Covenants #1: Let’s Make a Deal

This past month, my wife and I did something that we have not done in 17 years. We bought a vehicle. I’ll be honest, I was not a big fan of having to do that.  I don’t like the hassle of potentially pushy salespeople, etc. And I especially don’t like vehicle payments! But our car was not in good shape; the repairs that it badly needed would cost way more than what the vehicle was worth. So we did the inevitable and made a deal with a used car salesman. Now, for the record, I think that the salesman was fair with us, and we like our new ride. Yet if there would have been some way around having to make a deal on a new set of wheels, I would have done it!

This all got me thinking of deals that were made in the Bible; the most significant are called covenants. Covenants are similar to contracts, like the one we signed for our new vehicle. We agreed to pay X number of dollars for a certain amount of time until the loan was paid off. Meanwhile, we get to enjoy the new ride.

A covenant with God can be seen as a partnership with Him to accomplish a goal together. When God created the world, everything was very good (Gen. 1:31). The covenants were and are a means to bring even more good into the world we live in; things like families, love, justice, peace, and joy, etc. There are 7 major covenants listed in the Bible: the Eternal Covenant (Heb. 13:20), the Covenant of Eden (Gen. 1-3), the Noahic Covenant (Gen. 6-9), the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3), the Mosaic Covenant, aka the Old Covenant (Ex. 19:4-31:18), the Davidic Covenant, and the Covenant of Christ, aka the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-33; Matt. 26:28; Heb. 8:8-12).

Contained within these 7 major covenants are what is known as the “Three Great Ages.” The Three Great Ages help us understand some of the major changes that take place throughout the history of the Bible including the priesthood, laws, places of worship, and sacrifices. Hebrews 7:12 states that when the priesthood changes the law must change also, and so does the place of worship and sacrifices. The Three Great Ages are the Patriarchal Age beginning with Adam and Eve and ending with Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. Second, the Mosaic Age, beginning with the receiving of the Ten Commandments and ending with Jesus on the Cross. And third, the Christian/Church Age, beginning on the cross and ending when Jesus returns (for more information on the Three Great Ages see http://eugenechristianchurch.blogspot.com/search/label/How%20to%20Understand%20the%20Bible). So while, the Three Great Ages each had/have an ending point, portions of the 7 major covenants will remain for eternity.

So for the next several months, we will consider each of the 7 major covenants and how they relate to us today and forever. By doing so, we will be better able to understand what God expects of us, God promises to us when we follow the covenants, the consequences for those who break the contract, and the condition for obtaining those blessings.

So “May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. And may the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace” (Num. 6:24-26 NLT).   

In His service,

        Matt

Elder’s Corner: “One More Time”

 I planted some tomatoes a couple of days ago. All of the plants looked healthy except one. It was poorly formed without a central stem, and not many leaves. I decided to plant it anyway and take a chance that it would survive even if it didn't thrive. I planted it in the part of the garden where the soil doesn't drain well, and has lots of clay lumps. I guess I thought, “Why use up the good spots for such a pathetic plant?” Then I remembered Luke 13:6-9, “And Jesus began telling this parable: ‘A certain man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, and did not find any.  And he said to the vine-yard keeper, Behold for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any.  Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?” And the vine-yard keeper answered and said to him, “Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.”

This parable teaches us so many truths about God: He expects us to be productive (bear fruit). He is patient with us for a time even when we are unproductive (my favorite way to think about this is “He doesn't give up on us, He gives us a second chance, and third—you get it”). He will eventually exact justice from all (but not until He has given every person many opportunities for repentance).

I watched the movie “The Blind Side” again the night I planted the tomatoes. The story is about Michael Oher who was abandoned by his cocaine addicted mother only to be adopted by a foster family and given a second chance at life. They nurtured him, encouraged him, (in vineyard keeper terms they “dug around him and put in care and fertilizer) and he became productive. I think you may know someone in your life who needs a little extra time and attention devoted to them so they too will become productive. If you can't think of anyone, pray. God has someone in mind for you to spend some time with to help them become fruitful.

So I'm wondering “should I have planted the healthy tomatoes in the poor soil (since they're already healthy enough to survive?), and the poor plant in the good soil?”

—Alan

Worldview #18: Don’t All Religions Teach the Same Thing?

 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

One non-Christian named Suzie stated, “Christians are just so narrow-minded and arrogant. Who are you to say one group or culture is right or wrong? To say Native American Indians, for instance, were wrong in all their beliefs because they knew nothing about Jesus? That’s ridiculous.” How would you respond to Suzie? I mean come on, what makes us right and everyone else wrong? Are all Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists doomed to hell? Isn’t it arrogant to believe that Christianity is the only path to eternal life?

It is true that all major world religions have some similarities. All teach some version of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” All teach that we should honor our parents. All teach that we should not murder, commit adultery, steal, or lie. And all teach that we should care for the weak and less fortunate.  However, there are not many other similarities than these. Beyond that, these similarities only confirm God’s existence since He has wired into our hearts that certain things are inherently wrong even if one has done them; thus, pointing to a Moral Law Giver.

On the other hand, there are fundamental differences between the major world religions. Take for example Hinduism. Hinduism teaches that the entire universe is God, (Brahmin), and that one must overcome their bad deeds, advancing through different caste systems by reincarnation to eventually become one with Brahmin.

On the other hand, Buddhism denies fundamental doctrines of Hinduism: the caste system. It also denies that God exists. Buddhism teaches a goal of reaching Nirvana: eliminating all desires or cravings in order to escape suffering and achieve nonexistence.

Meanwhile, Islam teaches that only Muslims will be saved. And salvation comes ultimately through good works done for Allah which must outweigh their bad deeds to earn their way to Paradise. And Christianity teaches that one goes to heaven not based on their own good deeds but by faith alone in Jesus.  

Thus, there are fundamental differences between the world religions and at best only superficial similarities. In fact, only three of the major world religions even claim to be inspired by God: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The other religions claim only to be human solutions to the problems mankind faces, or they are devotional poems, songs and stories, but do not factually claim God has revealed Himself. Therefore, we must not assume more than they actually claim.

The bottom line is that all religions do not teach the same thing! And God’s Word states that salvation is only found in Jesus’s name (Acts 4:9-12). So is Jesus your Savior and Lord?

In His service,

      Matt