Old Covenant to New Covenant Ratification

[ByGraceThruFaith]

When dissecting any verse of scripture. Ask yourself, of whom, to whom, with what words, what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what is written before and what follows any single verse context.

^^^Myles Coverdale, Bible theologian/translator wrote the above^^^

The old covenant was between God & the collective Nation of Israel only, the Circumcision (NO GENTILES!)

John the Baptist repent & be baptised message is speaking to the Nation of Israel. The Circumcision only! (NO GENTILES ARE BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE WILDERNESS)

Virtually everything you read in the 4 gospels (is still the Old Testament/Covenant) is the fulfillment of OT promises. Made to & about the Nation of Israel, the Circumcision.

Having said that, All scripture is written FOR us. But, ALL scripture isn't written TO us:

Romans 15:4 (A) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning
(NOTE: ALL scripture is written for our learning. However, all scripture "IS NOT" written for our DOCTRINE. Example; we ARE NOT required to bring an animal sacrifice to the Temple)

The New Teatament/Covenant begins with Christ's death & resurrection

Heb 9:
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
(NOTE: While Christ is alive the old covenant is in full force)

John 7:
38 Jesus said; He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)
(NOTE: Jesus foretells of the giving/out pouring of the Holy Spirit to be given to believers. AFTER his glorification/Resurrection)

The radification of the New Covenant is a process that begins at Christ's death, resurrection & entrance into the presence of God & the Heavenly sanctuary, made without hands (Heb 9:24-28) And The final step in the New Covenant ratification is the outpouring/Baptizm of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4) which only Christ can do. See Matt 3:11 & Acts 2:33)

It's here that the center piece of Jewish life = Levitical Preisthood & Temple sacrifices are now retired/rendered obsolete. Even though animal sacrifices continued for decades after Jesus death. They were pointless/worthless & carried no covering/cloak for sin.

It's in resurrection power that Christ became our eternal Great High Priest (Heb 4:14) & advocate, after the order of Melchizedek.

 

[Boaz]

When dissecting any verse of scripture. Ask yourself, of whom, to whom, with what words, what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what is written before and what follows any single verse context.

^^^Myles Coverdale, Bible theologian/translator wrote the above^^^

The old covenant was between God & the collective Nation of Israel only, the Circumcision (NO GENTILES!)

John the Baptist repent & be baptised message is speaking to the Nation of Israel. The Circumcision only! (NO GENTILES ARE BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE WILDERNESS)

Virtually everything you read in the 4 gospels (is still the Old Testament/Covenant) is the fulfillment of OT promises. Made to & about the Nation of Israel, the Circumcision.

Having said that, All scripture is written FOR us. But, ALL scripture isn't written TO us:

Romans 15:4 (A) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning
(NOTE: ALL scripture is written for our learning. However, all scripture "IS NOT" written for our DOCTRINE. Example; we ARE NOT required to bring an animal sacrifice to the Temple)

The New Teatament/Covenant begins with Christ's death & resurrection

Heb 9:
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
(NOTE: While Christ is alive the old covenant is in full force)

John 7:
38 Jesus said; He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)
(NOTE: Jesus foretells of the giving/out pouring of the Holy Spirit to be given to believers. AFTER his glorification/Resurrection)

The radification of the New Covenant is a process that begins at Christ's death, resurrection & entrance into the presence of God & the Heavenly sanctuary, made without hands (Heb 9:24-28) And The final step in the New Covenant ratification is the outpouring/Baptizm of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4) which only Christ can do. See Matt 3:11 & Acts 2:33)

It's here that the center piece of Jewish life = Levitical Preisthood & Temple sacrifices are now retired/rendered obsolete. Even though animal sacrifices continued for decades after Jesus death. They were pointless/worthless & carried no covering/cloak for sin.

It's in resurrection power that Christ became our eternal Great High Priest (Heb 4:14) & advocate, after the order of Melchizedek.

I really liked your post. I hope a lot of people read it and take it to heart. A really good book on covenant theology is "Introducing Covenant Theology" by Michael Horton. It was an eye opener for me. Confusing texts in the OT became clear. Horton begins this book by explaining that covenant theology is not a doctrine but a frame work for interpreting the Bible. So much of our interpretations are Willy nilly and one of the reasons is because we are given no framework from which to do it. One of the results is that we never actually interpret the Bible and only apply scriptures. We actually miss the meaning. I have never been in a Bible study, and I've been to many, where the Bible is actually studied. Never heard a sermon that studied what a scripture actually said but jumped right to it's application. Application is good but first we need to know what the passage really means. I am convinced that many don't realize that a scripture (which can never be isolated to determine it's meaning,) has only ONE meaning. It may have many applications, but only one meaning.
One of the most distorted interpretations and applications is the blessing and cursing given to the Israelites in Deut. It is often applied to us, which then introduces works into the covenant of faith, a unilateral God only, no conditions, given to Abraham and fulfilled in Christ. The Deut. Covenant mentioned is bilateral, if you do this, I will do that, and was a land covenant made with the nation, Israel, through whom God chose to reveal Himself,and bring forth the Savior who would be the Savior for all nations.

 

[Anto9us2]

In Luke 3:14, we see John the Baptist advising Roman soldiers, so I disagree that no Gentiles came for baptism.

 

[Anto9us2]

I tried to research if any Jews could have been Roman soldiers going out to John the Baptist. Inconclusive.

 

[for_his_glory]

The old covenant was between God & the collective Nation of Israel only, the Circumcision (NO GENTILES!)

John the Baptist repent & be baptised message is speaking to the Nation of Israel. The Circumcision only! (NO GENTILES ARE BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE WILDERNESS)

I agree with everything except these two parts here I have to disagree with as God's covenant goes as far back as Noah on this side of the flood way before there were any Israelites.

We have no knowledge whether John the Baptist baptized any Gentiles or not as His baptism was for repentance and not regeneration. He was only called of God to prepare the way for the Lord for those to receive Christ. Being in the wilderness in the river Jordon outside of Israel his audience could have included Gentiles converts in that area.

God's Covenant Promises

With Noah to save him and his family, Genesis 6:18

With Noah and his descendants to never again destroy the world by flood. (Genesis 9:9-17)

With Abram to give him and his descendants the land we call Israel today and to destroy the inhabitants of that land because of their great sins (Genesis 15:18-21)

God's follow-up with Abram, changing his name to Abraham, and designating him the father of many nations and millions of descendants, and adding the covenant of circumcision, and promising him Isaac as a son and the inheritor of it (Genesis chapter 17). God made His with Abraham unconditional. (Genesis 22:12-18)

God's conditional one with the children of Israel, requiring their keeping God's law and circumcision, in return for physical blessings (Exodus 19-4). Further terms (conditions) of this covenant were expounded later (Leviticus chapters 25-27; Deuteronomy chapters 29- 31).

With the children of Israel concerning the Sabbath. (Exodus 31:14-18)

God's concerning the Ten Commandments and Holy Days designated by God. (Exodus 34:10 - 35)

God's concerning the bread in the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, to be eaten only by the priests, descendants of Aaron. (Leviticus 24:8,9)

God promised a new covenant in the Bible. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

God, in the Bible, spoke of His unconditional covenant with King David of Israel and of His continuing, unconditional covenant with Jacob's descendants. (Jeremiah 33:19-36)

The most important one is a new testament or a covenant of fulfillment in Jesus and established by Jesus upon His death on the cross. (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews chapters 7 - 10). Paul described the memorial that we are to keep. (1Corinthians 11:23-30)

 

[Boaz]

I agree with everything except these two parts here I have to disagree with as God's covenant goes as far back as Noah on this side of the flood way before there were any Israelites.

We have no knowledge whether John the Baptist baptized any Gentiles or not as His baptism was for repentance and not regeneration. He was only called of God to prepare the way for the Lord for those to receive Christ. Being in the wilderness in the river Jordon outside of Israel his audience could have included Gentiles converts in that area.

God's Covenant Promises

With Noah to save him and his family, Genesis 6:18

With Noah and his descendants to never again destroy the world by flood. (Genesis 9:9-17)

With Abram to give him and his descendants the land we call Israel today and to destroy the inhabitants of that land because of their great sins (Genesis 15:18-21)

God's follow-up with Abram, changing his name to Abraham, and designating him the father of many nations and millions of descendants, and adding the covenant of circumcision, and promising him Isaac as a son and the inheritor of it (Genesis chapter 17). God made His with Abraham unconditional. (Genesis 22:12-18)

God's conditional one with the children of Israel, requiring their keeping God's law and circumcision, in return for physical blessings (Exodus 19-4). Further terms (conditions) of this covenant were expounded later (Leviticus chapters 25-27; Deuteronomy chapters 29- 31).

With the children of Israel concerning the Sabbath. (Exodus 31:14-18)

God's concerning the Ten Commandments and Holy Days designated by God. (Exodus 34:10 - 35)

God's concerning the bread in the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, to be eaten only by the priests, descendants of Aaron. (Leviticus 24:8,9)

God promised a new covenant in the Bible. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

God, in the Bible, spoke of His unconditional covenant with King David of Israel and of His continuing, unconditional covenant with Jacob's descendants. (Jeremiah 33:19-36)

The most important one is a new testament or a covenant of fulfillment in Jesus and established by Jesus upon His death on the cross. (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews chapters 7 - 10). Paul described the memorial that we are to keep. (1Corinthians 11:23-30)

There are many covenants in the OT not just one, made with different persons at different times for different purposes.

 

[for_his_glory]

I was trying to show that God's many covenants started with Noah who was not an Israelite. It was through Abraham who was called a Hebrew, Genesis 14:13, that God established the first Hebrew/Israelite covenant, Genesis 12:1-3. From there God made many covenants with His people Israel.

Old Mosaic Covenant New Spiritual Covenant

OLD Covenant... II Cor. 3:14 NEW Covenant... II Cor. 3:6

FIRST Covenant... Heb. 8:7, 9:1 SECOND Covenant... Heb. 8:7, 10:1-9

Came by Moses... John 1:17 Came by Christ... Heb. 8:6, 9:15

Law of God in STONE... II Cor.3:3 Law of God in HEART... Heb. 10:16

Law of Moses... Acts 13:38-39 Law of CHRIST... Gal. 6:2

Law of the flesh... Rom. 7:5-6 Law of the SPIRIT... Rom. 8:2

NOT of faith... Gal. 3:2 Law of FAITH... Rom. 3:27

Yoke of BONDAGE... Gal. 5:1 Law of LIBERTY... James 1:25

Law of SIN... Rom. 7:5-6 Law of RIGHTEOUSNESS... Rom. 9:30-31

Law of DEATH... II Cor. 3:7 Law of LIFE... Gal. 3:11, 6:8

Christ removes OLD... Heb. 10:9 Christ enacted the NEW... Heb.10:9

A SHADOW... Col. 2:14-17 The REALITY... Heb. 10:1-18

FULFILLED... Matt. 5:17-18 NOW IN FORCE... Heb. 8:6, 10:9

Priesthood CHANGED... Heb. 7:12 UNCHANGEABLE Priesthood... Heb. 7:24

MANY sacrifices... Heb. 9:12-13 ONE sacrifice for sin... Heb. 10:12

IMPERFECT... Heb. 7:19 PERFECT... Heb. 7:19

Blood of ANIMALS... Heb. 9:19 Blood of CHRIST... Matt. 26:28

Circumcision... Ex. 12:48 Uncircumcision... Rom. 4:9-12

WORKS of law... Gal. 3:10 NOT of works but GRACE... Eph. 2:8

REMEMBERS sins... Heb. 10:3 FORGETS sins... Heb. 10:17

YEARLY atonement... Heb. 10:3 PERMANENT atonement... Heb. 10:4

SINFUL priests... Heb. 5:3 SINLESS priest... Heb. 7:26

AARONIC priesthood... Heb. 7:11 MELCHISEDEC priest... Heb. 5:5-10

MAN MADE tabernacle... Heb. 8:5 HEAVENLY tabernacle... Heb. 8:2, 11

Out of LEVI... Heb. 7:11 Out of JUDAH... Heb. 7:14

WEAK, UNPROFITABLE... Heb. 7:18 POWER of ENDLESS LIFE... Heb. 7:16

NO inheritance... Rom. 4:13 ETERNAL inheritance... Heb. 9:15

Sacrifice of ANIMALS... Heb. 9:13 Sacrifice of CHRIST... Heb. 9:28

Purified the FLESH... Heb. 8:13 Purged the CONSCIENCE... Heb. 9:14

PRODUCES wrath... Rom. 4:15 SAVES from wrath... Rom. 5:9

Perfected NOTHING... Heb. 7:19 Perfects BELIEVERS... Heb. 10:14

NO MERCY... Heb. 10:28 COMPLETE MERCY... Heb. 8:12

NO justification... Acts 13:39 BELIEVERS justified... Acts 13:39

BRINGS a curse... Gal. 3:10 REDEEMS from curse... Acts 3:13

ABOLISHED... II Cor. 3:13 CONTINUES IN GLORY... II Cor. 3:11

Brought DEATH... II Cor. 3:7 Brought RECONCILIATION... II Cor. 5:18

ISRAEL ONLY... Deut. 4:7-8, 5:3 ALL MANKIND Mark 14:24, II Cor. 5:14-19

 

[ByGraceThruFaith]

I agree with everything except these two parts here I have to disagree with as God's covenant goes as far back as Noah on this side of the flood way before there were any Israelites.

We have no knowledge whether John the Baptist baptized any Gentiles or not as His baptism was for repentance and not regeneration. He was only called of God to prepare the way for the Lord for those to receive Christ. Being in the wilderness in the river Jordon outside of Israel his audience could have included Gentiles converts in that area.

Hello, A couple of points:

John the Baptist father, Zechariah, was a Jewish priest (division of Abijah) & a descendent of Aaron. Zechariah & Elizabeth are described as Law-observant Jews.

There are many verses that suggest John would not have baptized a gentile. I'll provide a few:

Acts 10:28 Peter said unto them, Ye know how that it is an """unlawful""" thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
(NOTE: Peter tells Cornelius/a gentile. It's UNLAWFULL for a Jew to hang around gentiles)

John 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the (roman/gentile) hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
(NOTE: Just being in the Roman/gentile hall of judgment made a Jew ""UNCLEAN!"")

Acts 22;
17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I (Paul) prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18 And saw him (Christ) saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 Paul said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 Paul said, when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
21 And (Christ) said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee (Paul) far hence unto the Gentiles.

22 And they (this large Jewish audience) gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
(NOTE: This large Jewish audience listened to Paul until he said "One word: = GENTILE. At that point a literal riot ensues, calling for Paul's life)

23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes
(NOTE: A custom for men when greatly irritated & their preparing to stone Paul. They threw dust into the air "a sign of contempt see 2 Sam". Romans soldier's had to come arrest Paul & put him into protective custody)

I don't believe a wilderness full of Law-observant Jews would have stood by & watched as John broke the law.

2ndly: I agree there were other covenants Edenic, Adamic, Abrahamic etc. I was referring to the covenant that took place on Mt Sinai & should have been more specific. Best wishes...

 

[for_his_glory]

Hello, A couple of points:

John the Baptist father, Zechariah, was a Jewish priest (division of Abijah) & a descendent of Aaron. Zechariah & Elizabeth are described as Law-observant Jews.

There are many verses that suggest John would not have baptized a gentile. I'll provide a few:

Acts 10:28 Peter said unto them, Ye know how that it is an """unlawful""" thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
(NOTE: Peter tells Cornelius/a gentile. It's UNLAWFULL for a Jew to hang around gentiles)

John 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the (roman/gentile) hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
(NOTE: Just being in the Roman/gentile hall of judgment made a Jew ""UNCLEAN!"")

Acts 22;
17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I (Paul) prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18 And saw him (Christ) saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 Paul said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 Paul said, when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
21 And (Christ) said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee (Paul) far hence unto the Gentiles.

22 And they (this large Jewish audience) gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
(NOTE: This large Jewish audience listened to Paul until he said "One word: = GENTILE. At that point a literal riot ensues, calling for Paul's life)

23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes
(NOTE: A custom for men when greatly irritated & their preparing to stone Paul. They threw dust into the air "a sign of contempt see 2 Sam". Romans soldier's had to come arrest Paul & put him into protective custody)

I don't believe a wilderness full of Law-observant Jews would have stood by & watched as John broke the law.

2ndly: I agree there were other covenants Edenic, Adamic, Abrahamic etc. I was referring to the covenant that took place on Mt Sinai & should have been more specific. Best wishes...

In Galatians 2:11-21 we read where Paul had to rebuke Peter for not preaching to the Gentiles as through Christ, God had nullified the tradition of a Jew not to keep company with a Gentile as they were deemed unclean. Peter received this understanding as we read in the whole chapter of Acts 10, which includes the single verse you used in Acts 10:28.

John 18:28 was before the death and resurrection of Christ in which the tradition of that law was was not yet nullified.

In Acts 22 Paul was told to leave Jerusalem as he would not be received there since he persecute Christians to death before His conversion.

There could have been Gentiles within the audience of John's baptism being that it was outside of Jerusalem in the wilderness at the Jordon River.

 

[Prycejosh1987]

John the Baptist repent & be baptised message is speaking to the Nation of Israel. The Circumcision only! (NO GENTILES ARE BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE WILDERNESS)

That would be because he (John the baptist) was in Israel at the time, but remember that Phillip baptised a person that was a gentile, and then was taken away from the person by the Spirit.