A Covenant of Law or Grace?*

We are to be at a whole new level of understanding covenant. This includes the everlasting covenant, which is spoken of fifteen times in scripture. You can also find more information on this topic in my book "Law, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Godliness", available through Amazon. The following is the first mention of "covenant" in scripture, as God spoke to Noah after the flood: "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth...And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no longer become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth....This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." (Gen. 9:13-17). Although the rainbow has been used in a profane manner in our times, it is really a sacred reminder of the mercy and grace that God sovereignly promises to all living on earth to assure them that He would not bring another destructive flood. In Gen. 6:8, we read that Noah found (attained) grace in the eyes of God. Grace is something attained between God and man. Jesus taught that the days of His return would be as the days of Noah (Lk. 17:26), so we need to understand now especially what it means to attain grace with God. The prophets wrote about the new covenant by which grace would be attained between God and man. Jeremiah wrote: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers...which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days...I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour..., saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest...for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer. 31:31-34). Ezekiel also wrote about a new work of grace by God: "Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezek. 36:25-27). We know that we are washed with the water of the Word of God. The LORD desires a relationship with all flesh, and has desired it since the beginning, or Bereshiet in Hebrew, whose individual pictographic letters mean "the son of God crushed, His hand on the cross". Revelation tells us that Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. This move of God in our hearts and spirits prophesied in Jeremiah and Ezekiel is repeated in the New Testament, in Hebrews 8:10-12, where the LORD God concludes His covenant promise: "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." This work of grace is created by God within us. Jesus taught what is called The Sermon on the Mount, or The Beatitudes, to His disciples, not to the crowd at large (Mt. 5:1). Jesus didn't just choose disciples. He taught and trained them in discipleship by Word and Spirit. The blessings of the Kingdom of God that were taught by Jesus that day to His disciples, reflect the perfect unity of the Word, or the Law, and grace produced in the new heart and spirit by God. Those who are blessed by God according to this sermon are the poor in spirit, or the humble. The Kingdom of God belongs to them. Those whose soft hearts mourn are the ones who receive the comfort of God. The meek, strong in faith but self-sacrificing, who put themselves last in the earth, will inherit it. Those with a hunger and thirst for righteousness, which is created by a new heart and spirit, will have that hunger satisfied. Those whose hearts and spirits show mercy to others through grace and the love of God's Word in them, will receive mercy themselves. Those whose hearts have been purified in the manner promised by the prophets above, will see God. Those whose new hearts and spirits cause them to be peacemakers in the middle of strife, will be called the children of God. Those who have been persecuted and reviled because their hearts love righteousness, and love the Righteous One, Jesus, can rejoice in this life because they belong to the kingdom of heaven, and will receive their great reward in heaven (Mt. 5:3-12). These who have sought after the new heart and spirit promised by God, live these blessings, and are living according to Kingdom principles. The covenant of grace does not operate separate from the Torah, the Law. Jesus assured His listeners that He didn't come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word of God will not pass away until even the finest points of it are fulfilled (v. 17-18). In this context, Jesus told His disciples to be salt and light in the earth (v. 12-16). The Law of the Torah is not limited to the written letter, but it is joined with the Spirit of God, and the spirit and soul in man. This is grace. It is in this understanding that Jesus told us: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (v. 48). Paul wrote of a circumcision that was not outward, but inward, a circumcision of the heart, which makes one a Jew. It is Spirit, rather than letter, which receives praise from God, rather than men (Rom. 2:28-29). The letter of the written Word must become living Spirit within us. David, confronted by his terrible sin, sought this saving renewal that could only be attained by this work of God in him: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then I will teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee...The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psalm 51, excerpt). This is the grace work within David of the LORD's Spirit through the Law, the Torah, that David had treasured in his heart. The Word, it is written, is quick and powerful, like a two-edged sword, cutting to our deepest parts and discerning the thoughts of our hearts. James the apostle wrote: "But whoso looketh into (stooping into) the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:25). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/11/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

Living the Covenant*

The word "covenant" is used 272 times in scripture. The first mention of covenant comes in the story of Noah. As God told Noah His plan to flood the earth because the intent of men's hearts was only evil, He also said: "But with thee will I establish my covenant (berit - alliance, agreement, friendship; divine ordinances and laws with divine signs); and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy son's wives with thee." (Gen. 6:18, 9:8-10). Noah had found grace with the LORD, and he and some animals from every living thing of all flesh would be saved in the ark. The LORD also promised Noah as part of His covenant that He would not destroy flesh by waters of a flood again (Gen. 9:11). He gave Noah and man a sign of this promise: "...This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth...when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: and I will remember my covenant...the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." (Gen. 9:12-17). The everlasting covenant of God was not just with Noah, but with all living creatures of flesh, and with the earth. God also made a covenant with Abraham. Abraham fell on his face before the LORD, and received this promise from God: "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Gen. 17:7-8). The current crisis that we see oer the land which was called Canaan, is over the requirement of this covenant that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was and is to be their God. There are those in the area of conflict, who are the seed of Abraham after the flesh, for he eventually had many children. However, God's everlasting covenant requires that He, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is their God, and not another god. Jesus said that God could raise children of Abraham up from the stones. There was also another requirement of Abraham in this everlasting covenant with God. All members of his household must be circumcised by the time the child is eight days old: "...my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant." (v. 10-13). Science has since confirmed what God already knew: the clotting factor in blood is not fully developed until the eighth day of life. When Abraham's son Isaac was miraculously born in Sarah's old age, the LORD made clear that His covenant would continue with Isaac, although Abraham also loved Ishmael: "But my covenant shall I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year...I will establish my covenant with him, and with his seed after him." (v. 17-21). Later, after the children of Israel were delivered out of the slavery of Egypt, the priests would have a requirement to fulfill in God's covenant with them. They would be required to keep the lamp of the LORD, that was in the tabernacle, burning with pure olive oil as a statute forever. They were to make and place twelve new cakes on the pure table before the LORD in the tabernacle every sabbath: "Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant." (Lev. 24:1-8). Today, there are those in Israel making plans to construct a third temple so that they may keep this covenant with God, as He commanded. We have a role that is required to be fulfilled in the covenant also. When Moses and the people were in the wilderness, the men of Israel had joined themselves with the women of Moab and Midian in idol worship. A plague broke out among the people because of the anger of God. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, killed an unrepentant Israelite and his idolatrous foreign wife with his javelin, and the plague was stopped. Because of the zeal of God in Phinehas, the LORD made a covenant with him and with his seed after him: "Behold I give unto him my covenant of peace...the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel." (Num. 25:11-13). David, who was raised up and anointed by God to be ruler over the people of Israel spoke of the everlasting covenant that God had made with him, and his role in that covenant. David said that he spoke by the Spirit of God, with the Word of God in his tongue. As a ruler, he was to rule justly, in the fear of God. He was to be as light, and he knew that his salvation was in the everlasting covenant that God had made with him (2 Sam. 23:1-5). Isaiah wrote the Word of the LORD concerning the land being emptied and spoiled. The whole earth, in fact, would languish and fade away, and the haughty people of the earth also: "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." (Isa. 24:1-5). We have broken the covenant. Remember, judgment begins at the house of the LORD. However, God offers His cleansing and renewal to us, as a free gift, as well as His everlasting covenant: "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." (Isa. 55:1-3). David, when he had sinned, sought the renewal and cleansing of the LORD in repentance (Ps. 51). David is a witness to us of this covenant of mercy and forgiveness with God. As God prophesied about raising His people up to Ezekiel, He spoke about cleansing their sin and transgressions. The LORD promised to bring the Messiah, like David, to rule as King over His people forever. They shall dwell in the land that God has given them, "...even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore." (Ezek. 37:21-28). In the Book of Hebrews, we are reminded that the blood of the everlasting covenant, through Jesus Christ whom God raised from the dead, makes us perfect in every good work to do His will, working in us in a way that is well pleasing in His sight (Heb. 13:20-21). We have the covenant with God as we live and walk in that covenant before Him. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 7/17/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool, also on Facebook.

The Marriage Covenant

 

Before we  continue our discussion of the coming Fall Feasts of the LORD, it is important to discuss the Jewish marriage covenant. Jesus repeatedly spoke of Himself in terms of a Bridegroom, but because the Church has divorced itself from its Jewish roots, we often fail to see the Jewish construct from which Jesus taught.

The Jewish wedding covenant was at the time of Christ, and still is today, a legal contract called a Ketubah (example shown above). The prospective bridegroom brings the wedding contract to his hopefully future bride's home, along with witnesses. In the actual wedding covenant or contract, the groom promises to provide security to the bride, and puts up his property as assurance for the future protection and security of the bride, even in case of divorce. The bride, of her own free will, choses whether she will accept the groom and the marriage covenant. The groom also brings wine with him to seal and celebrate the accepted covenant, which they drink during a shared meal.

The Apostle Paul also describes the relationship between Christ and the Church as a marriage relationship:

"Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify it and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing,; but that it should be holy and without blemish (see also Rev. 19:7 referring to the bride of the Lamb)...For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."   

                                                                            Eph. 5:25-27, 30-32

This is the same commission concerning marriage that the LORD gave to the first man, Adam (Gen. 2:23-24). Jesus further affirmed the marriage relationship as a joining through which two individuals become one flesh:

"And (Jesus) said, "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh...Wherefore, they are no more twain but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."  Mt. 19:5-6

From the beginning (Mt. 19:8), marriage is the only relationship whereby two separate individuals can become one flesh (echad). This union is the purpose between Christ and the Church- that the two, through marriage, become one.

Jesus has provided the required security for the Bride in His marriage covenant, or Ketubah, with His Church. He provided our protection and security with own His blood (1 Cor. 6:19), and with His own inheritance:

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ...".  Rom.8:17

As a Jewish Bridegroom, Jesus further assures the security of His bride by preparing a dwelling for her in His Father's house:

"In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am,  there ye may be also...You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice..."  

                                                                                                 Jn. 14:2-3, 28a

Even the return of Jesus, to which we all look forward, is a promise given in the context of the Jewish marriage covenant, the Ketubah, as you can see in the above scriptures. As with the Jewish wedding, great rejoicing is associated with the groom coming for his bride.

 

As we stated previously, in the Jewish custom of the Ketubah, the bridegroom comes to the bride's house. If she agrees to the marriage covenant, they share a meal together with the family:

"Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with Me."   Rev. 3:20

The bridegroom also brings witnesses with him to witness the terms of the Ketubah contract, and the bride's acceptance of them. In the same manner, Jesus provides the Holy Spirit as a witness of His marriage covenant with us:

"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter ("parakletos"- called to one's aid, helper, aider, assistant), that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you...But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."     Jn. 14:16-18, 26

This special witness, the Holy Spirit, this helper and assistant, is sent by Jesus' Father, on His, the Groom's, behalf. In the Torah, there is a type and shadow of this special Witness and Helper in the marriage covenant. Abraham sent his servant, Eliezer ("God is Help"), to secure a bride for his son, Isaac. Once Eliezer, through God's help, identifies the perfect candidate for the son's bride, he presents her and her family with gold, and his master's great possessions, which he brought with him on ten camels (Gen. 24:10, 22, 53). As required with the Ketubah, the bride, Rebekah, consented to the marriage of her own free will:

"And they called Rebekah and said unto her, "Wilt thou go with this man?"  And she said, "I will go."   Gen 24:58

This is the same with each of us. We each had to accept the (marriage) covenant which Jesus offered to us. It is a free will choice.

According to the promise that Jesus made, as Abraham sent Eliezer, the Father sends His Helper, the Holy Spirit, on His Son's behalf, to the Bride with great gifts and possessions, even His power from on high (Acts 1:8). It is the marriage covenant witness of the Holy Spirit with our spirit that assures our security as joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17).

Finally, as the Jewish bridegroom comes to his future bride's house to gain her agreement to the Ketubah, he brings with him wine to seal and celebrate the marriage covenant. The first miracle of Jesus was turning water into fine wine at the wedding at Cana (Jn. 2:1-11). Jesus also sealed His (marriage) covenant with us in wine, His blood:

"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit, until that day when I drink it with you in My Father's kingdom."   Mt. 26:27-29

In the Jewish marriage ceremony, wine is also used twice. At the beginning of the ceremony, the bride and groom sip wine to acknowledge their sanctification, and the sanctification of the wedding day. They don't drink wine again until later in the ceremony after the seven marriage blessings are said, and thanking God for the privilege of joining together in marriage.

As we see the significance that the Jewish marriage customs play in Christ's relationship with us, we can understand why marriage is under such attack today. The world has tried to change the whole meaning, character, and spiritual importance of marriage, because the world cannot receive, or know it (Jn. 14:17). Certainly those who do know Christ, should understand the depth, the spiritual richness, and prophetic example of the marriage covenant.

The Jewish people often compare the marriage covenant contract, the Ketubah, to the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai, which was God's joining to the people of Israel. The Church also, can now understand that the Torah, as well as being the Book of the Law, is the Ketubah marriage covenant between Jesus and ourselves. 

 

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