If you have read much of anything I have written you realize that Tyris and I both hold a high view of the New Covenant. This high view effects the way we see the Law greatly. I love reading the Puritans and I have many great brothers in the faith that would say with ease “the Law is a tool for sanctification” .They would somehow separate the 10 commandments from the Old Covenant thus rendering it trans-covenantal. I will be clear. I punt that idea as far as I possibly can. Why?
Well there are many reasons the primary one being we are under a NEW COVENANT. I have asked the question numerous times and I usually get some logical and non-biblical answer; however, the question is “when the bible says new just how new is it”? Or better yet when the writers of the New Testament say the Old Covenant has passed away, has been abolished, or has been deemed useless, what exactly does those terms mean. Where am I going? Glad you asked.
My home church is going through Ephesians and I have grown to love the book more and more each day. Calvin and Steve have done an excellent job expounding the text and just making it very practical. I am also co-teaching (well I have been doing the listening and Steve has been doing the teaching) bible study methods at our church and it has been lovely to see people fall in love with God’s word. There are some drawbacks of not first understanding the metanarrative of scripture and understanding the overall redemptive view of the scriptures but all in all it has been really good.
So as I am studying my methods and doing a structural analysis/diagram these verses jumped right off the page, found here in Ephesians 2 (not to mention Calvin preached it so well).
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (ESV)
There is enough to eat on in this text that it is unbelievable. But I want to focus on what actually divided Jews and Gentiles. It is found in verse 15. What was the dividing mechanism under the Old Covenant? Ding, ding, ding. The Law expressed in ordinances. So what did Christ do to make two people one new man? He ABOLISHED IT! From the study of the Old Testament it was clear that Israel was the covenant people of God and that covenant wasn’t intangible. It was clearly tangible and could easily be identified. No one could come to an Old Covenant Jew and say you are not the people of God and if so prove it. They would have to go no further than the tabernacle or the temple and talk to the High Priest. They could show you the tablets handwritten by God.
Many will tell you to run away from the Law for salvation by faith and then in turn point you back to the Law for sanctification. This is something very difficult for me to understand. Not only do we begin in the Spirit but we continue on by the Spirit. We are not under law but Grace. We don’t run back to ordiances in order to be transformed to Christ-likeness. Those things were a shadow. We not turn to Christ through the Spirit. The Law brought forth condemnation and death, why turn to it for life? However, the Spirit brings liberty and life why turn from Him?
This is but a short exhortation to flee law based sanctification. Turn to the Lords Spirit for purification. It is He who empowers to live for Jesus not the Law. The ordinances have been done away with in the New Covenant. Walking in the newness of Life! These passages also show the biblical truth that there is but one people the Church. No more Israel/Gentile distiction. God ONLY HAS ONE PEOPLE! And they are those who have put faith in Christ. I have tackled that numerous of times and it isn’t the focus of this post. For this trip lose the Old Covenant Law and turn to the New Covenant Law of Christ which is a better promise because we are given the ability to obey by the Spirit.
You gonna go and start a fight homie. I don’t think anyone can argue with the text but I am sure some have different hermentical tactics to make the text speak about the christian jews and not the jews spoke about in romans 11. This is a great observation from the text and we at our fellowship are going through this book(Ephesians) as well and it is jam packed with all types of treasures. God Bless in Christ
How awesome the book of Ephesians. God has only one people. I love how Ephesians 4 puts it:
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:3-7 KJV)
Also Jesus Christ said in John 10
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be ONE FOLD, and one shepherd. (John 10:14-16 KJV)
I am asking from a biblical perspective, are the NEW COVENANT people of God Israel? Is Israel just a physical city, or a spiritual one? I ask because this term is also thrown around a lot with the Law and Old covenant arguments. I want to know how to answer correctly from the biblical standpoint.
I think 1st Peter 2, Ephesians 2-3, Galatians 3, Hebrews 8, Romans 2:28-29 and 2 Corinthians 3 all point to the true Israel being those who have been brought into Christ by faith. No many of my Dispensational brothers would call that heresey.
However if you read Ephesians LITERALLY you see that God makes 2 people one and that one new people are the people of God saved by faith. Old Testament Jews were not saved because they were Jews, there were many lost people and we can also say from scriptures that most of them were lost. They were a picture of God (1 Corinthians 10, Hebrews 4). They never trusted God and we can see that by reading only a small portion of the Torah and especially Joshua through the Kings.
That is the weakness of the Old Covenant and that is why it is a ministry of death (2 Cor 3). It was a Covenant with God that only God could keep. The people could never keep the terms of the covenant and only few turned to the promised Messiah for hope. The New Covenant has: better promises (Heb 9), it is a more glorious covenant (2 Cor 3) and it is kept by faith not works.
You see I believe that Israel is a parenthesis in God’s plan which has ALWAYS BEEN THE CHURCH! This is what Paul is saying in Ephesisans and Peter says it also. The prophets LONGED to see the inarguation of the New Covenant. Peter said they looked intensely. Hebrews 11 says they none of the great men of faith looked for a city built with hands and so forth. So the Church was always God’s purpose in eternity past. Not Israel. Israel was a picture of the believing people of God.
Karsten what up bro? Read “Abraham’s Four Seeds” by John Reseigner. It is as clear as it gets. Pretty weighty reading material but he dismantles the common views of Israel and the promises that were fullfilled in Christ. Dispensationalists point to the fact that God made an “everlasting” covenant with Israel and say it is permanent. In the same Old Testament it also says there has been an “everlasting” covenant with the Priesthood of Aaron. They can’t explain how one has been done away with in Christ but the other has not. I still can’t get a clear answer on this one from any notable dispensationlists. Get the book bro!! God Bless
Lionel,
I have been greatly encouraged by reading your blog today. I have been burdened in recent years as I become more and more aware of the need that your ministry seeks to meet. I rejoice to see God raising up people like you, as He fulfills His commission (as John Piper says) to spread the Supremacy of God in all things, for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.
I would really appreciate if you would visit my blog and comment on a short post I wrote about the black church in America and the answer to prayer people like yourself are in a hopeful restoration of the true gospel.
Here is the link: http://craniumthreads.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/the-black-church-in-america/
Thanks,
Charlie Kelly
Sorry about your difficulty commenting on my blog. I don’t know whats up with that. Could you email me your response, and I’ll post it up for you?
Thanks,
Charlie
ckmail1@gmail.com
You can read Abraham’s Four Seeds online for FREE at either of the following links:
http://www.worldwithoutend.info/bbc/books/NC/abrahams_seed/toc.htm
http://www.geocities.com/pvrosman/Abrahams_Four_Seeds_menu.html