Willow:
I'm participating with the understanding that Purple's question generally is "what are the terms of the 'New covenant.'"
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?"
If it is, then one can understand Purple's question regarding where exactly one finds the terms of the covenant clearly spelled out.
From Message 41, you quote my assumption that one can "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."
Then in Message 43, you say, "You are clearly insinuating that the activities listed above are necessary to comply with the (New?) covenant."
Yes I am. Let me explain regarding divesting oneself of material riches and following the path of Jesus appears to be a "term" of the "Covenant."
Quoting Matthew 19:16 "Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17)"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
18)"Which ones?" the man inquired. 19)Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"
These prerequisites for "entering life" are clearly "works of the Law" and here we clearly see that Jesus reemphasises the requirements of the Laws of Moses, just as he did at Matthew 5:17, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18)I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19)Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20)For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
Now, back to Matthew 19:20, "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
21)Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22)When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Apparently the young man did not want to trade earthly wealth for entrance into a "Heavenly Kingdom." So can this same young man gain entrance without signing on to the "New Covenant" and does the covenant require divesting oneself of earthly riches? It appears so:
23)Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24)Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Also apparent is that the "New Covenant" requires something more than "works of the Law" as seen in the following passage:
Matthew 18:1) At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2)He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3)And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4)Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Willow, where do we hear this same theme repeated? At the Passover feast in Luke 22?
Luke 22:24) Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25)Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26)But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27)For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."
Pretty much exactly the same theme as in Matthew 18:1, huh? And how is it tied directly to the "New Covenant?" Well, scroll up in Luke 22:
Luke 22:14) When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15)And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16)For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
17)After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18)For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19)And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 20)In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
Again, I ask: "Is the 'New Covenant' an agreement by which one obtains admittance to the 'Kingdom of Heaven' by following the specified commandments given in detail in passages attributed to Jesus?"
Willow, in Message 43, you say, "the New Covenant is based upon the blood of Christ." That's apparent from Luke 22:20.
You also say, "The blood of Christ is appropriated to the individual by faith alone." And to that I can only answer that in the passages quoted above, it appears that "works of the Law" and "actions in accordance with the Teaching" are required in addition to "blind faith" in order to fulfill the terms of the covenant.
Willow, you conclude Message 43 with a rather stern, unyielding statement that my "insinuation is a misinterpretation of things demonstrated and taught by Jesus. You wrongly assume that those things are absolutely necessary to the New Covenant."
Willow, I have provided examples of what I think Jesus specified as works of the Law and other personal commitments and actions that are prerequisites to enter the Kingdom via the New Covenant. Please show me where, in Jesus's own words, that Jesus negates the specific actions he clearly lays out as required for entry into the Kingdom, and substitutes "faith" as the only requirement.
Peace. Ab.
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