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Well do we sing the little prayer chorus:Contents - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
Whispers of the New Covenant
by Ray Prinzing
2 - GOD WAS IN CHRIST"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto Himself; not imputing their trespasses unto them, and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).
In the life of every believer it is essential that there be a progressive revelation of THE FATHER, and of THE SON. For, "This is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3).
"Philip said unto Him, Lord, Show us the Father, and it suffices us. Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known Me, Philip? He that has seen Me has seen the Father; and how do you say then, Show us the Father? Believe not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?" (John 14:8-10).
"Only to know Him, only to know Him,
Is the prayer within my heart.
Not just in measure, but in Thy fullness,
This, O Lord, is the cry of my heart."
Such glorious truth contained in these words, "GOD WAS IN CHRIST," for the Father is vitally involved in the outworking of the NEW COVENANT with men. He did not just "send His Son" to reconcile the world unto Him, but verily, HE INDWELLED THE SON, so that it was GOD HIMSELF showing forth His love and mercy to His wayward creation. "I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me," is the very heart of our reconciliation. For in the sending forth of His own Son to be our Saviour, He was THERE IN HIS SON, so that it could truly be said, "God manifest in the flesh." (1 Timothy 3:16). Nor does it stop with "God in Christ," for we also are to be "IN CHRIST," and thus in vital UNION with God Himself, that His life might be our life also.To ask the question: What is the GOSPEL, the TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY? would bring a variety of answers. Some would say: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15).
THIS IS GOOD NEWS! It is worthy to be received! He is the SAVIOUR of sinners. To sin-- to err-- to miss the mark-- truly, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). Therefore, "You shall call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21).
But the GOOD NEWS is far greater than just a forgiveness of our sins of the past, it is of a SALVATION, a coming into HIS WHOLENESS, HIS SOUNDNESS, so that we will never sin again. It is a partaking of His DIVINE NATURE which cannot be corrupted. No more to "come short of the glory of God," but to actually SHARE THAT GLORY. For "The glory which You gave Me I have given them: that they may be one, even as We are one. I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one." (John 17:22-23).
Another may answer the question, What is the Gospel? with Acts 13:38-39. "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things which you could not be justified by the law of Moses."
Now we have more than just "forgiveness of sins," but here is the inclusion of justification-- yes, FAR BETTER than the justification obtained by observance of the law of Moses, with all of its ceremony and ritual, "in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience." (Hebrews 9:9).
The first covenant, the LAW with all of its ceremonies, could not bring justification to man, it could not make him perfect on the inside-- because it was a system of works designed for outward observance-- things to DO, or NOT DO, but it was not a LIFE that could be lived from inside out.
Praise God, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2). There is a justification, a being DECLARED RIGHTEOUS, because we are made partakers of HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS through the abundance of grace which He gives us, which enables us to be partakers of His holiness, and of His glory.
Others may yet seek to give a fuller answer, to "what is the Gospel?" with a quoting of John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Furthermore, "He is the propitiation (mercyseat) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD." (1 John 2:2). Thus they would expand our consciousness to the fact that God gave His Son for THE WHOLE WORLD, and the WHOLE WORLD He shall yet receive unto Himself --fully cleansed, fully redeemed, fully restored into His life and righteousness.
Long ago the prophet Isaiah declared the fullness of the promise. "There is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me. Look unto Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength." (Isaiah 45:21-24).
There is a universal outreach and coverage here that is both glorious and overwhelming-- that every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear-- and what shall they say? That "IN THE LORD have I righteousness and strength." That is the fullness of the NEW COVENANT confirmed in Christ our Redeemer!In the three answers given, we have an unfolding revelation, that He came to save sinners, He came to justify all who could not be justified under the law, indeed, He came to bring salvation to the whole world.
But there is one more answer to the question: What is the Gospel? It includes all of the above, and adds yet another dimension. That by the coming forth of the ETERNAL WORD, a NEW MAN is brought forth out of our divided nature, who is truly, "son of God, son of man." Sin's breach is healed, and God comes to DWELL IN MAN, that man may do the works of God, and yes, that man may truly come to DWELL IN GOD. This is the INNER HEART of the NEW COVENANT-- to bring about a UNION of God and man, so that God shall dwell in man, and live out His righteousness through man. Thus, "IN THE LORD HAVE I RIGHTEOUSNESS AND STRENGTH" Bless HIS name!
As the Mediator of the NEW COVENANT: Jesus Christ is identified both as "Son of God, Son of man." This is essential, for He is the BRIDGE, He is "The Way, the Truth, and the Life," and no man comes unto the Father except by Him. HE IS THE GO-BETWEEN, drawing together both God and man.
Galatians 3:19 tells us that even the old (first) covenant was ordained, arranged "by angels in the hand of a mediator."
There were two realms: God, the divine, the celestial; and man, the earthy. These two realms must be brought together, and this required a mediator-- literally, a go-between. In the first covenant we have as it were two mediators, two go-betweens. God was represented by the angels, and man was represented by Moses. The angels were spokesmen for God, while Moses was Israel's spokesman. Acts 7:53 confirms the fact of the angels' participation in the order of the first covenant, when speaking of those "Who have received the law by disposition of angels." It was a working of God, using the instrumentality of angels. It was not to be a permanent arrangement, but only until THE SEED should come, through whom the New and BETTER covenant could be arranged. For a temporary order God could use temporary help.On the earth side, Moses was the go-between. "They said unto Moses, Speak with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." (Exodus 20:19). For sure, Moses was a very faithful servant, and he could tell the people of the law, the Word of the Lord, but he could not change them, nor impart to them a nature to do the will of God. Once God said to Moses, "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever." (Deuteronomy 5:29). But not until the day when He fulfills the promise of Ezekiel 11:19-20, will this be realized. "I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: that they may walk in my statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God."
The problem was not with the law, for "The law is holy, the commandment holy, and just, and good." (Romans 7:12). The problem was with the ministration of that covenant. The angels could BEAR THE SWORD, and slay all who did not obey. The human spokesman could fervently declare the Word of the Lord. But neither the angels, nor Moses, could change the inner nature of man, to enable man to keep his part of the covenant. Thus, "The commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death." (Romans 7:10).
Furthermore, Paul went on, "We know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal (flesh-minded)." (Romans 7:14). As long as the law was spiritual, but man remained carnal, it is obvious that the GO-BETWEEN was not bringing the two realms together. That ministration was a failure!
The ministration of condemnation and death must needs be replaced with a new ministration which would be of LIFE. How could this be accomplished? GOD INTERPOSED HIMSELF. He placed Himself as the Mediator, as the Go-between. "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him."
(Isaiah 59:16).It is essential that a mediator be on equal terms with both realms, to rightly represent both realms. He must be able to converse freely in the realm of divinity. He must be able to identify with the low realms of mankind. Total identity with both dimensions. There is "ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
(1 Timothy 2:5).Certainly He intimately knew the realm of the Divine, HE CAME FROM GOD! And He was born into the realm of the human. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same." (Hebrews 2:14). And, HE "was in all points tempted (tested) like as we are." (Hebrews 4:14). Now He was fully equipped to bring the two realms together, for He was both SON OF GOD, and SON OF MAN. In Himself the reconciliation was made complete. He could be BOTH IN ONE, and now He is able to work that same reconciliation in us, so that we who have tasted so deeply of the earthy, might also experience the blessed reality of the heavenly.
Furthermore, HE retains this identification for the ages. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for the ages." (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus is the name of identification with our earth realm. Christ is the identification with the heavenly realm, the anointing Spirit. And as long as there remains one individual in the universe in whom this reconciliation is not yet complete, HE IS THERE AS THAT MEDIATOR! The One who can identify with their need, and also unite them with the Divine. Yes, THE SON reigns until all enemies are subdued under His feet, and all is fully reconciled.
THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS! That God can take us, "the sons of men," and so thoroughly transform us that we can be called "the sons of God." It is far more than just saving us from our sins, but it is the whole process of TRANSFORMATION into the image of God. "That He might be the Firstborn among MANY BRETHREN." (Romans 8:29).
Indeed, so fully is man to be made "partakers of the divine nature,"Many long years ago we read a little verse:
(2 Peter 1:4), that in due time it can be said, "As He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17).There is no need for premature, rash announcements of who we are, for our very state of being will belie our words. Not until we have FULLY BECOME, can it be said that we are "as He is." It will require the full outworking of the process, in spirit, soul, and body. A quickened spirit, a renewed mind, and a changed body. Thank God, He who has begun in us a work which is good, shall also bring it to a successful conclusion. The fullness of our salvation is secure in Christ.
When we speak of "father and son," in order to BE a father there must be the bringing forth of a son. A man may live to be an hundred, and be a mature man in physical form, in mental prowess, in spiritual integrity, etc. and yet never be a father. A father is defined as: one who has begotten an offspring. Thus, when we receive a revelation of God as our FATHER, it inherently includes the thought of relationship, that we are His sons and daughters. The FATHER--RELATIONSHIP is also inherent in the heart of the NEW COVENANT. And it is first manifest in our Lord Jesus Christ.
"No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." (John 1:18). He came to reveal the heart of the Father, that He might become the FATHER OF MANY. He revealed that there is an eternal love between Him who begets and they who are begotten. There is a union and a communion with Him who is the source and ground of all being.
FATHER-- tells us of a source of life; of one in Whom His sons have been-- for all sons have once been in the loins of their father, from whom they came, and whose image and likeness they are called to manifest.
They said of Jesus, "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not His mother called Mary? and His brothers, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? When then did this Man get all these things?" (Matthew 13:55-56).
"And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He says, I came down from heaven." (John 6:43).
They were continually astonished at His doctrine, His wisdom, His power, His authority. They thought they knew His father, but what He was saying and doing was not the image of His father. Of course not! But they did not know Who His true Father was! They thought it was Joseph. But they should have asked Mary, His mother, for she knew. It has been said unto her, "The holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the SON OF GOD."
(Luke 1:35).When Jesus expressed the NATURE of His Father, they knew Him not, for they knew not His Father. Joseph wasn't His Father, therefore He did not express like nature to Joseph. Mary provided His humanity, His body, but HIS NATURE WAS DIVINE. Thus He, IN HIMSELF, brought together both the earthy and the heavenly. And IN HIMSELF He triumphed! As Paul wrote in Colossians 2:15, "Triumphing over them in it," or literally, the Greek text reads, "IN HIMSELF."
Once Jesus asked the Pharisees, "What think of Christ? whose son is He? They say unto Him, The Son of David. He said unto them, How then does David in spirit call Him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit on My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool? If David called Him Lord, how then is He his son?" (Matthew 22:42-45). They could not answer. They understood human relationship, but they could not extend into the Divine. They were totally baffled, not knowing that He was both SON OF GOD, and SON OF MAN. His earthen-vessel-body came out of the lineage of David, via His mother Mary, but truly, HIS NATURE CAME FROM HIS FATHER, from God.
Therefore do we read, "He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition: having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make IN HIMSELF of one new man from the two, so making peace." (Ephesians 2:14-15).
"Within this temple there's a crowd,
One of us that's humble, one of us that's proud.
From much corroding care I could be free,
If ever I could determine which is me."
How long we have suffered under duality-- from the day that Adam and Eve partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. How we long for all duality within us to cease, that of the two He would make "ONE NEW MAN" With a nature that is totally divine, and a body "fashioned like unto His glorious body," (Philippians 3:21), so that we could freely express that divine nature.Permit us one more illustration: "Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep. And David came to Saul and stood before him; and he loved him greatly; and he became his armour-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray, stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight."
(1 Samuel 16:19, 21-22).
Saul KNEW that the father was Jesse, the son was David. Saul became well enough acquainted with David that he loved him greatly, and brought him into the close relationship of being his armour-bearer for a time. The wording is clear, Saul KNEW both who Jesse was, and who David was, on a very personal level.Then David returned home, and Saul went off to battle the Philistines. Jesse sent his son down to see how his brothers were faring. You remember the record. Goliath gave his challenge to Israel, and when David heard it, he volunteered to go and fight him. Saul KNEW all about this, in fact, "Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with you. And Saul armed David with his armour. --And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them, And David put them off him." (1 Samuel 17:37-39). This is very clear! Saul KNEW David, knew he was willing to fight Goliath, and even tried to provide what he felt would be the best armour, which David rejected.
David, with a sling and five stones, ran to meet the Philistine, slew him, cut off his head, and Saul, from afar, watched the happening. Now make careful note: "And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, WHOSE SON IS THIS YOUTH? And Abner said, As your soul lives, O King, I cannot tell." (1 Samuel 17:55).
Saul knew Jesse the father, he knew David the son, why did he not know this young man? Because on this occasion this young man was not expressing the image and likeness of Jesse! BY FAITH IN JEHOVAH, David was drawing out of the DIVINE REALM, even as he said to the Philistine, "I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled. This day will THE LORD deliver you into mine hand." At that moment David was not walking "according to men," but according to a higher realm, and so they could not recognize him.
"David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said unto him, Whose son are you, young man? And David answered, I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."
(1 Samuel 17:57-58).WHOSE SON ARE YOU? Well could David have answered, "Saul, Saul, you will never comprehend the higher realm, you cannot relate to that identity, so just know me as you always have-- I am David, the son of Jesse."
David knew, in a measure, of a realm that was far beyond the realm of humanity which he inherited from Jesse and it serves as a glimpse, a parable, of this greater relationship into which we come, as we are indeed BORN AGAIN, born from above, with God as our Father.
With a father there is a relationship in nature, and in blood, a love which is unchanging, though the son becomes a prodigal. As Jesus gave His parable, the son is still loved, and though he may wander afar off, as he returns, the father will run to him, fall on his neck and kiss him, EVEN WHILE THE RAGS OF THE FAR COUNTRY STILL COVER HIM. For, "God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). Far from our FATHERLAND, we have tasted the dregs of this earth, became impoverished, wasting our substance and ending up destitute. But LOVE reaches out to receive us, and draw us to Himself again.
Over and over again, with parable after parable, Jesus, THE SON, declared precious truths of THE FATHER-- of His love, His compassion, His mercy, His heart toward us, and His ultimate plans for our good. What revelation He becomes to us, and truly, He is "The true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world." (John 1:9). Saying, "I shall show you plainly of the Father." (John 16:25). And again, "I have declared unto them Your name, and will declare it: that the love where with You have loved Me MAYBE IN THEM, and I in them." (John 17:26).
Jesus Christ came forth to declare-- to become the LIVING EXPRESSION of the Name of the Father. There is a progressive revelation of the Father in the revelation of His name.
"And God appeared unto Moses, and said unto him, I AM the Lord (Jehovah): And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by My name Jehovah was I not known to them." (Exodus 6:2-3).
There are specific revelations for specific dispensations, for the outworking of God's purpose through the ages. The time of the LAW (first covenant) was at hand, and so there was a specific name of God to be revealed for that law dispensation. It was not revealed unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it was not needed for their time. They knew Him as the ALMIGHTY, as El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One, and that was enough to see them through their days. But now God has a specific time and dealing to be wrought in Israel, and He needed a NAME which would be identified with that era and working, so He revealed a NAME that bespoke of all that would be brought into focus.
Significant that Abraham, that great patriarch of faith, did not need a particular revelation of this name. "The scripture, foreseeing God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:8). GOD LEAPED OVER AN AGE, and revealed to Abraham the GOOD NEWS which belonged to an age to come, of the realm of FAITH, and GRACE, and the over-flowing mercy of the NEW COVENANT, and so it was not needed that he be given a revelation of the dispensation and name which preceded that glory. Therefore, "By My name Jehovah (Yahweh) was I not known to them."
Yahweh-- from the tetragram YHWH, meaning, I AM THAT I AM. Let us not become hung up on the "letter" of this name, but receive the Spirit and Reality of its message, and then go on to receive more revelation of the unfolding NAME of God, even that which pertains to this day.When the time for the LAW was at hand, the name YAHWEH came into the foreground. It was a time when HE who is righteous must judge evil, wherever it existed, at whatever cost, whether to the creature, or to the Creator. Holiness, and the process of becoming into that realm by means of the law, brought forth this particular revelation of the name and nature of Yahweh. The cold facts were laid out in the law, and it was condemnation unto death if you did not, could not keep that law.
"The law has dominion over a man as long as he lives." (Then Paul gives a type, an illustration). "For the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband." (Romans 7:1-2).
God took Israel to mount Sinai, and there she made her vows to be joined to Yahweh-- He became her husband, "till death do us part." Though the marriage went on the rocks, Israel became an unfaithful wife, seeking out many lovers (strange gods), yet she remained bound to Yahweh until DEATH. God knew when it was time to end that dispensation, and He sent forth His SON, yes, HE INDWELLED THAT SON, "To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST," and then He went to the cross, and DIED. That ended that particular relationship, ended that marriage, and ended that dispensation, and methinks in a sense it ended the usage of the name which was revealed for that time, in this respect-- that when a man dies, the woman is loosed from her husband, and she is free to be married to another, AND RECEIVE A NEW NAME.
"Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ (the body that died); that you should be married to another, to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7:4).
Remember, parables, illustrations are given to make a point, not to become definitive theology. Yet show me the man, named Mr. Smith, who marries a woman formerly married to a Mr. Jones, now deceased, who asks his wife to call him by the name of her deceased husband. Nay, she must now use his name, "Mr. Smith," for she is now joined to a new man, with his own name.
In the death of Jesus Christ, one order ended, and a new order began. HE "took away the first, that He may establish the second." The dispensation of the first covenant was FINISHED IN HIM, and the NEW COVENANT was ratified by His blood. Now we are free to be JOINED UNTO CHRIST, to Him who is RAISED FROM THE DEAD, so that we might bring forth fruit unto God-- THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, of grace, of faith, and not the works of the flesh, as under the old law. Jesus Christ, the expression of Jehovah on earth, filled up in Himself all of the old covenant, brought that era to an end, and DIED. Then out of the tomb came a NEW LIFE, a NEW EXPRESSION, and as we are joined to Him, we receive of His Spirit-life, that we might bring forth a spirit-fruit which glorifies God.
As long as we carry the former name we testify that we have not come into the NEW COVENANT, but remain under, to be judged by the old, which is a ministration of condemnation unto death.
Just as we see in Christ the ending of the adam nature, to bring in the new God-nature; so also we see in Christ the ending of the dispensation of the law, that we might come into the NEW COVENANT, by His Spirit, with the declaration of a new name, even as He said, "Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall no more go out: and I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and I will write upon Him My new name." (Rev. 3:12).
"Saying, I will declare Your name unto My brothers, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto You." (Hebrews 2:12).
One more special thought concerning the name "Yahweh," which is given in the King James Version by all capital letters, LORD. We have already quoted the verse, God saying unto Moses, "But by My name YHWH was I not known unto them (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob)." Yet we find that this name was in a sense known throughout all the time of the patriarchs, clear back to Eve, where she said, "I have gotten a man from the LORD (YHWH). (Genesis 4:1). How then could it be said that He was not "known" by this name?
The Hebrew word used here for "known" is "yada" meaning: to be perceived, understood. Thus literally, this name was not known so as to be understood, to be experienced. Abraham did not experience the dispensation of the law, therefore did not intimately understand the meaning of the name YHWH. Yet by the impartation of revelation by the Spirit, he leaped over that whole time period, and as Jesus said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad." (John 8:56).
When did Abraham see this day? Ah, could it not have been on that mount where he prepared to offer his son, Isaac, according to the commandment of God. When Isaac said to him, "Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the Iamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, GOD WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF a Iamb for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:7-8). Did he not see much more than the provision of "the ram caught in a thicket by the horns," which he offered in place of Isaac? Truly, he saw that God would PROVIDE HIMSELF. "To wit, that God was in Christ," to become that Lamb which takes away the sins of the world. Abraham saw, and he rejoiced! For to him was declared the good news, long before the Gospel dispensation would come, how, that through this SEED all nations of the earth would be blessed BY FAITH! Yes, he saw beyond the time of the law, into a ministration that exceeds in glory--no wonder he rejoiced!
So, "By My name YHWH was I not known..." How is such knowledge gained? Psalm 9:16. gives answer. "The LORD (YHWH) is known by the Judgment which He executes." When judgments were predicted against any person or nation, it was always connected with the statement, then "They shall know that I am the LORD (YHWH)." For His judgments were calculated to display His supremacy above all other gods, etc. and they would know that Israel's God alone was GOD.
Pharaoh says, "Who is the LORD (YHWH), that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD..." (Exodus 5:2). But he surely came to know Him by the JUDGMENTS which He executed!
Many today would cry for a heavy hand of judgment, with death to all those who oppose righteousness. Since we cannot change men, since we do not have the power to transform their life into a new creature, if they seem to be exceedingly sinful and rebellious, we just say, "Okay, Lord, remove them, wipe them out."
Even Jeremiah experienced this. "Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You: YET LET ME TALK WITH YOU OF YOUR JUDGMENTS: Wherefore does the way of the wicked prosper? Wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?" (Jeremiah 12:1). "Lord, isn't it time that you exercise your judgments, and just wipe them all out?" Perhaps we know the feeling all too well, but is not all of this still under the dispensation of the law, while we want to demand the penalty of the law upon other men?
The Pharisees were so quick to condemn, and more than once Jesus said unto them, "But go and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:13). How little have we learned this, if we are so ready to "sacrifice" anything, or anyone, that does not measure up to our standard, as we set the law, and then become the judge for another. But MERCY, truly-- "blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Jesus demonstrated for us this tremendous expression of God, for He did not condemn, rather, He came TO and FOR the sinner, knowing that they desperately needed His life.
There is a revelation of ALL THE NAMES OF GOD in Christ Jesus, not just one facet, but all of them, thus unto greater victory-- total redemption!
First, the name "Elohim," from the Hebrew: EL, meaning: STRONG; and ALAR, meaning: TO SWEAR. Combined they bespeak of GOD IN COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH MAN, ratified by an oath. He gives His own Word, and He has the strength to carry it through to completion. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him" (Heb. 7:25).
The name "Elohim" is uni-plural, speaking of more than two who are bound together in a basic unity of strength and faithfulness. "He is the Lord our God (our Elohim): His judgments are in all the earth. He has remembered His covenant for ever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant He made with Abraham, and His oath unto Isaac: and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant." (Psalm 105:7-10).
What a fascinating passage of scripture! God made COVENANT with Abraham-- it is still in effect, and it both PRECEDED the dispensation of the law, and it FOLLOWS that dispensation. The law was an interjection for a time. Paul says "it was added" for a time. The promise to Abraham was that ALL NATIONS (that totally includes every creature), was to be blessed BY FAITH-- by the outworking of the covenant through Jesus Christ. This was so great a Word that BY AN OATH God spoke it again to Isaac. But when we come to Jacob-- who stands in figure for all of his seed after the flesh, with the Jacob nature in all of its carnality, then God confirms the promise again, but AS A LAW, with all of its ministration of ceremony and ritual, which held promise in type and shadow, of the GREATER TO COME. For a time the covenant was spelled out as a law, "imposed on them until the time reformation." (Hebrews 9:10). But when God takes away ungodliness from Jacob, and brings forth the new nature, re-names him as Israel, then we see again that it is no more a law, but AN EVERLASTING COVENANT. As long as one deals externally, by works, it comes as A LAW. But as soon as one is lifted to the higher spiritual dimensions, the PROMISE is renewed as an EVERLASTING COVENANT.
Christ Jesus declared the COVENANT RELATIONSHIP of our Father, whose love never changes, therefore "The blood of the everlasting covenant," witnesses that ALL MEN are loved with God's unchanging love. And He also revealed a NEW DEPTH of the Jehovah (YHWH) nature to judge the wrong, for "God has committed all unto the Son." (John 5:22). And plainly He stated, "For judgment I am come into this world." (John 9:39). HE WAS JUDGMENT! Wherever He went people were brought face to face with the truth, "that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind," and thus their inner state of blindness would be exposed, and could be corrected.
When the disciples were ready to "command fire to come down from heaven, to consume them... " He said, "The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save." (Luke 9:54, 56). HE WILL CORRECT, at a great cost to us, and to Himself, but NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT UNTO LIFE. For all His judgments are remedial, revealing His great mercy as they are used to prepare men to receive the fullness of His life.
Thus He taught, "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." (Luke 6:35-36). THE FATHER IS MERCIFUL, and as His children this is to be our disposition, our nature, our attitude towards all men.
Abraham did not understand the Jehovah nature part of God, i.e. the LAW, and the JUDGMENT which accompanied the law, with its death penalty-- an interim imposing of an order upon men. But Abraham knew the Most High, and even paid his tithes to Melchizedek who was priest of the Most High God. And he looked forward to the day of the Christ, who is "after the order of Melchizedek."
They died under the law without mercy. Jesus, who was judgment, came declaring mercy. It was not "judgment, or mercy," for in Christ we have them BOTH, as He brings forth judgment UNTO VICTORY, and covers the whole with His mercy-- for the end of the NEW COVENANT is His MORE ABUNDANT LIFE. No more an incomplete, fragmentary revelation of God. No more one manifestation of Divine character at a time, but in Him, ALL FULLNESS IS PLEASED TO DWELL, and He can reveal the Jehovah nature of God IN LOVE, with abundant mercy, as He reconciles IN HIMSELF, to bring forth ONE NEW MAN-- a new creation species that is truly an expression of the Father, in all of His nature of love and holiness.
God hid Himself within the Form
Of Jesus Christ His Son,
And through His Son He gave His life
To ransom every one.'Twas "God in Christ," the Scripture says,
For God so loved the world,
And He would reconcile us all,---
His covenant unfurled.
So long ago Abram had said,
"Himself-- God will provide,"
Provide Himself to be the Lamb,
And so for us He died.Isaiah said, "God looked, and saw,
Wondered there was no man,
No intercessor in the gap."
So His own arm did span----Did span the gulf from heav'n to earth,
To be our righteousness.
He interposed Himself to be
The Word, our souls to bless.Father of mercy, love, and grace,
As God indwelt the Son.
So now His Spirit dwells in us
To finish what's begun.That we His image truly bear,
His nature be our own.
Praise God, the covenant He gave
Unites us with His throne.That, as He is, so we shall be,
What wonder of His grace.
Transforming power to make us one,
His new creation race.Contents - Part 3 - Spirit of the Word -
Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
Preface
1 - He Takes Away The First
2 - God Was In Christ
3 - Ending The Stone Age
4 - God's Commandments Are Promises
5 - Jesus, The New Covenant 'Yes'
6 - With Shoutings Of Grace
7 - A New Covenant Spirit
8 - A New Covenant Generation
9 - New Covenant Security
10 - A New Covenant Name
11 - Embracing The Choice Vine
12 - New Wine In The Cluster
13 - In That Day
14 - Kingdom Of The New Covenant
15 - Beholding--Near And Afar Off
16 - Summary