July 7, 2019

(Ligonier) Some things are carried over from the Old Testament into the New and others are left buried in Jesus’ grave.

(Ligonier) Obedience to God’s law is the benchmark of continuing in God’s covenant. Yet no Israelite could be saved by law-keeping — that was the point Paul would argue forcefully in his letter to the Romans, showing that the true Israelite was not the one who gave mere outward regard to the required ceremonies.

Romans 2:29 NASB95

But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Numbers 25:13 NASB95

and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’ ”

(Ligonier) In Christ, however, old things have passed away. There is now no single ethnic group, for example, whom God favors with the privileges of redemption. Israel, like Adam, broke covenant with God

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Hosea 6:7 NASB95

But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me.

(Ligonier) Unlike the ancient Israelite, I can now say that Christ the last priest has done His work, and the last sacrifice for sins has been offered. I need no lamb of my own, for God has provided a lamb for Himself

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Genesis 22:8 NASB95

Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

(1689) 1. Though rational creatures are responsible to obey God as their Creator, the distance between God and these creatures is so great that they could never have attained the reward of life except by God’s voluntary condescension. He has been pleased to express this through a covenant framework

Job 35:7–8 NASB95

“If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, Or what does He receive from your hand? “Your wickedness is for a man like yourself, And your righteousness is for a son of man.

(1689) 2. Since humanity brought itself under the curse of the law by its fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace

Galatians 3:10 NASB95

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”

(1689) In this covenant he freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ. On their part he requires faith in him, that they may be saved

Jonathan Edwards, “And the covenant of grace is not really a covenant- for there was no agreement between believers and the Father—but simply a “free offer of life.” Faith is not the condition for receiving the offer, “for it is the receiving itself.”

Romans 8:3 NASB95

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,

(1689) and promises to give his Holy Spirit to all who are ordained to eternal life, to make them willing and able to believe

John 6:44–45 NASB95

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

(1689) 3. This covenant is revealed in the gospel. It was revealed first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation through the seed of the woman

Genesis 3:15 NASB95

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

(1689) After that, it was revealed step by step until the full revelation of it was completed in the New Testament

Hebrews 1:1 NASB95

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,

(1689) This covenant is based on the eternal covenant transaction between the Father and the Son concerning the redemption of the elect

2 Timothy 1:9 NASB95

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

(1689) Only through the grace of this covenant have those saved from among the descendants of fallen Adam obtained life and blessed immortality. Humanity is now utterly incapable of being accepted by God on the same terms on which Adam was accepted in his state of innocence

Hebrews 11:6 NASB95

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.