Have A Little Faith!

“Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them.” (Leviticus 18:5)

This pretty well sums up God's first covenant with Israel. It depended on their faithfulness to obey the law. That did not work out very well for Israel. But God knew it wouldn’t and so through Jesus their Messiah, God replaced the old promises with better ones.

"He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)

This new covenant depends solely on the faithfulness of Jesus their Messiah. It will be firmly established by the "God of all Grace" in a future age. After Israel suffers for awhile in this age, they will be perfected in the next!

“Behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, declares the LORD. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD, I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, declares the LORD, for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”  (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

That will happen for them in the next age, but for now, Israel must suffer for rejecting their Messiah...

"...after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you...” (1 Peter 5:10)

What does the "Law" of that covenant with Israel have to do with us, the Gentile body of Christ (the "uncircumcision")? 

"...the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:24-25

We learn that no one is saved by the works of the "Law", so we have "faith" in the power of "the blood of Christ" and the "God of all grace".

 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast...remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” ...were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Galatians 3:24-25; Ephesians 2:8, 11-13)

So, have a little faith!

New Covenant

"...For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:17-20)

The "you" above is the Jewish people. This "supper" occurred at a Jewish Passover meal. Passover is one of the seven feasts that Jewish people are to observe, and they have absolutely nothing to do with Gentiles, like most of us.

Jesus is telling his Jewish followers that he would not be around for any more Passovers until he had returned to earth and restored the Kingdom of Israel. Revelation tells us that this Kingdom will last 1000 years and that his Jewish followers would be raised from the dead to REIGN with him in that Kingdom.

The New and Old Covenants both have to do with God's plan for Israel (descendants of Jacob through his twelve sons).

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the PEOPLE OF ISRAEL and with the PEOPLE OF JUDAH. It will not be like the covenant I made with THEIR ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because THEY broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them” declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make with the PEOPLE OF ISRAEL after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on THEIR hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

So, what about the rest of us - the "ecclesia" (church) among the Gentile "nations"?

Paul is our apostle, and he tells us we are saved by the GRACE of God - apart from the Law of Moses - and that we will be raised to REIGN with Jesus, not in the Kingdom of Israel on the earth, but “among the celestials." It is a great plan for us! Traveling across the universe in an immortal body, proclaiming the "grace" of God among the vast creation of our wonderful and loving God.

"...to me, less than the least of all saints, was granted this grace: to bring the evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ to the nations, and to enlighten all as to what is the administration of the secret, which has been concealed from the eons in God, Who creates all, that now may be made known to the sovereignties and the authorities AMONG THE CELESTIALS, through the ecclesia, the multifarious wisdom of God..." (EPHESIANS 3:3-10 CLNT)

The Salvation of All

"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people…they ALL shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34)

Like the old covenant, this new covenant is with ISRAEL. It will be establish when they are resurrected by Jesus their Messiah when he comes to earth again to establish his Millennial Kingdom.  ISRAEL will become priests and "reign with him" over the present earth "for a thousand years".

“This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:5-6)

Over the past 2000 years, God has caused blindness to happen to Israel. As a nation they still do not acknowledge that Jesus is their Messiah.  But when they do, God will “forgive their iniquity”, and “all Israel will be saved”.

“For I (Jesus) tell you, (Israel) you will not see me again until you say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord"... "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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” (Matthew 23:39; Romans 11:25-26)

During this time of blindness, God is revealing through the revelations given to the Apostle Paul His intent to save ALL mankind in His Grace, both Jew and Gentile.

“…the Grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men…Christ Jesus, who gave himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed… for there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time…it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance, for it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men…for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…that God may be All in all.” (Titus 2:11-14; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 4:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

It is not rocket science, just a matter of reading the Bible and believing what it says – and ignoring the "myths and commandments of men" made up over the years. A turning away from the truth given to Paul had begun before Paul died and continues today. Paul reproved them and so should we...

“…reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth… Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me.” (Titus 1:13-14; 2 Timothy 2:14-15)

Law or Grace

“Abraham had two sons…which…are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage (Law of God)…and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—but the Jerusalem above is free (Grace of God), which is the mother of US ALL…So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free (Grace), and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (Law).” (Galatians 4:22-5:1)

We sometimes get all theological when we talk about “covenants” and covenant living. But Paul is using the term “covenants” in reference to those God made with Israel (Both the Old and New Covenants are with Israel alone). They are used by Paul as an example of the simple truth that the GRACE of God has set ALL mankind free from the punishment demanded by the LAW of God in the Old Covenant with Israel. We do not avoid the punishment for the sin of Adam, which is “death”, but we will be freed from this death by our resurrection.

When the Law of God is the standard by which we are judged by God, what is the conclusion of the matter?

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

When the GRACE of God is the standard by which we are judged by God, what is the conclusion of the matter?

“For the grace of God hath appeared bringing salvation to all men…for by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord… the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory…” (Titus 2:11; Ephesians 2:11; Romans 6:23; Colossians 1:26)

So which applies today for mankind?  – Law which condemns the sinner, or Grace which saves the sinner?

“For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under LAW but under GRACE.” (Romans 6:14)

Israel Saved

"Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people…they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," says the LORD. "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34)

Long ago, God promised a new covenant of grace for His people Israel. "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel." 

Someday, the Israelites will turn to Messiah as a group and enter into this promised covenant of grace.

"And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins'" (Romans 11:26-27). 

This will take place when the Lord Jesus returns to this earth. 

"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn" (Zechariah 12:10). 

Grace is not exclusive to Israel.  Grace has appeared to all, and brought them salvation.

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men..."(Titus 2:11)

Treasured Possession

“Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now IF YOU OBEY ME FULLY and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my TREASURED POSSESSION. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:3-6)

There was a CONDITION to Israel becoming a “treasured possession” out of all the other Nations. They had to obey Him fully and keep His covenant. Obviously this did NOT happen. Even before Moses got off the mountain where he received the Commandments Israel had broken them. And the first thing God told Moses to do was to set up the Tabernacle and build the ARK with a MERCY SEAT covering. The Ark contained the broken commandments.

Thus began the requirement for all the animal sacrifices to ATONE for breaking the commandments...UNTIL the final Lamb of God, and sin bearer, came to take away the sin of the world…and he came about 1500 years later.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Israel is still his chosen Nation, but are NOT yet his “treasured possession”. To become God's "TREASURED POSSESSION" requires a sinless existence. Good luck with that in this present evil age...for anyone. However, in the ages to come AFTER the resurrection to immortality the Israelites and all others will become God's treasured possession. God tells Israel….

“This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people… so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but NOW you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” (Hebrews 8:10; 1 Peter 2:9-10)

And for the rest of us Gentiles...

“…the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to ALL MEN, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” (Titus 2:11-15)