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What is the New Covenant?

Carbon

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Scripture tells us that God’s dealings with man are determined by agreements called covenants. As an overarching theme, the covenant of grace is significant in the history of redemption.

There are many who will teach, under the New Covenant, "we are given the opportunity" to receive salvation as a free gift. But, if we are given the opportunity, it then becomes a matter of work and is no longer grace.

But only upon the basis of Christ's sacrifice and obedience could man inherit the blessings of the covenant of grace, not by any works he can do. Christ became “the mediator of the new covenant” (Heb. 9:15). Through his work we receive the blessings of salvation.
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. Heb 9:15.


There are but two names for the one, second covenant.

To Christ, a covenant of redemption, a bargain of buying and selling because Christ alone engaged to pay the price for redemption. But it is to us a Covenant of grace, in which all is to be had freely. And without respect to any work of ours as the ground of our right thereto. Scripture only mentions two covenants, not three, Gal 4:24, Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Since one of these must be a Covenant of works, a single Covenant off grace must be the other.

There are repeated references to the blood of the Covenant, not Covenants,
How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? Heb 10:29. This clearly shows that our salvation depends upon only one Covenant, the Covenant of grace.

Also, the condition of the Covenant of grace, properly so called, is "Christ's fulfilling all righteousness" and not as some have maintained, "faith in Christ,"

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;[a]
when his soul makes[b] an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see[c] and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53:10-11.

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. Matt 3:15.
even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt 20:28.
For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Rom 5:19.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:21.

And since faith must precede the enjoyment of the promised benefits,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Eph 2:8. So it could be a condition or, connection to order, but only in the sense that one thing goes before another in the order of a covenant.

But if it is the misunderstanding that we are given the opportunity to receive salvation by faith (our responsibility to exercise faith), the free Covanant of grace turns into a conditional Covanant of works. This destroys the Gospel.

Or where in scripture does it teach, in the New Covenant does God give man the opportunity to exorcise faith?
Some will teach, God made the Covenant between Him and man, but Scripture does not teach such. But who does scripture say God has made a Covenant with? Psalm 89:3 answers that,

You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
Psalm 89:3.

3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’”
Psalm 89:3-4.

This is the new building of grace set for us. All believers, when they believe are instantly received, and when they are received, they shall dwell forever in a building of mercy, in which every stone from the bottom to the top, is pure mercy, rich, and free mercy to us.

This plan was all drawn together in eternity in the council of the Trinity. And.....
This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, Eph 3:11.

These objects of mercy, the time and place, the way and the means of applying it on them, were designed before the creation of the world.

Of this building, the builder is God Himself. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. 1 Cor 3:9.
All the Trinity is at work in the building of it.
The Father chose the objects of mercy, and gave them to the Son to be redeemed; the Son purchased redemption for them; and the Holy Spirit applies the purchased redemption to them.

But all goes to the account of His So, (none to us) 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there[a] shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’Zech 6:12-13.







 
Work would be trying to be good by keeping commandments to earn grace. That is not the case.

On the other hand, belief is not a ritual, but a state of mind.

If belief is a work, like a ritual or adhering to a moral commandment, then I think something is wrong with that interpretation. It seems obvious that works refer to good deeds or the moral keeping of the law, and include ritual behaviours or religious actions, but simply just believing something in your mind is not a physical action, hence not a work.

Those that claim they are given the choice to accept or reject God's salvation by God persistently convicting them of sin and trying to get them to accept Him are showing us all that God could work differently with different people, some of which already have no resistance who get instantly converted without time passing in conviction. So both methods could exist.
 
Work would be trying to be good by keeping commandments to earn grace. That is not the case.

On the other hand, belief is not a ritual, but a state of mind.

If belief is a work, like a ritual or adhering to a moral commandment, then I think something is wrong with that interpretation. It seems obvious that works refer to good deeds or the moral keeping of the law, and include ritual behaviours or religious actions, but simply just believing something in your mind is not a physical action, hence not a work.

Those that claim they are given the choice to accept or reject God's salvation by God persistently convicting them of sin and trying to get them to accept Him are showing us all that God could work differently with different people, some of which already have no resistance who get instantly converted without time passing in conviction. So both methods could exist.
So, you would think then, the Covenant of grace was between you/man and God?
 
Those that claim they are given the choice to accept or reject God's salvation by God persistently convicting them of sin and trying to get them to accept Him are showing us all that God could work differently with different people, some of which already have no resistance who get instantly converted without time passing in conviction. So both methods could exist.
So then, we should look to mankind to determine which doctrines are correct and not God's word?
 
So then, we should look to mankind to determine which doctrines are correct and not God's word?
Read what I wrote again more slowly. If humans do not interpret God's words in the Bible, then perhaps there is only one valid interpretation, right? Do we humans have it?
 
I don't believe love from God does not have an endowment of free will.
Okay. So, with scripture support, would you show me this biblical(?) teaching?

Thanks.
 
Okay. So, with scripture support, would you show me this biblical(?) teaching?

Thanks.
Yes. That is quite easy. Jesus said, "seek for God and you will find". You cannot do that if God made that impossible to do.

This is part of the Bible teaching in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament and the words of Jesus.

If people are incapable of seeking for God, it means they are robots.

Do you want me to quote the actual scripture in the gospels or will you accept that I quoted them by saying Jesus said, "Seek and you will find" and he was talking about seeking God?
 
Yes. That is quite easy. Jesus said, "seek for God and you will find". You cannot do that if God made that impossible to do.

This is part of the Bible teaching in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament and the words of Jesus.

If people are incapable of seeking for God, it means they are robots.

Do you want me to quote the actual scripture in the gospels or will you accept that I quoted them by saying Jesus said, "Seek and you will find" and he was talking about seeking God?
Did you forget the scriptures are written to believers? Does this help?

If you would like to pursue this thought, it would probably make a good thread.
 
There are many who will teach, under the New Covenant, "we are given the opportunity" to receive salvation as a free gift. But, if we are given the opportunity, it then becomes a matter of work and is no longer grace.
I haven't finished reading yet but that struck me as what could be a light bulb moment for some. It is indeed a covenant we are in, most acknowledge that. But it is always, always God who initiates covenants with mankind, and it is always God who determines who will be the people in that covenant with Him., and the conditions that must be met. He brings them in. The new covenant has no laws or conditions, it is through faith in Christ alone and choosing would be a condition. And since faith in a sense could be said to be a condition, then the faith too is given, just as it is said in Eph 2.
 
Did you forget the scriptures are written to believers? Does this help?
Dave, I will be waiting for your answer on this. :unsure:
 
I haven't finished reading yet but that struck me as what could be a light bulb moment for some. It is indeed a covenant we are in, most acknowledge that. But it is always, always God who initiates covenants with mankind, and it is always God who determines who will be the people in that covenant with Him., and the conditions that must be met. He brings them in. The new covenant has no laws or conditions, it is through faith in Christ alone and choosing would be a condition.
Yes, but whose choice? Who does the choosing?
Man, once he hears the gospel, or, God before the creation of the world.
And since faith in a sense could be said to be a condition, then the faith too is given, just as it is said in Eph 2.
I agree. Believing you mean, faith as a gift.
 
Yes, but whose choice? Who does the choosing?
Man, once he hears the gospel, or, God before the creation of the world.
God before the creation of the world of course. I might make a slight and insignificant side step on what you say about the covenant of grace. I think that is God with mankind. And the covenant of redemption was within the triune Godhead before the creation of our world and unfolds into the covenant of grace, just as the covenant made with Abraham of faith counted as righteousness unfolded into it. They aren't separate but distinct.

So yes, the covenant of redemption is a covenant with Christ. God would give a people to Him, and He would come as one of us (such unimaginable love and courage and power, such a stepping down to us)and do the work of perfect righteousness for us, then die as our substitute to redeem us and we are His reward and inheritance and glory.
Believing you mean, faith as a gift.
Yes. Faith is gift. And it is a gift given. Not offered.
 
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God before the creation of the world of course.
Amen
I might make a slight and insignificant side step on what you say about the covenant of grace. I think that is God with mankind. And the covenant of redemption we within the triune Godhead before the creation of out world and unfolds into the covenant of grace, just as the covenant made with Abraham of faith counted as righteousness unfolded into it. They aren't separate but distinct.
Okay.
So yes, the covenant of redemption is a covenant with Christ. God would give a people to Him, and He would come as one of us (such unimaginable love and courage and power, such a stepping down to us)and do the work of perfect righteousness for us, then die as our substitute to redeem us and we are His reward and inheritance and glory.

Yes. Faith is gift. And it is a gift given. Not offered.
Interesting to think about. Thanks. :)
 
It's an interesting conundrum...

As Sola Fidests, we NEED to always keep Justification through Faith in all our paradigms; we did that in the NPP Threads. Jesus said the Work God requires is to believe on Christ; we need to allow space for Faith to be a Work of some sort that God requires. Let's keep in Mind that Jesus called Faith a Work. But Jesus doesn't mean a Work in the same vein as a Work of the Law. Faith cannot be a Work, because Saint Paul gave us the Categories; we're Saved by Grace through Faith not by Works. This division of Categories MUST mean that Faith is NOT a Work; yet it is required by God and called a Work...
 
It's an interesting conundrum...

As Sola Fidests, we NEED to always keep Justification through Faith in all our paradigms; we did that in the NPP Threads. Jesus said the Work God requires is to believe on Christ; we need to allow space for Faith to be a Work of some sort that God requires. Let's keep in Mind that Jesus called Faith a Work. But Jesus doesn't mean a Work in the same vein as a Work of the Law. Faith cannot be a Work, because Saint Paul gave us the Categories; we're Saved by Grace through Faith not by Works. This division of Categories MUST mean that Faith is NOT a Work; yet it is required by God and called a Work...
Yes faith is required, but the work that our faith rests in is the work of Christ, and part of His perfect work was unwavering faith (trust) in the Father, so that too is counted to us. The Father places persons in the Son. "Those the Father gives me." "All whom the Father have given me." Those are the ones Jesus specifically died for, already known by the Father. And if faith is required in order to be placed in Christ, then the Father must also give the faith needed, and does. So it isn't our work, but we have it and act on it.

Does that make any sense? I was kind of working it through as I went along.
 
Yes faith is required, but the work that our faith rests in is the work of Christ, and part of His perfect work was unwavering faith (trust) in the Father, so that too is counted to us. The Father places persons in the Son. "Those the Father gives me." "All whom the Father have given me." Those are the ones Jesus specifically died for, already known by the Father. And if faith is required in order to be placed in Christ, then the Father must also give the faith needed, and does. So it isn't our work, but we have it and act on it.

Does that make any sense? I was kind of working it through as I went along.
It makes all the sense in the world; Grace is always prevenient. For instance, we're Born Again then we Believe on the One who was sent...
 
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Yes. That is quite easy. Jesus said, "seek for God and you will find". You cannot do that if God made that impossible to do.

This is part of the Bible teaching in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament and the words of Jesus.

If people are incapable of seeking for God, it means they are robots.

Do you want me to quote the actual scripture in the gospels or will you accept that I quoted them by saying Jesus said, "Seek and you will find" and he was talking about seeking God?
For every Verse which says 'we can' seek, we should presume Grace has already appeared to make a 'real' difference in our lives...

This is Systematic Theology...
 
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It's an interesting conundrum...

As Sola Fidests, we NEED to always keep Justification through Faith in all our paradigms; we did that in the NPP Threads. Jesus said the Work God requires is to believe on Christ; we need to allow space for Faith to be a Work of some sort that God requires. Let's keep in Mind that Jesus called Faith a Work. But Jesus doesn't mean a Work in the same vein as a Work of the Law. Faith cannot be a Work, because Saint Paul gave us the Categories; we're Saved by Grace through Faith not by Works. This division of Categories MUST mean that Faith is NOT a Work; yet it is required by God and called a Work...
As always I enjoy your knowledge and reasoning; but I fear the world, the flesh, and the devil have helped us along the way by keeping just a smidgen for ourselves to add to salvation.
I believe scripture teaches God performs a miracle on us when He places us in Christ, as we have been crucified with him. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20.

Therefore, the new man in Christ possesses faith, we have been reconciled, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Cor 5:17.

This faith we now have, after the work of God, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10. is by the grace of God. We brought nothing, we added only sin to our salvation.
So, we are saved by grace through faith.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9.

So the only work about it is the work God has done.
 
Yes faith is required, but the work that our faith rests in is the work of Christ,
What an awesome way of putting it!
and part of His perfect work was unwavering faith (trust) in the Father, so that too is counted to us.
Amen.
The Father places persons in the Son. "Those the Father gives me." "All whom the Father have given me." Those are the ones Jesus specifically died for, already known by the Father. And if faith is required in order to be placed in Christ, then the Father must also give the faith needed, and does. So it isn't our work, but we have it and act on it.

Does that make any sense? I was kind of working it through as I went along.
All I can say is AMEN!
 
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