One of the hardest things for a Christian to do is sort through the smorgasbord of "philosophies" and "theories" of christianity, and as Sheldon from TBBT would say, find the "toad of truth", or as yogrynch would say, "burp out the element of truth."
One of the discussions various members of our family is having concerns the contentious issue of "covenants" - how many were there, how many are presently active. The burp of truth is this: There is, always has been, always will be only ONE covenant - the covenant of grace.
One need look no further than the Old Testament to discover this truth. Before ever a living human walked the earth a promise was made, by God Himself, to Himself, and is the grandest expression of GRACE that has ever been uttered. Simple in its elegance, profound in its implication, unyielding in its application, it is found in Genesis. Chapter 1. Verse 26. 'Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”'
Of no other element of creation was this said. You and I, as humans (redeemed or not) live as testaments to this - we ALL are image bearers of God - created in His image and bearing His likeness. Oh, understand this GRACE! Yes, some fail to grasp this truth. Yes, some will endure everlasting punishment because of this rejection. Yes, some will experience the unlimited mercies and grace of God in perpetuity.
Questions?
"Before ever a living human walked the earth a promise was made, by God Himself, to Himself, and is the grandest expression of GRACE that has ever been uttered."
ReplyDeleteGod promises God. God never fails. What grace!
I can't help but wonder, if there is only one Covenant, which one are we born into? How dare you suggest God casts away those who belong to Him, as a One Covenant theology logically concludes.....because if everyone is covered by grace, then everyone will go to Heaven. This is illogical. Hell is real. The Elect is only a remnant, not the entire human race, else the importance of Christ is lessoned.
ReplyDeleteJeremiah 31:31
The New Covenant
31 o“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will makepa new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when qI took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, rthough I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 sFor this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: sI will put my law within them, and I will write it ton their hearts. uAnd I will be their God, and they shall be my people.34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ vfor they shall all know me, wfrom the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For xI will forgive their iniquity, and yI will remember their sin no more.”
NOT LIKE the one He made before, but brand new, alive, everlasting and this was accomplished by Christ Jesus.
Proper scripture interpritation demands, no, screams two covenants. One of birthright, in Adam, which every human carries this, and by shear grace and mercy we are pluked out and set on the path of the New Covenant, in Christ Jesus, who will never leave us or forsake us.
Any questions? ;-)