The apostles proclaimed and argued humankind�s need to enter into a new covenant with God. This new agreement defined the duties and expectations of God, of the Christian, and of their relationship for all eternity. The apostles explained to all who would listen the New Covenant requirements of repentance, acceptance of Jesus as personal savior, baptism, laying on of hands. They sought all who would listen to repent and become followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
An Agreement with Individuals
The New Covenant, unlike the Old with its materialistic national tones, consisted of a spiritual agreement between God and the individual. The apostles regarded the New Covenant as necessary due to a fatal flaw in the Old. This flaw was the underlying basis of the failure of the nation of Israel to internalize God�s laws and to perform its duties and obligations thereunder.
The people of Israel did not perform their part by reason of their basic human disposition, often called human nature, to do otherwise (Hebrews 8:7-10). Like all humans they were prone to sin. This fatal flaw had to do with their lack of long-term capacity, motivation, aspiration, and desire to trust and obey God (Romans 8:7). The apostles taught that in recognition of this flaw, a New and better Covenant had been planned to replace the Old Covenant alliance.
The people of Israel, like all human beings, were capable of obeying YHWH the God of the Old Covenant when they were of the mind and heart to do so (Deuteronomy 30:11). Yet, even at the inception of the Old Covenant, the nation of Israel was not predisposed to exercise the necessary commitment and endurance to live by its terms. Notice the Eternal�s lament of the way of his bride as narrated by Moses, "Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandment always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!" (Deuteronomy 5:29 NASB). She did not possess the deep inner character necessary to be a faithful, loving wife and YHWH knew it.
The apostle Paul explained this phenomenon to the church congregation at Rome in less ambiguous terms. He wrote: "For the mind set on the flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:6-8 NASB).
All humans, including the people of ancient Israel, were in Paul�s terms "in the flesh." That is, without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit their humanness dominated, governed, and overpowered their whole being. For Paul, the church as the new people of God did not suffer this malady as they had been enabled through the indwelling of the Spirit of God to command their lives in accord with God�s way of life.
The epistle to the Hebrews, distinguishing the fundamental nature of the two covenants, records that "the covenant of which he [Jesus of Nazareth] is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises" (Hebrews 8:6 NIV). That is, the New Covenant was seen as not only superior to the Old Covenant but based upon better promises as well. One way this superiority can be understood is by distinguishing between the types of agreement in which God chose to frame the Old and New Covenants.
The Old Covenant was a bilateral agreement. The proposal by YHWH to the physical nation of Israel was an offer for them to become his wife. All Israel had to do to enter the agreement was to agree to it. Israel�s acceptance of his offer was all that was necessary to enter this bilateral contract. The heart of a bilateral contact is a promise for a promise. The mutual exchange of promises, called mutuality of obligation, was the basis of the consideration of the contract and the essence of its formation. At the inception of the Old Covenant Israel�s integrity or character was not in issue. Later, according to Paul, "God found fault with the people" (Hebrews 8:8 NIV) as they failed to perform their obligations. To be freed from this matrimonial alliance YHWH had to either die or to divorce the nation. YHWH chose to do both.
A Unilateral Agreement
Unlike the Old Covenant, the New Covenant was a unilateral agreement. A unilateral agreement is formed by an offer or a promise by one side for an act to be done by the other. Only one party makes a promise. The doing of the act by the other is the way of acceptance of the offer or promise. The only acceptance of the offer that is allowable is the performance of the act. God was the promisor. The individual Christian was the promisee who must perform the act or series of acts in order to receive the promise. Once performance by the promisee was complete the contract was formed and irrevocable. The Christian had to complete his or her part as a condition precedent to God�s performance of granting the Christian eternal life and opportunity to take part in the marriage of spiritual Israel, the Church of God, to YHWH, Jesus of Nazareth, the Lamb of God.
The initial obligation in the New Covenant was upon the Christian to perform his or her part. When the Christian�s performance was complete, at the end of his or her human life, then God became obligated to perform his part. Christian performance made "faithfulness" to the end necessary. Jesus Christ will marry a perfect bride, in integrity and character, who has made herself ready by fulfilling all her obligations. Therefore, God will not have to die or divorce to be free of this agreement. In fact, once God performs his part the agreement will become executed. There will be no possible way for its breach since it will be complete.
Page last edited: 01/26/06 07:12 PM
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