And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Genesis 17:7.
As the Bible presents two laws, one changeless and eternal, the other provisional and temporary, so there are two covenants. The covenant of grace was first made with man in Eden, when after the Fall, there was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. To all men this covenant offered pardon, and the assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith in Christ. It also promised them eternal life on condition of fidelity to God’s law. Thus the patriarchs received the hope of salvation.
This same covenant was renewed to Abraham in the promise, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 22:18. This promise pointed to Christ. So Abraham understood it, and he trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. It was this faith that was accounted unto him for righteousness. The covenant with Abraham also maintained the authority of God’s law. The Lord appeared unto Abraham, and said, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” The testimony of God concerning His faithful servant was, “Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Genesis 17:1; 26:5….
The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood of Christ, and it is called the “second,” or “new,” covenant, because the blood by which it was sealed was shed after the blood of the first covenant.
The covenant of grace is not a new truth, for it existed in the mind of God from all eternity. This is why it is called the everlasting covenant.
There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant, which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus. The gospel preached to Abraham, through which he had hope, was the same gospel that is preached to us today…. Abraham looked unto Jesus, who is also the author and the finisher of our faith.
The Faith I Live By p. 77
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Shanon who continually has colds and bronchitis. Kathrin
—-Please pray for Preston who will have surgery on the 28th. Cyndi
—-Please pray for Brenda. She has stage 3 throat cancer. Please pray for total complete healing. Jean
—-Please pray for my friend and co-worker by the name of Nate. He is on a ventilator after trying to end his life. He needs Jesus in his life. Paul
—-Please pray I get a full time job. I also need prayer for my neighbor Jack for favor with him so he won’t harm me or my home. I fear for my life. Thanks Ann.
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Dear Friends,
After the boys left home, my great-grandparents adopted a girl named Margaret. She gave my grandfather’s mother some joy in her otherwise miserable life. Margaret was a little girl when they adopted her, but they did not have her very many years. She was about thirteen when she died.
There were many diseases in those far off days, and just as many theories of how they were contracted. One of the theories of how diphtheria was contracted was that it floated around in the air and stuck to the roof of houses. Then when the snow and ice would cover the roof, began to melt, and formed icicles, the germs would get into the icicles. Children were warned never to eat icicles and told that if they did, they would get very sick or maybe even die.
One day Margaret as she was walking home from school, she looked at those long fingers of ice and decided that they would feel so good on her throat. She thought she might be getting a little cold as she had not felt very well most of the day. Sucking on some ice would help, she decided. Without giving the warnings she had heard another thought, she broke off one of those dripping icicles and sucked on it. It’s coldness felt good to her scratchy throat and she wondered why she had not tried it before. That “cold” was not a cold at all. It was the beginning of diphtheria. It was not long before she died. Everyone believed it was because of that icicle and the theory deepened in their minds.
No doubt, Margaret got diphtheria in a completely different way, but all of his life. my grandfather believed that erroneous theory. When I was a little girl, my grandfather loved me so much that he did not want anything to happen to me. At the beginning of every winter, he would show me the picture of Margaret in her casket and warn me never to eat an icicle no matter how good it looked.
Just as the people of long ago had some strange ideas about how diseases were spread, so today there are different theories about what the Bible says. Some people read God’s Word with preconceived ideas. They try to make the Scriptures fit into their beliefs. They are as Peter said, “our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:15,16 They may be as sincere in their wresting of the Scriptures, but they are as wrong as were those who believed the icicle theory.
Others believe whatever someone they admire says is truth. It might be their grandfather, or their parents, or their minister who have taught them various doctrines, but those doctrines are not Biblical. How dangerous it is to rely on another’s study for our beliefs. They might be as sincere as were those people who believed the icicle theory, but they are sincerely wrong. How vital it is that we “prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thes 5:21
Our Great Creator has put deep within each of us is the desire to know the truth. He desires for us to “study to show [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” He longs for us to “be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” How important that we “shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” 2 Tim 2:15,14,16 Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 In that great prayer recorded in John 17, Jesus says, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” vs. 17 God’s Holy Word is “and lamp unto (our) feet and a light unto (our) path.” Ps 119:105 When we study, really study God’s Holy Word, we will find that path. We will find “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” which will fill us with a joy and peace that nothing can shake. John 14:6
David said, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Ps 119:160 And Peter, as he was writing to the believers also assures us of this fact. He tells of his experience on the mount of transfiguration and then he makes the point that more important than what we see, more sure than what we hear, is the Word of God. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21
Isaiah was moved to write, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:20 Here is the key. Everything we hear, everything we see must be tested by a “Thus saith the Lord.” A good concordance can aid us in comparing scripture with scripture. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little” as we build that platform of truth. 28:10 How free we will feel as we set aside all of the false theories and “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised” that “he will guide [us] into all truth.” Heb 10:23; John 16:13
May we set aside all preconceived ideas and let the truths of God’s Holy Word sink deep within our heart. May we declare as did David, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.” Ps 119:9-12 May we always stand solidly on the platform of truth is my prayer.
Rose