A Covenant

A Covenant (According to the bible.) is an agreement between God and his people in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from them in return. In theology and in bible studies, the word "covenant" principally refers to any of a number of solemn agreements made between God and the Israelites in the Hebrew Bible, as well as to the New Covenant, which some Christians consider to be the final fulfillment of these. Likewise, some Christians use the term "Old Covenant" to collectively refer to the covenants described in their "Old Testament". The terms are correct and each covenant must be correctly applied, to the age of terms applied to it. For example, Jesus was the perfect lamb of God who took away all the sins of this world. (John 1:29, Hebrews 9:15-22, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.) To sacrifice any animal would indeed make the covenant to none effect or void it. Also both parties must follow the agreements set forth. Since God started or initiated every covenant, he wrote the rules and one must abide by and in them. God's covenants with the Israelites are foundational to the Torah and form the grounds for the claim that the Israelites are God's "chosen people." According to the terms of these covenants, the Israelites were told that they must worship God (Today we must worship God in and by his spirit and in truth, John 4:24.) and obey his Commandments in order to receive spiritual and temporal blessing and avoid exposure to the effects of the curse. (Leviticuas 26 explains this forth.) Now Christians are God's New Covenant people, on the basis of prophecies such as Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Isaiah 49:8. At the Last Supper, Jesus alludes to these prophecies, saying that the cup of the Passover meal is "the cup of the New Covenant in [his] blood." 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. This was eschatological claim, (The study of the last times or the ending of humanity.) since Jesus said that the Old Testament rituals of atonement are "fulfilled" in him. This study is also known as Supersessionism. The term means the replacement or completion of the promise made to the Jews. Now many if not all people who claim Christ as theirs (Isaiah 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.) would saved by that knowledge alone, that are saved. The Old Testament covenant with Abraham required circumcision by belief. Acts 7:8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the New Testament requires baptism by belief. Jesus said, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16. Also John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Here Jesus already showed that he was not talking about the water of the natural birth. Many false prophets of Christ allude to that deception. One must like Jesus (Mark 1:9-11 and Matthew 3:12-17) be baptized and then the spirit will enter upon and in them. See Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, and 1 Peter 3:20-21 among a multitude of verses that prove and show forth this Gospel truth. That even Paul obeyed as shown in Acts 9:18 and 22:16. Will you now argue with Jesus? Matthew 7:21-23. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. You are in your sin

until your obedience by faith has been completed. 2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. He went seeking a cure from the man of God. Verses 8-10. And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. After this Naaman was angry with his pride. Verse 11. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. He wanted a great miracle to cleanse him instead of the solution that God gave him. Today we have denominational pride instead of obedience to the word and thus will of God. This impedes the plan of salvation. The pride of life. Remember that Satan said five times in his speach to overthrow God, "I will". That is found in Isaiah 14. This is the foolishness and stumbling block set forth. The servant of Naaman convinced him to obey. And the result was he was made clean. Verse 14. Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. Today all who obey the word of Acts 2:38 can and will be saved. Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (Forgiveness) of sins. This is the new plan or covenant. Colossians 2:10-15 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. This is why that everyone who ever believed in the bible were baptized in the name of Jesus, after their confession of faith unto obedience. From Acts 2:38, 8:12-18/26-40, 10:36-40, 16:15/33, 18:8, 19:1-5, to 22:16. Galatians 6:15: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. You cannot be a new creature without baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. See Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26-28, and Colossians 3:17. Any other teaching or Gospel is not of God. Read Galatians 1:612, Acts 5:29, and Revealations 22:18-19. Here in parting is Galatians 1:6-12. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.