The Covenant Relationship

[Chris]

The Covenant Relationship

The Covenant Relationship
By Jack Kelley

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. (1 Samuel 18:3-4)

The making of a covenant was serious business. It was the strongest bond known to men, and had both business and personal applications that extended even to the descendants of the two parties involved. A covenant was typically solemnized by great ceremony and ritual, some of which is mentioned in the passage above. All in all it went like this.

First, several animals were cut in half and arranged along a path. Their purpose was to symbolize the penalty for breaking the covenant. The two men entering into a covenant relationship walked between and around the animal parts in a figure eight. (An eight on its side is the symbol for infinity.) This was to show that they understood and accepted the penalty and that the agreement committed them forever. (When God entered into His covenant with Abraham, promising him an heir and giving him the Promised Land, He was the only one who walked between the animals. This meant that only He was bound to the terms. There was nothing Abraham had to do. In fact, God put him to sleep so he couldn’t participate. The land was given to Abraham and his descendants unconditionally and in perpetuity (Gen.15:9-21).

Seven Symbolic Steps

Then they performed up to seven ceremonial acts; each also designed to underscore the seriousness and permanence of the relationship they were entering. In the passage above, we see David and Jonathan formalizing their covenant with the first two of these.

1. Each man handed his outer garment to the other, symbolizing that everything belonging to one also belonged to the other.

2. Exchanging sword, bow, and other weapons indicated that each was pledging himself to the other’s defense; placing his power, as it were, at the other’s disposal.

3. They each cut themselves in the wrist to make their blood flow and then joined their right hands and forearms together in a gesture from which we get the modern handshake. The idea here was that the blood from one was now mixed with the blood from the other. The two had become one. In some cultures a bride and groom still cut themselves this way and mingle their blood during their wedding ceremony, and the American Indian notion of becoming “blood brothers” is also derived from this. (The Hebrew word translated covenant comes from a root that means to cut. It could apply to the animals, the men, or both.)

We ofter hear the phrase, “blood is thicker than water.” It usually refers to the strength of family relationships, but its original intent was different. It meant that the blood of the covenant surpassed the birth waters. As Jonathan’s actions toward David demonstrate, covenant relationships exceeded family ties in strength and durability (1 Samuel 19:1-3).

4. They let the cut heal in such a way as to leave a visible scar on their wrist. This was to alert people that they were stronger than they appeared to be, since others stood behind them pledged to their defense.

5. They shared a ceremonial meal, usually of bread and wine. It was another way of uniting them since to this day middle-Easterners believe that sharing from the same loaf of bread or the same flask of wine binds the participants together. In the first Biblical mention of this, Melchizedek and Abraham shared such a meal (Genesis 14:18).

6. Still another way was for each to take a portion of the other’s name, similar to the way the bride takes the name of the groom in Western culture. (When God entered into a covenant with Abram He changed his name to Abraham, requiring us to exhale when we speak his name. The exhaled breath symbolizes the Ruach Elohim or Spirit of God.)

7. And finally they built a monument or memorial to the ceremony. This could be something as simple as a pile of stones or as complex as a forest or a flock of animals, such as when Jacob and Laban formed their covenant (Genesis 30:25-36).

They went through such ceremony because their lives depended on their covenant partners. There could be no doubt in their minds as to each other’s reliability.

A Hypothetical Example

A shepherd had to get his wool into the hands of the merchants. But they lived in the cities and his sheep had to stay in the mountains. He couldn’t just leave them and go off to sell his wool, the sheep would be gone when he returned. Still, he needed the things he could only buy with the money he got from selling the wool. So he entered into a covenant with a wool broker. The broker took his wool into the city and sold it to the merchants. With the money he got, he purchased the things the shepherd needed and brought them back to him.

The shepherd had to trust that the broker would guard the wool with his life, and get the best price possible for it at the market. He also had to believe that the broker would pay as little as necessary for the goods he brought back, protecting them all the way as if they were his own. The broker had to trust that the shepherd would care for his flock and maximize his wool production so that when he came back there would be another crop to sell. It was an inter-dependent relationship built on trust.

And One From Real Life … 2 Samuel 9

Some time after David and Jonathan formed their covenant, Jonathan was killed in the Battle of Beth Shean (1 Sam. 31:2), while David went on to become King of Israel (2 Sam. 5:1-5). But as I said, covenant agreements extended even to the descendants of covenant heads. One day King David asked his advisors if there was anyone left of Jonathan’s family to whom he could show kindness for Jonathan’s sake.

They brought in one of Saul’s former servants who told him of a crippled boy named Mephibosheth. He was Jonathan’s son, living in a place called Lo Debar. When David had become King of Israel, all of Saul’s family (Jonathan was Saul’s son) had fled for their lives for fear that David would take revenge on them for the way Saul had mistreated him. In their haste to escape, his nurse had picked up the 5 year old Mephibosheth to carry him, but they had fallen on the stone floor, breaking his legs and crippling him for life. (2 Sam. 4:4) As he grew up his family had convinced Mephibosheth that David was responsible for his condition and still wanted to kill him.

Upon learning Mephibosheth’s whereabouts, David sent his soldiers to fetch him. When they brought him into the presence of the King, Mephibosheth, fearing for his life, bowed before David and asked him. “What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me?” (2 Sam. 9:8). David reassured him and told him of the covenant he had with Jonathan. Then David restored to him all of his grandfather Saul’s property and gave him servants to work the land so his needs would always be met. Finally David asked him to come live in Jerusalem, and eat at the King’s table just like one of the King’s own sons.

It’s a beautiful story of kindness and forgiveness that illustrates the depth of a covenant relationship like no other, and it has a parallel in our lives. To see what I mean, let David represent God our Father, with Jonathan as the Lord Jesus, and Mephibosheth as you and I.

The Everlasting Covenant

Long before we were born the Father and the Son entered into a covenant on our behalf. Our Father said to Jesus, “Son, if you’ll die for them I’ll forgive them”

Jesus replied, “Father, if you’ll forgive them I’ll die for them.” And so the Everlasting Covenant was formed.

Each time God entered into covenant with man, man proved untrustworthy and soon broke it. Adam ate the forbidden fruit, Noah’s descendants refused to scatter and re-settle the Earth, the Children of Israel broke the commandments, and so on. The salvation of God’s children was so important to Him that no mere man could be trusted to be faithful. God Himself had to become a man so mankind could be saved. “You are my son,” He told Jesus, “Today I have become your Father.” (Psalm 2:7)

So Jesus became a man to save mankind, and stood before our Father as our covenant head.

Later, while God pursued us, we ran for our lives. We’d heard the stories of His wrath and had been told that He was responsible for our infirmities. Finally one day He caught us and as we trembled at His feet in fear for our lives, He reassured us and told us of the covenant He had made with His Son. Then He restored our inheritance (Gal. 4:4-7), invited us to dwell with Him, to eat at the King’s table as part of His family, and to consider ourselves as His children (John 1:12-13).

What Did He Ever Do For Me?

Then He told us what His Son did for us. He said that Jesus,

1. Gave us His robes of righteousness and clothed Himself in our garment of sin.

2. Pledged His sword (the Word of His mouth) to our defense.

3. In being nailed to the cross, His wrists were cut and allowed to heal so as to leave scars as evidence of the covenant.

4. Allowed His blood to flow into and over us, cleansing us of all our impurities.

5. Shared a covenant meal of bread and wine with us and asked that we do this with each other as a memorial to Him.

6. Gave us His name, for we are called Christians.

7. Built a monument, His covenant flock, and said the gates of Hell would not prevail against it.

And as in Abraham’s case, all we have to do is receive it. It’s unconditional and perpetual.

Justice Or Mercy?

I used to think that John had misspoken in 1 John 1:9. Instead of saying of God, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” I thought John should have written, “He is faithful and merciful …” thinking that it’s out of God’s mercy that we’re forgiven, not His justice. Then I learned about the Everlasting Covenant and realized that He’s obligated to forgive us. He made a covenant with His Son promising to do it. And He can’t break His promise because He’s faithful and just.

The Son has died for us, and now the Father must forgive us, and when He does, all our sins and the shame and guilt that go with them are wiped away. Like Mephibosheth, our inheritance is restored, we’re set for the rest of our lives, and we sit at the King’s table as one of His children. By the way, Mephibosheth’s name comes from root words that mean “dash to pieces” and “shame”. When He died for us the Lord dashed to pieces all the shame associated with our former self and replaced it with the righteousness of God. Selah 07-21-12.

[ForgivenOne]

Thanks for posting this!

[readytogo]

Beautiful article by Jack!

[JC1949]

The Covenant Relationship

The Covenant Relationship
By Jack Kelley

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. (1 Samuel 18:3-4)

The making of a covenant was serious business. It was the strongest bond known to men, and had both business and personal applications that extended even to the descendants of the two parties involved. A covenant was typically solemnized by great ceremony and ritual, some of which is mentioned in the passage above. All in all it went like this.

First, several animals were cut in half and arranged along a path. Their purpose was to symbolize the penalty for breaking the covenant. The two men entering into a covenant relationship walked between and around the animal parts in a figure eight. (An eight on its side is the symbol for infinity.) This was to show that they understood and accepted the penalty and that the agreement committed them forever. (When God entered into His covenant with Abraham, promising him an heir and giving him the Promised Land, He was the only one who walked between the animals. This meant that only He was bound to the terms. There was nothing Abraham had to do. In fact, God put him to sleep so he couldn’t participate. The land was given to Abraham and his descendants unconditionally and in perpetuity (Gen.15:9-21).

Seven Symbolic Steps

Then they performed up to seven ceremonial acts; each also designed to underscore the seriousness and permanence of the relationship they were entering. In the passage above, we see David and Jonathan formalizing their covenant with the first two of these.

1. Each man handed his outer garment to the other, symbolizing that everything belonging to one also belonged to the other.

2. Exchanging sword, bow, and other weapons indicated that each was pledging himself to the other’s defense; placing his power, as it were, at the other’s disposal.

3. They each cut themselves in the wrist to make their blood flow and then joined their right hands and forearms together in a gesture from which we get the modern handshake. The idea here was that the blood from one was now mixed with the blood from the other. The two had become one. In some cultures a bride and groom still cut themselves this way and mingle their blood during their wedding ceremony, and the American Indian notion of becoming “blood brothers” is also derived from this. (The Hebrew word translated covenant comes from a root that means to cut. It could apply to the animals, the men, or both.)

We ofter hear the phrase, “blood is thicker than water.” It usually refers to the strength of family relationships, but its original intent was different. It meant that the blood of the covenant surpassed the birth waters. As Jonathan’s actions toward David demonstrate, covenant relationships exceeded family ties in strength and durability (1 Samuel 19:1-3).

4. They let the cut heal in such a way as to leave a visible scar on their wrist. This was to alert people that they were stronger than they appeared to be, since others stood behind them pledged to their defense.

5. They shared a ceremonial meal, usually of bread and wine. It was another way of uniting them since to this day middle-Easterners believe that sharing from the same loaf of bread or the same flask of wine binds the participants together. In the first Biblical mention of this, Melchizedek and Abraham shared such a meal (Genesis 14:18).

6. Still another way was for each to take a portion of the other’s name, similar to the way the bride takes the name of the groom in Western culture. (When God entered into a covenant with Abram He changed his name to Abraham, requiring us to exhale when we speak his name. The exhaled breath symbolizes the Ruach Elohim or Spirit of God.)

7. And finally they built a monument or memorial to the ceremony. This could be something as simple as a pile of stones or as complex as a forest or a flock of animals, such as when Jacob and Laban formed their covenant (Genesis 30:25-36).

They went through such ceremony because their lives depended on their covenant partners. There could be no doubt in their minds as to each other’s reliability.

A Hypothetical Example

A shepherd had to get his wool into the hands of the merchants. But they lived in the cities and his sheep had to stay in the mountains. He couldn’t just leave them and go off to sell his wool, the sheep would be gone when he returned. Still, he needed the things he could only buy with the money he got from selling the wool. So he entered into a covenant with a wool broker. The broker took his wool into the city and sold it to the merchants. With the money he got, he purchased the things the shepherd needed and brought them back to him.

The shepherd had to trust that the broker would guard the wool with his life, and get the best price possible for it at the market. He also had to believe that the broker would pay as little as necessary for the goods he brought back, protecting them all the way as if they were his own. The broker had to trust that the shepherd would care for his flock and maximize his wool production so that when he came back there would be another crop to sell. It was an inter-dependent relationship built on trust.

And One From Real Life … 2 Samuel 9

Some time after David and Jonathan formed their covenant, Jonathan was killed in the Battle of Beth Shean (1 Sam. 31:2), while David went on to become King of Israel (2 Sam. 5:1-5). But as I said, covenant agreements extended even to the descendants of covenant heads. One day King David asked his advisors if there was anyone left of Jonathan’s family to whom he could show kindness for Jonathan’s sake.

They brought in one of Saul’s former servants who told him of a crippled boy named Mephibosheth. He was Jonathan’s son, living in a place called Lo Debar. When David had become King of Israel, all of Saul’s family (Jonathan was Saul’s son) had fled for their lives for fear that David would take revenge on them for the way Saul had mistreated him. In their haste to escape, his nurse had picked up the 5 year old Mephibosheth to carry him, but they had fallen on the stone floor, breaking his legs and crippling him for life. (2 Sam. 4:4) As he grew up his family had convinced Mephibosheth that David was responsible for his condition and still wanted to kill him.

Upon learning Mephibosheth’s whereabouts, David sent his soldiers to fetch him. When they brought him into the presence of the King, Mephibosheth, fearing for his life, bowed before David and asked him. “What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me?” (2 Sam. 9:8). David reassured him and told him of the covenant he had with Jonathan. Then David restored to him all of his grandfather Saul’s property and gave him servants to work the land so his needs would always be met. Finally David asked him to come live in Jerusalem, and eat at the King’s table just like one of the King’s own sons.

It’s a beautiful story of kindness and forgiveness that illustrates the depth of a covenant relationship like no other, and it has a parallel in our lives. To see what I mean, let David represent God our Father, with Jonathan as the Lord Jesus, and Mephibosheth as you and I.

The Everlasting Covenant

Long before we were born the Father and the Son entered into a covenant on our behalf. Our Father said to Jesus, “Son, if you’ll die for them I’ll forgive them”

Jesus replied, “Father, if you’ll forgive them I’ll die for them.” And so the Everlasting Covenant was formed.

Each time God entered into covenant with man, man proved untrustworthy and soon broke it. Adam ate the forbidden fruit, Noah’s descendants refused to scatter and re-settle the Earth, the Children of Israel broke the commandments, and so on. The salvation of God’s children was so important to Him that no mere man could be trusted to be faithful. God Himself had to become a man so mankind could be saved. “You are my son,” He told Jesus, “Today I have become your Father.” (Psalm 2:7)

So Jesus became a man to save mankind, and stood before our Father as our covenant head.

Later, while God pursued us, we ran for our lives. We’d heard the stories of His wrath and had been told that He was responsible for our infirmities. Finally one day He caught us and as we trembled at His feet in fear for our lives, He reassured us and told us of the covenant He had made with His Son. Then He restored our inheritance (Gal. 4:4-7), invited us to dwell with Him, to eat at the King’s table as part of His family, and to consider ourselves as His children (John 1:12-13).

What Did He Ever Do For Me?

Then He told us what His Son did for us. He said that Jesus,

1. Gave us His robes of righteousness and clothed Himself in our garment of sin.

2. Pledged His sword (the Word of His mouth) to our defense.

3. In being nailed to the cross, His wrists were cut and allowed to heal so as to leave scars as evidence of the covenant.

4. Allowed His blood to flow into and over us, cleansing us of all our impurities.

5. Shared a covenant meal of bread and wine with us and asked that we do this with each other as a memorial to Him.

6. Gave us His name, for we are called Christians.

7. Built a monument, His covenant flock, and said the gates of Hell would not prevail against it.

And as in Abraham’s case, all we have to do is receive it. It’s unconditional and perpetual.

Justice Or Mercy?

I used to think that John had misspoken in 1 John 1:9. Instead of saying of God, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” I thought John should have written, “He is faithful and merciful …” thinking that it’s out of God’s mercy that we’re forgiven, not His justice. Then I learned about the Everlasting Covenant and realized that He’s obligated to forgive us. He made a covenant with His Son promising to do it. And He can’t break His promise because He’s faithful and just.

The Son has died for us, and now the Father must forgive us, and when He does, all our sins and the shame and guilt that go with them are wiped away. Like Mephibosheth, our inheritance is restored, we’re set for the rest of our lives, and we sit at the King’s table as one of His children. By the way, Mephibosheth’s name comes from root words that mean “dash to pieces” and “shame”. When He died for us the Lord dashed to pieces all the shame associated with our former self and replaced it with the righteousness of God. Selah 07-21-12.

WOW.....I truly love Jack Kelley's teachings....THIS ONE brought me to tears and joy and PRAISE to our GREAT KING....our GREAT FATHER....WOW i repeat....36 years ago I named my male Son JONATHAN-DAVID because THE LORD revealed to me,Mephibosheth the wonderful meaning of this story....I was only 4 years in THE FAITH and our WONDERFUL ABBA revealed that meaning to this crippled sinner saved by HIS AMAZING GRACE.
To read the article today ( I am in Jack's Kelley mailing list,and encourage all of you to enlist in it) I had a SPIRITUAL HIGH of JOY and GRATITUDE to OUR GREAT FATHER and SON and HOLY GHOST.....
ETERNITY will not suffice to SING HIS MARVELOUS PRAISE !!!!!
But we can start PRAISING HIM even NOW,ALLELUJAH,and we can express THANKFULNESS and GRATITUDE by PRAYING for others and preaching HIS GOSPEL of GRACE out of a spirit of gratitude for HIS GIFT to us,Mephiboshets as we were,BUT NOW,wow wow Wonder of Wonders WE ARE HIS CHILDREN FOR EVER!!!!
PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE ,HONOR GLORY MAJESTY to THE SOON COMING KING OF KINGS and LORD of LORD,YESHUA!!!!!

[Ryan Hettinger]

What an amazing thing our God has done for us! The creator of everything gives us boldness to enter his throne room and to hold him accountable, praise his mercy and unimaginable love he has for us! Oh what glory awaits us!

[mattfivefour]

I have some difficulty with the idea that we the created, the corrupted and fallen children of Adam, somehow hold the perfect and holy Creator accountable???

With the greatest respect, this, to me, is prideful theological error. God holds US to account; we do not hold Him to account. How can we with our limited perspective ever hope to understand God and hold Him to account for what He does or does not do? That He does exactly what He says He will do is without question. But if we, in our limited minds, do not perceive Him to have done so in a situation, are we then qualified to boldly march into His Presence and demand an answer? I think not. Yes, through our relationship with Jesus Christ and based solely upon what Christ did at Calvary, we have boldness to enter into His Presence and we have the right to boldly place our petitions before Him. But let us keep that in proper perspective— it is boldness to come directly before God with our petitions; as opposed to the former dispensation under the Old Covenant where we could not approach God directly but only through the limited ministrations of an earthly High Priest. Had we attempted to enter directly into God's Presence, it would have cost us our life. It is not boldness to begin making demands of God nor calling Him to account.

There are great truths in the great Book of Hebrews (as throughout the entire NT) that we are to live by. But these MUST be understood in proper perspective. Otherwise, we are in danger of error that can lead us into false beliefs and even blasphemy.

[readytogo]

I have some difficulty with the idea that we the created, the corrupted and fallen children of Adam, somehow hold the perfect and holy Creator accountable???

With the greatest respect, this, to me, is prideful theological error. God holds US to account; we do not hold Him to account. How can we with our limited perspective ever hope to understand God and hold Him to account for what He does or does not do? That He does exactly what He says He will do is without question. But if we, in our limited minds, do not perceive Him to have done so in a situation, are we then qualified to boldly march into His Presence and demand an answer? I think not. Yes, through our relationship with Jesus Christ and based solely upon what Christ did at Calvary, we have boldness to enter into His Presence and we have the right to boldly place our petitions before Him. But let us keep that in proper perspective— it is boldness to come directly before God with our petitions; as opposed to the former dispensation under the Old Covenant where we could not approach God directly but only through the limited ministrations of an earthly High Priest. Had we attempted to enter directly into God's Presence, it would have cost us our life. It is not boldness to begin making demands of God nor calling Him to account.

There are great truths in the great Book of Hebrews (as throughout the entire NT) that we are to live by. But these MUST be understood in proper perspective. Otherwise, we are in danger of error that can lead us into false beliefs and even blasphemy.

We don't have to hold God to account. He does it because HE is Faithful and Just.

[RandallB]

Wrapped up in this mystery somewhere is that we are given the right to become the children of God.

How audacious is that?

How can we be given the highest right in the universe?

Positively takes my breath away.

[JC1949]

Some of us here in the Forum are fathers....( soon I am even becoming grand-father.. one of my daughters is expecting the first baby...sorry a disgression..)..yes..we are fathers and even though we are not perfect fathers ( I am by no stretch of imagination perfect in nothing...) well,as i was trying to say,in our father role we have been given the incredible blessing of seeing ourselves reproduced in the new person that a child boy or daughter is....just think bout that!
The miracle of life...the love and the joy that implies....BUT GOD,HE IS THE PERFECT FATHER-CREATOR-REDEEMER....so,even if I do not understand the depth of it all,I just accept that out of IMMENSE heart of love,once He adopts us in Christ Jesus,He wants pour in our lives HIS JOY and FILL US with HIS SPIRIT of LOVE...for ETERNITY.
He has already done it in ETERNITY,we just have to catch up with ETERNITY...we still in these decrepit bodies but SOON we are going to have a NEW MODEL ,a NEW BODY at THE RAPTURE/RESURRECTION and THEN we will be wow wow wowing throughout ETERNITY ENJOYING our GREAT WONDERFUL DADDY and HIS SON and HOLY SPIRIT.....
All I can say is:

T H A N K Y O U JESUS!!!!!!!!!
MARANATHA!

[mattfivefour]

Wrapped up in this mystery somewhere is that we are given the right to become the children of God.

How audacious is that?

How can we be given the highest right in the universe?

Positively takes my breath away.

Indeed! And the word variously translated "right" here in the NIV and NASB and "authority" (Young's and ISV) or "power" (KJV and derivatives, and Webster's) is worth studying a little closer so that we get its true meaning. It is the Greek word ἐξουσία (exousia) which derives from ἔξεστιν meaning "it is lawful". Therefore, God is saying that He has delegated to us a lawful position of being His children. Put another way: He has, by His own authority, given us the privilege of being His children. Not just considered His children, but actually being His children. Incredible!!!

And all it takes is true belief, real faith, in Jesus Christ. In other words, ALL who "receive" (Gk: λαμβάνω , lambano, "to actively take hold of," "to actively receive") Christ and "believe" (Gk: πιστεύω, pisteuo, "to have faith," "to believe fully") in Him are, as a result of that full acceptance of Christ as the Messiah, Lord and Savior, fully accepted by God into His family. And let us also note that this "faith" by which we believe is not a product of our own self: it is a gift of God, just as surely as is His grace (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8; 4:7). So we TRULY have nothing whereof to boast— only to stand amazed at His "unspeakable" (ie: indescribable) gift. As you say, brother, it "positively takes my breath away."

And this, of course, is the motivation for obeying Him. Not that we might be punished if we do not, but because we do not want to hurt the One who so greatly and graciously has showered us with such an undeserved blessing. And this pardon did not come at the expense of God's just wrath against sin. No, rather, that penalty was fully satisfied by Jesus at the Cross! And because the penalty has been paid by Christ, ALL who are IN Christ find that there is no more penalty to be paid, no more wrath to be satisfied through the exercise of righteous judgment against them. It was finished by the Cross. What love!!!

And what stupidity of those who reject it!!!

[Kenny64]

And all it takes is true belief, real faith, in Jesus Christ. In other words, ALL who "receive" (Gk: λαμβάνω , lambano, "to actively take hold of," "to actively receive") Christ and "believe" (Gk: πιστεύω, pisteuo, "to have faith," "to believe fully") in Him are, as a result of that full acceptance of Christ as the Messiah, Lord and Savior, fully accepted by God into His family. And let us also note that this "faith" by which we believe is not a product of our own self: it is a gift of God, just as surely as is His grace (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8; 4:7). So we TRULY have nothing whereof to boast— only to stand amazed at His "unspeakable" (ie: indescribable) gift. As you say, brother, it "positively takes my breath away."

..

.. Wonderful post Matt54

And what stupidity of those who reject it!!!

[JC1949]

Indeed! And the word variously translated "right" here in the NIV and NASB and "authority" (Young's and ISV) or "power" (KJV and derivatives, and Webster's) is worth studying a little closer so that we get its true meaning. It is the Greek word ἐξουσία (exousia) which derives from ἔξεστιν meaning "it is lawful". Therefore, God is saying that He has delegated to us a lawful position of being His children. Put another way: He has, by His own authority, given us the privilege of being His children. Not just considered His children, but actually being His children. Incredible!!!

And all it takes is true belief, real faith, in Jesus Christ. In other words, ALL who "receive" (Gk: λαμβάνω , lambano, "to actively take hold of," "to actively receive") Christ and "believe" (Gk: πιστεύω, pisteuo, "to have faith," "to believe fully") in Him are, as a result of that full acceptance of Christ as the Messiah, Lord and Savior, fully accepted by God into His family. And let us also note that this "faith" by which we believe is not a product of our own self: it is a gift of God, just as surely as is His grace (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8; 4:7). So we TRULY have nothing whereof to boast— only to stand amazed at His "unspeakable" (ie: indescribable) gift. As you say, brother, it "positively takes my breath away."

And this, of course, is the motivation for obeying Him. Not that we might be punished if we do not, but because we do not want to hurt the One who so greatly and graciously has showered us with such an undeserved blessing. And this pardon did not come at the expense of God's just wrath against sin. No, rather, that penalty was fully satisfied by Jesus at the Cross! And because the penalty has been paid by Christ, ALL who are IN Christ find that there is no more penalty to be paid, no more wrath to be satisfied through the exercise of righteous judgment against them. It was finished by the Cross. What love!!!

And what stupidity of those who reject it!!!

Yeah,agreed 100%.....but concerning the stupidity,as you say....And what stupidity of those who reject it!!!...well,do they REALLY know what they are rejecting?
I am sorry to say,dear brother,that I find very few people that understand the true gospel of Grace....
I have been in so many churches,so many different denominations,and in various countries,and I am very sad to say,I have found tons of religion,but very little of the truth....
WHO is going to preach this wonderful Gospel of Grace to this generation???
I am not very optimistic...sorry....
I pray you do,and you do......but 2 Sundays ago,i went to this little church,where I know the pastor well,a great guy,but he delivered a legalistic message so shocking,my wife and I were truly speechless,we just left the church she was attending before ( won't go in the false doctrines there!)and we are seeking fellowship and all you get here is either dead churches or heretical Wof or plainly legalistic others...don't know what to say,just ask prayers from You here,we would love to have a church family to fellowship in Spirit and Truth....unless the Love of Christ....here in Australia is full on apostasy.....

[mattfivefour]

It is true. Very few Christians even can point to the gospel in the Bible. The heart of the gospel is Romans 3:19-26. That is its doctrinal expression. It's practical expression and application can be found in Ephesians 2:1-10. If Christians knew and fully understood just these two passages they would be able to fully present the whole gospel to others.

[Ryan Hettinger]

I have some difficulty with the idea that we the created, the corrupted and fallen children of Adam, somehow hold the perfect and holy Creator accountable???

We are not the "corrupted and fallen children of Adam", we are children and heirs of God, new creations in Christ.

With the greatest respect, this, to me, is prideful theological error. God holds US to account; we do not hold Him to account. How can we with our limited perspective ever hope to understand God and hold Him to account for what He does or does not do? That He does exactly what He says He will do is without question. But if we, in our limited minds, do not perceive Him to have done so in a situation, are we then qualified to boldly march into His Presence and demand an answer? I think not. Yes, through our relationship with Jesus Christ and based solely upon what Christ did at Calvary, we have boldness to enter into His Presence and we have the right to boldly place our petitions before Him. But let us keep that in proper perspective— it is boldness to come directly before God with our petitions; as opposed to the former dispensation under the Old Covenant where we could not approach God directly but only through the limited ministrations of an earthly High Priest. Had we attempted to enter directly into God's Presence, it would have cost us our life. It is not boldness to begin making demands of God nor calling Him to account.

There are great truths in the great Book of Hebrews (as throughout the entire NT) that we are to live by. But these MUST be understood in proper perspective. Otherwise, we are in danger of error that can lead us into false beliefs and even blasphemy.

I speak for myself, but I feel that god wants to have a very personable and intimate relationship with each and every one of us. He wants to think of him as our father and also our friend. As a child, I expect my father to feed me, cloth me, and provide for me. I expect him to guide me through all areas of my life. There is a complete and utter reliance. I feel God encourages me to "talk real" to him and to hold him to the promises and truths of his word. I feel that we have to claim them and to ask for them in order to receive them. I look back at the past prophets and I see how they communicate with God. They indeed ask and hold God accountable to "be their God" (Hebrews 8:10). To me, God wants and encourages us to hold him accountable to the promises he has made us.

[mattfivefour]

I guess its a matter of interpretation, Ryan. Holding someone accountable means holding a position of authority and judgment over them, able to call their behavior into question. We are not in a position to judge God, as the Bible makes abundantly clear in both the OT (Job 38-41; Isaiah 29:16; 40:12-26; 45:9) and the NT (Romans 9:20-21).

Yes, we have been translated into His Kingdom of Light ... positionally. But, in condition, we still carry the old nature born of Adam. Sanctification is the process of the Holy Spirit working out in us the seed of the new life planted in us at salvation. As Paul says, we are still in this corruption and we are still in this mortality (1 Corinthians 15:53-54). But the promise is that this SHALL be changed!

God indeed is our Father and He loves us beyond our capacity to understand. He also has provided direct access to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. But He is still God. We are children, but servants as well. We must never forget the bounds that God is God and we are His by His choice alone. As a minister I caution that while we should rejoice in the intimacy of our relationship with God through Christ, we should never allow that intimacy to breed familiarity in the sense of a loss of godly fear for this Being who is Almighty God.

BTW, a belated welcome to RF!

God bless you.

[daygo]

Found the article on the main quite good. However not sure about his everlasting covenant paragraph, not sure what he is saying here, it could be me thats slow, but do think he is trying to put his own thinking into scripture. Could someone enlighten me about this everlasting covenant as he sees it. Much obliged.

[Ryan Hettinger]

BTW, a belated welcome to RF!

God bless you.

Thank you!