What and Where are the Terms of the New Covenant?

Wherever Jesus says "believe in Me" or any variation of this option IS the terms of the New Covenant.What is the gospel ?If you thought Jesus was you are wrong !Gospel means "good news" and the good news is HOW one obtains Jesus - nothing else.God will accept faith in place of the O.T. way of allegiance to a code of conduct as the new and exclusive way to relate to Him now.The New Covenant is Galatians 2:20Galatians 2
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.This, by the way, is the defintion of a true christian.Jesus, in the gospels, continually contrasted two roads: Perfectionist law keeping OR "believe in Him".The second alternative is the New Covenant - the gospel/way of faith.According to Paul in Galatians (chosen by Jesus on the Damascus Road) Mosaic Law was intended to show us that we cannot do it and to drive us to the one thing we can do: Have Faith in Jesus.

Hebrews 10 :16"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"[3] 17then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful

PurpleDawn:I think the subject matter of your topic is the best.I haven't been able to devote any time to participating, but, I want this to change.Would you please create a post that sums up the status of the debate ?Once this is done I want to dive in.

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Purpledawn: A. The covenants of God in the OT had no end dates.

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There was ONE O.T. covenant: The Law of God from Genesis to Malachi.
This covenant promised eternal life to anyone who fulfilled it perfectly. Nobody ever did except Jesus Christ - as the N.T. says it was, in essence, "shoes" created just for Him. This O.T. covenant expired on the cross with Jesus. God manifested the law in His Son then killed it so He now can relate to mankind through the New Covenant of the gospel which is the way of faith "apart from the works of the Law (Mosaic). (Romans 3:20, 21) This is the good news of the gospel - that God will accept faith in place of the Old Covenant of works of the law.

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Purpledawn: C. Boiled down to two: These existed before Jesus.
Lev 19:18 Love neighbor as self..
Deut 6:5 Love God with all your heart...

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But Jesus Himself validated these two laws in the N.T. so there is no descrepancy here.However, Jesus confirmed that these two laws are the sum of the entire O.T. body of laws.When the Law said to "love your neighbor as yourself" it/God was attempting to make you see and conclude that you CANNOT possibly fulfill this law.When the Law said to "love the Lord thy God with all your strength, all your mind, and all your heart......" This was intended to make us conclude HOW ? How in the fuck are you supposed to love a God that you cannot see, touch, or feel ?The O.T. covenant said He is loved via performing the works of the Law. The N.T. covenant says you demonstrate love for God by living the life of faith in His promises/the gospel."Love" is a synonym for faith/trust. If you love this invisible God then you will want to do what pleases Him. The N.T. is clear: ONLY faith/gospel pleases God. (Hebrews 11:6) Thus when you are trusting God you are loving God and subsequently fulfilling the first and great commandment.

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Purpledawn: "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts..."

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This is the one most people refer back to for the "new covenant", but when I ask what law will be put in their minds and on their hearts no one answers

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When a person trusts God by faith/the gospel, He promises to dwell inside of them via His Spirit. This Spirit will propel the christian to conform to God's laws by miracle power of God. This is what the N.T. born-again convesion is about. God will put His Spirit within the person who trusts Him and that Spirit will Divinely enable this person to walk according to God's law.

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Scripture please. I don't see eternal life mentioned in the OT.

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Its by interpretation and implication and of course word meanings. When "life" is promised/spoken of in the O.T. it means in this life and the next one - eternally. The same goes for "death"; in this life and the next one - eternally. This is Bible 101 stuff.Matthew 19:16,17

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And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have ETERNAL life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.The commandments Jesus was speaking of was every commandment contained in the O.T.The Apostle Paul, who Jesus Himself converted on the Damascus Road, which means he speaks for God/Jesus said this in Galatians 3:10:

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For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them.That curse is the curse of death in this life and the next (eternal).This is the message of the entire Bible: Sin is any violation of the O.T. law of God/Moses, whether it was intentional or not. The wages of sin is death. BUT Jesus fulfilled the O.T. law every "jot and tittle" THEN God crucified Him/that Law. NOW God can relate to mankind by the gospel/New Covenant - way of faith to relate, which replaces the Old Covenant way of the works of the Law which NOBODY could keep except for Jesus.Then what was the purpose of the O.T. law ?Galatians 3:19-25

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What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.The purpose of the N.T. is to explain the O.T.

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Didn't say there was a descrepancy. Said it wasn't new. How did he validate?

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This was your comment about Jesus quoting the first two great commandments.The commandments we are discussing were validated by Jesus when He quoted them in the gospels.The only issue is what does it mean ?I already gave the meaning in my previous reply so I will not repeat it again.Thanks,WT

Thanks Ab !I was aware of them and I decided not to introduce them until actually needed.Purpledawn did ask for all references so I am glad someone did finally cough up.late,WT

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All new covenant roads lead to Paul.

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Absolutely correct !I will pick up right here with my next post ASAP.

In Acts chapter 9 Jesus converts Paul.Who speaks for Jesus ?Paul.

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What did Jesus say were the terms of the new covenant?

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There isn't any verse that has Jesus saying "this is the terms of the New Covenant: A)...........B).........C)..........etc.etc.etc.The Last Supper has Christ revealing that the cup of wine SYMBOLIZES His blood.Christ's blood is not ordinary blood. His blood was/is the blood of a perfect man; a man who never sinned or violated the O.T. law. His blood was spilled on the cross for payment of sins. Every O.T. day of Atonement sin offering was a type or a shadow of the crucifixion event. The High Priest (type of Christ) killed a first born lamb without spot or wrinkle (type of Christ's sinlessness) and then took the blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it upon the hilasterion/kaporeth/mercy seat. This once a year act paid for the sins of the people for the previous year. IF the High Priest offered an acceptable sacrifice (as just outlined) then he would not be killed by God. Bells at the bottom of his robe indicated if he was still alive in the Holy of Holies. When Christ died on the cross the scripture says the Temple Veil was torn from "TOP TO BOTTOM".
This means God accepted Christ's sacrifice for sins as adequate payment for every sin ever committed.Now here is the point:Everything hinges upon the blood of Christ - the only foundation of the New Covenant. The blood and the forgiveness that is available is only available BY FAITH.All sins are paid for but that payment is not appropriated to the individual until he or she receives it by faith based upon the blood of Christ.The New Covenant is: God will erase all of your sins IF you look to Jesus by faith and receive His forgiveness.God's part: Keep His promises based on the blood of Christ.Our part: Receive it by faith, which is the good news of the gospel, God will accept faith in place of the works of the law.This is why Jesus gave two distinct options woven through out the gospels.Option 1) best typified by the Sermon on the Mount/impossible standard of righteousness OR......Option 2) "believe in Me" or any variation of this option.When you "believe in Jesus" this is called faith/the gospel, which is man's part of the New Covenant.God's part of the New Covenant is a promise to keep His word IF we keep relating to Him by faith.Jesus chose Paul to explain all of this in his epistles, namely; Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews.This message has been edited by WILLOWTREE, 06-11-2004 06:59 PM

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refer back to some of the earlier Gospel teachings regarding divesting oneself of material possessions and becoming a pietistic pacifist after entering into the covenant.

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You are clearly insinuating that the activities listed above are necessary to comply with the (New?) covenant.The New Covenant is based upon the blood of Christ.The blood of Christ is appropriated to the individual by faith alone.Your insinuation is a misinterpretation of things demonstrated and taught by Jesus. You wrongly assume that those things are absolutely necessary to the New Covenant. They are, sometimes, things, some people do in response to having their sins forgiven by Christ.

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Again, the point of this thread is not to argue Paul's Gospel

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Paul's gospel IS Jesus's gospel. The questions you ask/seek CANNOT be answered without Paul.God intentionally crafted His word as to not be able to answer the question of this topic without consulting the person He chose to speak for Him. God/Jesus chose Paul - there is no way around it. The Apostle who wrote two thirds of the N.T. MUST be read or your question cannot be answered.

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By fulfill I am assuming you mean to obey all the rules. Which covenant. There are three. The one with Noah, one with Abraham, and the one with Moses and the people of Israel.

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I mean both: obey and fulfill. There is a difference but it covers all when you accurately state it this way.There were TWO and only TWO covenants revealed in the Bible. The Abrahamic and the Mosaic. These two covenants and their jurisdiction upon any individual depends on the individuals status with God.Status with God is exclusively determined by relationship to the blood of Christ. Unless the blood of Christ is actually appropriated to the individual - until this happens - you/I/we are subject to the curse of the Mosaic covenant: death. The wages of sin is death - the penalty required by Mosaic law. BUT if you/I/or we keep our end of the Abrahamic covenant, which is to "believe God and it was counted as righteousness"; which was Genesis phraseology describing the gospel/way of faith to relate to God through Christ, THEN Mosaic law and its requirements and penalties are abrogate/null/and void.The Abrahamic covenant of righteousness by faith IS the gospel, which is the New Covenant. When a person is trusting God to keep a promise, God says this is righteousness and the person who is trusting is now released from the jurisdiction of Mosaic law.

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If you are talking about the Mosaic laws and by fulfill you mean to obey all the laws, did Jesus obey every single law or commandment listed in the OT? In other words, was Jesus a good person who just didn't do anything to break any of the laws that pertained to him, or was Jesus tempted to break all of these laws listed and chose not to?

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Jesus was the Law Incarnate.The entire O.T. body of law was a shadow cast by the substance of Christ.The scripture says He was in all points tempted as we are, He faced every temptation, but, like you say, He chose not to, and by doing so He fulfilled the Mosaic covenant.When He died on the cross - Mosaic law died with Him BUT the appropriation of this benefit to us is not imparted unless we are performing our part of the Abrahamic covenant. Some people will immediately interpret this as a green light to sin. Nope, it is a green light to escape the curse of Mosaic law and its jurisdiction if we continue in the Abrahamic covenant.This message has been edited by WILLOWTREE, 06-12-2004 09:48 PM

Once again, your question cannot be answered without Paul. If it can be answered without Paul then I refuse to answer. This stance says I would rather "lose" the point/argument/debate than to proceed without Paul. For the record I am a Protestant Evangelical Paulinist. (And I do recognize that from the outset you requested Paul not to be invoked.)Your question about women is "rigged" (no offense) since Jesus was male. Technically, He didn't - how could "He" ?

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Therefore your statement is false, since he couldn't fulfill the laws for women.
Plus, unless he was a high priest he couldn't fulfill those laws either.

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My statement has a source - the Bible. You eliminate Paul who wrote two thirds of the N.T.My statement is true because I learned it from Paul whom Jesus chose in Acts 9.You are showing signs of using select passages of Bible to fit a previous belief or bias that you brought into the debate.Jesus rose from the dead which is what christianity claims which means He did fulfill the law.To say Jesus wasn't a priest indicates massive ignorance or bias - it doesn't matter. I have lost interest in this topic now that I know you are massively ignorant concerning basic christianity.

Hi Ab !

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I'm participating with the understanding that Purple's question generally is "what are the terms of the 'New covenant.'"

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Yes, but Purple has plainly stated that he wants the question answered without invoking Paul. The question cannot be answered without citing Paul.

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I'm also participating under the assumption that the "New Covenant" is an agreement by which one obtains entrance into the "Kingdom" by following the terms of the covenant. Is that what Christians understand the "New Covenant" to be? Is it a key to entering the "Kingdom?"

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Yes it is.However, the Kingdom and ones entrance begins in this life - NOW."Today if you hear His voice harden not your heart" says Hebrews.The only issue or dispute is HOW to enter, and HOW to remain in the Kingdom.

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If it is, then one can understand Purple's question regarding where exactly one finds the terms of the covenant clearly spelled out

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Absolutely. It is the entire reason for being of the New Testament. My only qualm with Purple is his insistence to not deal with Paul.THEN you reiterate what Jesus told the rich young ruler about his possessions. Let me go further with this. You are essentially selecting this passage and saying a person must do likewise or they cannot be saved/make it into the Kingdom. You are saying that to not sell all that you have and give it to the poor is a violation of the New Covenant.In order to understand what the New Covenant is we must define the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant was instituted by God and these were the terms:Obey and never violate any O.T.law, to the person(s) who does this God will grant you eternal life. Violate one law one time and your portion is death eternal.The New Covenant is the gospel which means "good news". What's the good news ?God will accept faith directed at Christ in place of the Old Covenant way of relating to Him by unattainable law.The New Covenant is HOW a person OBTAINS Christ and His benefits. IF a person walks by faith and faith alone the requirements of the Old Covenant are abrogate/null/and void.What Jesus told the rich young ruler was the one thing He knew he wouldn't actually do. What Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount were things NOBODY could do EXCEPT HIM. This is the point: Jesus preached an impossible standard - the O.T. law - a law that He was in the process of fulfilling. Jesus demanded 100 % and only recognized expressions of 100 % because this was His committment: 100 %.All of these things; give all your possessions; lust not in your heart; fast and pray; hate not your brother; love your neighbor AS YOURSELF are all Old Covenant law standards - Divine standards that is intended to make one conclude "I cannot do it", which is then intended to drive you to the ONE thing you can do: the Gospel/way of faith to relate to God - the New Covenant.The New Covenant contained in the New Testament is:Anytime Jesus says to believe in Him or any variation of this (faith).Which is contrasted with Christ's impossible presentaion of O.T. law.This is the choice layed out by Christ:Impossible law or "believe in Him".This message has been edited by WILLOWTREE, 06-14-2004 03:10 PM

Hi Ab:

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I cannot find any reference in the Hebrew bible to "eternal life."

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Wherever the words "life" or "live" appear in the O.T., their definition means "eternal life". Same with "death", means "eternal death". BUT I have also clearly admitted that the O.T. CANNOT be understood without God's chosen mouthpiece - Paul. The questions you and Purple ask were designed by God to only be understood by the teaching of Paul.

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Deuteronomy 27:26: Cursed be he that confirmeth not ALL the words of this law to do them.

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The above verse plainly tells us the unbending demands of Law.

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Also, in Message 53, I asked for specifics (in words directly attributed to Jesus) where he says that works of the Law and following specific directions He gave throughout Matthew and Luke are no longer requirements for entry into the Kingdom (as cited in the passages I provided).

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There isn't any.The abrogation of the works of the Law comes via interpretation. Jesus said "man shall live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God".The most current words out of the mouth of God come through Paul.Paul teaches us what "every word out of God's mouth" means.Once and for all:Only by interpretation can your questions be answered. There is no one verse that says everything that you want to hear. All of your questions have been answered - its just that you do not like the answers/or you disagree.Acts 9 says God/Jesus chose Paul. Nothing in the Bible is going to contradict God/Jesus/Paul. If you or anyone rejects what Paul says - you are rejecting what God/Jesus says. Paul was a "Pharisee of the Pharisees" a Benjamite, raised at the feet of Gamaliel, 5 times he received 40 stripes save one at the hands of the Jews, all for preaching the gospel/way of faith, which is the New Covenant - the ONLY term of the New Covenant.This message has been edited by WILLOWTREE, 06-14-2004 09:50 PM