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God Makes A Covenant With Israel (Part II)

by Micky Galloway

ISRAEL ENTERED INTO A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP BY AGREEING TO THE COVENANT GIVEN THROUGH MOSES AT MOUNT SINAI (Exodus 19:3-8; 24:3,7,8). Exodus 20:1-17 tells of the ten commandment covenant. This covenant was confirmed or sealed after the ordinances were written by Moses, in a book known as the book of the covenant. Exodus 24:1-8 shows how Moses read the book to the people and how they agreed to do all that the Lord commanded of them. This law was given only to Israel as a nation. The individual had a place only as a member of the nation. Moses confirmed the covenant by sprinkling the blood of animals on both the book and the people (Cf. Hebrews 9:18-22). The first covenant was sealed by the blood of animals and then was ratified or made official in that way.

God by Moses

Gave a Book

To the People

Including:

Who:

1. Commandments (Exodus 20:3ff)

1. Heard

2. Promises (Exodus 20:12ff)

2. Understood

3. Penalties (Exodus 20:7ff)

3. Agreed to all (Cf. Exodus 24:3)

THIS COVENANT WAS BROKEN. Moses said: “Ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the Lord had commanded you” (Deuteronomy 9:16). Note: Ezekiel 20:10-12 and Jeremiah 31:32. The people had turned away. Thus at this point the covenant was broken (Cf. Zechariah 11:10-13). The first covenant was likened to a marriage. READ: Ezekiel 16:8,16 in which the Lord tells of his bride’s low birth in the land of Egypt and of his loving care and protection of her. The charge against Israel in the book of Hosea is summed up in one word … “whoredom” (Hosea 2:1-5). Israel was an unfaithful wife. The Lord was patient with her, but when she would not return to him, he let her go.

THE LORD REVEALS THE PLANS FOR A NEW COVENANT (Jeremiah 31:31-34). About 850 years after the making of the covenant on Mt. Sinai, the Lord stated that he would make a new and different covenant. When the new covenant was established, what is our relationship to the ten commandments? In principle, nine of the ten commandments are repeated in the New Covenant (the New Testament). We are to keep these nine New Testament teachings, NOT because they are in the Law of Moses, but because they are in the New Covenant, the Law of Christ.

Gave a Book

----------------------->

To the People

1. Exodus 20:3

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me”

Acts 14:15,17; I Thessalonians 1:9

2. Exodus 20:4-5

“Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image”

Acts 17; I Thessalonians 1:9; 1 John 5:21

3. Exodus 20:7

“Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain”

James 5:12

4. Exodus 20:8

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

* Keeping the Sabbath day is not commanded in the new covenant. However, certain acts of worship are commanded on the first day of the week. Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-3; Revelation 1:10

5. Exodus 20:12

“Honor thy father and thy mother”

Ephesians 6:1-2

6. Exodus 20:13

“Thou shalt not kill”

Romans 13:9; Matthew 5:21-24; (Cf. KJV Matthew 19:18)

7. Exodus 20:14

“Thou shalt not commit adultery”

I Corinthians 6:9-10; Matthew 19:9

8. Exodus 20:15

“Thou shalt not steal”

Ephesians 4:28

9. Exodus 20:16

“Thou shalt not bear false witness”

Colossians 3:9

10. Exodus 20:17

“Thou shalt not covet”

Colossians 3:5

Note the difference in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Cf. Hebrews 8). The New Covenant would not be like the one God made with Israel when he brought them out of Egypt. It would be a different kind of covenant. The New Covenant would be in the hearts and minds of the people, rather than on tables of stone. All of those in covenant relationship under the New Covenant would know the Lord. Under the Old Covenant, a child came into covenant relationship with the Lord at birth. Circumcision, on the eighth day, was a sign of the covenant relationship. The child was taught later. Under the New Covenant, the people are to be taught first and then come into covenant relationship with the Lord. Baptism is the birth that puts us into this new relationship (John 3:3-5). Baptism is the seal of entrance into this new relationship. One cannot come into covenant relationship with the Lord today unless he is first taught his will, and unless he agrees to do it (John 6:44-45). Under the Old Covenant there was a remembrance made of sins each year (Hebrews 10:3) but under the New Covenant, the Lord promises complete remission of sins (Hebrews 8:7-13; Cf. Jeremiah 31:31ff). This was the heart of the New Covenant (Hebrews 10:16-18). (Note the term “perfect” in Hebrews 10:1-2, 11ff; See Hebrews 10:17 & 7:27). Christ is a better mediator than Moses. The New Covenant is a much better covenant.

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