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Living Life Under the New Covenant
Part 2
Sunday, April 3, 2022
Pastor Jeff Clarkson
Weekly Bulletin | Worship Lyrics
Jeremiah 31:31-34
v31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
v32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.
v33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.
And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
v34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.
For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Four Point of Emphasis
Christ - the Focus and Purpose of all things
Knowing the LORD a New Covenant Privilege
The New Covenant People - One in Christ
The New Covenant Law of Christ – Faith Demonstrated through Love
1 Christ - the Focus and Purpose of All Things
New Covenant Christianity is Christocentric and Christotelic
Christocentric means focused on Christ, centered on Christ
Christotelic means that Christ is the purpose and end goal of the plan of God! He is the telos - the end goal!
This is true in regards to Creation
This is true in regards to the Bible
This is true in regards to redemption and the Gospel
This is true in regards to faith and life
This is true in regards Christ upholding the universe
And it true in regards to Christ bringing all things together in the consummation in the end
The first and most important truth about life under the New Covenant, is that Christ is all, His role is center-stage.
Everything must be seen in light of the person and work of Christ!
He is at the center of everything and is what everything is ultimately about!
Christ is central in creation
John 1:1-3
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
Colossians 1:16
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
Christ is the focus and main theme of the Bible!
John 5:39
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me”
Luke 24:25-27
“And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” After they recognized Him, He vanished and they said,
“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
One of the most important points of Bible interpretation is to read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament.
This is known as New Testament priority.
We need to interpret everything in light of the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles.
All of the OT persons, events and institutions were designed by God to point to Jesus.
When we read the Bible, we know that Christ is the end, the telos, the goal.
The Bible is Christocentric and Christotelic!
Christ is central in redemptive history and fulfillment of the Gospel
Everything points forward towards Christ in the OT and focuses on him during is earthly ministry.
And, from our perspective, everything points back to Him since the cross, resurrection and ascension as we see it in fulfillment!
Jesus is the foundation of the Gospel and the New Covenant faith!
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures . . .”
1 Corinthians 15:14, 15
“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.”
1 Corinthians 15:20
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead . . .”
1 Peter 1:18-21
“knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was
made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through
him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave
him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
God’s redemptive plan comes together in the fulness of the Gospel under the New Covenant.
New Covenant is Christocentric and Cristotelic!
The New Covenant believer’s the focus of our faith and life must be on Christ.
Hebrews 12:2
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith”
John 10:10
“I have come that they would have life, life more abundantly”
Matthew 17:5
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Colossians 2:3
“in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Matthew 28:18
“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.”
Our existence is focused on Christ as He currently upholds the universe
Hebrews 1:3
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. . . “
The focus will also be on Christ when He brings about the consummation of all things.
1 Corinthians 15:24-28
“Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” . . . When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.”
It is God’s comprehensive plan for redemption, Christ is at the center to unite all things in heaven and on earth in the fullness of time to bring all things together and to bring them to an end in Christ!
The centrality of Christ is the Father’s will
Ephesians 1.9,10
“… making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
It is the Fathers’ will that Christ be the end, the goal the telos of all things!
Philippians 2.9-11
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”
New Covenant Christianity is Christocentric!
New Covenant Christianity is Christotelic!
Christ is central and the goal of it all!
2 Knowing the LORD a New Covenant Privilege
Jeremiah 31:34
“And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.”
Hebrew “yada”, Signifies relationship, closeness, and intimacy!
This word is used when Adam “knew” Eve.
God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”
It is used of Abraham, God says, “For I have chosen Him.” Gen. 18:1
It is very interesting that “yada”, the word for “know” is translated chosen in this verse. “yada” means “to know, or to know with loving care, or elective love.” Steven Lawson “Foundations of Grace”
Greek “ginosko” means to know someone personally, to know someone relationally, closely, intimately just like it’s Hebrew counterpart “yada”
John 17: 1-3
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Knowing God is really being Known by God from Eternity
Ephesians 1:3-5
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will . . . “
John 6:37 : “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”
Eternal life is to know the Father and Jesus.
John 14.17 says we know the Spirit also.
“You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit promised in the New Covenant.
Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 11, Ezekiel 36, John 3, John 6, Hebrews 8
These passages beautifully weave together the Doctrines of Grace coming together in Gospel fulfillment under the New Covenant.
Election, Particular Redemption, Sovereign Regeneration, and Perseverance of the Saints.
Knowing God is one of the powerful promises of the New Covenant and is the ultimate blessing of the Gospel and of Sovereign Grace!
3 The New Covenant People - One in Christ
Ephesians 2:12-22
“remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.
And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;
for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
Ephesians 3:4-6
“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery
of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
Galatians 3:26-29
“ . . . in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.”
Colossians 3:11: “there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all”
Galatians 6:15-16: “For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession . . . “
4 The New Covenant Law of Christ – Faith Demonstrated through Love
Jeremiah 31.33
“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.”
The Law of Christ can be summarized in the following 3 commandments:
Love God. Love your neighbor. Love each other as Jesus loves us.
It is the principle of love or the law of love that is foremost in the Law of Christ and walking in the Law of Christ as enabled by the Holy Spirit.
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
“To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.”
Don’t look back to the Old Covenant Law given through Moses summarized in the 10 Commandments from Ex. 20 and Deut. 6 for your sanctification!
The Law covenant is not a means of grace for your sanctification!
Galatians 3:2, 3: “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Don’t go to the Law for help and direction for your sanctification.
God to Christ! Look to Him!
Find His will for you in His commands.
Find help for your sanctification in His teaching, and that of His Apostles through the enabling of the Holy Spirit!
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
What is the content of this Law of Christ?
What does the Law of Christ consist of?
Contents of the Law of Christ
1 The two great commandments and Jesus’ new commandment.
2 The specific commands of Christ.
3 The specific commands given through the teachings of the Apostles.
4 Commands from all of Scripture that transcend from covenant to covenant as God wills as taught by Jesus and the Apostles.
5 The personal and ethical example of Christ.
Under the Law of Christ, idolatry is still wrong, murder, adultery, stealing, lying, coveting are still wrong
Love seeks to honor God, not disobey and dishonor Him!
Love does no harm to his neighbor!
Love serves and bears the burdens of our brethren!
Matthew 5:21, 22: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
Make note of Jesus’ words -
“You have heard it said to those of old, . . . but I say unto you”
Matthew 5:27, 28: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 28:18-20: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”
Jesus is the king of kings.
He is the New Covenant Law giver!
How do we honor the Lord by walking in His Law, His commandments?
John 14:15: “if you love me you will keep my commandments.”
John 14:23: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
John 15:10: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.”
Under the New Covenant we are called to follow the Law of Christ by faith that works through love.
Galatians 5.6: “. . .in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
1 John 3:10 says if a professing Christians hates his brother, he is actually of the devil.
1 John 4:20, 21: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
It is important to note that this biblical love is not feeling oriented as much as it is and act of the will.
In this love, agape love, it is doing good to others, it is acts of kindness and good. Kind benevolence.
Under the New Covenant, we know the Lord, we love the Lord and we also have the indwelling of the Spirit, and by the Spirit we are enabled to walk in the Law of Christ.
Romans 7:6 : “we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.”
Romans 8:9 : “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
Romans 8:14 : “all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
The Law of Christ – fulfilled through the principle of love.
Love of God, love of neighbor, love of fellow believer as Christ loved us, enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit.
That is how we can honor and love the Lord in our lives and in the life of the church!
Fundamental Characteristics of a Biblical Theology of the New Covenant
1 All Scripture, OT and NT is able to make one wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:16 says:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
A. The central theme of Scripture is the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture is Christocentric.
B. Scripture interprets Scripture, this is known as the Analogy of Faith. Clear passages help to interpret less clear passages.
C. Scripture must be interpreted in light of the literary genre and context.
D. God’s revelation in Scripture was progressive over time. Therefore, the OT must be interpreted in light of the NT teachings of Jesus and the Apostles.
E. The Holy Spirit enables God’s people to understand the meaning and application of Scripture through His New Covenant ministry of illumination.
2 The New Covenant faith is Trinitarian. The Triunity of God reached fullest revelation in Scripture in the New Testament under the New Covenant era.
3 The Lord Jesus Christ is the faithful and last Adam, He is the true offspring of Abraham and the true and faithful Israel.
He is the only Israelite to ever keep the Law!
He is the only way of salvation and eternal life.
4 There is one redemptive plan of God centered on Jesus Christ.
The New Covenant faith is Christocentric.
The Gospel is most fully revealed and fulfilled under the New Covenant,
Justification by faith apart from works is at the heart of the Gospel.
Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone.
The New Covenant weaves beautifully with the truths of Sovereign Grace.
5 There is one people of God through redemption in Christ.
Jews and Gentiles are now both saved into the Body of Christ.
Inclusion into the New Covenant and the kingdom is no longer based on ethnicity.
The Gospel and the New Covenant and the kingdom of God are for all peoples!
6 The New Covenant fulfills the Abrahamic Covenant and replaces the Old Covenant.
7 All members of the New Covenant Church know God, their sins are fully forgiven, are they right with God, and permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
8 New Covenant believers are under the Law of Christ and not under the Old Covenant Law of Moses.
Christians live according to the Law of Christ by faith demonstrated through love and by the enabling of the Holy Spirit.
9 The New Covenant Church, the Body of Christ now includes all true believers from throughout redemptive history and is the fulfilled New Covenant Israel of God.
However, the church should not be equated with OC National Israel.
10 The New Covenant Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth, and is commissioned by the Lord to make disciples of all peoples.
This is done through evangelism, missions, and church planting.The local church is overseen by biblically qualified, ordained Elders, who administer Baptism and the Lord’s Table, the Word of God, and prayer.
The local church is also served by biblically qualified, ordained Deacons, and members serving one another who faithfully gather together on the Lord’s Day to engage in New Covenant worship.
11 The literal physical Second Coming of Christ, the physical resurrection and judgment of the righteous unto eternal life, and of the unrighteous unto eternal punishment in hell are essential truths of a biblical theology consistent with the New Covenant.
In the fullness of time, all things in heaven and on earth will be united in Christ. Then comes the end, when Christ will deliver the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.