Hi Everyone,
"The old covenant is the covenant that was made with Israel at Mount Sinai through Moses, their representative. It was the covenant of the law of the Ten Commandments, the sacrificial system of offering up lambs, bulls, and goats to cover the sins of the people; the mark and seal of membership in the covenant was the circumcision of the male. The new covenant is called new because it made all that went before it old and of no more use as a means of salvation. It was not just another covenant that improved on the previous one, as this year's automobile model is an improvement over the last year's. The word "new" means new in kind, that which has never been thought or dreamed of before. This covenant is mediated by the Lord Jesus and established in His blood. Membership is in being sealed by the Spirit of God, who writes the law on the heart and in the desires of men and women." - Malcolm Smith
Something we've forgotten, and I've mentioned this recently, is the reality of covenant. It is not the exchange of material possessions, but rather the exchange of a life. The representative of each party involved in the covenant represents his people, his tribe, his family, etc. Being of the same blood and family of those he represents, he literally EMBODIES those he represents. His position is not an easy one, because the terms of the covenant rest upon him--he carries the responsibility to fulfill the terms of the covenant.
We come from a very individualistic society, so this is not easy for us to fully comprehend, but a person entering into a covenant can never be an individual; his very life represents the lives of all those included with him. Think of David and Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17, Goliath challenges the Israelites to choose a man for themselves. He says that he and the Israelite they choose will represent their respective nation, and if the Israelites' representative wins, the ENTIRE nation of Philistines would be slaves to the nation of Israel.
Goliath and David literally BECAME their respective nation. The entire histories and the futures of their people were at stake and the whole war would be ended by a fight between two men.
This illustrates in part how we are saved through Jesus. Not only saved, but it shows us how we are to walk. The Bible says that we died with Christ! As a human, Jesus wraps up all of humanity into Himself and represents all men. Jesus, born under the law, is our representative man, who takes upon Himself the full penalty for our failure to obey the covenant through which we were represented by Moses. It is thus that the old covenant is ended, and the power of the Spirit has now raised Jesus up from death and us with Him! The challenge we face in all this is the issue of faith! We not only have to place our faith in Jesus for salvation, but we should also, by faith, believe that our perfect representative has caused us to be completely righteous. How are we completely righteous? Because our representative, Jesus Christ, is completely righteous.
I pray that you will see that your Representative has perfectly represented you--He has perfectly fulfilled the terms of the covenant which came through Moses. You have been re-presented back to the Father through Jesus. May you place your complete faith in the reality of your righteousness and sanctification, perfectly and once-for-all completed in Jesus.
"The Gospel of the covenant is presented by God to man, not as a point to begin negotiations, but for humans to accept or reject. Love has accomplished the incredible, and all humans can do is either receive with thanks or establish themselves in their rebellion forever by refusing." - Malcom Smith
Grace=Peace,
Jeremy
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