THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT

Program Air Date – 12-5-10

LESSON TITLE: “BEHOLD ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW: A NEW COVENANT”

WELCOME

Good morning, and thanks for joining us for the study of God’s Living Word! We are glad you have put God first this day and decided to give this time to Him. It will be our privilege this morning to sing songs of praise, to study His precious Word, and to approach the throne of God in prayer. So, at this time may we start our praise to God by talking with our Father in prayer? Bow with me please!

(PRAYER)

Let’s begin immediately with our songs of praise. The first song of the morning reminds us of just how wondrous the eternal home of Heaven will be. So won’t you do your part in worship to God at this time and join in with the congregation as we sing together, “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be!”

(SONG # 1)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

There are many passages which are misunderstood or misapplied in the scriptures. One such passages those men often misuse is found in 1 Corinthians 9:20-22. There we read, “and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law…, that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.” I can’t tell you how many times people have abused Paul’s teachings here to indicate that somehow we are to engage in or take on any characteristics of this life, in order to reach others. They go further to say we can even participate in sin to be like those around us, so we may be able to reach them with the gospel of Christ.

However, that is not at all what Paul is confirming in this passage. What he was trying to help the Corinthian brethren with, was the idea that we must be ready and prepared to deal with every soul we meet from where they are in their life. For example, if I were to study with a Jew, I would need to start with the fact that Jesus Christ truly is the Son of God - the Messiah. I would not have to prove to them who God the Father was, since they already believe that fact. On the other hand, if I were studying with a Gentile, I would need to start at the very beginning, like “who is God,” and “why should we believe that He is real.”

The great lesson Paul helps us with in these passages is to understand that we must work with all men and teach them from where they are in this life, taking into account their religious knowledge, their background, their culture, their upbringing, etc. Then and only then can we be truly effective in helping someone to know Jesus the Christ.

Have you been diligent in and willing to become all things to all men in your Christian walk. If not you need to begin practicing this precious truth which comes directly from the Word of God.

In just a few minutes it will be time to begin our main study of the day. As far as our speaker, we are happy to have brother Jerry Sullins with us this morning. Brother Jerry is the director of the Bible Institute of Missouri. We thank him for joining us this day.

As far as our lesson topic this morning, we will again focus on our series entitled, “Behold All Things Have Become New!” The specific discussion this morning will deal with, “A New Covenant!” So, please stay with us this morning and in just a few minutes brother Jerry will be leading us in this study from God’s Word. Now let’s join together in our second song of the day. The name of this hymn, “Home Of The Soul.”

(SONG # 2)

LESSON

By Jerry Sullins

I would like to welcome you to “The Living Word” broadcast. We are so thankful that you are able to tune in to this program today and t again watch this television program and to know more about God’s Word.

I am very happy to be able to be with you again and to present to you something that is very near and dear to our hearts and that is the idea that there is a new covenant that we are under. There are many confusing remarks and feelings that are out in the religious world today concerning the covenant that God has made with man. Now it’s not difficult for man to understand that God throughout the ages has made covenants. In fact, there are so many covenants that we can read about in the Bible itself especially in the Old Testament. God made a covenant with Adam and Eve. God made a covenant with Noah. God made a covenant with Abraham. And God made a covenant with the children of Israel and so many other covenants are mentioned in the Bible.

Specifically when we look at the Bible itself, as you who know much about the Bible at all or just a little about the Bible, you will note that it is called the Bible which means the “Book of Books.” It is made of 66 books in two different sections which are referred to as the Old Testament and the New Testament. Now they are commonly referred to as testaments, but actually the word “testament” can be covenant or it can be agreement. And whereas in the Old Testament, many covenants are made between God and man, there is one major covenant that the term “Old Testament” is referring to and that is the covenant that God made with the children of Israel that is given to Moses on Mt. Sinai after the children of Israel were delivered from Egyptian bondage. This my friend is what we commonly refer to as “The Law of Moses.” Now we are not under that law today and most so called Christian people believe and understand that we are not under that law. They know that there is a new law and that law is based upon Christ. But yet some try to hold on to portions or parts of the Old Law of Moses.

So what does the Bible have to say about these things? It’s important that we have book, chapter and verse for everything that we believe as far as our faith is concerned. So today, we’re going to look at what the Bible has to say about the Old Covenant that is the Law of Moses verses the New Covenant which is the Law of Christ.

I would like to call your attention and we are going to be reading from the book of Hebrews chapter 8 first of all, then we will go to Hebrews chapter 10 and hear some very important words. Now for your consideration, listen to what the Bible has to say. “For if the first covenant had been faultless…” That is talking about the Old Covenant or the Law of Moses, and anyone who has read the book of Hebrews understands clearly that that’s what this is speaking of. “If the first covenant had been faultless…” So therefore the Law of Moses was full of fault. “…then no place would have been sought for a second.” It goes on to say, “Because finding fault with them he says…” This is a statement or prophecy that is made back in the book of Leviticus. “…Behold the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.’” Speaking to the children of Israel. “‘Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they did not continue in my covenant…’” That’s the Law of Moses. “’And I disregarded them,’ says the Lord.” Then in verse 13 it says, “In that He says,” that is God says, “He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

I call your attention to a description of this New Covenant just a couple of chapters later in Hebrews chapter 10 beginning with verse 19 and I am going to read through verse 23. That is Hebrews chapter 10 verses 19-23. It says, “Therefore brethren having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Christ by a New and a Living Way which He consecrated for us through the veil that is His flesh and having a High Priest over the House of God let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith having our heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” So definitely over and over again in the book of Hebrews it is pointed out so many times the importance that God has placed us under a New Covenant.

Now when He was speaking of the New and the Living Way, what was He making mention of when He mentioned “The New Way?” Again, we turn to God’s Word to see what the answer to this question is as you well know you who have studied Old Testament history and have delved into the Law of Moses, the High Priest once a year would enter into the tabernacle and he would go to the Holiest of Holies, then he would proceed to place the sins of the children of Israel for that year on the back of a scapegoat and they would symbolically run it out into the wilderness, meaning that their sins would be passed on until the next year and then on until the next year and then on until the next year until Jesus would come and shed His blood upon the cross for the forgiveness of those sins.

Well in the book of Hebrews again chapter 5 and verse 10 verse 4 it says, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.” It was never possible through the Law of Moses for sins to be taken away. It was never intended under the Law of Moses that sins would be taken away, just that God would be satisfied for those sins that were committed by the children of Israel by a system that He had placed forth to roll those sins forward through the placing of those sins on the back of that scapegoat and running it out into the wilderness until Jesus came and shed His blood on the cross of Calvary.

Under the Law of Moses, there was no forgiveness of sins. But not so under the New Covenant, as we turn again to Hebrews chapter 10 verse 12, it says, “But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever…” This man he is speaking to as Jesus Himself sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.

Then in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 13 an interesting statement is made concerning Christ. It says, “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkle the unclean sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh…” That is under the Old Testament that could happen. He went on to say in verse 14, “How much more shall the blood of Christ through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God.” The fact is: What did take place under the New Covenant was that our sins would be washed away by and through the blood of Jesus Christ, and that was the plan of God from the very beginning.

Under the Old Law, in that we are looking how this is a New Way, under the Old Law, there could be no justification before God.

If you turn to Romans chapter 3 verse 20, the scripture says, “Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.”

So my friend, what happened to that Old Law? That’s the question that many people have asked themselves because they read of it in the Bible. They ask the question within themselves: Why is it that we have the Old Testament there if we’re no longer in anyway subject to it. Well commonly the verse is known in Romans 15 verse 4 that, “The things of Old were written for our learning and for our admonition.” By looking at those great examples we can grow our faith. It’s not that we should follow those things.

God made a covenant with Noah to build an ark but it is not us who God made that covenant with. It was with Noah. We don’t have to go out and build an ark to be safe. That’s not God’s plan under His New Covenant.

God made a covenant with the children of Israel. That covenant was fulfilled. That covenant actually fulfilled its purpose and after the Law passed away the Law of Christ came out or actually was put into effect.

Now is there a verse that explains that? Yes, there is! Colossians 2 verse 4 says, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances which was against us, which was contrary to us, He took it out of the way and He nailed it to His cross.” Now what is that “old handwriting of ordinances” which was against us and contrary to us? Speaking of the Jews themselves, it was the Law of Moses because it was a law that could not be kept properly and so therefore the New Covenant came into effect.

In Hebrews chapter 10 verse 9 the statement is made, “Then says He, ‘For I am come to do Thy Will, Oh God. He taketh away the first that He may establish the second.’” He established the second! And what was that second? That second was found in Jesus Christ the Lord. He took the Old out of the way. Jesus took the Old out of the way on the cross and nailed it to His cross and He established the second through His blood. (Matthew 26 verse 28) “For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Do you see it? You should be able to see it so clearly.

So what is that New Covenant? It is the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was what Paul spoke of in Romans 1 verse 16 where he said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who would believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” So it is a New Covenant!

You know why should we be so foreign to understanding that covenants pass away? They become old. They vanish. They become obsolete and a New Covenant is established. A new agreement is made. There is a New Testament in many situations in life that we must follow. Yes, my friend, as far as God is concerned, there is a New Testament today. We know it very well by reading His Word.

Well it is also a Living Way. As we can see certainly it’s a Living Way. Is there something in the Bible that speaks of this? Well sure. What did Jesus say in John 14 verse 6? “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” Now that is a New Way.

Why is it such a New Way and a special Way? Because Who said that? Jesus the Son of God!

How did He establish that covenant? By dying upon the cross and shedding His life’s blood for your sins and for my sins, and in that by establishing that New Covenant.

Don’t you love that statement that Jesus made in John 11, the story of Mary, Martha and the death of Lazareth? Remember what He said? I believe it was to Martha. In verses 25 and 26 of John chapter 11, maybe the most beautiful statement in all of the scripture. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.” That’s why it is a Living Way.

Under the Old Law that was not possible. The Ten Commandments certainly could not do it. Not the observation of such, and it cannot do it today. It is only through the blood of Christ, our obedience to the gospel of Christ that we can have that everlasting life.

And look how it is a Living Way in John 3 verse 17. “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” What a beautiful statement.

That previous verse said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Oh how indeed it is a New and a Living Way.

It is something that will cause us if we obey it and follow that New Covenant to be able to last forever and ever. But we must come to it with a true heart. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Those who are pure in heart enough to recognize that I must obey God’s eternal Truth that is based upon that precious gift that He gave on the cross, that I must attune my heart to those teachings. I must dedicate myself to that life that Jesus desires for me to live. And I must be willing to say, “Lord, what would you have me to do? As the Philippian jailor did when Paul and Silas in chapter 16 taught them those wonderful truths. You must say within yourself those precious words, “What must I do to be saved?” Then you can become a part of that New Covenant.

My friend, it is simply this. With your belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, repent or turn away from your sins. Confess the precious name of Christ and be buried with Christ in baptism to arise and walk in newness of life. That’s not only what Jesus died for, but that’s what all but John of the apostles died for. That is so they might bring that precious message of Truth that God has provided for us, that New and that Living Way.

It is up to you as I’ve said many times in my sermons. It is your decision now may very well determine where you spend eternity. I plead with you and the church pleads with you that you make that proper decision to obey God.

(SONG # 3 - “I Am Thine Oh Lord!”)

CLOSING COMMENTS

May I again take this opportunity to thank you for joining us today? I hope our time together has been an uplifting and an encouragement to all. Please remember that you are invited back to join us every first day of the week, at 7:30, as we commit ourselves to this time of Worship before God!

But for now, let me ask if you have any questions or comments about today’s lesson? Maybe, you would like a free transcript or a cassette tape of this program? Possibly, we could assist you with free Bible materials or correspondence courses? No matter what your need is, please contact us at the following address:

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Now let me ask, have you submitted to the New Covenant of Christ, or are you stuck in the things of the past or even this world. Why not give yourself fully to God today, by submitting to the Perfect Law of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior!

(Program closing)