Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 111

NOTE.-The covenant of grace, with its provisions of pardon and peace, dates from the foundation of the world.

19. To whom was this covenant-promise later renewed?

"And G.o.d said unto _Abraham_, ... Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with _his seed_ after him." "I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, ... and in _thy seed_ shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Gen. 17:15-19; 26:4.

20. Who was the seed here referred to?

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, _which is Christ_."

Gal. 3:16.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Moses Breaking The Tables Of The Law. "Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin." Ex. 32:30.

21. What shows that the new or second covenant and the Abrahamic covenant are virtually the same?

"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Verse 29.

NOTE.-No one should allow himself to be confused by the terms _first covenant_ and _second covenant_. While the covenant made at Sinai is called the first covenant, it is by no means the first covenant that G.o.d ever made with man. Long before this He made a covenant with Abraham; He also made a covenant with Noah, and with Adam. Neither must it be supposed that the first or old covenant existed for a time as the _only_ covenant with mankind, and that this must serve its purpose and pa.s.s away before any one could share in the promised blessings of the second or new covenant. Had this been the case, then during that time there would have been no pardon for any one. What is called the new or second covenant virtually existed before the covenant made at Sinai; for the covenant with Abraham was confirmed in Christ (Gal. 3:17), and it is only through Christ that there is any value to the new or second covenant. There is no blessing that can be gained by virtue of the new covenant that was not promised to Abraham. And we, with whom the new covenant is made, can share the inheritance which it promises only by being children of Abraham, and sharing in his blessing. Gal. 3:7, 9. And since no one can have anything except as a child of Abraham, it follows that there is nothing in what is called the new or second covenant that was not in the covenant made with Abraham. The second covenant existed in every essential feature, except its ratification, long before the first, even from the days of Adam. It is called second because its ratification occurred after the covenant made and ratified at Sinai.

22. What is necessary where there is a covenant?

"For where a covenant is, there must also of necessity be _the death of that which establishes it_. For a covenant is made firm over the dead victims; whereas it is of no force while that which establisheth it liveth." Heb. 9:16, 17, Boothroyd's translation.

23. With whose blood was the new covenant dedicated?

"And [He took] the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in _My blood_, even that which is poured out for you."

Luke 22:20, R. V.

24. What power is there in the blood of this covenant?

"Now the G.o.d of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, _make you perfect in every good work_ to do His will." Heb.

13:20, 21.

25. Through which covenant only is there remission of sins?

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish unto G.o.d, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living G.o.d? And for this cause He is the mediator of a _new covenant_, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." Heb. 9:14, 15, R. V.

NOTE.-The fact that Christ, as mediator of the second covenant, died for the remission of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, shows that there was no forgiveness _by virtue_ of the first covenant.

26. Under the old covenant, what did the people promise?

To keep the law of G.o.d in their own strength.

NOTE.-Under this covenant the people promised to keep all the commandments of G.o.d in order to be His peculiar people, and this without help from any one. This was virtually a promise to make themselves righteous. But Christ says, "Without Me ye can do nothing." John 15:5. And the prophet Isaiah says, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa. 64:6. The only perfect righteousness is G.o.d's righteousness, and this can be obtained only through faith in Christ. Rom. 3:20-26. The only righteousness that will insure an entrance into the kingdom of G.o.d is "the righteousness which is of G.o.d by faith." Phil. 3:9. Of those who inherit the kingdom of G.o.d, the Lord says, "Their righteousness is of Me" (Isa. 54:17); and the prophet Jeremiah says of Christ, "This is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness." Jer. 23:6.

27. Under the new covenant, what does G.o.d promise to do?

"I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts."

Jer. 31:33.

NOTE.-The new covenant is an arrangement for bringing man again into harmony with the divine will, and placing him where he can keep G.o.d's law. Its "better promises" bring forgiveness of sins, grace to renew the heart, and power to obey the law of G.o.d. The dissolution of the old covenant and the making of the new in no wise abrogated the law of G.o.d.

28. Where was the law of G.o.d written under the old covenant?

"And I made an ark of s.h.i.+ttim-wood, and hewed _two tables of stone.... And He wrote on the tables ... the ten commandments_, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the a.s.sembly: and the Lord gave them unto me." Deut. 10:3, 4.

29. Where is the law of G.o.d written under the new covenant?

"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, _I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts_." Jer. 31:33.

30. What reason is given for making the new covenant?

"For if that first covenant had been _faultless_, then should no place have been sought for the second. For _finding fault with them_, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant."

Heb. 8:7, 8.

NOTE.-The chief fault in connection with the old covenant lay with _the people_. They were not able, in themselves, to fulfil their part of it, and it provided them no help for so doing. There was no Christ in it. It was of _works_ and not of _grace_. It was valuable only as a means of impressing upon them their sinfulness and their need of divine aid.

31. What unites all believers under the new covenant?

"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncirc.u.mcision by that which is called the Circ.u.mcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without G.o.d in the world: _but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ_." Eph. 2:11-13.

Similarities Between The Two Covenants

1. Both are called covenants.

2. Both were ratified with blood.

3. Both were made concerning the law of G.o.d.

4. Both were made with the people of G.o.d.

5. Both were established upon promises.

Dissimilarities Between The Two Covenants

Old Covenant New Covenant Called the old covenant. Called the new covenant.

Called the first covenant. Called the second covenant.

A temporary compact. An everlasting covenant.

Dedicated with the blood of Ratified with the blood of animals. Christ.