Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:05.639
Well, let us hear again,
if you've been with us for the last
2
00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:12.630
few weeks, from Romans nine versus
four and five. Romans nine versus four
3
00:00:12.710 --> 00:00:18.030
and five. Here I'm Paul,
gives this list of things that belong to
4
00:00:18.269 --> 00:00:23.899
Israel, things that are especially given
to them, these various lists, that
5
00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:30.420
this very list of various things that
are given to Israel but also belong to
6
00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:36.049
us. I'm now that we belong
to them. So let's hear God's word.
7
00:00:36.090 --> 00:00:41.250
Romans nine, verses four and five. They are Israelites and to them
8
00:00:41.409 --> 00:00:46.450
belong the adoption, the glory,
the covenants, the giving of the law,
9
00:00:47.009 --> 00:00:52.039
the worship and the promises. To
Them Belong the Patriarchs and from their
10
00:00:52.119 --> 00:00:56.240
race, according to the Flesh,
is the Christ, who is God over
11
00:00:56.439 --> 00:01:03.119
all, blessed forever. Amen,
please be seated well, as we continue
12
00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:08.670
to go through these verses, I
hope and am praying that each week that
13
00:01:08.829 --> 00:01:14.150
you hear this, these couple verses
each wish, each week that you hear
14
00:01:14.269 --> 00:01:19.900
this list that God gives us of
these things, that he is given to
15
00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:23.500
Israel and given to us as well
in Christ, that it will become,
16
00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:27.060
week by week, more and more
meaningful to you, that each word is,
17
00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:32.379
we've discussed it and cover word it, thought about it, according to
18
00:01:32.420 --> 00:01:38.250
the scriptures, will become weighty in
a way, perhaps that it wasn't before,
19
00:01:38.090 --> 00:01:42.930
that the content of your faith and
the one whom you put your faith
20
00:01:42.969 --> 00:01:49.879
in, even Jesus, would become
clearer to you, that the sight by
21
00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:55.120
which we see, that faith by
which we see, would become stronger,
22
00:01:56.439 --> 00:02:00.599
that he would be more visible to
you as you understand what it means that
23
00:02:00.760 --> 00:02:06.590
God gave to Israel the adoption and
that we too have been adopted in Christ,
24
00:02:07.430 --> 00:02:12.069
that he gave to Israel the glory
and to us as well, who
25
00:02:12.189 --> 00:02:16.659
have been shown the glory of grace
in the face of Jesus Christ. And
26
00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:23.939
now today the covenants, another particular
gift that God gave exclusively to Israel among
27
00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:30.250
all the nations in the world,
but which we gentiles now belong to as
28
00:02:30.330 --> 00:02:35.090
well and can praise God and thank
him for it and understand who he is.
29
00:02:35.729 --> 00:02:43.129
I'm all the more the covenants,
this word that God that Paul uses,
30
00:02:43.250 --> 00:02:49.280
that God uses in his servants,
is a very important word. Many
31
00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:53.400
people who read the Bible don't think
very much about the covenants of the Bible,
32
00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:59.030
but Paul singles them out here.
He says this is something worth highlighting.
33
00:02:59.069 --> 00:03:05.430
If we're going to talk about why
Israel is special, what special things
34
00:03:05.590 --> 00:03:09.629
God has given to them, you've
got to talk about the covenants. It's
35
00:03:09.830 --> 00:03:14.379
central to who they are at central
to who that what the Bible is and
36
00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:17.340
that's why it's a shame that so
many people, when they read the Bible,
37
00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:23.139
aren't thinking about the covenants. Now
this is I think, mostly do
38
00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:30.370
because mostly because they haven't been trained
to think about it, they haven't learned
39
00:03:30.449 --> 00:03:35.889
about these things, they don't know. There's a really excellent to volume work
40
00:03:35.969 --> 00:03:42.319
called the economy of the covenants between
God and man by Herman Witsius, a
41
00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:47.120
Dutch reformer were living around the time
of the PURITANS. In that too,
42
00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:53.000
in that two volumes he covers in
various very detailed ways the various covenants that
43
00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:59.430
God makes. Well, the introduction
to the most recently published translation of that
44
00:03:59.590 --> 00:04:04.389
work, Ji Packer, provides a
healthful explanation of why people often struggle with
45
00:04:04.509 --> 00:04:10.419
this. As I said, that
they haven't really been trained to. Ji
46
00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:14.819
Packer writes that if you're hunting on
a map of the Pacific for a particular
47
00:04:14.979 --> 00:04:20.459
Polynesian Island, you're going to likely
notice dozens of all kinds of little names.
48
00:04:20.819 --> 00:04:25.930
You'll be you'll search for all these
various that you may be searching for
49
00:04:26.050 --> 00:04:30.970
one island but see all of these
others meanwhile, while you'll never notice these
50
00:04:30.649 --> 00:04:36.370
giant letters stretching all across the map
that say Pacific Ocean. Have you ever
51
00:04:36.449 --> 00:04:41.160
had that experience where you sort of
Zoom your perspective out you go, Oh,
52
00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:44.800
this is a continent and it's called
this where you didn't really see it
53
00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:49.680
before? It's like that with the
covenants of God. We focus on all
54
00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:56.990
kinds of very important biblical things,
justification, sanctification, church, government,
55
00:04:57.149 --> 00:05:00.589
baptism, the Lord Supper. We
can think about God's will, we can
56
00:05:00.670 --> 00:05:03.870
think about how we ought to pray, we can think about how we give
57
00:05:03.990 --> 00:05:10.259
money and on and on and on. But all of those are held together
58
00:05:10.660 --> 00:05:16.459
by a kind of superstructure, a
covenantal superstructure. It's like the architecture of
59
00:05:16.579 --> 00:05:20.300
a building. You may not always
be a paying attention to it, but
60
00:05:20.569 --> 00:05:25.850
boy it's important. It's the thing
that's holding it all together. It's the
61
00:05:25.970 --> 00:05:30.810
thing that's holding it up. But
there's a great advantage in paying attention to
62
00:05:31.050 --> 00:05:38.360
it. In coming to understand the
the bigger context of all of these things
63
00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:45.079
that we discuss, of every single
verse and chapter in the Bible, in
64
00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:48.800
coming to understand the covenants, you
begin to see his packer says that.
65
00:05:49.149 --> 00:05:55.350
S Packer says that everything is anchored
in God's resolve to relate to his human
66
00:05:55.470 --> 00:06:00.829
creatures and to have US relate to
him. In Covenant, everything is anchored
67
00:06:00.910 --> 00:06:04.660
to that. At all is attached
to that, belongs to that, and
68
00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:09.660
so that means that in coming to
understand the covenance of the Bible, it'll
69
00:06:09.740 --> 00:06:15.339
make a big difference in both the
way you read God's Word and in the
70
00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:19.649
way you worship the god of the
word. It makes a difference and how
71
00:06:19.769 --> 00:06:26.569
you read the Bible and how you
worship the God of the Bible. In
72
00:06:26.689 --> 00:06:30.129
terms of reading the Bible, for
example, we of course will be babled
73
00:06:30.129 --> 00:06:34.240
to be able to better understand what
Paul means when he says the Covenant,
74
00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:39.120
at the very least this one verse. Will be able to understand what he's
75
00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:44.079
talking about and why he's highlighting this. But it'll also make you a better
76
00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:49.829
exeget a better student of God's word
by a hundred times. The scripture is
77
00:06:49.990 --> 00:06:55.990
always talking in the New Testament about
how there's this one people of God.
78
00:06:56.949 --> 00:07:02.980
We're called children of Abraham. How
can that be? That'sus. Answered by
79
00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:09.740
covenant. How is it that there
can be one mediator? How is it
80
00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:15.220
that Jesus can be the savior of
both all the people after him and before
81
00:07:15.220 --> 00:07:20.810
him? The answer is covenant.
How is it that there is this kind
82
00:07:20.889 --> 00:07:28.290
of similarity or sameness in the piety
of the Old Testament and New Testament?
83
00:07:28.769 --> 00:07:32.720
Faith, repentance, good works,
worship of God according to his word,
84
00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:36.639
all of these things. Why is
it so similar between the old and the
85
00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:45.189
new? Covenant Answer the questions.
What about the great differences? Why don't
86
00:07:45.189 --> 00:07:48.389
we sacrifice animals anymore? Why don't
we go and worship at then the temple?
87
00:07:49.069 --> 00:07:55.189
Why is the Kingdom of God separated
and spread out all across the world
88
00:07:55.269 --> 00:08:03.420
instead of concentrated in one particular geographic
area? Covenant again answers these questions.
89
00:08:03.459 --> 00:08:09.579
Understanding the ways, these legal relationships
that God has made with his people answers
90
00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:13.329
all these questions. So that means
when you go to your Bible and you're
91
00:08:13.370 --> 00:08:18.329
looking at a particular verse or particular
chapter, we always talk about context.
92
00:08:18.410 --> 00:08:22.290
Right, you've got to let pay
attention to the context if you're going to
93
00:08:22.410 --> 00:08:26.639
understand the passage well. Don't forget
about the context of the whole Bible.
94
00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:31.960
The covenantal context in the ways in
which God is dealing with his people.
95
00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:39.720
Understanding the Bible and better through covenant
also means that you'll understand the gospel better.
96
00:08:41.789 --> 00:08:46.070
The central message of Jesus coming to
save sinners from the lost is explained
97
00:08:46.149 --> 00:08:54.629
and undegraded in so many ways by
these covenants that God has made and,
98
00:08:54.710 --> 00:08:58.580
as I say, it'll help us
not only understand our reading of the evinance
99
00:08:58.659 --> 00:09:03.740
of the Bible, but also our
worship of God. If you want to
100
00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:11.529
deepen your relationship with God, it
makes sense to understand that relationship. Let
101
00:09:11.610 --> 00:09:16.769
me give you an example. Imagine
that you fell into a coma and you
102
00:09:16.889 --> 00:09:20.610
woke up in your memory wasn't quite
there, but there was this person by
103
00:09:20.690 --> 00:09:26.720
your bedside loving you, caring for
you, doing all kinds of Nice things.
104
00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:28.960
They were there all the time.
You were kind of going in and
105
00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:33.159
out of sleep, but there they
were and you recognize that. Well,
106
00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.360
that would be a wonderful thing,
right. You would meet, you would
107
00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:41.029
know and you would love and you
would appreciate this person who is desiring to
108
00:09:41.110 --> 00:09:45.509
help you. But what if,
after a certain amount of time, somebody
109
00:09:45.629 --> 00:09:50.909
came in and said Hey, Christopher, that's your wife? It changes things,
110
00:09:52.029 --> 00:09:56.700
doesn't it? Right now this person
is not just the person who's showing
111
00:09:56.940 --> 00:10:01.700
love to you, who's caring for
you. There is something else going on
112
00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:05.580
there. There's a kind of relationship. To know that you're married to this
113
00:10:05.820 --> 00:10:11.649
person kind of changes everything, doesn't
it? It's like that with God.
114
00:10:11.970 --> 00:10:16.169
To Know God in terms of the
grace that he gives, the faith in
115
00:10:16.250 --> 00:10:22.679
which we believe, the repentance which
we which we offer to him, all
116
00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:28.840
these things. This kind of relationship
is good. But to understand the kind
117
00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:33.519
kind of relationship it is the covenants
that he set up. What is it?
118
00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:37.549
What are the parties? What are
the obligations? How do we make
119
00:10:37.590 --> 00:10:46.269
sense of that relationship? It adds
depth to our understanding of God, which
120
00:10:46.309 --> 00:10:50.860
in turn, should affect our hearts
and move our wills. It will affect
121
00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:54.419
the way we believe in worship.
It will affect what how we live our
122
00:10:54.460 --> 00:11:01.899
lives. So all this to say, understanding the covenants is very, very
123
00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:07.250
important. It's critical if you're going
to understand who god is, if you're
124
00:11:07.289 --> 00:11:13.889
going going to understand the Bible,
if you're going to answer basically every exegetical
125
00:11:13.929 --> 00:11:18.840
question there is, you have to
understand the covenants. You have to understand
126
00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:30.000
the way in which God himself has
unified his word. So let's get to
127
00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:37.750
it. Paul has said that God
has given to them the covenant. Now
128
00:11:37.870 --> 00:11:43.750
I am going to very briefly,
in the very briefest way that I can,
129
00:11:43.990 --> 00:11:50.860
at least this morning, try to
explain and show what this means and
130
00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:56.340
what he means by this. But
if you want something that explains more and
131
00:11:56.419 --> 00:12:01.450
aren't quite ready for Whitsius has to
volumes and the thousand pages, let me
132
00:12:01.610 --> 00:12:05.090
recommend to you a book that was
written by a former pastor of mine and
133
00:12:05.730 --> 00:12:11.009
another friend and colleague, Zack Keel
and Michael Brown. The book is called
134
00:12:11.049 --> 00:12:18.440
Sacred Bond, covenant, Covenant Theology
explored. I believe there's a copy on
135
00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:22.080
the back table. If not,
will try to get one there. But
136
00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:26.399
sacred bond it's called by Zach Keel
and Mike Brown and here in that book
137
00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.200
they go through, as I'm going
to do in a very brief way,
138
00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:33.309
each of the covenants and explain how
they relate to one another why they should
139
00:12:33.350 --> 00:12:37.269
matter to us as Christians. It's
a very helpful book if these things are
140
00:12:37.470 --> 00:12:43.909
new to you. The first covenant
that we have in the Bible is actually
141
00:12:43.070 --> 00:12:48.340
not given to Israel. In particular, I don't think it's exactly what Paul
142
00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:52.179
has in mind when he says to
Israel belong the covenants, but nevertheless we
143
00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:58.330
have to start there because it explains
why covenants were given to Israel. The
144
00:12:58.450 --> 00:13:03.889
first covenant we have in the Bible
is a covenant that God made with Adam
145
00:13:03.929 --> 00:13:09.529
and Eve and all of us,
with all of humanity. There's a very
146
00:13:09.610 --> 00:13:13.799
clear covenant in terms of what was
required. Do not eat this tree.
147
00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:20.279
You don't eat it, you obey
me, you live. You Eat it,
148
00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:26.720
you disobey me and you will die. Adam was given other commands to
149
00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:30.230
to work and keep the garden,
to expand it, to grow, to
150
00:13:30.350 --> 00:13:35.110
be fruitful and multiply, but there
was this particular stipulation which God but is
151
00:13:35.230 --> 00:13:39.549
very clear about, and it was
on that particular stipulation that those of you
152
00:13:39.629 --> 00:13:45.179
who know the story, you remember
what happened. Satan comes and he questions
153
00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:50.259
God, he questions Adam and Eve
on this point and they fall. They
154
00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:54.460
fall into sin. You know what
way to describe it covenantally is, is
155
00:13:54.929 --> 00:14:00.570
they broke the covenant. God said, I am the king, I am
156
00:14:00.649 --> 00:14:05.049
the Lord, this you will do. This is tells us something about covenants.
157
00:14:05.330 --> 00:14:09.799
Sometimes they're mutually arranged equal parties,
or close to it at least,
158
00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:15.639
like in a business partnership or in
a marriage. You come together and you
159
00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:20.879
agree to do this thing, to
enter into this covenant relationship with one another.
160
00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:24.470
That's not what happened and with Adam
and Eve, and rightfully so.
161
00:14:26.029 --> 00:14:31.710
God Creates Adam and says this you
will do. Children and parents are as
162
00:14:31.750 --> 00:14:37.669
a sort of similar example. They
have a certain covenantal relationship between the two.
163
00:14:37.230 --> 00:14:41.100
It's not one that was come to
by agreement, but it isn't a
164
00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:46.500
measure imposed, and rightfully so.
Children must obey their parents because parents are
165
00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:52.370
parents, and humans must obey God, because God is God, and this
166
00:14:52.529 --> 00:14:56.289
is what he did with Adam.
But Adam and Eve did not obey.
167
00:14:56.409 --> 00:15:03.690
They broke the Covenant, and then
the Covenant stipulations turned into Covenant Curses.
168
00:15:03.809 --> 00:15:07.399
The effect happened. God said do
this and do disobey me, and you
169
00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:11.039
will die, and that is what
happened. They were cursed, they were
170
00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:16.240
sent out of the guard and they
were told to dust, you will return.
171
00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:20.240
This is the situation then, that
all of humanity, Israel and non
172
00:15:20.470 --> 00:15:26.389
Israel, finds themselves in. But
God says to humanity, God says to
173
00:15:26.509 --> 00:15:31.029
Adam and Eve, in the context
of the curse, as the Covenant has
174
00:15:31.070 --> 00:15:35.230
been broken, as the curses of
the Covenant are coming down hard upon them,
175
00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:41.940
he gives them this seed of a
promise and he says to them of
176
00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:50.570
you will be born a child who
will essentially set these things right. It's
177
00:15:50.610 --> 00:15:54.570
put in terms of crushing the head
of the servant, but as scripture develops,
178
00:15:54.690 --> 00:15:58.730
will see that this seed promise begins
to flower and we understand more and
179
00:15:58.889 --> 00:16:04.200
more what that means. The next
big event that we see in scripture,
180
00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:10.879
I'm skipping over God's covenant with Noah
for the moment, is the covenant with
181
00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:15.559
Abraham. And I mentioned God's covenant
with Abraham in particular because this is the
182
00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:22.710
first covenant that God makes with Israel
in particular, or more specifically with Israel's
183
00:16:22.789 --> 00:16:30.389
father, Abraham. God says to
Abraham that he is going to do something
184
00:16:30.830 --> 00:16:37.980
special for him that this seed that
was promised to all humanity is now being
185
00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:44.539
promised to him in particular, and
that through him, all the nations of
186
00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:49.370
the world humanity as a whole would
be blessed. Listen to what God says
187
00:16:49.450 --> 00:16:55.169
to Abraham, his name at this
point in our history. Abram, in
188
00:16:55.330 --> 00:17:00.809
Genesis twelve now, you always said
to Abram, go from your country and
189
00:17:00.929 --> 00:17:04.039
your kindred and your father's house to
the land that I will show you.
190
00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:08.839
So God gives him a command,
and then he adds, and I will
191
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:15.240
make you a great nation and I
will bless you and make your name great
192
00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:18.910
so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you,
193
00:17:18.069 --> 00:17:22.509
and him who, Him who dishonors
you, I will curse, and
194
00:17:22.869 --> 00:17:29.990
in you all the families of the
Earth shall be blessed. All the families
195
00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:33.500
on the earth do not deserve to
be blessed. There should be no expectation
196
00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:41.500
on humanity's part that blessings coming,
except for that seed promise. Remember that
197
00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:47.089
seed promise back in Genesis Three fifteen. There is an expectation and a hope
198
00:17:47.170 --> 00:17:52.769
for that, and here it's becoming
realized. God Calls Abram and his wife
199
00:17:52.849 --> 00:18:00.000
and says to them and to their
children he will give this promise and God
200
00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:06.279
will bless them and all the families
on the earth through them. This promise
201
00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:12.029
that's given to Abraham is then made
even more formally in Genesis fifteen. I'm
202
00:18:12.109 --> 00:18:18.950
with a covenant. He does this. I'm first with promises, but he
203
00:18:19.069 --> 00:18:25.390
also does this with a particular ceremony. In verse seven of Genesis Fifteen we
204
00:18:25.509 --> 00:18:29.779
read I am the Lord who brought
you out of the Earth of Chaldee'Z to
205
00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:33.900
give you this land of promise.
If that sounds a little bit familiar,
206
00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:37.059
it's because God's going to say a
similar thing to Israel when he says I
207
00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:41.769
brought you out of the land of
Egypt to give you this land of promise.
208
00:18:42.089 --> 00:18:48.569
That's not an accident. It's covenantal
things holding that together. So he
209
00:18:48.650 --> 00:18:52.450
says this to Abraham and he says
Abraham says, but Oh, Lord,
210
00:18:52.490 --> 00:18:56.680
yeah, way. How am I
to know that? I shall possess it?
211
00:18:56.880 --> 00:19:00.480
He said to him bring me a
half or three years old, a
212
00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:03.960
female got three years old, a
ram three years old, a turtle,
213
00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:07.000
dove and a young pigeon, and
he brought all of these, cut them
214
00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:12.789
in half and laid each half over
against another. Then, as the sun
215
00:19:12.910 --> 00:19:17.789
goes down, God puts Abram into
a deep sleep and then he has this
216
00:19:17.950 --> 00:19:22.390
vision where God passes through those animals. Well, if you don't understand covenance,
217
00:19:22.470 --> 00:19:26.819
this is all very weird. Why
is Abraham cutting animals? Why is
218
00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:32.900
God moving through them in this way, in this smoking fire, pot and
219
00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:37.779
all these kinds of things? Well, what he's doing is he's enacting something
220
00:19:37.859 --> 00:19:41.650
that Abraham would understand very well,
that everyone in the ancient world would understand.
221
00:19:41.690 --> 00:19:45.769
God's making a covenant. This is
what you do. So, for
222
00:19:45.890 --> 00:19:52.410
example, if I told you that
to people yesterday stood together and the front
223
00:19:52.410 --> 00:19:56.160
of a church or before a judge
and said with this ring, Ivy wed
224
00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:59.960
and exchange, these value got high, I know what that is. It's
225
00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:04.119
a marriage right. Well, that's
what Israel does when they hear these passages,
226
00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:07.750
this cutting of the animals that's moving
through. This is a covenant and
227
00:20:08.549 --> 00:20:14.230
this is symbolism in which God is
saying, may the curse, the blood
228
00:20:14.430 --> 00:20:18.789
that is represented by these animals,
this death that is happening, fall upon
229
00:20:18.990 --> 00:20:26.539
me, if I do not keep
my promise to you, Abram, if
230
00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:32.299
I do not keep these things to
you. We read this in verse eighteen.
231
00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:37.730
After this vision. On that day, Jehovah made a covenant with Abrams,
232
00:20:37.809 --> 00:20:42.130
saying to you or to your offspring, I give this land from the
233
00:20:42.170 --> 00:20:47.130
river of Egypt to the Great River
Euphrates, the land of the Kenites,
234
00:20:47.170 --> 00:20:51.200
the Kennazites, the Catamites, the
Hittites, the parasites, the rethiame,
235
00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:56.559
the Amorites, the Canaanites, the
Geergashites and the jebusites. This was somebody
236
00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:00.759
else's land, but of course it's
ultimately God's land and he can do with
237
00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.750
it as he pleases, and ask
he what he pleases to do is to
238
00:21:03.869 --> 00:21:10.670
give one person among all the people
in the world, one person Abraham and
239
00:21:11.509 --> 00:21:17.150
his children, this land. Oh
God has all kinds of reasons for this
240
00:21:17.269 --> 00:21:19.259
and there's all kinds of ways in
which this happens, which will have to
241
00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:26.059
think about another time. But this
is what Paul means when he says to
242
00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:30.940
Israel, God gave you the covenants. God didn't go to the CANITES or
243
00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:34.369
the Kennaesites or the catmites or the
hittites or the parasites or the AMMONITES,
244
00:21:34.410 --> 00:21:38.250
even go to them and say to
you, I give this land. He
245
00:21:38.410 --> 00:21:45.369
says, you're out of here,
I'm giving it to Abraham. You see
246
00:21:45.450 --> 00:21:48.839
why Paul says is making a big
deal out of this. You see why
247
00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:53.559
Paul is saying to Israel and to
US overhearing this, this is special,
248
00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:57.720
this is a big deal. God
has made a covenant in which he has
249
00:21:57.920 --> 00:22:04.269
granted to you, Abraham, and
to your offspring after you, this land.
250
00:22:06.710 --> 00:22:10.589
But it's more than the land.
We might sum it all up in
251
00:22:10.710 --> 00:22:15.630
this promise that is repeated throughout scripture
and is given to Abraham. I will
252
00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:21.380
be your God. So much is
meant by that, similar to the phrase
253
00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:26.420
at the beginning of the Lord's prayer, our father. So much is meant
254
00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:30.490
by that. It means aim and
his children had to have protection, provision,
255
00:22:32.250 --> 00:22:37.809
rest, forgiveness of sins, blessing, all kinds of things and many
256
00:22:37.890 --> 00:22:44.720
things within fulfilled within that. Well, I need to move on. This
257
00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:48.720
is what the promise God gave to
Abraham and it was partially fulfilled. It's
258
00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:55.640
first fulfillment we see when Israel comes
into the Promised Land and Deuteronomy one hundred
259
00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:59.750
and ten says, look at yourselves, you're as many as the stars in
260
00:22:59.869 --> 00:23:04.910
the heavens. It's a promise that's
been fulfilled, but, as we will
261
00:23:04.950 --> 00:23:11.630
read later on in scripture and consider
at the end of the sermon, that's
262
00:23:11.670 --> 00:23:15.740
a promise that was fulfilled in even
greater degrees in Christ but, as I
263
00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:19.019
say, we need to move on. God makes this promise to Abraham and
264
00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:26.700
this is these children. These are
children that he essentially adopts. Right he
265
00:23:26.859 --> 00:23:30.210
goes among all the people of the
world and he says you are mine here,
266
00:23:30.609 --> 00:23:33.210
I belong to you, I am
your God, I am your father,
267
00:23:33.369 --> 00:23:37.529
I will keep you and protect you. Well, if he adopts Israel
268
00:23:37.769 --> 00:23:45.839
in Abraham, then he disciplines them
under Moses, under his care and to
269
00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:53.839
show them his love, it's time
to teach them the law under Moses,
270
00:23:53.960 --> 00:24:00.869
under this covenant that God makes with
them. He says this is going to
271
00:24:00.990 --> 00:24:03.910
be hard, this is going to
be difficult. In fact, there are
272
00:24:04.029 --> 00:24:10.500
prophecies, even as he's making a
covenant with them at Mount Sinai, that
273
00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:18.380
they will not keep the covenant,
that, like Adam, they will break
274
00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:23.059
this covenant. And indeed that this
is what happens. God, in all
275
00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:27.849
the laws and all the sacrificial system
God gives to Moses and he teaches them.
276
00:24:29.369 --> 00:24:34.289
He teaches them that the righteousness that
he requires is not the righteousness that
277
00:24:34.529 --> 00:24:40.880
we think he requires. We often
think God wants perfection, and then we
278
00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:48.240
redefine perfection as trying our best or
having good intentions. No, God's perfection
279
00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:57.230
is perfection with no qualifications. God
Is Holy, not in his intentions or
280
00:24:57.430 --> 00:25:03.670
to the best of his ability.
God is holy in every part of him.
281
00:25:03.950 --> 00:25:07.819
Not that he even has parts.
He is holy. This is our
282
00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:11.859
God and he wants this for his
people. If he's going to have communion
283
00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:17.019
with us, then we must be
holy as he is holy. And so
284
00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:21.019
there is law after law, after
law after law, demanding this, and
285
00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:26.490
there's purification, ritual after ritual after
ritual, dealing with all these aspects of
286
00:25:26.529 --> 00:25:32.930
life when people become unholy. Throughout
the rest of these first five books of
287
00:25:33.009 --> 00:25:37.680
the Bible, particularly in the latter
ones, we read of all of these
288
00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:45.039
requirements. The weight of the law
comes upon God's child so that Israel will
289
00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:52.190
learn the holiness that God requires and
the holiness that they are not able to
290
00:25:52.309 --> 00:25:57.069
give. This is the great message
of the Old Testament. You can't do
291
00:25:57.589 --> 00:26:04.059
it, despite the fact that I've
rescued you saved you, given you promises,
292
00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:07.259
given you my law. I've said
it all up perfectly for you.
293
00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:15.339
Not just go and do it.
What's holding you back? There's sinful nature.
294
00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:21.250
The sins that are in them are
holding them back. They cannot meet
295
00:26:21.289 --> 00:26:25.690
the law. And you know what
happens with that covenant? As I said,
296
00:26:25.809 --> 00:26:30.970
they break it and God does exactly
to them what he did to all
297
00:26:30.049 --> 00:26:34.319
those peoples we read about before.
He kicks them out of the land,
298
00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:37.880
just like he kicked Adam and eve
out of the garden. He sends them
299
00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:45.039
into exile for breaking his covenant.
But this covenant was not only to teach
300
00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:49.589
them of the obedience that was required
and although obedience that they could not give.
301
00:26:51.269 --> 00:26:55.190
God wasn't just trying to shame his
children. He was teaching them,
302
00:26:55.269 --> 00:27:00.069
he was training them, he is
pointing them to the salvation that he offers,
303
00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:07.420
to the righteous requirements of the law
that he would provide. And that's
304
00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:12.460
what he does in Jesus. Before
we get to the new covenant in Jesus,
305
00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:15.769
will add one more covenant that Paul
has in mind. He has in
306
00:27:15.930 --> 00:27:19.809
mind the covenant with Abraham. He
has in mind the covenant that with Israel
307
00:27:19.849 --> 00:27:25.369
under Moses, and he also has
in mind the covenant with David. All
308
00:27:25.529 --> 00:27:29.730
of these fit together under this great
covenant of Grace, we might call it,
309
00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:36.119
in which God is bringing his people
to salvation and the enlargement of this
310
00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:44.039
program of salvation in Jesus. What
does he do under David? Here God
311
00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:47.549
gives his people not just a law, as he does under Moses, but
312
00:27:47.670 --> 00:27:52.589
he gives them a king, a
king who will point them to that law,
313
00:27:52.630 --> 00:27:57.390
a king who will obey that law
and show them obedience, a king
314
00:27:57.430 --> 00:28:02.500
who will, all, be all
about leading them in worship, particularly through
315
00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:08.059
the building of the temple. God
says to David, Israel's great king,
316
00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:14.210
after Saul's great failure. He says
to David and second Samuel seven and in
317
00:28:14.329 --> 00:28:18.289
first chronicles seventeen, I will give
you a son. You hear that language
318
00:28:18.289 --> 00:28:22.490
again, the offspring right. I
will give you a son who will straign
319
00:28:22.690 --> 00:28:29.839
on my throne forever, ruling over
a people and bringing about a time of
320
00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:36.319
rest. We all know, though, I'm particularly if you've been listening to
321
00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:41.509
the sermon series in First Chronicles,
that Solomon fulfills this in a measure,
322
00:28:42.789 --> 00:28:48.509
but not completely. God gives to
them this great king which in many ways
323
00:28:48.670 --> 00:28:55.269
builds the anticipation, helps them to
understand the kind of thing that was required,
324
00:28:55.390 --> 00:29:00.299
but in the end ultimately fails,
not because God fails, of course,
325
00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:04.019
but because Solomon Fails, because Solomon
is just like every other Israelite.
326
00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:11.609
He's just like you, it's like
me. He has sin in him,
327
00:29:11.130 --> 00:29:17.809
he's born in original sin. He
cannot obey the law of God like God
328
00:29:17.930 --> 00:29:23.089
requires. But nevertheless, in all
of these things, God is holding his
329
00:29:23.289 --> 00:29:26.799
people together. We don't have this
people and that people in one part,
330
00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:33.119
one kingdom and another kingdom. It's
all one people moving forward in history under
331
00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:38.549
God's Covenantal Care Failing, yes,
but being preserved by God as well.
332
00:29:41.509 --> 00:29:45.269
So when Paul has in mind the
covenants, he says he's sang to them.
333
00:29:45.910 --> 00:29:51.829
To No other nation did God call
out of the world and give them
334
00:29:51.869 --> 00:29:56.579
a promised lamd to no other nation
did God meet with on a mountain with
335
00:29:56.140 --> 00:30:03.619
eightning and thunder and clouds and darkness
and give them his own special law to
336
00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:08.410
know whether nation did he promise a
king that would rule over them forever and
337
00:30:08.529 --> 00:30:18.730
ever. Israel, you have something
good. God is being gracious to them
338
00:30:18.809 --> 00:30:27.519
and he continues that graciousness under Jesus. But before we get to that,
339
00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:34.240
I want you to imagine yourself if
you're not a Jew. As a Jew,
340
00:30:36.710 --> 00:30:41.950
how should you receive this kind of
news? If you are being told
341
00:30:42.029 --> 00:30:48.829
and reminded that you God has poured
out His grace on you and your people
342
00:30:48.309 --> 00:30:55.019
throughout all of history, has elected
you specially among all the peoples of the
343
00:30:55.099 --> 00:31:00.259
world, to bless you forever and
ever, how should you receive that?
344
00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:06.410
By saying, well, I'm done
with you, I don't care anymore.
345
00:31:06.529 --> 00:31:08.250
I don't want to hear your word, I don't want to follow it.
346
00:31:08.369 --> 00:31:11.930
I don't want to know about the
Messiah who's come. I don't want to
347
00:31:12.089 --> 00:31:18.640
know about these fulfilled, fulfilled promises. I don't want to worship the one
348
00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:22.680
who has come as the offspring of
Abraham. I don't want to worship the
349
00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:29.000
one who was given as king under
as Dave Son. Does that make any
350
00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:33.029
sense? God is giving these things, he's reminding the Jews of these things
351
00:31:33.069 --> 00:31:40.710
through Paul to say believe all of
this has been given to you. receive
352
00:31:40.910 --> 00:31:47.859
it by faith in the one who
has come. Now imagine yourself as a
353
00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:52.339
gentile, is one who hasn't been
given all of these things. Imagine Yourself,
354
00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:57.740
like ruth, standing outside of Israel, living. She was a Moabidus,
355
00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:04.170
living outside of the promise, this
promise to Abraham, not hers,
356
00:32:04.490 --> 00:32:07.289
the giving all of the Lat of
Moses, not hers. The promise to
357
00:32:07.329 --> 00:32:12.490
David and a great king over the
people, not her king. None of
358
00:32:12.529 --> 00:32:16.839
that had anything to do with her. But she looks and sees in Naomi
359
00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:22.759
this bitter woman, she calls herself
that, a bitter woman who's angry with
360
00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:30.150
God, who is fleet God's judgment
and problem and providence with her husband.
361
00:32:30.869 --> 00:32:35.950
She sees in Naomi something. I
don't really know how, but she sees
362
00:32:36.029 --> 00:32:42.869
in Naomi something and says your God
will be my God. I wonder if
363
00:32:43.190 --> 00:32:53.059
ruth can do that before the promise
to David, before Jesus came, if
364
00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:58.809
Ruth can stand outside the Covenant as
a gentle say that's what I need.
365
00:32:59.329 --> 00:33:01.569
Your God will be my people,
your people will might be my people.
366
00:33:01.690 --> 00:33:07.490
She wants to change everything. She's
saying, let me in, I want
367
00:33:07.529 --> 00:33:13.440
to belong. Should that not be
our promise or are our response? Rather,
368
00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:17.200
when we hear of these things,
when we are listening to this list,
369
00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:23.079
this list of gifts, when Paul
says, going back to Romans Nine,
370
00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:28.309
when Paul says to the to Israel, says they are the Israelites,
371
00:33:28.390 --> 00:33:30.470
to them belong, the adoption,
the glory, the covenants, the giving
372
00:33:30.509 --> 00:33:34.750
of the law, the worship,
the promises, the Patriarchs. You should
373
00:33:34.750 --> 00:33:40.349
be one step away from jealousy,
full throned jealousy. You should be going,
374
00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:46.299
ah, I wish I had that, I wish that could be mine.
375
00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:52.460
Isn't that a wonderful thing that God
has given? As a gentile who
376
00:33:52.700 --> 00:34:00.490
separated from these promises, that's a
bad thing. But you know what,
377
00:34:02.250 --> 00:34:06.450
we don't have to be as gentiles. You don't have to be angry at
378
00:34:06.529 --> 00:34:08.329
God, we don't have to be
upset at God, we don't have to
379
00:34:08.449 --> 00:34:15.920
be frustrated with him, because he
is not. Sent us a bitter woman
380
00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:22.039
a once in a lifetime opportunity to
tell us a little something about what it's
381
00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:25.590
like in the place that she just
left, like meeting a disgruntled Church member
382
00:34:27.510 --> 00:34:32.949
and somehow coming coming to become a
member of her church. He sends profits
383
00:34:34.070 --> 00:34:37.579
and apostles out into the world.
He Sends Preachers of the Gospel all over
384
00:34:37.739 --> 00:34:44.300
so that we, thousands of miles
away from the original land of promise,
385
00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:49.699
can hear the gospel of God,
can hear it in this sort of full
386
00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:55.650
throated happiness and joy and openness that
says come and believe. And instead of
387
00:34:55.730 --> 00:35:00.090
the preacher like Naomi pushing us off
and saying now you don't want to come,
388
00:35:00.250 --> 00:35:01.489
don't bother, stay where you are, all these kinds of things,
389
00:35:01.690 --> 00:35:05.530
you have people like me saying come
on, come on, come on,
390
00:35:05.690 --> 00:35:08.280
come on, come in, come
in, come in, because the promise
391
00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:13.840
is no longer limited to Israel in
this way that it always has been.
392
00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:19.079
This is the great hope for gentiles
like us. God has thrown open the
393
00:35:19.159 --> 00:35:24.269
doors in Jesus and says come on
in. The blessings that were promised to
394
00:35:24.349 --> 00:35:31.909
Abraham and all the people's on the
earth in him are being fulfilled as God,
395
00:35:32.190 --> 00:35:37.179
through his spirit, sends out the
preaching all throughout the world and calls
396
00:35:37.219 --> 00:35:45.300
us to believe. So don't just
stand outside, longing to belong, wishing
397
00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:51.650
that you could be a part of
God's great plan. Believe in the offer
398
00:35:51.730 --> 00:35:55.730
of salvation that he's giving to you. And that offer of salvation comes to
399
00:35:55.809 --> 00:36:01.889
us in Jesus, who, I
will finally make explicit to you. Jesus
400
00:36:02.090 --> 00:36:06.760
comes, he the author of Hebrews, says, to establish a new and
401
00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:10.599
better covenant, a new and better
covenant than the One with Moses, than
402
00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:15.039
the one with David, the fulfillment
of the one with Abraham and all these
403
00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:22.630
things. He fulfills these things and
he establishes something that takes away the heavy
404
00:36:22.670 --> 00:36:28.309
weight and burden of the law.
He says, you are no longer obligated
405
00:36:28.670 --> 00:36:34.099
to obey the law in order to
live. That's it. I release you
406
00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:38.780
from it. I will fulfill it
for you. Jesus says an he does
407
00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:45.219
unlike David, unlike Solomon, unlike
Abraham, unlike Moses, unlike Aaron and
408
00:36:45.260 --> 00:36:54.090
Joshua and all the rest. Jesus
comes in humanity and divinity and he perfectly
409
00:36:54.730 --> 00:37:01.440
obeys the law of God. He
fulfills the stipulations of the Covenant. He's
410
00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:07.000
the one person in all of history
who stands up and says I am the
411
00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:13.480
righteous man, and he's not pretending, he's not full of himself, he's
412
00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:19.110
not lying. He stands up and
he says I am the righteous man,
413
00:37:19.389 --> 00:37:23.710
because he is the righteous man.
And just like all of these other covenant
414
00:37:23.750 --> 00:37:30.619
mediators, he comes to fulfill the
promise, not just or to fulfill the
415
00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:35.619
law, not just for himself but
for those under him. As the king
416
00:37:35.739 --> 00:37:39.340
goes, so goes the people,
and it's true with Jesus. He goes
417
00:37:40.380 --> 00:37:45.570
not only into this world to fulfill
the law, but also to die for
418
00:37:45.769 --> 00:37:52.210
us who haven't fulfilled the law.
He takes away all of the wrath and
419
00:37:52.489 --> 00:37:58.599
curse that was promised to Adam,
that was shown in the cutting of the
420
00:37:58.719 --> 00:38:05.159
animals, that was threatened and fulfilled
on the mountain of Sinai and in the
421
00:38:05.199 --> 00:38:08.880
kicking out of the people from the
land, in the exile, in the
422
00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:15.989
removal of kings from the throne,
all of those curses that were just shadows
423
00:38:16.030 --> 00:38:22.269
of the greater curse of Hell itself. Jesus takes on himself on the cross,
424
00:38:22.309 --> 00:38:27.619
as we read earlier from Second Corinthians, he who knew no sin,
425
00:38:28.820 --> 00:38:37.380
became sin so that we might be
freed and forgiven of our sin. So
426
00:38:37.539 --> 00:38:42.929
this is what Jesus does. He
establishes this new covenant with us and with
427
00:38:43.130 --> 00:38:46.250
us in him, with him as
Lord and King, with us in a
428
00:38:46.409 --> 00:38:54.760
new position of freedom and grace.
He gives us rest now and promises it
429
00:38:54.880 --> 00:39:00.840
for ever in the heavenly places,
we will enter into a better land than
430
00:39:00.920 --> 00:39:07.679
Abraham or his children ever experienced here
on this earth. And Abraham himself knew
431
00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:12.150
that, because the author of Hebrew
says that Abraham was hoping not just for
432
00:39:12.269 --> 00:39:15.829
something in this world, but he
looked forward to a heavenly city, the
433
00:39:15.989 --> 00:39:22.309
one which is promised to all who
believe in Jesus Christ. So when Paul
434
00:39:22.429 --> 00:39:29.260
says that he gives to Israel the
Covenant, this is what he has in
435
00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:37.980
mind, the covenant of Salvation That
followed upon the covenant of Death in Adam,
436
00:39:38.610 --> 00:39:49.809
Abraham, Moses, David and finally
Jesus, a once and final covenant
437
00:39:49.889 --> 00:39:55.639
with a once and perfect sacrifice forever
and ever. This is the marriage that
438
00:39:55.760 --> 00:40:01.599
we are in. If you are
waking up from a coma and beginning to
439
00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:09.590
realize who it is that sits at
your bedside, rejoice, give praise to
440
00:40:09.710 --> 00:40:16.909
God, embrace your husband and say
I love you, and go forward and
441
00:40:17.230 --> 00:40:24.179
serve God in Covenant Life and in
obedience to him. Let us pray
