Big Points in the New Covenant

Let us first understand what is the kingdom of God. We have heard Matt. 6:33 many times over which says, Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL these things (food, shelter and clothing) shall be added unto us. But do you know that the kingdom of God itself is not in meat and drink, but RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE and JOY in the Holy Spirit (Ron. 14: 17).

Put these verses together and you know that the central theme is His righteousness. 

Now it is expedient for me to say that this righteousness is not cultivated by social upbringing or attained by doing the right things (works of law) , but is simply received as a GIFT (Ron. 3:22 and Rom. 5:17). Once we have believed in Jesus, we have the right to receive this free gift as children of God. Why? Because Jesus is our High Priest. 

Beloved, this is the foundation of New Covenant living. He. 8:1 says that this is the Main point of whatever has been said in the previous 7 chapters: Jesus our High priest forever. He became sin and died, now ascended to the Father and seated at the right hand. As we reach out to receive what our High Priest offers, we become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 

God has sworn and will not relent... Jesus our high priest FOREVER according to the order of Melchizedek (and not Levi). The author of Hebrews says that this is like double confirmation: one, it is impossible for God to lie and two, He has sworn with an oath and therefore Jesus is our surety for righteousness (Heb. 7:20-22 and 1 Cor. 1:30,31).

Remember, when Jesus spoke of His ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit in John 16:8-11? In this passage is mentioned three different group category - 1. the world that does not believe: 2. Believers and 3. Ruler of this (unbelieving) world-renowned devil. And the work of the Holy Spirit is different for these categories or groups: 1. to convict the world of sin (of unbelief) 2. to convince the believers of their righteousness in Christ and 3. Judge the ruler of this world. 

Jesus is our righteousness. That is His name - 'THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jer. 23:6)- unchanging, sure, because He is undefiled, harmless and holy. That is why the New Covenant is SO MUCH better than the Old one based on our works, which is now made obsolete and is passing away. 

Hold on to His righteousness... That is the kingdom of God for you. And I have not even come to peace and joy part of the kingdom. 

But let me tell you this in closing. If the swearing of God is double confirmation, go ahead and find out for yourself what and all God has sworn for us in the New Covenant. See Isaiah 54:9,10 for instance. 

Stay blessed in Jesus. Amen. 

David and Goliath

There was a man from Gath, a trained warrior and a huge giant - Goliath by name, from the ranks of the Philistines, when they were gathered to fight Israel in the valley of Elah between them. And there was a shepherd boy - David, who withstood this giant and killed him. We read about this in 1 Sam. 17: 1-58.
Oh, how we love this "story" (actually it's a real-life event in the history of Israel), right from our Sunday-school days.
Here is David, sent by his father Jesse, to inquire about the welfare of his brothers; there were three sons of Jesse - Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah . And David was the youngest of eight brothers, a ruddy, good-looking boy (1 Sam. 17:13, 14). His father had given him ten loaves of bread, and some measure (about 16 kg) of roasted grain, and ten cheeses. But when he came to the battle field, his brothers ridiculed him; calling him proud and arrogant. Isn't that strange! This is the David of whom God testifies that he is a man after God's own heart. And his name means "Beloved".

I have come to know that there is more to this battle-event, than meets the eye.

It is Jesus who is revealed throughout! "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased" is the witness of God from heaven. Jesus is the bread of life, come down from heaven, sent by the Father. He came to His own brethren - the Jews, but they rejected Him (John 1:11).  (except for a remnant of Jews who believed and received Him).

For forty days, the Philistine giant defied the armies of Israel, so much so that the people ran away from him, and were terribly afraid. It signifies the forty days of lent season, before the glorious Resurrection Sunday (Easter).

And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." (1 Sam. 17:10). Just one man! That's what he asked for. Just One Man - that's what he got. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's (Jesus') obedience many will be made righteous. (Rom. 5:19)

Then David said to the Philistine "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I came to you in the name of the Lord of hosts...Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does NOT save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's..." (1 Sam. 17: 46, 47). The whole of Israel was terrified saying "Who will save us?" and here was David calmly taking his position. Jesus entered Jerusalem a few days before Passover, on a lowly donkey, and to shouts of "Hosanna, Hosanna" meaning "Save us, save us" and "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Just like David, Jesus too came in the name of the Lord. And in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus calmly posed a very similar question, "Why do you come against me with sword and clubs? (Luke 22:52)

David took 5 smooth stones; Jesus took 5 deep wounds. Just one stone, was enough to fell the giant. Just one word on the cross - "Finished" and the giant devil with the "power of death" fell. Suddenly the devil lost his powers, even as Jesus in flesh and blood died.

David did not have a weapon to slay the giant; he ran over and took the sword of Goliath, out of its sheath and cut-off the giant's head (1 Sam. 17:51). And the same is written about Jesus. "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He (Jesus) Himself shared in the same (that is, as a Man) that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release (free) those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Heb. 2:14-15).

And on the third day, Jesus rose again from the dead. Freedom from fear of death - because sin is taken away, the written laws have been fulfilled and has come to an end. No more death, to those who believe in Jesus. Just rest and sleep. That is why there is NOW no fear of death, for those who believe Jesus. Both the sting and the strength that brings death is gone, because Jesus died. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. That is why we who believe in Jesus can boldly say, "O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? (1 Cor. 15: 55-56).

Because we behold Him - Jesus, who gloriously announce "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Rev. 1: 18)

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. (1 Sam. 17: 50). The sling symbolises the blood of the Lamb, and the stone-the word of Testimony. Remember this verse? "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony... (Rev. 12:11). This is the heritage of believers in Jesus. We overcome the "giant" by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

Another thing that struck me in this entire passage in 1 Sam. 17 was that the giant was decked in BRONZE - from head to toe, even to his shield and spear. Now bronze symbolises self-righteousness, and keeping of the law. Even "this giant" of self-righteousness must be slayed. But that is for another blog-post. Cheers!

Be blessed in Jesus. Amen.

About Grace and Hyper-Grace

Grace

Why are people so scared of grace? Almost every epistle in the New Testament starts and ends with wishes of grace to BELIEVERS in Christ Jesus. Also, is it not a habit among us Christians to gather around the table during every meal and say "Grace"?  God bless it! - for that's how it is translated.

1. And yes, the FOOD we eat becomes a blessing to us!

Grace, Grace

For example the famous verses in Zech. 4: 6, 7 goes like this:
So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.' says the LORD of hosts, 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!""

That is GRACE appearing twice in the same verse. And NIV translates it as "God bless it! God bless it!"

2. And yes, shouts of grace will bring down the mountain!

Grace, Grace, Grace

Now look at one of Paul's argument: But by the grace of God I am what I am, AND HIS GRACE TOWARD ME was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. - 1 Cor. 15:10

That is Grace, Grace and Grace appearing thrice in that one verse. And abundant labour (works, if you will) in the Lord!

3. And yes, GRACE propels us to do more for Jesus!

My question is, if given grace made Paul hyper-active (he worked more than all other apostles - 1 Cor. 15:10), should we or should we not call grace "hyper-grace"?

I had thought for quite sometime on this and that someday I'm going to write on "hyper-grace".  I believe that the word itself has been coined by a crack-pot to crack the whip on specifically those who preach grace. I later came to know that this was some brown man (or is it the quick brown fox?) with fire on his tail or some such school who had coined it; and was always ready to jump over the lazy dog of anonymity.

But before I could put pen to paper, the brown fox actually jumps over and cozies up to the grace-preacher saying that he too is a brother of Christ from Singapore; and that there were more things he agreed with him than the few he disagreed. You can read about it here.

Aww! Welcome brother Brown! Grace be to you in the name of Jesus.

Thankfully, there are several others like me who knows grace surpasses any adjectives one may use or even propose to use. Here is an example of answers given by Dr. Paul Ellis to Mr. Brown's queries on the subject. Or see this link on "Why I am hyper-grace" by Jeremy White.

The Apostles of Christ - Peter, John and Paul were effusive while describing grace. Look at some examples:

1. Manifold grace.
1 Peter 4:10 NKJV: As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the MANIFOLD GRACE of God.

2. Exceeding grace
2 Corinthians 9:14 NKJV: and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.

3. Exceeding riches of His grace
Ephesians 2:7 NKJV: that in the ages to come He might show the EXCEEDING RICHES of His GRACE in His kindness toward us in CHRIST JESUS.

4a. Abundance of grace Rom. 5:17 NIV: For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man (Adam), how MUCH MORE will THOSE who RECEIVE God's ABUNDANT provision of GRACE and of the GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS REIGN in LIFE through the one man, JESUS CHRIST!

4b. Exceedingly abundant grace
1 Timothy 1:14 NKJV: And the GRACE of our Lord was EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT, with faith and love which are in CHRIST JESUS.

5. Much more grace
Romans 5:15 NKJV: But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, MUCH MORE the GRACE of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, JESUS CHRIST, abounded to many.

6. Fullness of grace John 1:16 NIV: Out of His (Jesus') FULLNESS WE have ALL RECEIVED GRACE in place of GRACE already GIVEN.

If you will, you may please go through the CAPITALISED words above once more. It has been done on purpose!

And look at the most popular gospel song EVER which was written by John Newton and it starts with...Amazing grace...

The Welsh revival song of 1905 had these words: Grace and love like mighty rivers... Poured incessant from above. And heaven's peace and perfect justice - kissed a guilty world in love.

Another popular hymn which goes: "Grace, Grace- God's grace, Grace that is greater than all my sin! ... Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace - Freely bestowed on all who believe... Will you this moment His grace receive?"

How can we demean grace? How can we make it any lesser than what it is? How can we neglect the grace part-which is the greatest part in our salvation? How can a church be, where "grace" has become a word frowned-upon?

I remember the time when I was in Moscow, and we were taken to this shopping place Äashaan. It was called as "gyper-market" in Russian - literally Hyper-market. It was way bigger than the Walmart super-store I saw in Pittsburg, US. Now, if man could devise something "hyper", why can't God? Think about it! :)

And may the hyper-grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Hebrews 10:29 NKJV: Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?