Part 5 The New Covenant

 Part 5 The New Covenant

Apostle Paul compares God’s New Marriage Covenant with the church to the marriage between a man and a woman. (Ephesians 5:22-32).

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." - Ephesians 5:22-24 KJV

We submit ourselves to the Lord. Christ is head of the church. He is our Savior. 

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" - Ephesians 5:25 KJV

God loved the church and gave His life for her.

(Ephesians 5:2, Luke 22:19-20, Galatians 1:4, Revelation 1:5, Galatians 2:20).

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," - Ephesians 5:26 KJV

To make her holy and clean (to consecrate and sanctify her), to make her free from the guilt of sin, to purify, by “the washing of water” (baptism) “by the word” (the promise of the pardon of sins- others take ῤήματι “word” here as equivalent to 'the gospel,' c). [From: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon].

"That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:27 KJV

"So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

 (Hebrews 13:5).

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." - Ephesians 5:28-30 KJV

(1Corinthians 12:12-13, 27)

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 

“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." - Ephesians 5:31-32 KJV

God's Marriage Covenant

Part 1

At Mount Sinai, about 3,400 years ago, God became a husband to the Jewish people by their covenant of the Law. 

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure [my own special treasure] unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:" - Exodus 19:5 KJV

"And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 

“And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, 

“All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. 

“And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words." - Exodus 24:6-8 KJV

When Moses read the Law to the people, just as a bride says to her husband, “I do,” the people responded, “We do,” and the marriage vows were complete. Moses sprinkled blood on the people, making their marriage covenant a blood covenant.

About 850 years later, Jeremiah prophesied of the new marriage covenant God would make with His people. Jesus brought the new marriage covenant with the gospel.

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 

“Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 

“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; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: 

“For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34 KJV

To be continued…

The Days Before Easter

 

The night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus’ disciples followed him to the garden of Gethsemane, which means, “an oil press”. There Jesus prayed with intensity, committing His flesh to be the sacrifice that would satisfy the death requirement for our sins. 

Just as Jesus crucified His flesh, we also are to crucify our flesh by repentance. We are to purge out sin by recognizing we have sinned, regretting the sin, and committing to never do it again. Our sins are then buried with Him by baptism. (Romans 6:4, Acts 2:38, Colossians 2:11-12)

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:6 

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." - Galatians 5:24 

From there, after accepting the cup of suffering, Jesus was betrayed and taken by the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders to the high priest’s house where he was mocked and smitten. (Luke 22:54, 63-65)

Then they led him to Pilate, who sent Jesus to Herod. After mocking him, he sent him back to Pilate. (Luke 23:11)

“I will therefore chastise him, and release him.” - Luke 23:16 

The Romans had no legal limit as to how many lashes they could administer. Only the Jews were limited by God’s ccommandment to 40 stripes. (Deuteronomy 25:3)

Pilate turned Jesus over to receive the whipping that was called the “half way death." The Roman whipping shredded the back, causing so much blood loss that the victim was left half way dead. 

Consequences:

The flogging could lead to pain, blood loss, deep lacerations, and potentially circulatory shock, weakening the victim significantly. 

"Halfway Death":

The term "halfway death" suggests the intentional weakening of the victim to a point where they were close to death but not dead. 

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” - Isaiah 53:5

Pilate, intending to release Jesus, had Him scourged, thinking this would surely satisfy the Jews. 

“But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.” - Luke 23:21 

Because Jesus would become cursed for us, it was necessary that he also be crucified, hanging on a tree. (The cross was fashioned from a tree).

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” - Galatians 3:13 (Deuteronomy 21:23)

 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." - 1 Peter 2:24 

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” - Luke 23:33  

“Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.” - John 19:29 

The Passover supper was eaten with bitter herbs along with the lamb to remind them of their bitter bondage in Egypt. (Exodus 12:8)

Jesus ended our bitter bondage to sin and death when He died on the cross.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” - Hebrews 2:14-15 

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” - John 19:30 

The bondage to sin and death is finished. When we repent of our sin, are baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are set free from sin and the fear of death. 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

Christ Our Passover

 

 

 This year, Friday April 18, 2025 is what is commonly called “Good Friday.” It is on "Good Friday" that Jesus suffered and died, crucified on a cross. Jesus, the Lamb of God, shed His blood so that we could have life.

This year, Friday April 12, 2025 at sunset is when Passover began. In Egypt, during the time of Moses when the Israelites were enslaved, they were to sacrifice a lamb and apply its blood to their house to save them from the final plague of death. 

"For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD." - Exodus 12:12 KJV

"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." - Exodus 12:13 KJV

It was not enough to simply BELIEVE the blood of the lamb would save them from death, the Israelites had to APPLY the blood to their house.

The Bible calls Jesus our Passover Lamb. (1Corinthians 5:7) It is said that the Passover lamb was being killed in Jerusalem the same hour that Christ our Passover died on the cross. 

We too are saved when we APPLY the blood of Jesus to “our house” WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME. 

It is not enough to simply BELIEVE the blood of Jesus will save us, we must APPLY His blood by baptism in JESUS name.

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:39 KJV

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Acts 22:16 KJV

What can wash away my sin?

 

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." - Leviticus 17:11

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness]." - Hebrews 9:22

For a time, God accepted animal sacrifices.

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect... But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." - Hebrews 10:1, 3-4

Only Holy God revealed in a body of sinless flesh could provide a sacrifice to take away our sins. (Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 9:28, 1Peter 2:22, 1John 3:5).

"For since by man came death [Adam], by man came also the resurrection of the dead [Jesus]. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." - 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them..." - 2 Corinthians 5:19

The blood of Jesus for atonement and remission of sins is applied through His name Jesus in water baptism.

He supplied it [His blood]. We must apply it [His blood].

"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." - Matthew 26:28

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." - Acts 10:43 ["He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name." - Acts 10:43]

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Acts 22:16

The Road to Calvary

 The Road to Calvary 

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Palm Sunday

 

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday. It was on this day that Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This event is recorded in Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; and John 12:12-19.  

"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me…" (Luke 19:30).

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on the donkey, and set Jesus on him.  

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on th⁶e donkey, He displayed that He is the chosen king of Israel.

Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem was fulfillment of prophecy:

""Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey." - Zechariah 9:9 NKJV

This Sunday is called Palm Sunday because Jesus was welcomed by multitudes, some taking their cloaks [act of homage for royality (2 Kings 9:13)] while others cutting branches from palm trees, spreading them on the road for Jesus as He entered the city. (Matthew 21:1-8).

"And the multitudes [that were there for upcoming passover] that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna ["save now!] to the Son of David” (Matthew 21:1-11) "Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Mark 11:1-11) “Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." (John 12:12-19)., (Luke 19:28–40).

Jesus, our Heavenly Father, King of the Universe, manifested Himself in flesh. His flesh was born of the lineage of David, fulfilling God's promise to David that his offspring would sit on his throne forever.

"And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever." - 2 Samuel 7:16 KJV

This would be made possible by Messiah. Thus, the Jews look for Messiah from the lineage of King David.

Jesus is the promised son of David, the king of kings that brings salvation. His throne is forever, and His kingdom is forever.

Because of this prophecy, when people called Jesus, “Son of David,” they were recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah.

Isaiah prophesied of the throne of David.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. " - Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV

Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem fulfilled the Mosaic Law when He went into the house of God (His house) before Passover and cleansed it of "leaven" - the money changers that had come to occupy it.

The Presence of God

The Presence of God

God said to Moses,

"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." - Exodus 33:14 

Moses would not settle for less than God’s very presence.

"And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth." - Exodus 33:15-16 

“Presence” is another word for the “Shechina” - the Holy Ghost.

When God was made flesh and dwelt among His creation, Jesus spoke again of His rest. In His new covenant, His presence would not just be with us, but in us. (John 1:14, John 14:17, 1Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8:9, Colossians 1:27).

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." - Matthew 11:28-30 

We find this rest unto our souls to be the Holy Ghost.

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing..." - Isaiah 28:11-12 (Acts 2:4, Isaiah 11:10, Acts 3:19). 

Jesus promises to fill us with His presence, the Holy Ghost, when we yoke ourselves together with Him. His yoke is His covenant of baptism in the name of Jesus. 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

 By His presence, we become separated unto God. (1Peter 2:9). 

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." - 2Corinthians 6:17-18  (Exodus 33:16).

Who is the Son of God?

 

Who is the Son of God?

The Son of God is our Heavenly Father manifest [made known] in sinless flesh so that He could shed His very own blood to redeem sinful mankind back to Himself. (John 1:1,14). His name is JESUS!

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 KJV

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Church!

 

Priorities

 

Priorities: Water Baptism in the Name of Jesus and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost 

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? 

“And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 

“And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? 

“And they said, Unto John's baptism. 

“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 

“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve [in all]." - Acts 19:1-7

First question Paul asked, had they received the Holy Ghost? 

When Paul found out no, his NEXT question was, Unto what then were ye baptized?

When he found out they had not been baptized in the name of Jesus, baptizing them in the name of JESUS was the priority!

AFTER they were baptized in the name of Jesus, THEN he laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.

How did Paul know that they had received the Holy Ghost? 

It WASN’T because he laid his hands on them.

Paul knew the men experienced the infilling of the Holy Ghost, submitting FULLY to the power of the Spirit, because they had allowed God to even take control of their tongue, which resulted in their SPEAKING IN TONGUES as happened to the disciples on the Day of Pentecost!

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 

Peter first preached the gospel on the Day of Pentecost to all those that gathered when they saw the disciples receiving the promised Holy Ghost.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.