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Contents - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
Whispers of the New Covenant
by Ray Prinzing
4 - GOD'S COMMANDMENTS--ARE PROMISES
"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:4)."Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:17-18).
How clearly Jesus stated it! He did not come to "destroy," but to FULFILL. We note that the Greek word used here for "destroy" is "kataluo" meaning: to loose down. In this day when it seems the very moral fibers of our society are rapidly unraveling, and there is so much at loose ends, we find it most encouraging to find that there is a counter-working to all this-- for God shall "Gather together in one all things in Christ." (Ephesians 1:10). He said, "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I AM COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE, AND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY" (John 10:10). HE has it all-together! And He has come to put man back together again, to make us whole, to make us one, to bring us into the fullness of His life. His NEW COVENANT MINISTRATION is a ministration of LIFE!
There is a peculiar characteristic in humanism that if people cannot rise to the higher standard, they simply LOOSE THE STANDARD, lower it down to accommodate the people, the weakness of the flesh. But God will never lower the standard of His righteousness. His state of being is the criterion, and He is totally righteous, perfect. As the Author and the Finisher of our faith, He purposes to bring us into oneness with His holiness. At no time, from the beginning of our processing, to the end, does He ever lower the qualification to an inferior state. As Jesus came forth from the bosom of the Father, to be the Administrator of the New Covenant, there was no way that He would LOOSE DOWN any of the Father's commandments for perfect righteousness. He did come to BRING IT TO THE FULL, and He was, and is, totally successful in all that He purposes to accomplish. THIS IS THE OUTWORKING OF GRACE, grace that is able to gather together all things into the fullness of His life.
Williams translation gives, "I have not come to set them aside but to fill them up to the brim." Nothing halfway about what He does. He came to bring us life-- more abundantly, till it overflows. Everything He does will be UP TO THE BRIM and overflowing. Full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. So also is His treatment of the law, not to set it aside as incomplete, but to bring it to FULL EXPRESSION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Young's Literal, "I did not come to throw down,..."
Consider an occasion when the law was once thrown down. Moses had been up in the mount with God, where God had given him "two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." (Exodus 31:18). Finally it was time for Moses to return down the mount to the people, and as he drew near, he saw that they were in a most idolatrous state, prancing around a golden calf. "And Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount." (Exodus 32:19). His very actions were a witness that all Israel would also continue to break, throw down the law, being unable to keep it, or to fulfill the righteousness thereof. Though there would be a long era of the ministration of that law unto condemnation, it was foretold from the beginning that man, in his humanity, could not fulfill it.
But now, A GREATER THAN MOSES was come. He would not throw down the law, as Moses had done, but He would bring all men UP TO ITS STANDARD. The fault was not with Moses, for we read, "Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after." (Hebrews 3:5). We can learn much from Moses, his meekness, his giving of himself to serve the people, etc. But there were some things "TO BE SPOKEN AFTER" him, another ministration of a much higher order, and it is to this GREATER THAN MOSES that we now give our attention.
When Jesus came He never threw down the law, He never caused it to be broken, fragmented, etc. but rather, He lived out all the righteousness of the law, "leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps."
(1 Peter 2:21). He would not lower the standard to the level of corruptible man, but He would BECOME THE WAY to raise man to His level. First of all He would fulfill it all IN HIMSELF, and then He would pour His life INTO US, that He might fulfill in us the absolutes of His righteousness. "Be therefore perfect (brought to your full end, finished, etc. [web ed.]), even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48).Jesus said, "I am come... to fulfill..." (Matthew 5:17). The Greek word is "pleroo" meaning: to make full, complete. Not until something has been brought to completion has it literally been fulfilled. We have tasted of the good things of God, but how we long for more-- filled to the full, yea, until "my cup runs over."
Then Jesus added the statement, verse 18, that "one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Here we have a different word for "fulfilled", being the Greek word "ginomai" meaning: to become. Clearly stated, the righteousness of the law has not been brought to the full in us until there is a STATE OF BEING wherein every particle has BECOME. Thus He is working in us by His grace until we shall have BECOME the fullness of all the perfection and righteousness that the law implies. No wonder we need Christ to dwell within us, for He alone can bring to the full a life of fulfilled righteousness. It is BY HIS SPIRIT, and to Him be all glory and praise.
A man asked Jesus, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matt. 22:36-40).
This word "hang" is very interesting, for it denotes that all of the teaching of the Old Testament on morality is SUMMED UP within the scope of these two commandments.
Men sometimes get all tangled up in the different kinds of law: the Mosaic law, the moral law, the ceremonial law, the social law, the civic law, etc. But nit-picking on "the letter" does not profit. The requirement is that ALL THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW BE FULFILLED IN US. We do know that the ministration of the law, as known under the first covenant, is being taken away. That system of works which was designed to bring forth righteousness was ineffective. Hence the need for a new ministration, OF THE SPIRIT, which bespeaks that Christ has come to dwell within us, to live out the righteousness of the law through us-- herein is our hope, yea, and joyous victory.
Law, in its simplest and most broad definition, is ANY MANIFEST- ATION OF THE WILL OF GOD. However He reveals His will for me, that becomes a law to me. Anytime God makes known unto us a fragment of His will and purpose for our life, that is His law for us. Jesus said, "I do nothing of myself; but as My Father has taught Me,
...I do always those things that please Him." (John 8:28-29). LET THE FATHER REVEAL HIS WILL! "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me." (John 4:34).Is He sovereign? Is He my King? Am I His subject? YES! Then as He communicates His will to me, I am to become an expression of that will brought to fulfillment. With joy we sing that "He IS Lord, He IS Lord..." and it becomes a reaffirmation of our relationship to Him. God is sovereign Master, we are His servant fully dedicated to doing whatsoever He reveals as His will for us. From every avenue of our being, let there be the response, "Not my will, but Yours, be done." Amen!
Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he." Every vision has a proper law for its fulfillment. If that law, order, way is not kept, then the desired results cannot be obtained. GOD MUST SUPPLY THE VISION! He must write His law into our heart and mind, and then as we yield to His Spirit, He will help us to live out, keep, fulfill His will, and thus we shall come into the results that bring joy to our own heart, and praise to our Lord. HAPPY IS HE!
"If you continue in My Word, then are you My disciples indeed: and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
(John 8:31-32).KNOW-- "gnosis" meaning: to know by experience. It means that we LIVE HIS WORD (law, will) INTO FULFILLMENT. Unfulfilled truth does not set us free. Only as we experience it, penetrate into its reality, do we enjoy this freedom in Christ. We may be able to quote the "letter of the law" backwards and forwards by rote, and remain totally bound in our self-will and carnality. But when He works that will into us, so that it is not a mere form of head-knowledge or mental assent, but experienced, then we shall have the fullness of its blessing.
Remember, all the law and the prophets are summed up in HIS DIVINE LOVE LIFE. "Love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:10). The simplicity of this is awesome! If you love, you will unconsciously fulfill the whole law. It is the rule for fulfilling all other rules.
A certain Rabbi once pointed out that in the writings of the ancients of Israel, there are laws upon laws, into the hundreds. But as you progress down through the writings of the Patriarchs, they begin to simplify the matter a little, realizing that certain laws if truly kept would also cover a lot of other minor regulations. When one comes to the prophet Micah, there are only three listed. "He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what the Lord requires of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God." (Micah 6:8). But if you follow on until you come into the teachings of Jesus, there it is all summed up into one law-- TO LOVE!
"Owe no man anything, but to LOVE ONE ANOTHER; for he that loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8).
Often the first thought for "owe no man" is in monetary terms. But the previous verse explains what Paul had in mind, so note verse 7. "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear (reverence) to whom fear; honor to whom honor." How do we keep these debts paid up? How do we keep from falling short in any of these matters? Simple, IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, love will cause us to do all these things-- to give the honor, the respect, etc. which rightfully belongs to each man and his position.
Then Paul goes on: "For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." (vs. 9-10).
Herein Paul has listed five of the ten commandments, for they deal with our relationship to others. If I truly love my neighbor, I will not mess around with his wife, I will not covet any of his goods, I will not say a false word about him, I certainly will not steal from him, nor seek to kill him. LOVE takes care of all of the "you shall nots," without any emphasis on the negative approach, because it is a positive living of His righteousness.
Christ met every specification of the law, He was able to MAKE IT FULL, because HE IS LOVE PERSONIFIED. We know this! But what about us? We cannot keep even a small part of the law, how then can we make it full? God knows our frame, that we are but dust, and therefore HE HIMSELF becomes the provision for us, dwelling within, to live out this love life.
And now, consider these again, not just as a commandment, as a YOU MUST DO, but as A PROMISE which HE shall fulfill in us. Truly they are divine promises, for they are an expression of God's will for man. Daily we pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth (IN US) as it is in heaven." And since these are expressions of His will for man, then in LOVE'S LIVING they shall be brought to the full in our state of being.
We examine them as listed in Exodus 20:3-17, beginning with: "You shall have no other gods before Me." No other gods-- none instead of Him! The Greek word "anti" literally means: instead of. That which is anti-christ is INSTEAD OF CHRIST. There have been so many gods that we have worshipped instead of Him. But the PROMISE is that HE shall become FIRST AND FOREMOST, the Central One within our life. He is not only "The Author and the Finisher of our faith," but He is ALL THE WAY IN-BETWEEN! Filled with love for Him, we do not want to serve, give obeisance to any other god. Indeed, least of all would we want to be "devil-conscious" and impute to the negative realm credit for all that happens. We see in our Lord total control over all the interplay of good and evil.
Far too long the man of sin (self) "who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
(2 Thessalonians 2:4). Self, having fallen into the snare of "I will," has aspired for its own godship. "I will be like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:14). The drive to be recognized as god, having to be right above all others, have our own way, win every argument, etc. When we see traces of this in our self, how we cry out that HE ALONE will be GOD IN US. "The fullness of Him that fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:23). Yea, that He would become the indwelling and controlling factor of our life. It is HIS WILL, it is HIS PROMISE-- He will work this into us, purging and purifying, until we have no other gods before Him. Praise His name!"You shall not make any graven image."
This goes far beyond our placing an icon on a shelf in our home, though without a doubt that is included. "Take therefore good heed unto yourselves; for you saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spoke unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the rue: lest you corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure,..." (Deuteronomy 4:15-16).
Oh, how often have we boxed God into a form of human conception, lowering Him from His totality, into an image of our own making. We have graven, hewn out a mental image of what we suppose God is like-- and the indictment stands, "You thought that I was altogether such an one as yourself." (Psalm 50:20). We have imputed to Him all the base emotions of carnal men, and "changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible men..." (Romans 1:23).
What gross caricatures are found in the chambers of our imagination, and we bow down to serve, worship, give allegiance to these graven images. BUT NO MORE! He is purging our heart and mind of all these false concepts, and we are beginning to see HIM "high and lifted up." It is a PROMISE, it is HIS WILL FOR US, that there be no graven images, for HE shall become the REALITY IN OUR LIFE. We shall be changed into His image, to become an expression of His nature and character, that He might be glorified. How marvelous shall be that day when it can truly be said, this is fulfilled, there are no more graven images in us. Then we'll "worship Him in spirit and in truth." (Original Editor's note: This past year PBS Broadcasting presented "Searching For God In America." In this series Father Thomas Keating, who had been "seeking after the manifested presence of God" for many years stated that in order to receive all that God had for him," the God of my understanding had to die." Yes in too many instances we create an idol that has no life, other than the life we attempt to instill in it.).
"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."
Paul wrote, "Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2:19). This goes far beyond ceasing to use the letter of His name in cursing. Certainly such communication ought not to be in our mouth. And, praise God, He promises us a speech that will glorify Him. But to bear His name, to be called by His name, to be identified in His name, this will not be in vain, but redound as a praise to Him.
"As a beast goes down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: so did You lead Your people, to make Yourself a glorious name." (Isaiah 63:14). It is a powerful figure. The beast has gone through the wilderness, foraged over the mountains, and finally comes to a sheltered area in the valley, and in utter fatigue it lies down to rest. While it sleeps a renewal takes place, and when fully rested and renewed in strength, it can then rise up and go on. Now, consider what a processing this is for man-- for us. He leads us down into the valley, where the CROSS will deal with the beast nature within us, put it to rest, transform us, and that which comes up out of the valley, in the power of HIS resurrection, will be HIS GLORIOUS NAME, personified in a people that possess all the rare qualities inherent in His name.
What GOD works in us in the valley is a process most profound. "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." It is His commandment, yea, it is HIS WILL, HIS PROMISE that there shall be a people who will not bear His name in vain-- they will not continue with a beast nature and yet be called by His name. But they will have HIS NATURE, and express all the inherent qualities of HIS NAME to His praise.
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
Holy-- to be set apart.
Sabbath-- a rest, cessation from all our self-works.
The seventh day of each week was given to Israel for a sabbath, as a SIGN, a PROMISE that there was a REST IN GOD which could be entered into, that bespoke of a total cessation of all our own self works, as HE, IN US, becomes the fulfillment of all the righteousness of God.There is a REST that can be entered into, a rest that dates back to that moment when GOD RESTED from all His works. For, says the scriptures, "The works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4:3).
Phillips, (verses 3-4), "As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest; not because the rest was not prepared-- it had been ready since the work of creation was completed, as He says elsewhere in the scriptures, speaking of the seventh day of creation, And God rested on the seventh day from all His works."
From that point of time when GOD RESTED from all His works, anywhere along the line, in any generation, that rest was READY, prepared for man to enjoy. But man has not always been ready to partake of that rest. Unbelief fences him out. His own will, exercised in his own self-works, keeps him from resting. How the processings of God are needed until the CROSS brings an end to all of our works-- and He "causes us to rest."
Uniquely enough, one might force themselves to take a sabbath day, with no extra exertion for the body, relaxing all day in the easy chair, etc. and yet be far from resting internally. The mind races on in feverish thoughts, agitated by events and circumstances, and stressed out with things that ought to be done. The inner spirit is disquieted and groaning. Where then is the rest? Praise God, He has given promise-- it is His will that we partake of HIS REST. Yet only in the ministration of the NEW COVENANT is this possible, as we cease from our own "self works" and in His Spirit find our rest and peace.
Perhaps we could apply the verse, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord... that they may rest from their labors." (Revelation 14:13). As the Cross brings death to self-will, and HE BECOMES LORD OF ALL WITHIN US, so that His will for us is supreme, then we truly enter into HIS REST. It is His purpose that all creation shall eventually be delivered from the bondage of corruption, the tyranny of change and decay, and partake of the glorious liberty of the children of God. Yes, "there remains a rest to the people of God," and HE HAS COMMANDED, He has promised that we all shall REMEMBER IT! Praise His name!
"Honour your father and your mother."
Every generation "since the disobedience in Eden" has been plagued with rebellious children dishonoring their parents, and going about to express their own self-will. It will take far more than a "harping on the letter of the commandment" to bring about a change. But God has expressed this as HIS WILL, it is His promise, therefore the day shall come when He also will "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the heart of their fathers." (Malachi 4:6). There shall be a fulfillment of this in our earthly families.
But there are also tremendous spiritual applications. For He has promised that in the ministration of His new covenant, "All shall know Me, from the least to the greatest." (Hebrews 8:11). ALL shall intimately know our Heavenly Father, and that "Jerusalem which is from above... which is the mother of us all." (Galatians 4:26). There will be true honor accorded to our Father. Not a flippant reference to "the Man upstairs," etc. but giving that reverence which is due Him, even while we joyously bask in the intimate knowledge of His love for us.
Paul wrote, "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai which genders to bondage, which is Agar... and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." (Galatians 4:24-25).
There are two covenants, represented by two women. Hagar typified the law from Mount Sinai, extending into the city of Jerusalem, with all its temple worship, ceremony, etc. While Sarah represented the new Jerusalem, from above, of the Spirit, of THE PROMISE, the new covenant-- which ultimately would be "THE MOTHER OF US ALL." When ALL have been fully "born from above" then shall we see the greater fulfillment of "honor your father and your mother." It is hard to honor that of which we are in ignorance. But as He reveals Himself to us, and brings us into a blessed, intimate relationship with Himself, with that which is FROM ABOVE, then shall we "Set our affection on things above, and not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2). What a promise, that ultimately all men shall so honor our Heavenly Father, and all that pertains to the realm above-- the Spirit.
"You shall not kill."
Jesus revealed a real depth of meaning to this when He said, "You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment..." (Matthew 5:21-22). Then John goes on to word it this way, "Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer."
(1 John 3:15).When this commandment is seen as a PROMISE, we realize that it is HIS WILL for us to be so fully born anew from above, that we have ONLY HIS LOVE NATURE WITHIN US, and we will never be angry, never hate our brother-- but will continually express that divine nature which forgives, "suffers long, and is kind,. ...seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil." (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Praise God!
Consider also-- it is written of the adversary that "he was a murderer from the beginning." (John 8:44). Hence, when HE PROMISES THAT WE SHALL NOT KILL, it means that there is none of this negative nature within us. Indeed, "The prince of this world comes, and has nothing in me." (John 14:30). And then shall be fulfilled that Word, "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain (kingdom)." (Isaiah 11:9).
What a tremendous hope lies before us, as the LOVE LIFE OF THE NEW COVENANT begins to spread over the earth. Then "nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Micah 4:3).
God shall remove from every man every fragment of the flesh (carnality) that responded to the negative influence of the "murderer." No more shall the wicked one kindle in man the emotions and dark thoughts of hate, anger, etc. which cause him to strike out and kill. Reconciliation, with all the mercy and compassion of the Divine nature, shall fill the earth with peace.
"You shall not commit adultery."
This speaks of a total contentment, with no seeking for something to excite or satisfy an inner longing yet unfulfilled. The raging passions of the flesh will have been silenced. The wandering eye will have become single to God.
Natural happenings are but symbolic of deeper spiritual realms. When we are completely satisfied with His fullness, there will be no desire within us that reaches out for any other relationship beside Him. Spiritual adultery will be removed far from us. No more will we join our spirit to any other spirit, for we shall become truly and completely ONE IN HIM. "He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit."
(1 Corinthians 6:17).This will bring an end to man joining his spirit to another man to help build his kingdom. No more will we pour our strength into the religious harlot systems of Babylon. "Give not your strength unto women." (Proverbs 31:3). Love for GOD ALONE will bring an end to all this illicit relationship which man has experienced with all the religions of the world. There will be no adulteration, all will be kept pure, to bring forth after His kind.
"These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God." (Revelation 14:4). And, this purity that we see in this first fruits company, shall ultimately be the purity of every man, when all are fully reconciled to God, and born anew from above. This commandment-- this PROMISE is a vital part of the new covenant that shall be FULFILLED in the earth. Praise God!
"You shall not steal."
Steal-- from the Hebrew "ganab" meaning: to thieve, and by implication, to deceive. How wonderful that He promises a day when no more will a man steal another man's trust, nor his confidence. Not taking what belongs to another.
Malachi 3:8 asks, "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me." In the context there is reference to Israel's robbing God of their "tithes and offerings." But Jesus took a giant stride beyond that realm, when He said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, JUDGMENT, MERCY, FAITH..." (Matthew 23:23).
Love will not rob another of that mercy so desperately needed. Love will not steal his faith, and substitute the traditions of man, empty creed and doctrine that destroy man's foundation of faith for daily living. The philosophies of man have chipped away at the trust, hope, faith of man, and stolen that which would have enriched his life in God. How marvelous, therefore, is this PROMISE that we shall not steal any more.
"Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory." (Acts 12:21-23). We have seen this over and over again, as men have allowed people to heap on them the praise and glory that belongs to God, thus, unwittingly they have stolen from God. But when we are totally filled with LOVE FOR GOD, we will not rob God of any honor, glory, praise that is due Him.
When the people saw a miracle at the hand of Paul, they said, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men." But Paul hastened to tell them, "We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God."
(Acts 14:11,15). No deceiving the people, no stealing here, for he turned all the glory back unto his precious Lord. May this be fulfilled, not in part, but completely, in us."You shall not bear false witness."
How shall this promise be fulfilled? When you become truth personified, your state of being and your speech will be one. No more will our actions be contrary to our speech, but all that we say and do will be a positive declaration that glorifies God, as "speaking the truth in love, we grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Ephesians 4:15).
"Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts." (Psalm 51:6). When everything within us is holy, then that which flows from our lips will be a true witness. Of our Lord it is written, "They wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth." (Luke 4:22). And so shall this be fulfilled in us, as this commandment, THIS PROMISE, this expression of God's will, is consummated in a people who are "as He is." (1 John 4:17).
"You shall not covet."
To covet is to have a perverted desire and unlawful grasping for that which is not rightly ours. In the record of Lucifer's fall, we read, "I will be like the Most High." It was a coveting of God's place. But how totally this was reversed in our Lord Jesus Christ. "Though He was existing in the nature of God, He did not think His being on an equality with God a thing to be selfishly grasped." (Philippians 2:6, Williams). Willingly He laid it all aside, took on the form of a servant, and sought to fulfill only the will of His Father.
In the wondrous outworking of the new covenant IN US, God shall have placed only pure desires within us, and then He will completely satisfy those pure desires with Himself. "My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord." (Jeremiah 31:14). They shall not covet after power, fame, fortune, etc. for IN HIM is the FULLNESS that shall meet every need. The flame of perverted desire, the lust of the flesh, shall be put out. THE FIRE OF GOD, in all its holiness, shall brightly burn upon the altar of our hearts.
All of the "YOU SHALLS" of His commandments shall be fulfilled, for they are the promises of a covenant keeping God. All of the "you shall nots" bespeaks of promises also, for when He has fully conformed us to His image, filled us with His divine nature of love, we will no more respond to any unholy enticement to do evil. These are not negative commands, but THEY ARE A GLIMPSE INTO THE WILL OF GOD which shall be gloriously fulfilled in all the earth, as His new covenant is fully established In every man.
"The test of the genuineness of our love for God's family lies in this question-- do we love God Himself and do we obey His commands? For loving God means obeying His commands, and these commands of His are not burdensome, for God's 'heredity' within us will always conquer the world outside us." (1 John 5:2-4, Phillips translation).
Herein lies the secret of our victory-- and how all these commands of God are brought to fulfillment-- because of our BEING BORN OF GOD. When it is "God's heredity within us," when it is HIS LIFE AND NATURE, then it is not a struggle to live out His will, it is a joy and a privilege, for all the time it is truly "God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose." (Philippians 2:13, Phillips). Yes, then shall all "the righteousness of the law be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:4). How total, how complete are His provisions for His creation. Amen!
They called it law-- rigid command,
And viewed so negative.
For man could not fulfill its score,
And in its blessing live.
Then Jesus came in Spirit pow'r,
Prophets and law fulfill.
Became our blessed living hope,
Revealed the Father's will.
That as He is, so we shall be,
In Christ be born anew,
And by the power of His life
In us, fulfill it too.
The ministration has been changed,
No more to speak of death,
Its condemnation fades away,
He is our righteous breath.
And now we view God's laws as rare
Expressions of His will.
Commandments all are promises
That bode for us no ill.
For in His life, we too shall live,
As grace shall yet abound,
And ere the ages run their course,
We'll all, in Him, be found.Contents - Part 5 - 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