TWO COVENANTS
#255.0102
scottSTANLEY
(All bracketed [ ] words inserted into the following scriptures are the author’s paraphrase)
OPENING REMARKS
You know, I consider it a blessing to be in contact with as many people as I
can – all the different denominational groups, people who come to the web
site, call me, write me, e-mail me concerning the things we’re teaching,
asking me exactly what do you mean by this, and how do you explain particular
verses in the scriptures. And it’s a blessing to get to do that because I’m
learning the things that we teach, what it is that will trigger something,
depending on the denomination they’re in, the things that they’re carrying,
what will bring them closer to the Lord. What it is that will snap and they’ll
realize a higher revelation of God. They’ll draw closer to the Savior. And
like I say, it’s a blessing to deal with people and to learn what makes them
think in the directions they go. And recently, I’ve been studying with a
Baptist group – some of you call me, write me, so on.
OLD COVENANT / NEW COVENANT
I have just been awakened to the fact that our ideas concerning the law of
God, concerning the old covenant, the new covenant, are not what they should
be. We’re not grasping the things the Lord is giving us. We’re living in the
last days. He’s perfecting a people. But you can’t be perfected if your
ideas are skewed concerning Him; concerning the mechanics of salvation. That’s
what, to me, salvation is all about, that He straighten
out the crooked places and we walk in His understanding. In this study, I
want to speak to you from my heart, and I say that I want to go over aspects
of the old covenant and the new covenant that have been important to me in
helping me realize the things I realize. This is not going to be an in depth
study on the law, but it will be, for me, highlights of things the Lord used
to help me see the new covenant and to help me understand the meaning of the
old. I think of Ephesians chapter 1, and the prayer that Paul prays, the
first one in Ephesians. He says:
Ephesians 1:17
17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give unto you the [a] spirit of wisdom and revelation in
the knowledge of him:
Think about that for a minute: to have a spirit of revelation and wisdom in
His knowledge – and he says I pray that God would give this to you.
You don’t have to beg the Lord to give you that, but the person has to be open
to receive it. And isn’t that something we want, to have His knowledge of a
thing, and all we have to do is have an open heart, that He might give us a
spirit or a mindset of revelation in wisdom that we could enter into His
knowledge? So Paul says “I pray this for you.” When that takes place, in
verse 18 he says:
18The eyes of your understanding being [will be] enlightened;… [The eyes of your understanding will be enlightened], and then he mentions three things that take place.
One...
18 … that ye may [you’ll] know what is the hope of his calling [which we know is to bring a people to a completed perfection], and what [two] the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints [the riches of the glory, you could say of the inheritance He has for the saints],
19And what is the [And three, you’ll
know the] exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward [toward us] who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power, [and he goes on to define this
power as being that very power that raised Christ from the dead].
FAITH
Now before I talk about this power, I
want to talk about “toward those who believe,” and what that means. I
want you to turn to Matthew chapter 9, I think, and I want to read the story
of two literal blind men. Paul has just stated that if you’ll open your heart
to hear the Lord, to have the spirit of wisdom and revelation in His
knowledge, that it will open the eyes of your understanding. Well, I want to
go back and read of two men who actually were blind, literally blind, and how
the Lord opened their eyes, and something that he says to them because it’s
painting a spiritual picture for us. In Matthew 9 starting at verse 27:
Matthew 9:27-29
27And when Jesus departed thence [from there], two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith [said] unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea [Yes], Lord.
29Then touched he their eyes, saying [and this
is what He said], According to your faith be it unto
you.
According to your faith be it unto you. Now
in the past, we have been defining “faith” by saying faith is a noun, the verb
of it is “believe.” Therefore, faith is the result of the action of
believing. Faith is the result of what you believe. Faith is that part of
you, of your understanding. But let’s fine tune it a little bit more.
Remember, in Romans 10:17, Paul writes:
Romans 10:17
17So then faith cometh
[comes] by hearing, and hearing by the [rhema,
the spoken] word of God.
So I can not only say faith is the result of believing, but faith comes by
hearing God. And it’s as He is giving explanation to me and I believe
it, that is faith. Now let me say it again: Faith comes by hearing God give
me understanding and, as I believe, as He gives me understanding, as I believe
that, faith is the result of what God has taught me. Now I can read the
Bible, and I can put my own definitions to it, and I can believe that. But
that is not the faith of Christ. And it’s the faith of Christ that justifies
me. It’s His understanding that justifies me. So Christ tells the two blind
men: “Do you believe I can do this?” and when they said “yes,” He touched
their eyes and He said: “Be it unto you as your faith.” Now when He said
“faith,” I know that He understood what it meant. Let me show you – look at
Matthew 16, where Christ asked Peter: “Who do men say that I am?” and He
finally, in verse 15, says:
Matthew 16:15-17
15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? [Peter, who do you say that I am?]
16And Simon Peter answered and said [Peter said], Thou art [You are] the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: [You’re blessed, Simon, Son of Jona] for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven [has revealed this to you].
Revealed what? That He was the Christ, the Son of God. Now what does it mean “His Father revealed this to him?” It means that as Peter heard that, as he saw what Christ did, he was convicted – he knew in his heart that this was the Son of God because the Father was speaking to him in his conscience. When Peter would ask that question “Is this the Son?” the Father was there to say “This is my Son.” The Father revealed this to Peter even though Peter may not have understood what was happening in his own heart. God was revealing truth to him, and as he believed it, this was his faith – this was the result of the action of believing what God was speaking to his heart. Now Christ makes this statement in verse 18:
18And I say also unto thee [you], That thou art [you are] Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Now, we know that a “rock” is a symbol of a concept. What does he mean “on this rock”? On which rock? Two things have been mentioned here: 1) This is the Son of God, and 2) The Father is the One who revealed it. When He says that “the gates of hell shall not prevail,” do you believe in your heart that simply believing that Jesus is the Son of God – simply ascending to that understanding - will knock down the gates of the problems in your life? Or, allowing the Father to reveal truth to you, the gates of hell cannot prevail against that? You see, it’s interesting – I think of people in my past, teaching the Godhead message, some saying “well, this is how you overcome sin – Jesus is the Son of God,” and they’d go into the Godhead message. Well, I could say that’s the beginning of it, but the way you’re going to overcome sin is to learn to obey that inner voice because you’ll never believe the Godhead message and understand it unless you do that.
Remember, on the Mount of Transfiguration, the three disciples and how the cloud overshadows them and they hear a voice – and it’s the voice of God, and He says “This is my beloved Son, hear Him”? There are your two messages, right there: The Son of God (the Godhead message), and listening (the abiding truth). But I’ll tell you what – you’re never going to overcome sin if you’re not listening, that is impossible. And when we talk about the gospel, Paul talks about people obeying the gospel, or they did not obey the gospel (Romans 10:16). When I tell you that Jesus is the Son of God, there’s something in there to “believe,” but there’s nothing to “obey.” When you obey, you hear and do – and the gospel is not simply the Godhead message. The gospel of the Kingdom is the fact that you can enter into the Kingdom now. As you open your heart, you hear God and you let Him confirm what is truth, what is error – and you follow that regardless of where it takes you or where it seemingly is going to take you. You follow Him, and you follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes. Now consider these things because what I’m sharing with you is fundamental if we’re going to understand the covenants. What I’m sharing with you right now, in fact, is the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant – and I’m going to show you the scriptures in a minute to reveal this.
Let’s read, since we have an understanding of “faith” and let me just say again what faith is: Faith is the result of what you believe as God is teaching you inwardly – that is faith, that’s the faith of Christ. Again, you can read the book, you can go listen to a man and you can build your understanding on what they are saying – but it’s what is spoken in the inward man, in your heart that you believe, that is the faith of Christ. Faith comes by hearing, not reading. Faith comes by hearing, hearing the rhema of God. I’ve got to go back to 2 Peter, chapter 1, where he states – speaking of this book, speaking of the prophets of old, verse 20:
2 Peter 1:20-21
20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [Why?]
21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [spoke] as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [Spirit].
So here we have prophets of old and we have them being moved of the Spirit to write the things they are writing, and when the Spirit moved Peter, moved Isaiah, moved Moses, moved Malachi, moved Jeremiah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul – as He moved upon these men to record what they did, and as He gave them understanding, they were experiencing life. But they record the words and we come along and read them – there’s no life in that for you. Where is life? John 6:63, let me read this:
John 6:63
63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth [profits] nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life [are spirit and life].
So, as you read – now listen – none of these prophecies are of any private interpretation. That means you don’t come along and just read it, and you say “well, God spoke it, He wrote it, I’m going to read it and I’ll understand what God is saying.” It doesn’t work like that. You read the verse and He will confirm in your heart yeah or nay as you take direction on the meaning. The words that He speaks to you are spirit and they’re life, not what He spoke to Jeremiah – that was for Jeremiah, but Jeremiah wrote and the Lord expects you to let Him explain those words to you. As He does, He builds your faith as you listen. As you listen, your faith, your understanding grows stronger.
POWER
Now, another word that we saw in the prayer in Ephesians was the word “power.” In 2 Peter, chapter 1 again, verse 2:
2 Peter 1:2
2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through [in] the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord [Christ],
Not knowledge about Him, but in His knowledge. As you understand the way He does, and that only happens as you listen, and as your faith, as your understanding grows, as you grow in knowledge, you grow in grace and peace. Next verse:
3According as [to] his divine power hath [has He] given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge [His knowledge] of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
According to His power, He has given you every thing that pertains unto life and unto godliness in His knowledge. Question: Where is the power of God for you? It’s in His knowledge. Where am I going to get His knowledge? He’s going to have to tell me. I can read the book, but if He is not explaining to me, there is no power in what He is saying. Now, this is what Paul is saying in the prayer in Ephesians 1 – that if the eyes of your understanding are opened, and remember in Revelation the message to Laodicea…it’s the eye-salve. It’s the eye-salve, Ephesians 1:17, 18 and so on. But, as you have a spirit of revelation in wisdom (in His knowledge), the eyes of your understanding will be opened and one of the things he mentions is that the power of God will be realized toward those who are believing. Just like the two blind men, their faith made them whole: “Be it unto you as you believe.” The power of God, what power? Well, he goes on to talk about the power that raised Christ from the dead. This power of God will manifest itself in your life as His knowledge is opened up to you, as you receive it. He’s given you everything that pertains to life and godliness in knowledge, by means of knowledge. He’s a Priest upon His throne; He’s ministering to us using words to do so, cleansing and sanctifying. I think of another prayer, the other prayer in Ephesians 3 and, in this prayer, let’s just read this because I want to take a definition from this. I want you to see something with me. Verse 16:
Ephesians 3:16
16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might [Here’s your word “power” again, same word. They’ve put “might,” but it’s “power”. …you would be strengthened with power..] by his Spirit in the inner man;
Now, what do we mean when we say “his Spirit” in the inner man? That means His thoughts, His ideas, His attitudes, His understanding being in you. What do you have in your mind? Words, thoughts, ideas – for me to have His Spirit means to have His words, His thoughts, His ideas in my heart – the power of God, realized in you by His Spirit being in your inner man.
SPIRITUAL
Now this brings me to the word “spiritual.” When we say “spiritual,” what do we mean? Well, two things come to mind: 1) “spiritual” would have to be of the spirit, coming from the spirit. But I know through the scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, that the words “mind” and “spirit” have been used interchangeably. So “spirit,” “spiritual” would be of the mind also. But let’s put the two definitions together. “Spiritual” would be coming from the Spirit, applied to the inward man – and this is what he just stated here in Ephesians 3. Now listen again, verse 16:
16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory [the riches of his glory – His glory is the character between His ears, it’s who He is…the riches of it.], to be [that you would be] strengthened with might [power] by his Spirit in the [your] inner man;
That does not happen without a “spiritual” connection, and when I say the word spiritual in a positive way, it means “of the Spirit, to the inner man”: spiritual.
THE COVENANTS
I want to share with you the covenants, the highlights of meaning that I believe the Lord has given me – the highlights of meaning. The last several years, the Lord has helped re-define the “law” and a variety of things and, again, I see, depending on who I study with – depending on the person’s background, depending on how much time they’ve put into this thing – I’m beginning to see that, for many people, there is still a cloud surrounding their understanding of the covenants. Just recently, I asked someone: “What is the old covenant? Define it.” This person began saying “Well, shadows, there were shadows – there were symbols…you know, not the real thing, just a picture of it,” but I said “What is the covenant? Where is a verse that tells me what the covenant is?” And, of course, they couldn’t give me one. I know there are people who will put into words what they think the covenant is, but ask them for a verse that says this is the covenant and you’re hard pressed to find anyone who can point to it and say “here it is, here’s what the covenant was in the Old Testament – here’s the old covenant.” So, what I want to share with you now is a verse that’s pretty clear on what the old covenant is and, let me say this – as we get into this study, if you hang up on this, if you get hung up on this and say “this isn’t true,” you might as well turn the tape off because you are not ready for what’s coming on this tape. I’ll tell you right now that I realize I’m going to be stepping on a number of toes as we go through this, and I think we need to have our toes stepped on because we’re not recognizing and walking in the fullness of the light the Lord is giving us for our generation.
You know, I have Adventist roots. I was raised a Baptist and have belonged to the Assembly of God – I went to Seventh-day Adventist churches – I have studied with just about every denominational group that there is, and I struggle when I realize the direction people refuse to go when they study with you. When I was a Baptist, I trusted them and, when I was an Adventist, I trusted them to tell me, and I can remember reading tracts specifically I think by Joe Crews, writing tracts about the covenants, trying to explain the old covenant and actually saying the opposite of the verse we’re getting ready to read. I was still carrying that baggage when entering into the abiding truth and, as the Lord has changed that, I can look back now and see the folly of where these people are. People are too patriotic toward their church or toward their group, they’re too prideful to say “you know, we’ve been in error.” Let’s go read a verse as to the meaning of the old covenant, Deuteronomy, chapter 4, verse 13:
Deuteronomy 4:13
13And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
Question: What was the old covenant? The ten commandments. Why is that hard to take? Because you know good and well that the old covenant has been done away with. Right now, I guarantee that some of you are struggling with everything within you to deal with what I’m saying. It’s hard to come to the fact that the old covenant is the ten commandments, and it’s been done away with. Am I saying that there’s no morality anymore and we’re free to go do anything we want? No, that’s not what I’m saying, and I think if you will continue with me in this study, you will come to higher revelations of what God is telling us. The old covenant was the ten commandments. Yes, there were four groups or types of laws: the moral law, the dietary law, the civil law, the ceremonial law – but all of those laws, statutes and ordinances simply swung around the hub of the ten commandments. The ten commandments is the root, and coming around it, everything else helps you understand what the Lord meant in those ten commandments. But the old covenant has been done away with, not simply the ceremonial law – all of it, and I want you to understand how I can say that and the scriptural evidence that backs it up. I would ask you to seek the Lord. Now, if you’re already having problems, turn the tape off. Turn it off and forget it, and go on. But I would challenge you to do something with this verse I just read. The old covenant was the ten commandments. There are other scriptures: 1 Kings 8:21, 2 Chronicles 6:11, we’re going to go to Hebrews next. But, you know, when you see the box the ten commandments were in, that’s called the “ark” of what? The “ark of the covenant.” Why? The covenant was in it. What was the covenant? The ten commandments. Paul refers to the two tablets as the “tables of the covenant.” Why? Well, the covenant was written on it. What was the covenant? The ten commandments. Bear with me.
Turn to Hebrews, and in Hebrews, chapter 8, let’s read the new covenant and let’s compare the two. I want you to see something that is so obvious:
Hebrews 8:7-11
7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt [There’s your old covenant; there’s your ten commandments]; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; [Pay attention to what He says now.] I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
What’s the new covenant? The Lord says “I will put my laws into their mind and in their heart.” Now, this word “mind” isn’t mind, it’s understanding – in other words, the Lord says “I’ll give them understanding of my law.” But in this verse “I will put my laws into their mind…” which word would you accent to express the meaning of that? Would you read it: “I will put my laws into their mind” or “I will put my laws into their mind” or “I will put my laws into their mind”? Which word would you highlight, because depending on the word you highlight, it makes a difference as to what this means. What if I read it like this: “I will put my laws into their minds, I’ll write it on their heart”? Why would I read it like that? Because, when I go to the old covenant, it was written on tables of stone. Because it’s on tables of stone, in order to read it, in order to understand it, I have got to come up and read it myself and define it – and when I read “Thou shalt have no other gods,” I could turn to you and I could say “Your jewelry is a god,” and you could say “Well, your music is a god to you,” and I could say “Well, you’re allowing your spouse to be your god.” This could go on forever and ever! But, look at the new covenant, let’s look at it this way – it’s not written here, is it? Where did He write it? Where you can’t see it – it’s on my heart! The Lord has written this on my heart, and who are you to come up and define it when He is the One who has written it and defined it? Major difference between the two, so He says “I’ll write my law on their heart, and they’ll no longer teach every man his neighbour or every man his brother saying, This is how you know God – They’re all going to know me. I’m going to write it on their heart.” Not on stone. Two different things.
“Outward,” the old covenant – outward, outward. The new covenant, follow this, “from the Spirit to the inward man.” What does that make the new covenant? Spiritual, it is spiritual. Turn to 2 Corinthians, and I want you to see where the apostle Paul uses this, he plays off these meanings. In 2 Corinthians, chapter 3, let’s start at verse 1:
2 Corinthians 3:1-3
1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles [letters] of commendation to you, or letters of commendation [coming] from you?
2Ye [You] are our epistle [letter] written in our hearts [the heart], known and read of all men [read of all men]:
3Forasmuch as ye [you] are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but [written] with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
There’s your two covenants. The apostle Paul says about himself “You are my letter, you are proof that the Lord is using me, because,” he says, “I took the Spirit and wrote on your heart, not on tables of stone, but on the fleshy table of your heart.” Verse 4:
4And such [much] trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament [covenant]; not of the letter [old covenant], but of the spirit: for the letter killeth [kills you], but the spirit giveth [gives] life.
And he says in the next verse:
7But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
The ministration of death was written and engraven in stones. That was the ministration of death, to see that old covenant. That was ministering death because you would take it and define it yourself, but no prophecy is of any private interpretation. Holy men of God spoke as the Spirit of God moved upon them, and if you’re going to understand it, Jesus says, “The words I speak to you are spirit and life.” What do you think He means, they’re “spirit”? It’s coming from the Spirit. Where is it going? To my inward man. The words that He speaks are spirit and they are life, and Paul calls that stone with the old covenant written on it “the ministration of death.” Paul, I believe, is the one who wrote Hebrews and he makes it abundantly clear that the new covenant is when the Lord writes it on the heart, and you need not that anyone else come and tell you “this is how you serve God,” because the Lord Himself is writing it on your heart. You’re not getting it out here, it’s coming from within.
SPIRITUAL WORD DEFINITIONS
So, what I would like to do is take some words, every day words that we use in our Bible language, and re-define them. You know, recently I thought of putting a Bible Definitions page up on the internet and I’ve started one. It’s by no means complete, but I thought it would be interesting to put up definitions of words like “grace,” “mercy,” “truth,” and so on, in so far as we understand it now spiritually, coming from the Spirit, applied to the inward man. What is “grace” when it’s applied to the inward man? What is “law” when it’s applied to the inward man? What do these things mean when applied inwardly? Because it does begin to change everything. It changes the way you see everything. The new covenant is spiritual, it is defined as God writes it on your heart, from the Spirit to the inward man. It’s a spiritual thing, and there are various words, for instance, let me give you one.
“JERUSALEM”
What about the word “Jerusalem”? When you say “Jerusalem” in the old covenant you see a city, a literal city – but what about in the new covenant, when I say “Jerusalem,” what does it mean? Well, there is “New Jerusalem” which is another way of thinking, it’s the mindset of Christ – and at the end of this thing there’s going to be Babylon and there’s going to be New Jerusalem, and you can be in your living room and be in either one you choose because they’re mindsets. You can be in spiritual confusion or you can be walking in the light of heaven, but when you read the scriptures and you see His wording toward Jerusalem, do you still apply that to that literal city over there? Hopefully not. Hopefully, when you see “Jerusalem,” you realize it as that old mindset – that is that way of thinking when you go to Jerusalem in Christ’s day; they were burdened by the law, they were under the law.
“UNDER THE LAW”
That’s another one: “under the law.” That’s another one we need to look at. What does it mean to be under the law? I was always told that “under the law” meant that I was condemned by the law, and yet, look at Galatians, chapter 4, verse 21:
Galatians 4:21
21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
These people didn’t desire to be condemned by the law – they desired to be governed by the law, and that is “old Jerusalem.” That is that mindset. “New Jerusalem” is the mind of Christ, governed by the Spirit of God, led by His Spirit. But “old Jerusalem,” they are governed by the law.
There are all kind of words – I could just make the list and ask you to apply a new covenant meaning to it. Again, let me say, I know when I do this I’m stepping on toes, but I think we need to be awakened to the fact that the Lord is changing the meaning of things for us. You know, when Christ was teaching and they came to Him and said “Well, your mother and brethren desire to see you,” and He asked “Who is my mother? Who are my brethren? Well, it’s those who do the will of God.” You see, He was re-defining “family” right there. We have no problem with that. There are things in there that the Lord moved from literal to spiritual, and we have no problem with it. But there are other things that we cling to that literal meaning of it, which puts us under that old covenant way of thinking, “old Jerusalem.” What happened to old Jerusalem? They were carried off captive to Babylon. You’ve got to come out of Babylon and that city has to be re-built – the walls have to be re-built. I, for one, have had my fill of living in that wilderness, wandering around the mountain, one more time around the mountain…I need to cross the Jordan, be immersed in the Jordan, and go on into the Promised Land and let the Lord drive out these nations – let the Lord make me in His image. But, for some of us, we still cling to that literalism of it all, and it’s death, it’s absolute death to us.
“ISRAEL”
Let me give you another word. What about the word “Israel”? Israel – do you see the nation of Israel over there? You know, this was an important word for me recently because I was studying with a group of people who were studying prophecy and when they would read the Old Testament Israel, well that meant the nation of Israel, the literal nation of Israel. Therefore, Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38 & 39) are going to descend on Israel, all of these nations will come against Israel, and God will wipe them out. God will spare Israel. And now there’s a whole doctrine – everyone is waiting on this big war to take place because it has to do with the “rapture.” I don’t know if they think we’ll be raptured before it happens or when it happens or after it happens – but, somehow, everyone is coming against Israel, “Well, the Bible says God and Magog…” and they start putting definitions, literal definitions to all nations’ names…
Let me read a text in Romans 9. In Romans 9, starting in verse 6 he writes:
Romans 9:6-8
6Not as though the word of God hath [has] taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8That is [He’s going to explain it], They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
What does he mean by that? In Galatians, chapter 4, he says it again. In Galatians, chapter 4, let’s start reading again at verse 21:
Galatians 4:21-28
21Tell me, ye [you] that desire to be under [governed by] the law, do ye not hear the law [don’t you hear what the law says]?
22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. [Now, listen to what he says here]
23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh [because Abraham went in to her on his own ideas, his own accord, to bring forth a son to have his inheritance]; but he of the freewoman was by promise [Sarah].
24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth [genders] to bondage, which is Agar [Hagar].
25For this Agar [Hagar] is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth [answers] to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou [you] that travailest not: for the desolate hath [has] many more children than she which hath [has] an husband.
28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of [the] promise.
Here he says it again. What is he talking about, “children of the promise”? Just because they’re born in Israel and they’re the seed of Abraham, that doesn’t mean, in God’s eyes, that they are Israel. Who is Israel? The children of the promise. Paul says we are like Isaac now. We are not born after the flesh, we’re born of the Spirit. We’re children of the promise.
“JEW”
What about the word “Jew”? I was actually told that there is no such thing as a spiritual Jew, that it’s all literal – it has to be literal. That Abraham literally spread his seed through this planet and that this is who the children of God are; that if you are a child of God and you’re desiring to know Hebraic things that means you literally have to be a child of Abraham, actually have his blood in your veins. But I have yet to have any one of those people explain to me Romans 2:28 & 29, and I’m open to hear it, but I listen to the tapes, I went over the studies that I was given…Verse 28:
Romans 2:28-29
28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Now, this may not put the two words together, “spiritual” and “Jew,” but do you think I’m wrong for saying this means a spiritual Jew? Let me read this one more time, just verse 29:
29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;…
What does he mean by that? Does he mean you’re actually, literally born a Jew? No, you’re one inwardly! You’ve been circumcised in your heart. What does it mean? What if I don’t say “spiritual Jew”? What if I say “inward Jew”? You’re an inward Jew! That’s the same thing as saying a “spiritual Jew.” There is “spiritual Jew” in the Bible – it’s right here. Israel is not Israel because they’re born there and Abraham is their literal father, Israel are the children of the promise. What am I saying? Scriptures – how are they applied? Not the letter. We’re taking words from the Spirit, applied to the inward man. Is that not what we just did with “Jew”? Is that what we just did with “Israel”? You take a word and apply it to the inward man?
NO DIVISION IN THE LAW
What about “Sabbath”? Can we take that word and apply it to the inward man, from the Spirit to the inward man? New covenant, new covenant – all of these words change in the new covenant. The words are still there, the definitions are still there, but they are higher definitions. Now, before we touch on the Sabbath, let’s make a point about the covenant, a point I’ve already covered, but I want to use Hebrews 9 to make this point again. The point is that when we talk about the law, when we talk about the old covenant, that there is no division between moral, ceremonial, dietary and civil laws – all of it is in there, all of it is that covenant. You can’t come along and say “Well, you know, the ceremonial law was changed, but the moral law is still there.” It doesn’t work like that, because the covenant was all of it. In Hebrews 9, just follow along:
Hebrews 9
1Then verily [truly] the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
That word “also” is a big word in there, because Deuteronomy 4:13 defines the covenant as the ten commandments written on stone, and Paul explains that the everlasting covenant, the new covenant will be written on the heart – but then he goes on to say this first covenant also had ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary. You see, all of that is the covenant. You don’t just take part of it and say “Well, this is the covenant – well, that wasn’t the covenant.” All of it was the covenant! And, I’ve already mentioned, of course, looking at the Sabbath – but if you were to take every one of the ten commandments, if you took every one of them and applied them inwardly, to the heart, you would have a higher definition of what it means. Again, that is what the new covenant is – God says “I’ll write it on your heart.” That is the new covenant. Why then did He write it on stone? Because that “stone” was a picture of the heart. Why did He write it at all? Why did He write it with His fingers? It was written with the finger of God, because “fingers” represent faith. You have five on each hand. “Fingers” represent faith, your “hands” represent works. Faith without works is dead. So here we have, in the old covenant, which was a picture of the new, a shadow of what He was going to do. He takes His finger and He writes on a stony heart ten words. “Ten” is the abiding number, that is what 10 stands for – it’s divine order from the Father, to the Son, to me…Ten words, written on stone, written on the stony heart. All of that was a picture of what He was going to do. There isn’t anything in the old covenant that isn’t a picture of what He was going to do. The high priest, the garments of the high priest, represent the risen Christ and what He possesses between His ears – what He thinks, who He is ministering for. The sanctuary itself, all of it, the sacrifices, all of it was a picture of something. Israel was a picture of the church. If we could just make the list and go down the list and show this equals that, this equals that, this equals that today, in a new covenant mindset! Don’t take the law and divide it all up. Simply take it for what He says. Understand, let me make this point: the old covenant has been done away. What does He mean? You defining meaning for yourself has been done away. Now He will define it for you and write it on your heart, and set you free. He will define what holiness is, not you. He will define what holiness is, not your church as they see fit. There’s one Shepherd, it’s Christ.
CHRIST IS A PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC
Hebrews, chapter 7, is special because this is irrefutable. The arguments that Paul lays out in Hebrews 7 cannot be refuted. It is so simple, and how we ever missed this in the first place – the Lord just had not revealed it to us. In Hebrews 7, the argument is made that Christ is made a priest after the order of Melchisedec, not like the Levites, but after the order of Melchisedec. What was the difference between Melchisedec and the Levites? Well, Melchisedec was a priest ordained by God. He was not a priest because of his lineage; he was a priest because God ordained him one. The Levites were priests because of their lineage, because they could prove mother and father, they could prove their descent and that, according to the law, they would be a priest. Not so with Melchisedec – he was a priest because he was ordained by God. Christ is a priest after the order of Melchisedec. Now notice what it says, starting in verse 11:
Hebrews 7:11-14
11If therefore perfection [or completion] were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth [pertains] to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake [spoke] nothing concerning [the] priesthood.
What’s his argument? In a nutshell, if you’re going to be governed by the law, Christ cannot be your Priest, because He isn’t a Levite. If you’re going to go back and read this law, and start selecting what you want to do and what you don’t want to do, what applies today and what doesn’t apply today – if you want to be governed by the law, you no longer have a High Priest in Jesus Christ, because He is not a Levite and the law says you’ve got to be one. Now, at this point, I know the argument comes “but that’s the ceremonial law!” But I’ve already shown you, in chapter 9, that it’s all one covenant. It’s all together (Hebrews 9:1). The old covenant also had orders of divine service and a worldly sanctuary too. It’s all together and, if you’re going to follow part of it, you’ve got to do all of it. That’s funny, isn’t it, because I’ve yet to see anybody do all of it. They pick and choose what they want to do. It makes them feel holy to do these things. It makes them feel closer to God to do these things. The new covenant is that we’re getting rid of the letter, we’re going to the Spirit, and you can’t tell me how to live my life. He’s writing on my heart what He would have me do. You cannot tell me how to live my life. If you’re keeping the Sabbath because of that law, you don’t have a High Priest in Christ. That law has got to change if the priesthood has changed. Do you see what the Lord did there? God, in His tremendous wisdom, has given you the perfect excuse to come out from under the law. He changed the priesthood. That law no longer can be, because our Priest isn’t a Levite – He didn’t choose a Levite. He chose the tribe of Judah, and ordained a Priest for how long? Forever. You come out from under that law and you let Him govern your life. That’s irrefutable. I don’t see how anyone could get around that, but let’s keep reading and let me show you what else he states here in Hebrews 7. Let’s read verse 15:
Hebrews 7:15-19
15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth [arises] another priest,
16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17For he testifieth [testifies], Thou art [You are] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. [Notice the next verse]
18For there is verily [truly] a disannulling of the commandment going before for [because of] the weakness and unprofitableness thereof [of it].
19For the law made nothing perfect [complete], but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
“SABBATH”
Now, think about this. These two words, the weakness and unprofitableness of it, the weakness and unprofitableness of it – look at the Sabbath. Do you think that, because you go to church on Saturday, you’re closer to God? When He says we’re doing away with this letter? Let me write on your heart! But we don’t allow Him that privilege. We read it ourselves and decide for ourselves what we’re going to do. Do you think doing any of these things literally, in your own power, draws you nearer to God?
LITERAL EVENTS TEACH SPIRITUAL TRUTHS
Why did He have the Jews, Israel, do this in the first place? What was the idea there? Why did He have a whole nation do it? Because it was a picture of the church, everything they did had a spiritual meaning to us. Everything, and when Jesus Christ came, shadow met substance. You don’t go back and read these verses, and apply this literally – and you start looking for all these nations to attack Israel and the end of the world because of what’s going on over there. Friend, you’ve got the battle going on between your ears! That is how you’ll have life, to let Him fight and defeat the enemy within, not across the ocean! It’s already upon you. I know that you people listening know what I’m saying. I know you understand this – I know that you do. I know you’re capable of understanding it, and I know you have a brain-mind that can understand what I’m saying. And, if you’re not accepting it, it’s because you choose not to do so. Remember, in Psalms 115, starting at verse 3:
Psalm 115:3-8
3But our God is in the heavens: he hath [has] done whatsoever he hath [has] pleased.
4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
5They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
6They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
7They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
8They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth [trusts] in them.
Do you have your own idols of doctrines? Then you have eyes and you’re not seeing, you have ears but you’re not listening. We are like – we are portraying the God that we serve, because whoever you’re serving is your most forethought – that is who you serve, and you are like unto the God you serve. John even alludes to this in 1 John, chapter 3, and we can read this. 1 John 3:2:
1 John 3:2
2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not [does not] yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
What God are you portraying?
“NAME”
What about on my list of old covenant vs. new, the letter and the spirit – what if I put the word “name”? Name, what does that mean spiritually, from the Spirit applied to the inner man? What’s “name”? Do you see anything other than character? Your name identifies you; it is the character of who you are. Now, in Revelation 14, the 144,000 are standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb, now follow me, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads (Revelation 14:1). Question: are the 144,000 literally going to stand on Mount Zion with a Lamb? Do you see how those words have spiritual meaning? Now, what about having anything written on the forehead? That’s spiritual, isn’t it? That’s your most forethought. Well then, why would you pick one section of this verse and say “That’s literal, and you’ve got to say the name of God”? Help me understand that. To have His name in my forehead is His character; I am possessing His character. Are you taking this reading the letter of it? That’s what literal Israel did with “the name,” isn’t it? So that they wouldn’t take His name in vain, they wouldn’t even say it, would they? How are you any different by saying “You have to literally say the name”? It is His character that you don’t take in vain. It is calling yourself a Christian and you don’t listen – it’s calling yourself a Christian, and you’re resting in the law. Paul addresses that in Romans 2, John addresses it as Christ moved him to write in Revelation – it’s called “the synagogue of Satan.” They claim they are Jews, and they’re not. Do you take that literally? Is that literal? They claim to be literal Jews? No, they claim to be circumcised in heart but, you know what? They’re not allowing the Lord to cut away self and circumcise them in heart. They’re walking according to their own opinions, according to their own ideas. There is another verse in Psalms 138 and this is so precious, Psalm 138, verse 2:
Psalm 138:2
2I will worship toward thy [your] holy temple, and praise thy [your] name for thy [your] lovingkindness and for thy [your] truth: for thou hast [you have] magnified thy [your] word above all thy [your] name.
What do you think he means by that? “Name” here has to be character. He has magnified His word above your understanding of who He is. He has done it since the day you were born again. He has spoken to you, He has given you life, He has continued to lead you into higher knowledge without us fully understanding who He is. He has magnified His word above His name. He continues to do that with us even to this day, but it is His word and understanding His word, that is giving us, making us, in His image – giving us the inheritance. A spirit of wisdom and revelation in God’s knowledge will open the eyes of your understanding. You’ll know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the power toward us who believe according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and set Him high above all principalities and powers in heavenly places.
CLOSE
The power of the resurrection is in the words He is speaking to us, if you see them in a spiritual way. If you don’t, you’re in old Jerusalem, under the letter of the law in bondage. There is a new way of seeing truth, the truth as it is in Christ. I challenge anyone to show me my error – help me see where I’m wrong. I challenge any of you to tell me this is not what the new covenant is, that that is not what the old covenant was. In fact, I beg you – if I’m wrong, you’re responsible to tell me. You’re responsible to help me see it. I pray that we would have the wisdom of Christ, that we overcome this image of the beast: the beast, the image, the mark, the number – all of these things be overcome because they’re inward things, and the Lord is leading us to Himself and making us in His image. Is that happening with you? Is that happening with you or are you still in the letter? I would ask that you be honest with yourself. I know there are people that I’ve stepped on their toes and I know it hurts, but it has to be – it has to be. Again, let me know if I’m wrong. I don’t want to know if you don’t like it, just let me know where I’m wrong. There are people in Australia, there are people in England, Canada, there are people all over the place asking me what these things mean, and I’ve yet to have one person show me the error of what I’ve just spoken – and I’m open to hear it. Give me a call, let me know what you think. If I’m in error, tell me. If I’m not – it takes humility to serve the Lord, and that humility, that feeling, is something the adversary could not deal with in heaven. He could not deal with it, his pride rose up and he actually became the enemy of God. I pray, again, that we have open hearts and that the Lord reveal to us His perfect will, and that you know in your heart what God would have you do.