Christian Churches of God
No. 152z
Summary:
The Covenant of God
(Edition 1.2 19960217-19991204)
A common fallacy is that God has made completely different covenants in Old Testament
times and in the New Testament era. This paper examines the purpose of the Covenant and its
involvement with Abraham, Israel at Sinai, and New Testament Christians.
Christian Churches of God
PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA
E-mail: secretary@ccg.org
(Copyright  1996, 1999 Wade Cox)
(Summary 2003, Ed. Wade Cox)
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Summary: The Covenant of God
The Covenant of God
God has a definite plan for humanity. His annual
feast days depict what He is doing and they act as
a reminder to us. Our responsibilities are found
in the covenant God made with Israel. Originally
the covenant agreement was confined to Israel,
His chosen people, but is now extended in Jesus
Christ, God’s first resurrected son, to include all
nations. All peoples of the world will eventually
have the opportunity to become sons of God in
Israel. If we keep the covenant we will receive
the promise of eternal life.
Deuteronomy 28 lists the national blessings and
curses incurred for keeping, or failing to keep the
covenant. God’s promises to Abraham extended
down to the physical nation of Israel. The name
Israel is derived from the Hebrew, meaning He
shall rule as God (El). This name reflects the
ultimate purpose of God’s covenant. The elect
shall rule as elohim (see the paper The Elect As
Elohim (No. 1)). God wanted His people to be a
righteous nation, an example and blessing to the
whole planet. This would be achieved by their
obedience to His commandments (Deut. 26:1819).
They were to live by every word of God (Deut.
30:15-20; 32:46-47). Sadly Israel was unable to
keep their side of the covenant with God. They
did not obey, or have faith in the One True God,
Eloah, and turned in their disobedience to
idolatry of foreign gods. This ultimately led to
disaster, captivity and scattering through the
nations. It wasn’t that the covenant was not
perfect; God knew they would fail, but through
their example was teaching future generations
that the human mind without the Holy Spirit
couldn’t do it.
Upon our repentance and baptism we are given
the Holy Spirit from God to use to keep our side
of the covenant. It shows how serious our calling
is and what is expected of us (1Cor.10:5-13) and
shows the consequences of disobedience (Heb.
2:3;12:25). God foretold of the second covenant
through His servants the prophets. It is the same
covenant, being second in order, an extension of
the first, and operating on a higher level (Jer.
31:31-40). It would be written on the hearts and
minds of the people so that the law can be kept. It
does not eliminate the law, but perfects the
application within the individual, so they
willingly execute the will of God through His
law.
The first covenant was physical, the second is
spiritual, based on the same laws. God promises
to be our God and we are His people. He is
dealing with the spiritual nation of Israel now,
which is God’s Church. Our baptism is our
promise to adhere to the covenant. We renew this
promise annually when we take the Lord’s
Supper at Passover. The original physical sign
was that of circumcision with Israel, now it is the
circumcision of the heart within the Church (Col.
2:11; Rom. 2:29). The Church keeps all the
commandments and laws of God. They are the
people who walk through the narrow gate and the
hard way of life in this age (Mat.7:13-14). Few
find it now. God will give them a homeland
forever, which is eternal life in the kingdom of
God.
We must know the One True God and His son
Jesus Christ to receive this promise (Jn.17:3;
1Jn.5:20). True Christians must keep the
commandments. Obedience brings spiritual
blessings (Mat. 4:4; Jn. 14:15; Rev. 12:17,
14:12). The commandments were given to
physical Israel through Moses by the Angel of
Yahweh, who later became Jesus Christ.
Christians should be a blessing to the nations by
their example and teaching of the truth, which
will lead to the ultimate salvation of all peoples
(Acts 13:47). Christ tests the faithfulness of His
followers as they are under judgement now (1Pet.
1:7, 4:17). We are required to keep the law as we
are judged by it (Jas. 1:25, 2:8-12). The real
difference between the old and new covenant is
the Holy Spirit. Without it we cannot please God;
we cannot repent or grow in the knowledge of the
Summary: The Covenant of God
One True God and correctly worship Him.
Unfortunately, many in the twentieth century
believe God is a trinity and worship His son,
which is in breach of the first commandment.
This disqualifies them from entering the kingdom
of God in the first resurrection. They are like
physical Israel that could not enter the promised
land because of disbelief and disobedience (Heb.
3:16-19). The two parties in the new covenant are
God and modern Israel, the children of Abraham,
the spiritual descendants in the Church who hear
and obey God’s word (Jn. 8:39-47). They are the
children of promise (Rom. 9:6-8; Gal. 3:7; 1Jn.
5:1-10); a spiritual nation called out by God and
given to His son Jesus Christ (Gal. 6:16; Eph.
2:10).
God keeps His covenant towards those who love
and fear Him. He protects His people as He leads
them to their inheritance (Ps. 50:3-6). They are
the korban of the feasts, but are persecuted for
their commitment to the covenant (Rev.
12:17,14:12). They are part of the active army of
God aimed at overthrowing the spiritual powers
that rule the nations of this planet now, in
opposition to the laws of God. This warfare is
spiritual, although the consequences now are
physical. True Christians are the army of God
under their commander Jesus Christ (Eph. 6:12;
Job 25:3). This war is not against flesh and blood
but against the principalities and powers and
rulers of darkness of this world now. The fight is
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of faith and witness of God’s way of life in a
world system ruled by Satan (2Tim. 2:3-4).
The forces of this world and the evil system in
place now will eventually be replaced after the
huge wars of the last days. Everything will be
replaced by the righteous and just rule of Jesus
Christ and the covenant keepers who are
resurrected to elohim status at His return. God
will only fight with and for Israel, now the
Church, if they are loyal to Him and His
commandments.
The satanic deception to eliminate the old
covenant
and
do
away with
God’s
commandments, as taught by the anti-law faction
of modern Christianity, places a false way of
thinking on this planet. Thus the Church was
subverted by the evil of lies and lack of
knowledge, which nearly destroyed it. The truth
is only held by a few now. The survival of Israel
in the last days is dependent upon conversion and
entry into the army of God. God cleanses by trial
through war and captivity, but He will have
mercy and not forsake His people. He will keep
the covenant with us; we had better keep it with
Him!
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