) covenant promises and regulations were clarified between the two parties, 3) YHVH blessed Noah and his sons and their posterity, 4) the covenant was between YHVH, Noah, his sons and every living creature,  5) the covenant was to be everlasting, 6) YHVH gave a token as a reminder of his full promises, and finally 7) YHVH prophetically spoke of a future "seed" (singular).  These aspects will be significant throughout this study.

 

            The descendants of Noah did not comply with the covenant regulations at any great length.   Contrary to YHVH’s instructions, the descendants of Noah chose not to disperse and replenish the earth, but rather conjugate as one great city and to build a tower reaching to the heavens.

 

“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. ² And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. ³ And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. ⁴ And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

 

Genesis 11:1-4

 

 

Of course, since this was contrary to covenant regulations, it caught YHVH’s attention and he became involved and forced compliance by confounding the languages of the covenant participants.

 

“And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. ⁶ And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. ⁷ Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. ⁸ So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. ⁹ Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”

 

            Genesis 11:5-9

 

 

ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

 

            The second significant covenant was between YHVH and Abraham which will include two major sections, 1) Promises and Circumcision.

 

            "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, `Get thee out of thy country, and from thy         kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will          make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and       thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that           curseth thee:  and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'  So Abram        departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran...And he removed          from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the   LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD."

           

            Genesis 12:1-4, 8

 

 

"And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.  And he went on his journeys...Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD...And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, `Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:  For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.  And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.  Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.'  Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD."

 

            Genesis 13:2, 4, 14-18

 

 

"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, `Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.'  And Abram said, `LORD YHVH, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?'...And, behold the word of the LORD came unto him saying, `This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.'  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, `Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them:' and he said unto him, `So shall thy seed be.'  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness"...And he said, `LORD YHVH, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?'  And he said unto him, `Take an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle dove, and a young pigeon.'  And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.  And when the fowls came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.  And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram: and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.  And he said unto Abram, `Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;  And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterwards shall they come out with great substance.  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquities of the Amorites is not yet full.'  And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.  In that same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, `Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaim, And the Amorites, and the     Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."

 

            Genesis 15:1-2, 4-6, 8-21

 

 

"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, `I am the Almighty YHVH; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.'  And Abram fell on his face; and YHVH talked with saying, `As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.  And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a YHVH unto thee and to thy seed after thee.  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their YHVH.'  And YHVH said unto Abraham, `Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.  This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.  And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.  And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is     born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.  He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.  And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. '  And YHVH said unto Abraham, `As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.  And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.'  Then Abraham fell upon his  face, and laughed, and said in his heart, `Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old bear?'  And Abraham said unto YHVH, `O that Ishmael might live before thee.'  And YHVH said, `Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.  And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.  But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this time in the next year.'  And he left off talking with him, and YHVH went up from Abraham. 

 

            Genesis 17:1-21

 

 

            "And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and          circumcised him the eighth day;.."

 

            Acts 7:8

 

 

            On numerous occasions the LORD reiterated his covenant with Abraham with subsequent Abrahamic generations.  Below are some examples.

 

 

            Isaac

 

            "Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land."

 

            Leviticus 26:42

 

 

            Jacob

 

            "And YHVH heard their groaning, and YHVH remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob."

 

                        Exodus 2:24

 

 

            Israel (Jacob)

 

            "Every Sabbath he shall wet it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant."

 

                        Leviticus 24:8

 

 

            The above scriptures undeniably purports a progressive Abrahamic Covenant between YHVH and Abraham.  There are a number of components to consider, some of which are similar in nature to the Noahic Covenant.  They are as follows:

 

            * Pronouncements of General Blessings - Seven times (7)

            * Pronouncements of Procreative Blessings - Ten times (10)

            * Pronouncements of being progenitors of Nations and/or Kings - Seven times (7)

* Pronouncements of Perpetual Longevity of both blessings and regulations –

            Seven times (7)

            * Pronouncements of a token - Two times (2)

            * Regulations identified - Six times (6)

            * Potential judgments or curses - Two times (2)

            * Pronouncements of Fame or wealth - Two times (2)

            * Pronouncements of Real Estate Blessings - Four times (4)

            * Pronouncements of protection - One time (1)

            * Relationship Focused Statements - Four times (4)

            * Altar building/Official covenant entering - Three times (3)

            * Pronouncement of name changes or mandates - Three times (3)

            * Pronouncements that focused on Sarah - Six times (6)

            * Pronouncements that focused on Ishmael - Seven times (7)

 

            The above list is quite extensive, perhaps not exhaustive but helpful nonetheless, and it gives the general flavor of YHVH's attempt to reach to man in a progressive sort of way, enticing him into a minimally regulated, personal and trusting relationship.  Yes, it is true that this covenant was quite exclusive but it was, by all extensive purposes, a beginning.  It was a grass roots approach to restoring humankind to its foreordained destiny.

 

 

MOSAIC COVENANT (LAW – OLD/FIRST TESTAMENT)

 

            The third significant covenant was between YHVH, Moses, Israel and proselytes.  This covenant was certainly one of the longer lasting covenants that maintained human involvement.  The applicable scriptures are too voluminous to include here, so only a brief excerpt is included.

 

 

"...And Moses went up unto YHVH...tell the children of Israel...`Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on angel's wings, and brought you unto myself...if ye will obey my voice and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.  These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel...'  And YHVH spake all these words, saying...And the Lord said unto Moses, `Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them...

 

            Exodus 19-Deuteronomy 34

 

 

            The reader is encouraged to read Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy to become familiar with the Mosaic Covenant, its regulations and promises.  Both are significant because they are the "very words of YHVH" entrusted to the children of Israel.  These books give us partial insight into the very heart throb, passions, righteousness, and holiness of YHVH.

 

            So, why did YHVH enter into this particular covenant with humanity?  The below scriptures bring insight to this question.

 

 

            "...that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before YHVH..."

 

            Romans 3:19

 

 

            "Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound..."

 

            Romans 5:20

 

 

"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."

 

            Galations 3:19

 

 

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

 

Galatians 3:24

 

It was also added to heighten the beauty and greatness of YHVH's grace, mercy, kindness, and faithfulness.      

 

 

LEVITIC COVENANT

 

            The fourth significant covenant was between YHVH and the Levites—the Israeli tribe of priests.

 

“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. ⁷ And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. ⁸ And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. ⁹ And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.”

 

Numbers 3:6-9

 

 

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ¹² And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;”

 

Numbers 3:11-12

 

“And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.”

 

Numbers 18:6

 

 

“And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. ²¹ And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. ²² Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.”

 

Numbers 18:20-22

 

 

“And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; ⁹ Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant. ¹⁰ They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.”

 

Deuteronomy 33:8-10

 

 

            "Thus saith he LORD; `If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their seasons; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.'"

           

            Jeremiah 33:21-22

 

 

"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.  If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to your heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.  Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.  And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.  My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.  The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn away iniquity.  For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.  But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts."

 

            Malachi 2:1-8

 

 

 

DAVIDIC COVENANT

 

            The fifth significant covenant was between YHVH and David.  This covenant was intended to be eternal.

 

 

"Now therefore, O LORD YHVH of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou promised him saying, `There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me."

 

            2 Chronicles 6:16

 

 

            "Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying `There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel."

 

            2 Chronicles 7:18

 

 

“And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. ⁴ And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: ⁵ Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. ⁶ But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: ⁷ Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:”

 

1 Kings 9:3-7

 

           

"My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.  Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.  His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me.  It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.  Selah."

 

            Psalms 89:34-37

 

 

            "Thus saith he LORD; `If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant          of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their seasons; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.'"

           

            Jeremiah 33:21-22

 

 

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: ³³ And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

 

Luke 1:32-33

 

           

            At some point in history, it seems that YHVH broke this promise.  Chapter Three will make a careful examination of this seeming contradiction.

 

 

 

 

MESSIANIC COVENANT

 

            The sixth significant covenant was prophesied in advance and was between YHVH, Israel, and the House of Judah.  This covenant was not between YHVH and the Gentiles, although the WORK OF CHRIST made significant provisions for the Gentiles to be included. 

 

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that 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 bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: ³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all

know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

 

Jeremiah 31:31-34

 

 

“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. ⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. ⁸ For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: ⁹ Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. ¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: ¹¹ And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. ¹² For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 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.”

 

Hebrews 8:6-13

 

 

            It is necessary to point out that most former covenants of promise were elite in nature.  This means that they were exclusive—no Gentiles allowed.  Only certain families were afforded access.  However, this was changed through the work of Christ and later in subsequent chapters, a discussion on how this happened will be presented.

 

            "That at that time ye were without Christ...and strangers from the covenants of   promise, having no hope...But now in Christ Yeshua...are made nigh..."

 

            Ephesians 2:12-13

 

 

"According as his divine power hath given to us all things that pertain unto life and godliness...Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises..."

 

            2 Peter 1:3-4

 

 

 

 

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

  

On the space provided below write a one-page response to this Chapter.  Express your thoughts and feelings about this Chapter and how you have received it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter

  

- 3 -

  

THE MESSIANIC COVENANT

The Coniah (Jechoniah) Impasse
and Paradigm Shifting

 

           

THE CONIAH IMPASSE

 

Many theologians, ministers and church leaders mistakenly think that YHVH kept his promise to David via David’s son Solomon.  However, this would contradict YHVH’s curse upon Coniah (Jechonias*).   YHVH cursed the lineage of Solomon fourteen generations later through his distant relative Coniah (Jeremiah 22:24-30).  This appears to be a breach of YHVH’s promise to David. 

 

 

“And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.”

 

1 Kings 2:45

 

 

“Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.”

 

1 Kings 8:25

 

 

“As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence; ²⁵ And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. ²⁶ And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die. ²⁷ But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return. ²⁸ Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? ²⁹ O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. ³⁰ Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.”

 

Jeremiah 22:24

 

 

“And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.”

 

Jeremiah 37:1

 

 

[* Coniah was known by several names in the Bible, e.g., he was also known as Jehoiachin, Jechoniah and Jechonias (NT).  Manasses was the father of Amon, Amon was the father of Josiah, Josiah was the father of Jehoiakim (Eliakim), Jehoiakim was the father of Coniah, Coniah was the father of Salathiel and Salathiel was the father of Zorobabel.]

 

 

Of course, Solomon did not walk uprightly, so YHVH’s promise (1 Kings 9:3-7) to Solomon became void.  Below is the genealogy of David to Solomon and onward as found in Chronicles, which was used by Matthew.  It is clear that Matthew used Solomon’s lineage that included Coniah.  But Coniah’s lineage was cut off, according to the word of the LORD by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah.

 

“These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister. ¹⁰ And Solomon's son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, ¹¹ Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, ¹² Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, ¹³ Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, ¹⁴ Amon his son, Josiah his son. ¹⁵ And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. ¹⁶ And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son. ¹⁷ And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son, ¹⁸ Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. ¹⁹ And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:  And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five. ²¹ And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah. ²² And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six. ²³ And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.

 

²⁴ And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.”

 

1 Chronicles 3:10-24

 

 

Now, here is Matthew’s genealogy of Joseph going from Abraham to David to Coniah and onward.

 

 

“Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas (Judah) and his brethren; ³ And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; ⁴ And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; ⁵ And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; ⁶ And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; ⁷ And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; ⁸ And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; ⁹ And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; ¹⁰ And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; ¹¹ And Josias begat Jechonias (Coniah) and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: ¹² And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; ¹⁴ And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; ¹⁵ And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; ¹⁶ And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”

 

Matthew 1:10-16

 

 

Luke clearly uses a different genealogical path than Matthew.  He uses Mary’s lineage and also exposes several interesting genealogical aspects early in his writings that should be considered.

 

“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.”

 

Luke 1:5

 

 

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, ²⁷ To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was

 

 

Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.”

 

Luke 1:26-27

 

 

“And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. ³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

 

Luke 1:36-37

 

 

“And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, ⁶⁸ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, ⁶⁹ And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; ⁷⁰ As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:”

 

Luke 1:67-70

 

 

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)”

 

Luke 2:4

 

 

This means that Zacharias and Elisabeth were related to Mary by marriage, the mother of Yeshua.  Therefore, Mary, Zacharias and Elizabeth were all related to each other and Zacharias and Elizabeth were related to Levi—the son of Jacob (Israel), the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham.   This also made both John the Baptist and Yeshua related to each other, at least by marriage.  Furthermore, by adoption Yeshua was a distant relative of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David through both adoptive parents.

 

 

“And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. ² And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.”

 

Exodus 2:1-2

 

 

“And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.”

 

Exodus 4:14

 

 

“And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.”

 

Exodus 28:1

 

 

“The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:”

 

Genesis 35:23

 

 

“And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.”

 

Genesis 46:11

 

 

Below is one of several genealogies of Levi but as can be clearly seen, Yeshua was of no relation (more genealogies of Levi in the Addendums).

 

“The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. ² And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. ³ And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ⁴ Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua, ⁵ And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi, ⁶ And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth, ⁷ Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub, ⁸ And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz, ⁹ And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan, ¹⁰ And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:) ¹¹ And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub, ¹² And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum, ¹³ And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah, ¹⁴ And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak, ¹⁵ And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁶ The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. ¹⁷ And these be the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei. ¹⁸ And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. ¹⁹ The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers. ²⁰ Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, ²¹ Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son. ²² The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, ²³ Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son, ²⁴ Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. ²⁵ And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth. ²⁶ As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son, ²⁷ Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. ²⁸ And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah. ²⁹ The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son, ³⁰ Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.”

 

1 Chronicles 6:1-30

 

 

“And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. ²⁰ Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. ²¹ And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.”

 

1 Samuel 1:19-21

 

 

The above genealogies are important and will be discussed in more detail later.  Now, here is Mary’s genealogy (according to Luke) via Adam to Abraham to David to Nathan and onward, which corrects the Coniah Impasse issue.  We know this is Mary’s genealogy since the a proper interpretation of “was the son of Heli” should be understood as “was the son-in-law of Heli” since the word “son” is not in the original and certainly Luke would not have made such a flagrant mistake as to compose a completely different genealogy of Joseph as compared to Matthew’s.

 

“And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, ²⁴ Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, ²⁵ Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, ²⁶ Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda, ²⁷ Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, ²⁸ Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, ²⁹ Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, ³⁰ Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, ³¹ Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, ³² Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, ³⁴ Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,”

 

Luke 3:23-34

 

 

So as can be seen YHVH had other plans for David’s eternal throne other than through Solomon, since Solomon failed to keep his end of the agreement he had made with YHVH and therefore, the eventual cursed upon Coniah by YHVH. 

 

Why was it so important that people think Yeshua was illegitimate or lacked a right to the throne of David?  This belief (and part of YHVH’s mystery) protected the scheme of YHVH's redemption plan and assured that the princes of this world would kill Christ.  His death would secure two very important elements of YHVH's plan—redemption for “the whosoever” and a method by which YHVH would establish David's throne forever, without breaking his promise to Coniah.  What infinite wisdom.

 

            Twenty-eight generations after David, YHVH brought two individuals together--Mary and Joseph, both descendants of David--to incubate his divine plan.  Interestingly enough, even though Joseph's lineage reached back to the throne of David via the conventional royal blood line, YHVH was not interested in tradition or the status quo.  However, YHVH was interested in keeping his promise to David and does so through Mary. 

 

            The "Coniah Impasse" explains why Luke provided a non-conventional genealogy.  To review the historical evidence regarding this situation there is a need to go back to King Saul.  King Saul had already married off one of his daughters when word came to Saul that his other daughter Michal loved David.  This seemingly presented Saul with the perfect opportunity to rid himself of David.  So Saul offered David his daughter, Michal, in marriage.  Since David was poor and expressed his concern about paying a large dowry, King Saul proffered a suitable dowry in lieu of money—slay one hundred Philistine and present their foreskins as a dowry.  Surely David would be killed and King Saul would be rid of David.  However, David paid double dowry, for surely the hand of the Lord was upon David.  Saul felt the eminent paradigm shift.

 

“So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; ¹⁰ To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.”

 

2 Samuel 3:9

 

 

            But, Saul chose to fight it.  He never did allow David and Michal to be one in marriage as he promised, even though the contract of marriage had been sealed by the dowry payment.  To spite them both, King Saul gave Michal to Phalti (1 Samuel 25:44).   David's second wife (but first consummated marriage) was Ahinoam who bare him Absolom among others (2 Samuel 3:2).  Prior to David's coronation as king of Israel, David was able to secure his first wife away from Phalti (Phaltiel)(2 Samuel 3:13-16).  However, due to Michal's despisement of her husband, David, for his lack of pomp and debonair, she became barren until the day of her death (2 Samuel 6:16,20-23).

 

            The eventual death of King Saul allowed David to leave Hebron, come to Jerusalem, and begin to establish his own royal blood line.  When David came from Hebron to Jerusalem, he took more wives and concubines, among whom was Bathshua (Bathsheba), whom he coveted, and with whom he committed adultery.  He desperately wanted to marry her so he planned her husband's death (2 Samuel 11:14-27). 

 

The first child between David and Bathsheba died because YHVH struck the child as a punishment against David for his sin.  Their next child, at least so it appears, was Solomon, who was certainly not the first born of King David.  It also appears that Solomon was not King David’s favored child, although Solomon was the favored child of Bathsheba.  Bathsheba seemed to secure Solomon’s right to the throne by manipulation and with help from Nathan the prophet (1 Kings 1:1-53). 

 

 

“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. ⁶ And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. ⁷ And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. ⁸ But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. ⁹ And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:”

 

1 Kings 1:5-9

 

 

“Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? ¹² Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. ¹³ Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? ¹⁴ Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.”

 

1 Kings 1:11-14

 

 

“And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.”

 

1 Kings 1:39

 

 

            What promised to be a bright future for David's lineage, through the royal blood line of Solomon, darkened abruptly fourteen generations later (about 360 years later) by a curse placed on Coniah by the great prophet Jeremiah.  Coniah, originally known as Jahoiachin, was also known as Jechoniah, and Jechonias (NT).   Since Solomon did not live uprightly before the Lord, YHVH chose Nathan (another son of Bathsheba who is barely noted in Holy Writ) over Solomon and over the other sons of David.  Furthermore, Nathan was certainly not David’s first born son, so Nathan would be considered the son of promise.

 

            Little is known of Nathan other than an obscure genealogy provided by the physician Luke and in the Chronicles (Luke 3:23-38; 1 Chronicles 3:5).   Certainly, Luke’s proffered lineage of Mary provided a Coniah bypass from David forward.  In this way, YHVH was able to fulfill his promise to David (through Nathan) and his curse to Coniah.

 

Many theologians say sin is passed through the male blood line and since DNA is comprised from the contributions of both parents, Yeshua did not receive from either.  Yeshua was a special creation—the Second Adam—a sinless human being.   Yeshua was the second Adam and not sired by either Joseph or Mary.  However, Yeshua was gestated by Mary and after Christ’s birth, both Joseph and Mary adopted Yeshua.  And significantly important, both parents were from the house of David and of the seed of Abraham.

 

So then, the question is, are adopted sons included under the covenant of promise?  What about kingly rights, does adoption grant kingly rights?   Keep in mind that YHVH said this to Abraham regarding any seed that was not his biological seed but within his household and in his generations.

 

“And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. ¹³ He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.”

 

Genesis 17:12-13

 

 

It is obvious that YHVH intended to include all the children (including adoptees) born or purchased within Abraham’s household as bearers of the covenant token—circumcision. So Joseph and Mary fulfilled the law requirement by having Yeshua circumcised, since he was born in their house (the household of Abraham), even though Christ was not of their biological seed.  Adoption, however, provides the same legal rights for inclusion in inheritance and in covenants for those adopted.

 

 

“And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. ²² And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; ²³ (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) ²⁴ And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

 

Luke 2:24

 

 

So, adoption clearly does not preclude or exclude the adopted child.  It is quite obvious that Joseph and Mary knew what the law required relative to adoption (Romans 9:4).  Thus, the act of and the spirit of adoption was/is very prominent to the life, ministry and theology of Christ spiritually, philosophically and experientially.

 

 

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

 

Romans 8:15-16

 

 

“That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”

 

Romans 9:8

 

 

“To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

 

Galatians 4:5-7

 

 

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

 

Ephesians 1:5

 

 

As can be seen in scripture, YHVH is more interested in “election” and “promise” than in traditions or the status quo any way.   For example, even though traditions indicate that the inheritance, special blessings, etc. belong to the first born, YHVH passed over Ishmael and elected Isaac as the child of promise, YHVH passed over Esau and elected Jacob as the child of promise, YHVH selected Rahab the harlot over other potential pure virgins of Israel to be in David’s blood line, YHVH elected Samuel over Eli’s descendants, YHVH elected Nathan over Solomon, YHVH elected Levi over his brothers to be his ministers, YHVH elected Aaron over Korah, YHVH elected the adopted Yeshua over Joses (Joseph), James, Judah or Simon (Matthew 13:55-56, Mark 6:3) and the list goes on.  The point is, YHVH has regulations in general, but his master plan often overrides the general to incorporate divine election and promise.

 

No matter which way you look at it, Yeshua was not Joseph’s and Mary’s biological son.  Yeshua was adopted, but adoption still gives him full status to the throne of David through Nathan and of the “seed” of Abraham.   And with Yeshua being exalted as the eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords, YHVH’s promise to David and Abraham is fulfilled. 

 

Apostle Paul confirmed that the special election process of adoption was given to Israel (Romans 9:4) and perhaps Jewish writings contain the earliest written record of adoption.  That is why the Angel of the Lord told Joseph not to fear to take Mary as his wife, even though she was found with child (not his child).  By taking Mary as his wife, he adopts Yeshua as his own.   But, above all, Yeshua was the Son of YHVH, the child of “promise” in more ways than one.

 

 

“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.”

 

Hebrews 2:16

 

 

“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:”

 

2 Timothy 2:8

 

 

 

“And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

 

Galatians 3:29

 

 

“That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. ¹⁵ Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. ¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. ¹⁷ And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

 

Galatians 3:14-18

 

 

So, according to scriptural logic, the “seed of Abraham” and the “seed of David” includes “adopted seed” since Yeshua was from both of the seed of David and of the seed of Abraham through adoption.  Therefore, Christ did not receive sin, since he was not conceived from either Joseph’s or Mary’s genetics.   Furthermore, with regards to adoption, Christ can definitely empathize with adoptees who are adopted as children of promise since Yeshua himself was also adopted and was a child of promise.

 

 

“…but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. … And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

 

Romans 8:15-17

 

 

If YHVH was truly concerned with an earthly kingdom, then perhaps more weight would be given to carnal things.  However, YHVH’s Kingdom is spiritual and eternal and more focused on promise, faith, love, joy, hope and the like.

 

 

“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”

 

John 18:36

 

 

PARADIGM SHIFTING

 

            A forerunner is a paradigm pioneer--one that prepares and seeks out supporters of a new upcoming paradigm shift.  Recall, if you will, that John the Baptist was a "forerunner" of Yeshua Christ.   He would pioneer (pave the way) a new path within the Jewish religious community, hence the world.  The people John the Baptist and Christ would confront were entrenched former paradigm leaders, monopolizers—the Scribes, Sadducees, and Pharisees.  Oddly enough, and as is usually the case, introduction of this new forthcoming paradigm shift was presented by one of their own former paradigm constituents—John the Baptist.  Zechariah (John's father) was a Levitical priest serving at the altar of incense, an office to which John was destined (Luke 1:5, 11), after the course of Abijah.

 

            Divine vision, prophecy, and intervention precluded John from entering his predetermined ecclesiastical vocation (Isaiah 40:3; Luke 1:67-79).  The Baptist certainly fit the mold as a paradigm pioneer, i.e., John left his family's profession, ran around the wilderness clothed in camel's hair with a sustaining diet of locust and wild honey.  And with locust legs stuck to his beard by honey, he proceeded to proclaim that his second cousin (or near relative)--Yeshua of Mary and Joseph--was the Jew's promised Messiah.  John's message included warnings of the upcoming Kingdom of YHVH and required confessions and repentance from any would-be constituents.  News spread all around the country side and people began to believe in this message and wanted to lend their support.

 

            Christ's great followings can be largely attributed to the preparatory work of John the Baptist.  The shift came when John publicly introduced Yeshua Christ and the "lamb of YHVH, which taketh away the sins of the world."  After Christ was baptized (i.e., he was washed as was required by all priests entering their ministry) by the Baptist, Christ entered into a forty day fast, led of the spirit--a precursory experience well advised by all would-be laborers of YHVH's kingdom.

 

            After meeting the challenge of Satan's effort to destroy with temptations, Christ chose his twelve disciples.  Immediately, Christ began to didactically teach, heal, and counsel.  The response was immense.  The masses began to come and hear him.  However, this posed a threat to the previous paradigm.  What were the choices?  Shift or fight.  The leaders chose to fight back, an inevitable losing battle since they were unknowingly fighting against YHVH.

 

            The former paradigm leaders decided that they must find a way to legally get rid of this man named Yeshua.  Thus, "mud slinging" began.  Is this not "Yeshua of Nazareth"--the illegitimate son of Mary and Joseph or some other unknown fellow?  What right does he have to be a teacher of the Law?  This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils (Matthew 12:24).

 

            Matthew made a valiant effort to appease the Jews by providing a genealogy from Abraham to David to Coniah to Joseph—the accepted kingly line of nobility.  Therefore, this lineage had little value relative to King David since Coniah’s lineage was cursed.  Nonetheless, the lineage did show the necessary link from Christ to Abraham for adoption purposes.  As shown earlier Yeshua was not the son of Joseph by natural birth and he had no link to Levi.  Thus, he had no beginning of days with regards to his right to the throne or to his priestly office, at least by conventional or popular methods for determining such matters.  His right to the throne of David and to a priestly office was exclusively by promise (adoption, election).

 

            How could YHVH possibly make such a choice?  How could YHVH expect anything but rejection from Israel regarding his only begotten son?  Ah, but alas, that is the point.  YHVH certainly knew all about paradigm shifts, after all he initiated most of the major ones in history and will continue to play a significant role in future shifts (Revelation 6:2-8).  Thus the old paradigm leaders were experiencing paralysis of analysis.  The many seemingly logical answers to their research questions undoubtedly blinded them to see the relevance of the paradigm shift that was upon them nor could they see that the impending and revolutionary change was coming, with or without them.  This new paradigm would still promise that "salvation is of the Jews".

 

“But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.”

 

2 Corinthians 3:14-15

 

 

“Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. ²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. ²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

 

John 4:22

 

 

“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? ² Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”

 

Romans 3:1-2

 

 

            For the Scribes and Pharisees to accept Christ would mean they would have to start at ground zero like all the common folk.  How could they humble themselves and admit ignorance or submit to this embarrassing figure of a man?  But never underestimate the power of YHVH or the power of dreams, visions, hopes, and faith.  Such forces have been known to penetrate impregnable empires, institutions, and societies.  Just read history.

 

            Had all the old paradigm leaders shifted, as some did do, they would have been able to participate in one of the world’s foremost new paradigms ever to come upon the scene.   But as with most paradigm changes, the old rejected the new--the stone that the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner." (Psalms 118:22-23)

 

 

“And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? ¹⁸ Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

 

Luke 20:17-18

 

 

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”

 

Acts 4:11

 

 

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”

 

Ephesians 2:20

 

 

“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. ⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, ⁸ And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”

 

1 Peter 2:6-8

 

 

  

 

 
 

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

  

On the space provided below write a one-page response to this Chapter.  Express your thoughts and feelings about this Chapter and how you have received it!

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter

 

- 4 -

  

THE MESSIANIC COVENANT

The Work of Christ

 

 

            This chapter will focus on the Messianic Covenant and the Work of Christ and how it impacts the promises, the covenant requirements and on modern times.  An important thing to remember is that covenants are only as valid and long lasting as is described therein.  If there are no ending parameters, then the covenant is eternal—lasting from generation to generation.  This is true with covenants between people as it is true with covenant between YHVH and humanity.

 

            Finally, participants in covenants can draw up new covenants that supersede earlier covenants so long as both parties are in agreement (meeting of the minds) thereto.  Some examples of this will be reviewed as this discussion proceeds.

 

 

TRANSITIONING FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW

 

            When Moses asked Israel if they would agree to enter into a covenant with YHVH, they agreed.  This enjoining to the Mosaic Covenant obligated them and their seed to comply with this covenant so long as it remained in force.  It remained in force for millennia.  But its usefulness as a covenant passed and it ended with the completed works of Christ.  It had served it purpose. 

 

 

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.”

 

Hebrews 8:13

 

 

Although the Mosaic Covenant was a covenant of promise, the main purpose of the Mosaic Covenant was to expose sin, transgression and humanity’s weakness in the flesh—that humanity is not capable of living righteously by themselves, even by following a set of codes and regulations—and undeniably prove that humanity is depraved (Romans 3:9-10) and will be lost forever without divine intervention.

 

Purposes of the Law:

 

To bring the world to Christ

 

 

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

 

Galatians 3:24-25

 

 

To prove that all (both Jew and Gentile) are all under sin:

 

 

“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;”

 

Romans 3:9

 

 

"...that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before YHVH..."

 

            Romans 3:19

 

 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

 

Romans 3:23

 

 

That by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified:

 

 

“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.”

 

Galatians 2:16

 

 

That offense might abound:

 

 

            "Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound..."

 

            Romans 5:20

 

 

Nonetheless, the new covenant would establish/fulfill the old covenant.

 

 

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. ¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. ¹⁹ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

 

Matthew 5:17-20

 

 

“Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. ³¹ Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

 

Romans 3:30-31

 

 

Where the Jews failed, with regards to the law, is that they lacked faith.  So what does this mean exactly?  You see, the law’s purpose was to lead Israel/Judah to Christ (among other things mentioned above).  Had they been able to comply with the Law to the best of their ability, looking forward to Christ (by faith) who would fulfill the law completely on their behalf to liberate them from the Old Covenant, then all would be well.  However, they were not able to do so.  They focused on the works and not on their hearts, to have faith in Christ who was to come.  Thus when Christ did come, he was a stumblingstone (rock of offense) rather than a savior.  They were blinded and could not see Christ or his work.

 

 

“What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. ³¹ But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. ³² Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; ³³ As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

 

Romans 9:30-33

 

 

“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: ¹³ And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:”

 

2 Corinthians 3:12-13

 

 

Even the Jewish Christian community had a difficult time grasping exactly how all this worked, as do many religious leaders and followers today.  This issue was addressed on numerous occasions in a variety of settings in early church history.  For example, it was addressed before a counsel in Jerusalem, in Antioch, before King Agrippa, before Jews in foreign countries, etc., etc.

 

 

“When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question... ¹² Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. ¹³ And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: ¹⁴ Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. ¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, ¹⁶ After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: ¹⁷ That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. ¹⁸ Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”

 

Acts 15:2-17 (See also Acts 26 and Acts 28)

 

 

“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. ¹² For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. ¹³ And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? ¹⁵ We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 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.”

 

Galatians 2:11-16

 

The subconscious pride and the religious cultural habits of the Israelites and the Jews, relative to their genealogy and religious life, which included thoughts of exclusivity, except for minor and intermittent Gentile inclusions via being bought or born in their household and converting (circumcision, etc.), prevented them from easily comprehending that their new found religious life had an “open door” policy (Acts 2:39).  This “open door” policy would allow any Gentile direct easy access.  Not long before, Gentiles could only access Jewish covenants if they were first bought with money or born in their household and then by converting to Judaism.   Paul and Barnabas even presented oral arguments before the apostles and elders in Jerusalem defending this “open door redemption policy”.

 

“Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. ¹³ And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: ¹⁴ Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. ¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, ¹⁶ After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: ¹⁷ That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. ¹⁸ Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”

 

Acts 15:12-17

 

 

In spite of the New Covenant Regulations, late into the early church records, Jews were still enforcing the Mosaic Covenant on Hebrew Christians but were finally relieving the Gentiles of such matters, except for the following:

 

 

“As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.”

 

Acts 21:25

 

 

 

Of course Apostle Paul had to also contend with the Judaizers who were constantly trying to corrupt the Gentile Christians with Mosaic Covenant teachings.  So, through a multiplicity of cognitive angles Paul tried to reinforce salvation for the Gentiles independent of Judaism and the Jew.

 

 

“And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.”

 

Romans 15:12

 

 

“That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”

 

Romans 15:16

 

 

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. ¹⁴  the body is not one member, but many.”

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

 

 

“That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

 

Galatians 3:14

 

 

“That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: ⁷ Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. ⁸ Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; ⁹ And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”

 

Ephesians 3:6-9

 

 

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

 

Colossians 1:27

 

 

Not only did he contend that Gentile had access independent of Judaism, but that the law was completely abolished and eliminated the race factor among many other things.

 

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵ Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶ And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ¹⁷ And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ¹⁹ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹ In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²² In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

 

Ephesians 2:14-22

 

 

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? ² This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? ⁴ Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 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?”

 

Galatians 3:1-5

 

 

It is quite clear that Apostle Paul believed it absolutely ludicrous for anybody to revert back to the Mosaic Covenant and abandon the Messianic Covenant.  It was beyond his comprehension.  It could only be the result of ignorance and spiritual blindness.

 

 

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

 

Romans 11:25

 

 

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, ¹⁸ Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

 

Ephesians 4:17-18

 

 

In fact, it appears that reverting or leaving the Messianic Covenant is worse than the consequences for breaching the Mosaic Covenant.

 

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

 

Matthew 5:13

 

 

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. ²⁸ He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: ²⁹ Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ³² But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; ³³ Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. ³⁴ For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. ³⁵ Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. ³⁶ For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. ³⁷ For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. ³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. ³⁹ But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

 

Hebrews 10:26-39

 

 

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. ²⁵ See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: ²⁶ Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. ²⁷ And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.”

 

Hebrews 12:24-29

 

 

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. ²¹ For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. ²² But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

 

2 Peter 2:20-22

 

 

REDEMPTION

 

Christ came to redeem Israel and the House of Judah from every curse and regulation of the law not only by receiving every curse but by becoming a curse (Galatians 3:13), meeting every regulation and making every contract payment.  At the same time, he would activate a new covenant whereby, if Israel and Judah would just accept it, they would be freed from the Mosaic Covenant (with all of its bondage) and could have a “mortgage burning service.”  Christ completed the transaction of fully purchasing all transgressions under the Old (first) Covenant (testament) which totally set Israel/Judah free from the bondage of the Old Covenant allowing them to freely participate in the Messianic Covenant. 

 

 

“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.”

 

Hebrews 9:15

 

 

Christ not only paid off the debt (purchased) on all past transgressions for Israel and the House of Judah, but purchased in advance the sins of the whole world.

 

 

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

 

1 John 2:2

 

           

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

 

Romans 3:24

 

 

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: ³¹ That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

 

1 Corinthians 1:30

 

 

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

 

Ephesians 1:7

 

 

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”

 

Colossians 1:12-15

 

 

“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.”

 

Hebrews 9:12

 

 

            When Christ redeemed Israel and the House of Judah by fulfilling the Mosaic Covenant requirements and activating the Messianic Covenant with the shedding of his own blood, it forever changed the way in which Israel, Judah and the Gentiles would enjoin a covenant and remain engaged.  The new covenant would not require a bloody painful circumcision, endless drilling and hammering of rules and regulations, washing of pots, sacrifices, etc., etc.   It would be a covenant of promise (faith) with the Divine Spirit of YHVH at work in human souls conducting a spiritual transference—teaching the law of YHVH and guiding the soul from within.

 

 

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

 

Luke 17:21

 

 

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that 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 bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: ³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

 

Jeremiah 31:31-34

 

 

“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. ⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. ⁸ For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: ⁹ Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. ¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: ¹¹ And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. ¹² For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 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.”

 

Hebrews 8:6-13

 

 

Granted, YHVH’s blessings were always proffered to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles.  After all the Mosaic Covenant as well as the prophecy concerning the new covenant was given to and by the Jews.  Nonetheless, the Work of Christ provided direct access for all believing Gentiles whether or not they were born in an Israelite or Jewish house or bought by an Israelite or Jew, bond or free, male or female.   As seen above, this concept was even difficult for the Apostles and elders to grasp and remained an issue of conflict for a long time in the early church.

           

            In short, the Work of Christ abolished the Old Covenant and brought into play a New Covenant that is accessed by promise and faith and centers around LOVE, peace and hope rather than on regulations; a New Covenant that is not race specific; a New Covenant that promotes humility not pride; a New Covenant that brings humanity one step closer to the culmination of all things.

 

            A closer look at the Work of Christ relative to redemption is appropriate.  In order to complete and activate the Messianic Covenant, Christ had to perform and meet certain regulatory requirements.  Some (not all) are listed below, because there are too many to list here.  The reader is encouraged to expand this portion of the study on their own.

 

           

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”

 

Romans 8:2-3

 

 

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵ Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶ And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

 

Ephesians 2:13-16

 

 

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

 

Matthew 26:28

 

 

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:... ²⁰And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. ²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled ²² In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

 

Colossians 1:14,20-22

 

 

“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. ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: ¹⁴ How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

 

Hebrews 9:12

 

 

“Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, ²⁰ Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. ²¹ Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. ²² And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

 

Hebrews 9:18-22

 

 

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

 

Hebrews 12:24

 

 

“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”

 

Hebrews 13:12

 

 

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:... ¹¹ And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, ¹² Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.”

 

Leviticus 4:2,11-12

 

 

“When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation... ²¹ And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.”

 

Leveticus 4:14,21

 

 

“And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.”

 

Leviticus 16:27

 

 

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

 

1 Peter 1:2

 

 

“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: ²⁰ Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”

 

1 Peter 1:19-20

 

 

“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

 

1 John 1:6-7

 

 

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

 

2 Corinthians 5:19

 

 

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; ¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

 

Colossians 2:13-15

 

 

Of course, the scriptural list above is far from exhaustive, but the main points are clear.  The Works of Christ included many things, but minimally the following:

 

1.      Christ became sin.

2.      Christ shed his blood.

3.      Christ suffered without the camp.

4.      Christ offered himself as a sacrifice to YHVH.

5.      Christ purged the conscience of believers from dead works.

6.      YHVH laid upon Christ the sins and trespasses of the whole world.

7.      Christ did not impute the trespasses of the whole world unto them.

8.      Christ sprinkled his own blood on the covenant and on the people who draw near.

9.      Christ reconciled the world as well as all things (in the earth and in heaven) unto YHVH.

10.  Christ fulfilled all other necessary requirements of the Mosaic Covenant and the Messianic Covenant.

 

 

 

 
 

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

  

On the space provided below write a one-page response to this Chapter.  Express your thoughts and feelings about this Chapter and how you have received it!

 

 

  

 

 

Chapter

 

- 5 -

  

THE MESSIANIC COVENANT

Adopted Child, Different Fold or Fifth Wife

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

            Contrary to popular, westernized, religious and public opinion, the scriptures often employ “politically incorrect”, “real-life” scenarios to explain spiritual meanings.  Denying this or closing one’s eyes to it or endeavoring to avoid it will only rob the believer from a more complete and elevated level of understanding of YHVH’s divine truths.  However, just because something found in scriptures is not “politically correct” it does not negate its relevance or its veracity.  With that said, this Chapter will explore unchartered waters often carefully avoided for far too long by far too many religious leaders.

 

 

ADOPTED CHILD

 

            As discussed in earlier chapters, Christ was an adopted child and did not have blood ties (genetic or chromosomal) to Abraham or King David.  But this sets a precedence for Christ’s ministry which was part of YHVH’s divine plan for all would-be Kingdom participants.  Within the Messianic Covenant all present and future Gentile participants (including all of Abraham’s seeds that were not through Isaac) could only be enjoined to it by the enjoinment process and by Adoption (promise and faith).   You see, adoption is all about election, promise, grace, faith and acceptance—key elements in becoming a child of Abraham and a child of YHVH.

 

 

“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. ⁷ Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. ⁸ And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. ⁹ So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”

 

Galatians 3:6

 

 

This is significant because Isaac was a child of promise and election, unlike other children of Abraham, specifically, Abraham’s first born, Ishmael (but also others).  But YVHV said that although Ishmael was the first born and that he would make Ishmael great, he was not electing him to be the child of promise.  YHVH said to Abraham that Isaac would be the child of promise.

 

Also, as shown in earlier chapters, YHVH included all children born in Abraham’s house (both biological and non-biological seed) and anybody purchased with money dwelling within his house to be bearers of the token of the Abrahamic Covenant onward to the child of Promise (Yeshua Christ).  So when the scriptures say “he took on him the seed of Abraham” and “was made like unto his brethren” it did not have to mean biological seed and in fact, in this case, it did not.  Apostle Paul knew this because Apostle Paul knew that Christ was born of a virgin and that he was adopted by parents who were from the household of Abraham, Judah and King David (Jesse’s seed).

 

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; ¹⁵ And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. ¹⁶ For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. ¹⁷ Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”

 

Hebrews 2:14-18

 

 

“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;”

 

Romans 9:4

 

 

“Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. ¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. ¹⁷ And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

 

Galatians 3:15-18

 

 

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

 

Galatians 4:4-7

 

 

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

 

Ephesians 1:5-6

 

 

“For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. ²³ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. ²⁴ Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. ²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”

 

Acts 3:22-26

 

 

Note: Some theologians teach that the impregnated egg that gestated in Mary’s womb was impregnated by a preserved seed from Abraham.  Not only is there no scriptures to back this theory, but said seed would be post the Original Sin and thus be carrying the Original Sin.

 

Paul clearly proclaims that the enjoinment of the Gentiles in the Messianic Covenant comes only by the enjoinment process and by adoption, election, faith and acceptance.  Therefore, all Gentile Christians are children of Abraham and of YHVH via adoption.

 

 

“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹ But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

 

Romans 2:28-29

 

 

“Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. ¹⁰ How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. ¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: ¹² And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. ¹³ For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”

 

Romans 4:9-13

 

 

DIFFERENT FOLD

 

            It appears that Christ alluded to the Gentiles and/or the Samaritans as, “other sheep I have, which are not of this fold”.  But the future intention was to merge both folds into one fold with only one shepherd.

 

 

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture... ¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

 

John 10:9-16

 

 

FIFTH WIFE

 

            To lay a foundation, most Bible readers are aware that polygamy was a common practice of Jewish culture and society.  Granted, it is certainly no longer politically correct in Greco-Roman influenced westernized cultures, but it was and is part of human history.  It was so common in Jewish culture that we can find genealogies, grand stories, songs and poetry lauding men and women engaged in polygamous marriages. 

 

            Even though polygamy was a part of human history prior to Abraham, starting with Abraham is most relevant to this study.  An analysis of scripture shows that Abraham had a least two recorded wives, Sarah and Keturah, and had more than one concubine (lesser wife), but Hagaar was the only one named in scripture. 

 

 

“Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. ² And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. ³ And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. ⁴ And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. ⁵ And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. ⁶ But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.”

 

Genesis 25:1-6

 

 

One can therefore minimally conclude from scriptures that Abraham had at least two wives and two concubines as well as all the children he had by all of them.  Abraham was a revered Patriarch so of course his social habits were quite integrated into his household going forward into his posterity.  It has already been discussed that King David was a polygamist and almost everybody in the world knows about Solomon.  Here is another example regarding Abijah, son of Rehoboam, son of Solomon.

 

 

"But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives...the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo"

 

            2 Chronicles 13:21-21

 

 

Of course, there are too many examples to list here, but one more example will show how this social practice was an integral part of Israeli and Jewish culture and everyday common thinking.  In the story of Ruth, one of the great stories of the Bible, all the people and the elders made reference to Israel’s two wives and the wife of Judah, Tamar, when Boaz purchased Ruth as an additional wife to raise up seed for his dead relative.

 

 

“Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. ¹¹ And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: ¹² And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.”

 

Ruth 4:10-12

 

 

For the above reasons it can be understood why the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles used polygamous analogies to explain spiritual matters.  It was part of the way they thought and processed.  It was deeply rooted in their subconscious.  With that said, it is important to take a look at the prophets.

 

 

"For thy maker is thine husband: ... For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth..."

 

            Isaiah 54:5-6

 

 

"...as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee."

 

            Isaiah 62:5

 

 

"... I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown...Israel..."

 

            Jeremiah 2:2-3

 

 

"...backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorcement, yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. ... And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart..."

 

            Jeremiah 3:7-10

 

 

            "...for I am married unto you..."

 

            Jeremiah 3:14

 

 

"And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, ...Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah."

 

            Ezekiel 23:4

 

 

As can be clearly seen in the scriptures above, the prophets used marriage (polygamous) to explain the spiritual, emotional and relational elements of YHVH’s relationship with Israel, Judah, Samaria and Jerusalem.   But the marriage analogies do not stop with the prophets.  It goes on into the Messianic Covenant, for obvious reasons.  Yeshua Christ used a polygamous marriage scenario to explain the spiritual nature of the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

 

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: ⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. ⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. ¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. ¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

 

Matthew 25:1-13

 

 

“And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. ²⁰ But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.”

 

Mark 2:19-20

 

 

Within Jewish culture, only a wealthy, powerful man could afford to marry ten virgins, as Christ proffered in Matthew 25, and since this parable was well within the realm of possibility and part of everyday common thinking and culture, the above parables resonated with the listeners.  Of course, it did not stop with Christ for his Apostles also used similar analogies, in particular, John, Peter and Apostle Paul. 

 

 

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

 

2 Corinthians 11:2

 

           

“And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

 

Ephesians 1:9-10 (NIV)

 

 

“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. ²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish... ³¹ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. ³² This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

 

Ephesians 5:5-32

 

 

“Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. ⁷ Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

 

1 Peter 3:6-7

 

 

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.”

 

Revelation 21:2, 9

 

 

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. ⁸ And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. ⁹ And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

 

Revelation 19:7-9

 

 

“The Spirit and the bride say ‘Come!’ …

 

Revelation 22: 17 (NIV)

 

 

In summary, the polygamous marriage analogy was used as a spiritual likeness of the collective church comprised of many members (participants), yet as the one body (corporate wife) of YHVH in Christ.   Additionally it shows the bringing together of YHVH’s corporate wives under one roof.  Just as the natural wives (bride) are co-heirs of the husband, so are the multiple corporate wives of YHVH in Christ co-heirs with him (Ephesians 2:12-14).

 

 

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”

 

            Ephesians 3:6

 

 

Take notice that the scriptures show members (plural) are as “one body”.  Not only does this apply to the throngs of Gentiles, but also Israel (another one of YHVH’s wives).  According to the scriptures, at least five corporate wives of YHVH can be identified as follows: 1) Israel, 2) Judah, 3) Samaria, 4) Jerusalem and 5) the Gentiles.

 

So, whether believers are associated with YHVH in Christ by adoption or a different fold or polygamous marriage, it brings Jews and Gentiles together under one roof as fellow heirs with Christ.  And, all scenarios reflect the elements of election, promise, grace and faith.

 

It may be difficult to keep track of the many various analogical, typological and parabolic metaphors referencing believers in scriptures.  Here are a few examples.

 

-         Sons                                               -    Heirs

-         Adopted Sons                                -    Co-Heirs

-         Daughters                                       -    Saints

-         Wife                                               -    Church

-         Bride                                              -    Servants

-         Sheep                                             -    Brothers

-         Lambs

 

     

 
 

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

 

 

On the space provided below write a one-page response to this Chapter.  Express your thoughts and feelings about this Chapter and how you have received it!

 

 

  

 

 

 

Chapter

 

- 6 -

 

ABRAHAMIC, MOSAIC, DAVIDIC AND MESSIANIC

A Comparative Analysis

 

 

            This chapter will conduct a limited comparative analysis of four covenants from a generalist’s point of view.  It will by no means be exhaustive.  This chapter will merely provide a framework by which the reader can launch a more extensive separate comparative study.  If the reader enjoys detailed and meticulous analyses, then the Addendums at the end of this book will provide the beginnings of more detailed analyses, but certainly far from exhaustive as well. 

 

 

PROMISE VS ORDINANCES

 

As was clearly shown in earlier chapters, the main premise of the Abrahamic, Davidic and Messianic Covenant was about PROMISE, ELECTION, GRACE and FAITH.  The main premise of the Mosaic Covenant was the same but this was overlooked and it became a covenant with a focus on ORDINANCES (works) (Romans 9:31; 10:1-3).  Granted, the Mosaic Covenant certainly proved some very important points about sin, righteousness, remission of sins, breach consequences, etc.  However, promise, election, grace, mercy, love and faith were also incorporated in the law.  In fact, in his scathing remarks to the Scribes and Pharisees, Yeshua made it clear that the weightier matters of the law were certainly more than ordinances and had even been omitted.

 

 

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

 

Matthew 23:23

 

 

“But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

 

Luke 11:42

 

 

And as Apostle Paul explained, the real problem was not with the law itself, per se, but with the participants of the law who were unable to exercise faith, to look to the end of the law and the works of the one who would end it—Yeshua Christ (Romans 10:1-4; 8:3; etc.).  Apostle Paul also clarified that the Mosaic Covenant (LAW) did not nullify nor supersede the Abrahamic Covenant.

 

           

“…Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so is it in this case…The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.”

 

Galatians 3:15-17 (NIV)

 

 

“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe…For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.”

 

            Romans 3:21-22, 28 (NIV)

 

 

To assist the reader to visually understand the three major covenants, see the Comparative Analysis Chart below (Chart 1.1). 

 

 

Covenant Comparative Analysis Chart 1.1

 

Covenant	Abrahamic	Mosaic	Messianic
Status	Still Valid (Everlasting Covenant)	Invalid (Temporary  Covenant)	Still Valid (Everlasting Covenant)
Promises	1. A.’s name will be great (Genesis 12) 2. A. will become a great nations (Genesis 12) 3. A. shall be a blessing (Genesis 12) 4. In A. all families of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 12) 5. A. and his seed will be given forever all the land A. could see (Genesis 13) 6. A. will Inherit the land wherever he is a stranger, all the land of Canaan—all of the world for an everlasting possession (Rom. 4:13; Genesis 12:14-15 & 17) 7. All Nations will be blessed by A. (Galatians 3:8) 8. A.’s Seed will become as the dust and the stars numerically (Genesis 13 &15) 9. This covenant would be an Everlasting Covenant between A. and his seed (Genesis 17) 10. A. and his Seed will be Father of Many Nations (Genesis 17) 11. A. and his Seed will be Father of Many Kings (Genesis 17) 12. YHVH would be A.’s and his seed’s God. (Genesis 17) 13. YHVH would establish this everlasting covenant through Isaac’s genealogy	1.  If Israel will obey YHVH’s voice indeed, and keep HIS covenant, then Israel shall be a peculiar treasure unto YHVH above all people. 2. And Israel shall be unto YHVH a kingdom of priests. 3. And Israel shall be an holy nation. 4. Cash in on Promises made to forefathers (e.g., Abraham) Deut. 6:3.	1. YHVH will put his law in Israel’s (mind) inward parts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10) 2. YHVH will write his law in Israel’s hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10) 3. Israel shall not have to teach every man his neighbor and brother “Know the Lord” anymore. (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:11) 4. YHVH will be Israel’s God (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10) Israel will be YHVH’s people (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10) 5. All Israel will know YHVH (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:11) 6. YHVH will forgive Israel’s iniquity (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:11) 7. YHVH will forget Israel’s sins forever (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12) 8. YHVH will be merciful to Israel’s unrighteousness (Hebrews 8:12) 9. Gentiles would gain access to the Abrahamic, Davidic and Messianic covenant promises by being adopted by the circumcision of Christ- the infilling of the Holy Spirit—the token, seal, security deposit (Colossians 2:11; Romans 8:15-17; 10:4; 8:9-11; Ephesians 2:12-13; 2 Peter 1:3-4; Romans and many more)
How to Enjoin	1. By hearing the promises of YHVH and covenant regulations. 2. By Faith in the promises of YHVH and agreeing to enjoin the covenant. 3. By cutting up the sacrificial animals (a heifer, a goat, a ram, a dove and a young pigeon). 4. By spread out the pieces and defending and protecting the pieces. 5. By falling into a trance with a divine visitation where YHVH passed between the pieces and communed with Abraham and gave him – the Token of what YHVH promised.	1. By hearing the promises of YHVH and covenant regulations. 2. By Faith in the promises of YHVH and agreeing to enjoin the covenant. 3. By cutting up the animal. 4. By spreading out the pieces and mixing water and blood, taking scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkling the people. Note: Paul added that Moses sprinkled the book (the very WORDS of YHVH—the testimony) and articles. 5. The testimony (book) was placed in the Ark of the Covenant (sacred box) with the Mercy Seat sitting on top of the box. YHVH comes down to visit/hover just above/over this box to commune—This Ark and YHVH’s visitation is the Seal—token of what YHVH promised.	1. By hearing the promises of YHVH and covenant regulations. 2. By Faith (believing) in the promises of YHVH and agreeing to enjoin the covenant. 3. By repenting (our death/cutting). 4. By being water baptized—spreading out of the pieces (like Christ’s burial). 5. By being baptized with the Holy Ghost (fire), a spiritual (trance-like) experience –the Seal—as a earnest of what was to come, which was the full inheritance, eternal life with eternal communion with YHVH.
Qualified Candidates	Abraham and his “seed” (Abraham’s “household”—souls born in, adopted, or purchased were to merely carry to token forward of the covenant made between YHVH and Abraham and his “seed”, not seeds)	Jews and purchased or adopted souls.	Jews, Samaritans, and Greeks (Gentiles)
Regulations	A.’s “entire” household must appropriately observe circumcision	Too lengthy to list here, but you can visit Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy for all the details.	1. LOVE one another as Christ LOVED his disciples (John 13:34; Matthew 20:25-28; Read the four Gospels, to many citations to list here)
Breach Consequences	Will be cut off, i.e., such a one will not be a part of any of the promises and will inherit nothingness—damnation.	Cut off with curses, sicknesses, plagues, diseases, no protection, destruction, damnation - Deut. 28:58-68	Cannot be part of the Messianic, Abrahamic or Davidic promises Eternal Damnation (more severe than if they had never known) (Hebrews 10:29; for more scriptures, see DOC Vol. 3 Chp. 16)

 

 

 

Apostle Paul goes on to explain that not all Israel is Israel and not all Abraham’s biological seed are Abraham’s children.  Wow.  Now that is a controversial statement.  But it has to do with adoption, promise, election, grace and faith.

 

 

“It is not as though God’s word had failed.  For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.  Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children.  On the contrary.  It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.  In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring…What then shall we say?  Is God unjust?  Not at all!  For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’  It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”

 

            Romans 9:6-16

 

 

            Biological genealogy by its self nor the Law Covenant supersedes or changes the Abrahamic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant or the Messianic Covenant.  So, if none of this matters, then why do the scriptures make such a big deal about all this?  Because it does matter, but not the way the Jews thought it mattered.  It mattered for the following reasons: 

 

Law Fulfillment—Ending of the Law:  Christ had to fulfill all righteousness—every aspect of the law—so that the Law covenant could end.   And this is no small reason.

 

           

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished…”

 

Matthew 5:17-20

 

 

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. ⁴⁵ Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,”

 

Luke 24:44-45

 

 

 

“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”

 

Luke 16:17

 

 

“Christ in the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”

 

            Romans 10:4

 

 

Fulfillment of Written Prophecy and the Psalms:   As already indicated in the scriptures above, Christ had to also fulfill all that was written in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning Yeshua.  This, too, was no small matter.

 

 

Fulfillment of the Child of Promise Requirement:   Since Yeshua had to be adopted, it was imperative that the adoptive parents were from the lineage of the child of promise, i.e., of the household of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and David.  In this way, Yeshua was of the promise child of Abraham—from the child of promise, Isaac by way of adoption.  This is significant since it fulfills prophecy, the child of promise requirements and prevents breach of covenant on YHVH’s part. 

 

Therefore, with Christ’s adoption, the necessary link to Abraham for the Gentile believers was secured.  Each time a Gentile is adopted (chosen/elected) by YHVH (through faith in Christ, sealed by the His Spirit) they become part of the growing number of Abraham’s children of promise and gain access to the Abrahamic, Davidic and Messianic Covenants.  After all, adoption is all about, pre-planning (predestinating) being loved first, being chosen (elected) first, being called first.  And then, because of it, the adoptee accepts, loves, has faith, etc. in return toward the adopter, as clearly shown in scriptures.

 

 

“We love him, because he first loved us.”

 

1 John 4:19

 

 

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

 

John 5:16

 

 

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

 

John 5:19

 

 

“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

 

Romans 8:30

 

 

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:”

 

Galatians 1:6

 

 

“ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

 

1 Thessalonians 2:12

 

 

(Here is a small list of scriptures relative to being “called” :  2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 1:9;  1 Peter 1:15; 2:9; 2:21; 3:9; 5:10; 2 Peter 1:3)

 

            Adoption aligns with Apostle Paul’s LAW vs. GRACE writings in Romans and elsewhere.  Adoption eliminates the past (wrongs, genealogy, history, etc.) and provides a new beginning (new birth) with a righteousness credit.  When an adoptee candidate accepts and believes in the savior—the adopter—Yeshua Christ, and enjoins the covenant by faith, a righteousness credit is given.

 

 

“Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. ¹⁹ And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: ²⁰  not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;… ²² And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. ²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; ²⁴ But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;”

 

Romans 4:18-24

 

 

YHVH grants access to the promises for his adoptees by all the work accomplished in and by Christ.  All a person has to do is believe in Christ and his completed work, enjoin the covenant and receive a righteousness credit.  But of course, said credit runs out quickly and will expire if an adoptee does not continue in the doctrine of Christ.  Enjoining the Messianic Covenant is proof of a person’s genuine faith.   Continuing in the doctrine of Christ confirms that a believer has not believed in vain. More will be discussed on this subject in Chapter Seven.

  

PASSING BETWEEN THE PIECES

 

As was shown earlier, YHVH (the lamp) passed between the pieces of flesh when Abraham laid out the pieces of the sacrifice.  YHVH also passed between the flesh of Christ after Christ was nailed to the tree when he gave up the Ghost—YHVH in Christ. 

 

 

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

 

Isaiah 53:4-5

 

 

“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. ³⁸ And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”

 

Mark 15:38

 

 

“And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

 

1 Corinthians 11:24

 

 

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;”

 

Hebrews 10:19-20

 

 

A BLOOD COVENANT

 

As shown earlier, just as blood was shed in the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants, so also was blood shed in the Messianic Covenant.  Below are just a few of the many scriptures that could be cited.

 

 

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

 

Ephesians 2:13

 

 

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

 

Colossians 1:20

 

 

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

 

Hebrews 9:14      (See also Hebrews 9: 19-24; 10:19-22, 29; 12:24; 13:12, 20, 21;

   19:21)

 

 

“This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. [⁷ For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.(Verse 7 not found in earlier manuscripts)] ⁸ And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”

 

1 John 5:6-8

 

 

COVENANT SEALS

 

            As shown earlier, just as the Noahic (rainbow), Abrahamic (circumcision) and Mosaic (YHVH’s visitation above the mercy seat) Covenants had either audible or visible tokens/seals, so also does the Messianic Covenant have a token/seal.  The Messianic seal/token is the earnest of the inheritance (spiritual circumcision of the heart/mind), a down payment of YHVH’s Spirit in believers—the Holy Spirit baptism—evidenced by speaking in tongues.

 

 

“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

 

2 Corinthians 1:22

 

 

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

 

Ephesians 1:13-14

 

 

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

 

Ephesians 4:30

 

 

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

 

2 Timothy 2:19

 

 

GENEALOGICAL NECESSITY

 

As shown earlier, the Abrahamic, Levitic, Davidic and Mosaic Covenants had genealogic requirements, so also does the Messianic Covenant, however, not in the traditional sense.  The Messianic Covenant invites the “whosoever”, whether they be Jew or Greek (Gentiles), Ishmael or Isaac, bond or free, male or female.   This is only possible because of adoption.  No matter what genealogical history a person has adoption erases the past and brings the adoptee into a new family—the family of Abraham and the Kingdom of YHVH.

 

 

“It is not as though God’s word had failed.  For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.  Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children.  On the contrary.  It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.  In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring…What then shall we say?  Is God unjust?  Not at all!  For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’  It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”

 

            Romans 9:6-16

 

 

 

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

 

Romans 10:12

 

 

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

 

Galatians 3:26-29

 

 

Remember, the Messianic Covenant ended (and thereafter superseded) the Law Covenant but did not supersede or end the Abrahamic or the Davidic Covenants.  However, the Abrahamic, Davidic and Messianic Covenants did and do work in harmony with each other, even unto to this day.

 

 

“And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. ¹³ 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: ¹⁴ That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. ¹⁵ Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. ¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. ¹⁷ And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

 

Galatians 3:12-8

 

 

Review the underscored sections in verse 17 above and notice that Apostle Paul made it quite clear that a confirmed covenant cannot be disannulled by another.  And, covenants can run concurrent and do not prevent others from being in full force.  If the reverse were true, then YHVH would be a liar and all believers know that YHVH is not a liar.  Some covenants are eternal others are not.  The LAW (Mosaic Covenant) was NOT eternal, only temporal.  It was a covenant that would lead people to Christ (Galatians 3:24). 

 

Below is a chart that shows how covenants ran/run concurrent:

 

  

Covenant Flow Chart 2.1

 

Noahic Covenant	Noahic Covenant	Noahic Covenant	Noahic Covenant	Noahic Covenant
	Abrahamic Covenant	Abrahamic Covenant	Abrahamic Covenant	Abrahamic Covenant
		Mosaic Covenant (Law)	Mosaic Covenant (Law)
			Davidic Covenant	Davidic Covenant
				Messianic Covenant

 

  

The Chart above (Chart 2.1) shows major covenants from their perspective starting points together with other covenants that ran concurrent with them.  Notice that the only covenant that has ended thus far is the Mosaic Covenant (Law).  At one point, there were as many as four major covenants in full force all at the same time.

 

The point of all this is this, if all the covenants that are simultaneously valid were NOT concurrently valid, then YHVH would not be keeping his promises he made in and by these covenants.  But YHVH does not lie (Hebrews 6:18).  Furthermore, no one has discovered any place in scripture where the four covenants (in the far right column of Chart 3.1) have ended.  Researchers can only find scriptures that validate their existence, their significance and how they are intertwined and work in harmony with each other, so as to assure that YHVH kept/keeps all of his promises. 

 

What is often overlooked is the fact that there is a necessity for the continued existence of all four covenants (shown in the far right column in Chart 3.1).  But knowing how to enjoin them is often overlooked.  Since the Noahic Covenant is not salvific (eternally speaking) in nature, it will not be included in this discussion.

 

So what does all this mean to this discussion?  It means that YHVH had a covenant with Abraham that was and is still valid.  In fact, it was plausible that the Israelites could have declined the Mosaic Covenant and opted to remain under the Abrahamic Covenant.  But they did not, they agreed to enjoin the Mosaic Covenant and enjoin it they did. 

 

Remember, according to the Abrahamic Covenant, access was only available through genetic biology, by purchase or by adoption, which extremely limited the probability of Gentiles having access to the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant.  So Christ came to redeem the Jews (and the few gentiles in the house of Abraham) from the curse of the LAW (Mosaic Covenant) AND to open the door (wide) for the Gentiles to gain access to the blessings and promises of the Abrahamic Covenant (Galatians 3:14), in particular the promise of the Spirit, through faith (Romans 4:14-16). 

 

So why was the promise of the spirit so significant?  Because, it is the spiritual process of ADOPTION (not so with repentance or water baptism, which is part of the enjoinment process).  Why is adoption so significant?  Because, it is the only way Gentiles, Greeks, Samaritans, Jews, etc. can gain access to the Abrahamic Covenant promises, the Davidic Covenant Promises [which relates to King-Priests (co-heirs to the throne and blessers -- see D.O.C. Volume 4), etc.] and the Messianic Covenant Promises.  Adoption is truly a significant element of the Messianic Covenant since Christ himself was adopted assuring that the promises of the Abrahamic, the Davidic and the Messianic Covenants were kept.

 

Also remember, Apostle Paul said, that one is not a Jew outwardly, meaning that not even a biological Jew is a Jew whether they have physical circumcision or not or the LAW or not.  Unless they have the promise that comes by faith, i.e., the holy spirit of promise, they are not a Jew (son of Abraham and a child of promise Galatians 4:28).  The Jews did not understand the faith relationship Abraham had with YHVH and thus did not understand that the circumcision he had was only a token of the promise(s) that was to come (Galatians 3:14), which was the circumcision of Christ.  The circumcision of Christ was the true (spiritual) circumcision, but even that circumcision (Spirit Baptism) received on the Day of Pentecost was still only a seal (token) since YHVH’s redemption power (Ephesians 1:19-20) was not fully given, only in an earnest portion (see previous e-mail).   The Jews mutated the meaning and intent of Abraham’s circumcision into something it was not, which was their habit (Matthew 15:6; Mark 7:13).  And Paul dealt with this mutation and misunderstanding throughout his ministry.  Paul said,

 

“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹ But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

 

Romans 8:28-29

 

 

Read more about this in Chapter Seven below.

 

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

  

On the space provided below write a one-page response to this Chapter.  Express your thoughts and feelings about this Chapter and how you have received it!

 

 

  

 

 

Chapter

 

- 7 -

  

ENJOINING THE MESSIANIC COVENANT

 

 

It seems quite clear that Apostle Paul taught that the Abrahamic Covenant and the Messianic Covenant worked (still works) in concert with each other, just as the Abrahamic Covenant worked in concert with the Mosaic Covenant until it expired.  Through adoption, all who have faith in Christ and his completed work are Abraham’s seed.  Through this faith, a believer’s past sins are not imputed to them, but by faith in Christ, YHVH grants them a righteousness credit.  But of course, as stated earlier, that credit will expire if they do not continue in the doctrine of Christ. 

 

Enjoining the Messianic Covenant as well as continuing in the doctrine of Christ thereafter, proves the veracity of a believer’s faith.  For example, even after Abraham received imputed righteousness by believing in YHVH’s promises prior to and while enjoining the covenant he continued his righteous walk even after activating the seal of the covenant—circumcision—by hearing the guiding voice of YHVH and doing whatever YHVH asked him to do.  He did so because of his covenant relationship with YHVH (James 2:21).  But, learning HOW TO ENJOIN the Messianic Covenant is critical to eternal redemption and must be discussed.

 

 

HOW TO ENJOIN THE MESSIANIC COVENANT

 

            Apostle Paul lays out a very simple divine procedural method in Romans Chapter Ten—a process by which people can enjoin the Messianic Covenant (be saved).  

 

1.      An adoptee who became a preacher is sent to preach the gospel.

2.      A sent preacher preaches the gospel (and related teachings) to candidate adoptees.

3.      Candidate adoptees hear the gospel (and related teachings) of the Lord.

4.      Some candidate adoptees believe in the Lord and his gospel (and related teachings) and YHVH then gives them a righteousness credit.

5.      Believing adoptee candidates “call” upon the name of the Lord.

6.      Calling adoptee candidates are saved/adopted/sealed.

 

 

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. ¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ¹⁴ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? ¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

 

Romans 10:12-17

 

 

The above outline is not detail specific.  It is merely proffered from a generalist view point, written to people who have already enjoined the Messianic Covenant.  A closer analysis of the scriptures reveal many more clues that, when pieced together (“line upon line”, “precept upon precept”, and “here a little, there a little”), provides a full view of how adoptees enjoined the Messianic Covenant.   The outline, however, does evoke some appropriate questions.