what is the new covenant

[otto]

We hear this phrase, quite a bit. Does the new covenant really involve the same place as a continuation of the old covenant, only with a spiritual family?

If so, then should we call our belief in this covenant a religion?

It appears, even though many people would be critical of this, I would like to suggest that the truth is not a religion, or a denomination, ....mainly due to the correct definition for pure/true religion, that is so rightly defined in our bibles. Of course, this could also extend to why I do not like to call a ''church building'', a church, because that too, is a false definition for what the bible calls the 'church'.
Yes, I do know, we need to consider the deterioration of our language, and allow for additional thoughts and definitions, but then ....I do get intrigued to understand things like they really should be understood, and what the words really did imply when they were wrote.

[Alan C]

otto said:

We hear this phrase, quite a bit. Does the new covenant really involve the same place as a continuation of the old covenant, only with a spiritual family?

If so, then should we call our belief in this covenant a religion?

It appears, even though many people would be critical of this, I would like to suggest that the truth is not a religion, or a denomination, ....mainly due to the correct definition for pure/true religion, that is so rightly defined in our bibles. Of course, this could also extend to why I do not like to call a ''church building'', a church, because that too, is a false definition for what the bible calls the 'church'.
Yes, I do know, we need to consider the deterioration of our language, and allow for additional thoughts and definitions, but then ....I do get intrigued to understand things like they really should be understood, and what the words really did imply when they were wrote.

For me the new covenant is to obey His will by following His Son, which is different than the old in which they had to follow the law.
But we know what it is and how we are to follow because The Holy Spirit leads us.
I like what Paul wrote. I have planted Appolos has water but God give the increase.
It is God who gives the knowledge/understanding

[otto o]

Alan said:

otto said:

We hear this phrase, quite a bit. Does the new covenant really involve the same place as a continuation of the old covenant, only with a spiritual family?

If so, then should we call our belief in this covenant a religion?

It appears, even though many people would be critical of this, I would like to suggest that the truth is not a religion, or a denomination, ....mainly due to the correct definition for pure/true religion, that is so rightly defined in our bibles. Of course, this could also extend to why I do not like to call a ''church building'', a church, because that too, is a false definition for what the bible calls the 'church'.
Yes, I do know, we need to consider the deterioration of our language, and allow for additional thoughts and definitions, but then ....I do get intrigued to understand things like they really should be understood, and what the words really did imply when they were wrote.

For me the new covenant is to obey His will by following His Son, which is different than the old in which they had to follow the law.
But we know what it is and how we are to follow because The Holy Spirit leads us.
I like what Paul wrote. I have planted Appolos has water but God give the increase.
It is God who gives the knowledge/understanding

I take it, that you have some misunderstanding of my question, but I like what you shared anyway. thank you.
Yet the Jews were involved with an 'everlasting covenant'....I do not read the term ''religion'' in the old law/testament, and only 2 in the new law/testament...

For me, the differences in these 2 laws, was the old pertained almost exclusively [through ''obediance'' to it, obeying could certainly be seen as a spiritual virtue], with 'natural /physical'. but the new law, was a spiritual law, that would manifest by obedience into the natural life.

Please share more, Alan.

[nancye]

Re: the 2 covenants ...
We heard in our special meeting recently from Jer 31:31.

"Behold, the days will come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel,
and with the house of Judah;
:32 Nor 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 a husband unto them, saith the Lord:
:33 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."

In the new covenant He not only takes us by the hand, He accomplishes His will by actually dwelling WITHIN us.

(We are thankful to have the privilege of being grafted into that 'good olive
tree' even after having been 'branches of a wild olive tree'.....)
We understand that "God is able to graft them in again" - those whose branches had been broken off. It is one of the mysteries of God.....
That blindness in part is happenend to Israel, until the fulness of the
Gentiles be come in.) Romans 11.



Matt 5:17 - Jesus said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets;
but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

We need His Holy Spirit WITHIN to live the higher law that Jesus taught.
The old covenant foreshadowes the new.
It's not legalism. The 'letter' versus the 'spirit' of the law.

It's the LIFE of Christ in us.
And no, like you said, not a religion, a set of beliefs agreed upon. It's about being born again of His Spirit. Being led by His Spirit...Walking in the Spirit. Bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Thereby following Him, as was mentioned above.

It's about being QUICKENED by His word which is 'sharper than a two-edged sword'.
(Heb 4:12)
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

n.

[otto]

nancye said:

Re: the 2 covenants ...
We heard in our special meeting recently from Jer 31:31.

"Behold, the days will come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant.......................

Matt 5:17 - Jesus said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets;
but to fulfill.
We need His Holy Spirit WITHIN to live the higher law that Jesus taught.
The old covenant foreshadow es the new.
It's not legalism. The 'letter' versus the 'spirit' of the law.

It's the LIFE of Christ within.
And no, like you said, not a religion, a set of beliefs agreed upon. It's about being born again of His Spirit. Being led by His Spirit...Walking in the Spirit. Bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Thereby following Him, as was mentioned above.

It's about being QUICKENED by His word which is 'sharper than a two-edged sword'.
(Heb 4:12)
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
n.

Thank you very much Nancy,
that was nicely put.

[Alan C]

nancye said:

Re: the 2 covenants ...
We heard in our special meeting recently from Jer 31:31.

"Behold, the days will come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel,
and with the house of Judah;
:32 Nor 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 a husband unto them, saith the Lord:
:33 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."

In the new covenant He not only takes us by the hand, He accomplishes His will by actually dwelling WITHIN us.

(We are thankful to have the privilege of being grafted into that 'good olive
tree' even after having been 'branches of a wild olive tree'.....)
We understand that "God is able to graft them in again" - those whose branches had been broken off. It is one of the mysteries of God.....
That blindness in part is happenend to Israel, until the fulness of the
Gentiles be come in.) Romans 11.



Matt 5:17 - Jesus said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets;
but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

We need His Holy Spirit WITHIN to live the higher law that Jesus taught.
The old covenant foreshadowes the new.
It's not legalism. The 'letter' versus the 'spirit' of the law.

It's the LIFE of Christ in us.
And no, like you said, not a religion, a set of beliefs agreed upon. It's about being born again of His Spirit. Being led by His Spirit...Walking in the Spirit. Bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Thereby following Him, as was mentioned above.

It's about being QUICKENED by His word which is 'sharper than a two-edged sword'.
(Heb 4:12)
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

n.

Couldn't have put it better myself Nancye
Isn't it so different when The Christ enters in and we have new sight. Spiritual life become the most important and natural life with all it's entanglements start to fade.

[nancye]

Amazing how that is...

[Joe]

Otto,

I believe you are right, and have enjoyed Nancy and Alan's post also. A religion is something anyone can follow, but a covenant is something only two can enter into. God longs for a covenant, or commitment from each of us. It is an individual thing.

The thing that came to mind when reading here is that is why so many people really miss the complete picture. It isn't the intellectual learning and the understanding of all the doctrine, but the life within. That is what it is all about. That life within will convict us and convince us of the direction whither we understand the doctrine or not. We read the teachings of Jesus, (doctrine) and we are directed from within if we have that spirit of a child. If not we then start relying on our human brain for understanding and interpretation.

It is only in the last 5 years that I have started learning about the details of what I believe. I am one that sees things in the big picture, not messing with all the little details... but I really have enjoyed getting to know more about the details of what I believe. It just amazes me how God's work is so personal.

[Otto]

Thank you Joe, that was a nice way to put it.
You took the thoughts out of my head, and put them into words better than I could have done. thanks.....

It seems the esentials are: a messanger(s), message [covenant], and tehn fellowship! A nice order , I too am just learning the importance of being more sensitive to 'hearing' the word to my own heart , individualli

[Alan C]

Otto said:

Thank you Joe, that was a nice way to put it.
You took the thoughts out of my head, and put them into words better than I could have done. thanks.....

It seems the esentials are: a messanger(s), message [covenant], and tehn fellowship! A nice order , I too am just learning the importance of being more sensitive to 'hearing' the word to my own heart , individualli

Yes hearing the word/Jesus is most important and I like what you say about being sensitive to 'hearing' the word to my own heart .
God said hear ye Him.
Some body on an other board mentioned about having a lot of books about God/Jesus and he was looking for truth but was not interested in hearing it.