The basic scriptures above are taught by just about all Christian Churches. This is the one common tie between all of the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul thought it was necessary to go over these scriptures to affirm that the Corinthian Church thoroughly and correctly understood the Gospel message. It does us good to study and reflect upon Christ’s Gospel so we will also stay on the right course and not let anyone miss lead us by teaching a different gospel. Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who with His own body established the Gospel!
This is an intense bible study and will require prayer and much study to understand all of the spiritual content however it is a condensed version of this incredible study. Most church people I ask about the covenants don’t really know much about them and how important they are to our spiritual lives and the impact it has on Christian teachings especially the Lords Supper where it was all changed by Jesus on that fateful night of the last Passover.
Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
Wow! What a statement! His Spirit is in my inner man, in me? What does this mean? Am I two people? What is God saying?
This is a reminder that we must understand the two covenants. This is the least understood subject in the Church today and it is imperative that we take a brief study of the covenants to learn how the change came about.
About the Covenants
Hebrews 9:8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle (A shadow of our corruptible body) was still standing.
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (The inner man, 1 Cor.12:27), that is, not of this creation.
15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant (Forgiveness of our sins), that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 10:9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
We are not under the Law of Moses, not even the Ten Commandments! We are under the Spiritual New Covenant Laws of Jesus Christ as He explains in the Sermon on the Mount.Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.
Matthew5: 27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Under the Old Law you literally had to commit the offense to be guilty, but under the New Covenant Laws of Christ if you harbor the offense in the heart you are guilty.
10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
The Spiritual laws of Jesus Christ as referenced in the Sermon on the Mount.
17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
Jesus shed His blood for the remission of all sins, past, present, and future. Jesus took all sins to the grave and buried them there forever.
18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
This is where the covenants changed from the Levitical priesthood of the tribe of Levi to the Judean priesthood of the tribe of Judah with Christ as the High Priest.
Hebrews 7:11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.
13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest
16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.
17 For He testifies: ” You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
Jesus who is our high priest today rebuilds us into a holy spiritual body.
Once we have received Christ into our lives and have eternal life, we have entered into the body of Christ. There was never anything like this ever mentioned by Moses in the Law. They would think it blasphemous to say we have a holy body like God. That’s why it is necessary to know about the two covenants. Now we can return to learning how we are spiritual
1 Corinthians12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
It is staggering to learn that we are of such importance to God that He would make us Holy as He is holy. The Apostle Paul says he labors in birth until Christ is formed in us.(Gal.4:19)The Apostle Peter said that we are living stones used to build a spiritual house and holy priesthood.(1Peter 2:5) The Apostle Paul tells us to accept to being conformed to the new body the perfect man formed in us by God.
Ephesians 1:24 and that you put on the new man(The inner man) which was created according to God,
We are a spiritual construction job built on an everlasting foundation powerfully anchored by Christ and built of perfect building blocks of eternal strength fitted together to form a Spiritual structure for the holy habitation of our God and Father. We are the building blocks and Christ is the builder and we will be the dwelling of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. In the Kingdom of God there is no temple, for God and the Lamb are the temple and we are the body of the Lamb.(Rev. 21:22)
Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in theSpirit.
I pray that god blesses the understanding of those who read this important covenant study as it may be the most important study in these times that make it more clear what happened the night that Jesus kept the last passover and changed the elements and instituted the Lord’s Supper. Luke 22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.In Christ’s name, amen!
I am doing a little bit of venting here as I see so much of the Word being ignored. This is only one of many I thought of. There could be a lot more said about the use of the Holy Spirit, the Lord’s Supper, speaking in tongues, and baptism just to name a few.
Are there Pharisees in our Christian Church today who question Christ as they did when Jesus was alive? I often wonder why there are certain “doctrines” in every Church organization but they are not always the same. One believes theirs is the right way and another believes theirs is the right way. Why are there direct commands given in the New Testament that very few follow? Such as:James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.These verses are surrounded by other commands that are commonly obeyed. Why is “James 5:14-16” ignored?
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Word was Jesus the Christ! The bible is His written Word. It is the Holy Truth of God! We must believe that with all our hearts. What He has preserved for us in the bible is infallible and it is obligatory that we do as He commands. The “Sermon on the mount” Is one command after another as Jesus reveals to us what is in the heart that matters. Jesus said He would write it upon our hearts!
Hebrews 10:16 “This is the (new) covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Those are just some the spiritual laws of Jesus Christ in the New Covenant. The book of Hebrews gives an in-depth examination of the New Covenant laws. Praise is to God and that we always look to Christ for the answers and give Him the glory.
God made a time for everything! Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
From the beginning to the end! WOW! The historical lifetime of man is extremely short compared to the lifetime of God!Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
God has a great and Holy Plan by which He created the heavens and the earth and created man to inhabit the earth. So the age old question that has been asked: “What is man and what is his purpose?” The purpose is a great mystery that is now revealed by the Holy Spirit to those in Christ! God created man for an extremely high and holy purpose, but He left it to man to decide whether he wanted to partake of His glory. So what has man done with the earth he has inherited? He has just about totally polluted it. The earth, air, water, sound, etc. you name it and man has tainted and contaminated it. Man’s understanding of things from above is polluted and perverted as well. God wants to share His glory with those who choose to do so through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE AND UNDEFILED and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus changes everything by making anyone who chooses Christ and is born again into new life an INHERITOR of the Kingdom of God. They will receive a new body, name, residence, job, eternal life, a great reward, is a king and priest, sharing the glory and throne of God!
Have you ever observed someone being baptized and heard the pastor make a statement that baptism is not important and that you are not saved by baptism that it is only a symbol of publicly receiving Christ as your Savior? I have and I always wondered why they felt that they had to tell everyone this every time they baptized someone as if they might do something wrong if they didn’t. I have thought on this subject many times and have always wondered about it!
The bible teaches that there are certain important major Church doctrines that we ought to obey. In the book of Hebrews God very thoroughly explains to us what the “new covenant” is all about. The church of God is no longer under the old covenant after the order of the Levitical Priesthood as given to Israel by Moses. We are now under the Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek! Our high priest is Jesus Christ who is from the tribe of Judah which was never even mentioned by Moses that there would be a priesthood other than the Levitical Priesthood. Now Christ teaches us in the bible that there are new covenant doctrines that we need to learn and follow. Hebrews 6: 1-2 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the author of the Holy Bible and that it is the infallible truth of God! When He makes it a point to tell us about the major doctrine of baptism in context with the resurrection of the dead we need to pay attention and understand what Jesus is saying! When God sent His Holy Spirit down to the earth to inhabit the hundred and twenty believers on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 1-4 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit… Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire) the Apostles went out and started preaching to the multitude of people in Jerusalem and the very first thing Peter told them in Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be BAPTIZED in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WHEN YOU ARE BAPTIZED YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT! Don’t you think that makes baptism rather important to a Christian? But always remember that with God all things are possible! If He chooses to give you His Holy Spirit some other way He can but you still need to be baptized. (Acts 10:44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord).
I encourage anyone who has not done so, to get on your knees and ask God what baptism is all about and He will answer and lead you into a life so wonderful and will infuse you with a new power that you never knew existed. Jesus changes everything! SEEK HIM NOW!
People can say anything but what you do says a lot more than what you say!
Matt. 21: 28-31 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?”
Examine yourself to be sure your motive is right before you commit to anything. Don’t let your moral or ethical principles be compromised, do all with honesty. Let your actions speak louder than words.
Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine!
You need the wisdom of Jesus shining like a light from inside you, so that those who do not know Him will be curious as to what makes you so different, perhaps even desiring the same thing you have. Let your example be like a sweet honeycomb.
Imitate Jesus because He changes everything! Be effectual in all things, bearing fruit to Christ, amen!
Are you ready to meet Jesus? Experience a miraculous change in your life! Just maybe deep in your heart you would really like to know if it is true. Yes! Jesus changes everything! Come on, ask Him to speak to your heart. It will be strictly between you and Jesus!
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Jesus is calling you and tugging at your heart strings to respond, say: “YES LORD!”
Father the Bible says that You and You only are the One to call men to Christ because you can see into the heart of man and know when someone is ready to be born again. Reveal Your Truth to those who read this and open their eyes to see Jesus! In Jesus name, amen!
Once in a senior Sunday school class, a man who was a long term member made the statement that he had the rapture and he didn’t need anything else.
Sadly, there are many Christians who feel that “once saved always saved” excuses them from any other duties as a Christian. That is not so!
They lack understanding of the new covenant that Jesus Christ preached about in the “Sermon on the Mount.” Under the old law you literally had to commit an act of sin to be guilty, but under the new covenant Christ makes it very clear that if a person harbors evil in their heart they are guilty of sinning. Everything we do in life should be spiritual, not of the flesh. But how can we do this? Through Jesus who lives in us! Jesus made the supreme sacrifice once and for all so our sins are forgiven and remains our advocate forever.
Hebrews 10:10 We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.
14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.
17 Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.
Matthew 5:21 You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, you fool, will be liable to the hell of fire.
27 You have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery.
28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
31 It was also said, whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.
32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.
34 But I say to you, do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
38 You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
39 But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
43 You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
4 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
How is it possible to be perfect as God our Father is perfect?
1John 3: 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
The whole book of 1 John is a further expansion of the spiritual laws of Christ.
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then now is your time, this is why you are reading this now! Jesus is knocking on your door! Open to Him now! Receive Him into your life! God bless you! Amen!
• During 2010–2014, an estimated 56 million induced abortions occurred each year worldwide. This number represents an increase from 50 million annually during 1990–1994, mainly because of population growth.
Based on this staggering informaton, worldwide genoside of the numbers aborted snce 2010 – through 2018 totals 400,000,000. IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION? THIS IS THE WORST TRAGEDY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
HOW LONG IS GOD GOING TO PUT UP WITH THIS?
Luke 21:36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
There are different offices of shepherds listed in the Bible and not all Christians hold these positions. God calls those whom He will to do His work.Ephesians 4: 11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
Those men that God calls to be pastors have to live with their own challenges in life in regard to God, church, family, and spiritual vocation. They are human just like everyone else and as a pastor figuratively put on a pedestal by their congregation. It is tough on him and his family all the while looking after the souls of the Church as a good shepherd will do. 1 Peter 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you (shepherds) will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Support your pastor, pray for him and his family, invite them over for dinner; get to know your pastor and let him know you care for you are Christ’s sheep; God gave you a shepherd.
1 Peter 2: 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
If you have surrendered to Jesus and made Him the Lord of your life then; seek out a church, get involved, and follow your shepherd. He will teach you, disciple you and watch after your soul. Peace to you in the Lord Jesus Christ!
WORLDWIDE INTERNET EVANGELISM 