Salvation to the Uttermost E-Book

Rev. Daniel G. Caram

• Herausgeber: Zion Christian Publishers
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

The covenant given at Mt Sinai symbolized an unattainable religion. The very mountain was covered in clouds, the mediator of this covenant was veiled, and the people could not enter into the holy tabernacle. In fact, at the inauguration of this covenant 3,000 people died.However, the New Covenant symbolizes attainable religion. When this covenant was inaugurated, 3,000 people lived. The veil has been rent and our Mediator is always there for us! In this book Rev. Caram shows how the whole purpose of this covenant is to bring us to a place of true communion where His law is written in our hearts and we can experience the Lord saying “I will be their God and they will be My people.”

Leseprobe

Salvation to the Uttermost

An Exposition on the New Covenant

Daniel G. Caram

“Salvation to the Uttermost: An Exposition on the New Covenant”

© 2005 Daniel G. Caram

Printed March 2005

All Rights Reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations in this book are taken from the

King James Version Bible unless otherwise stated.

Published by Zion Christian Publishers

Version 1.0

Published as an e-book on November 2017

in the United States of America

E-book ISBN 1-59665-703-0

For more information, please contact:

Zion Christian Publishers

A Zion Fellowship ® Ministry

P.O. Box 70

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Phone: [phone]

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the following:

• To Mary Humphreys – for her proficiency in the editing of this book.

• To Jeremy Kropf – for his proficiency in the formatting of this book.

• To Rev. Joseph Cilluffo – for his creative artistry on the front cover.

Salvation to the Uttermost

An exposition on the New Covenant

Foreword

For some time now, I have felt the Spirit of God impressing upon me the truths of the New Covenant – the new heart, the new spirit, and the laws of God written upon the living tables – all a part of the new covenant promises, and yet not readily understood by many.

It is with this intention that we set forth this commentary – that we might enable the reader to comprehend the New Testament promises with greater clarity. By no means is this dissertation exhaustive, yet, it provides a framework whereby the student may begin to see the purposes of God in a more congruous manner. As the apostle Paul said: “That ye may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge…”

The Old Covenant (given at Mt Sinai) had many debilitating factors to it, and the Old Covenant was only age-lasting – it had an end! The New Covenant promises are eternal, “the everlasting covenant” (Heb. 13:20). They are eternal because they are sealed in the blood of the Divine. The promise of the New Covenant is full redemption – salvation to the uttermost. Because our first father sinned, man lost his place in God and he lost his inheritance. Yet, through the redemptive work of the “Second Adam” (Christ), man can actually come into a greater place in God, and into a greater paradise than the one he lost!

The New Covenant not only affords the power to perfect the seeker, but it also promises to give him an eternal inheritance. May we allow the Spirit of God to show us the greatness of what our Savior has wrought for us through His own blood!

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him;

and he will show them his covenant.

(Psalm 25:14)

Introduction

Throughout the Old Testament, there are many allusions as to what the New Covenant entailed. However, Jeremiah is the only prophet who actually uses the term “New Covenant.” At the time that Jeremiah wrote chapter thirty-one, a segment of Israel had already been carried into Babylon. Yet, the Lord was already giving Jeremiah a message of hope and restoration for Israel before their final demise. Jeremiah was so overwhelmed when he saw the abundant goodness and mercy restored to Israel at the end, that it was as though he were waking from a beautiful dream. It was at this moment that the Lord begins to speak to Jeremiah about the “New Covenant.”

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

(Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Not according to the covenant they brake

The Old Covenant had its many demands. There were the Ten Commandments that were inscribed upon stone. There was also the “book” of the covenant (Ex. 24:7). The book of the covenant entailed many rules and regulations (Exodus chapters 20-23), most of which concerned moral and civil codes – with their judgments.  (The Levitical ceremonies and ordinances came after the tabernacle was constructed).

All of these regulations were a part of the Old Covenant, yet we could legitimately say that they are all represented (or summarized) by the Ten Commandments. Basically, the Law engraved upon stone symbolized the Old Covenant (Ex. 34:28) – “Which law they brake!” While Moses was ascending Mount Sinai to receive the “tables of the covenant,” the camp (in the mean time) was constructing a golden calf (Ex. 32). When Moses returned and saw the corruption of the people, in a holy rage he smashed the tables of the covenant – a very ominous sign that Israel would break this covenant!

Moses again ascended the mountain, and the Lord again wrote His law upon the tables of stone. When Moses descended the second time, he put the law within the ark: “And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark” (Deut. 10:2). The law that was put into the ark signifies the law that would be kept – only not by Israel. Israel would not keep it, because the ark would always be veiled throughout the Old Covenant era. In other words, it would be unattainable in the fullest sense.

The ark symbolic of the New Covenant

The Ark of the Covenant (in this instance) symbolizes the New Covenant because the law was resident there. When Christ died on the cross, the veil in the temple was rent – signifying that the New Covenant was now in force. The way had been opened, and it was an attainable covenant. This scenario also helps us to understand what the apostle Paul was saying in Second Corinthians, chapter three, when he speaks of the veil still being over Israel’s eyes. Israel is still under the Old Covenant – even though it is no longer valid. Their eyes are still veiled from the New Covenant, and they cannot enter into the New Covenant (as a nation) until they recognize the One who tore the veil away!

If we can appreciate the ark as being symbolic of the New Covenant, that will help us to understand many truths. For example, that helps us to understand David’s Tabernacle. After David took Mt. Zion, he brought the ark to Jerusalem and put it in an unveiled tent. David, in a figure, experienced what New Testament worship was intended to be (Acts 15:15-16) – ministry in the presence of the Lord! He experienced (in a figure) the gift of righteousness that the New Covenant provides – that is, for those who seek it!

Israel enters the covenant in the millennium

The vision of restoration that Jeremiah saw in chapter thirty-one, far transcends anything that Israel has ever experienced hitherto. It transcends the restoration of Ezra/Nehemiah. The vision actually transcends the Church Age. It is not until the millennium that Israel (as a nation) will receive Christ. It is not until the millennium that Israel will be restored to grandeur (indeed, far beyond their former greatness). It is not until the millennium that Israel will enter the “New Covenant.” We certainly cannot apply Jeremiah 31:33-34 to Israel now! The law is not in their hearts; they are not forgiven from their sins; and they do not know Him. Their eyes are veiled from Him.

The apostle Paul claims the New Covenant

In the book of Hebrews, the apostle claims the New Covenant for all that believe. Obviously, “Hebrews” was written to the believing Jews in Jerusalem. Although Israel as a nation would reject Christ, there were still a large number of Jews that did believe. In fact, St. Paul made this statement in 2 Corinthians 3:14: “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.” For the Jews who received Christ, the veil of blindness was removed and now they could experience the reality of the New Covenant.

Even amongst the believing Jews there was a problem. Many of them were still attached to the Old Covenant, and some were going backward. The apostle has to straighten out some of their theology. Let us consider a few verses from the book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Hebrews 8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

Hebrews 8:9  Not according to the covenant that 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 continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Hebrews 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Hebrews 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Hebrews 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

As we shall see, the author of Hebrews is claiming the promises of Jeremiah 31:31-34, for those who believe. The believing Jews in Jerusalem were reverting into various rituals of the Old Covenant, and this was essentially the reason for the writing of this letter. (We will be considering some of these truths later in this study.) However, for the moment we need to clearly understand that the Church was entering the promises of the covenant given to Israel. Israel (as a nation) was being cut off from the promise of the covenant until the Second Coming (Rom. 11:25-27).

The apostle continues to show the Hebrew believers in the following verses, that the New Covenant is now:

Hebrews 10:15  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

Hebrews 10:16  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

Hebrews 10:17  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Hebrews 10:18  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Hebrews 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Hebrews 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Clearly, Christ opened the veil through His crucifixion. Moreover, it is through the blood of Christ that we can apprehend the beautiful promises of the New Covenant: Sins forgiven, access to the throne of grace, and the prospects of having a new heart – one that loves the law of God! Does not the Holy Ghost bear witness? Again, we emphasis the fact that this New Covenant is one that shall be kept. We can apprehend its righteous demands through our Lord and Savior! Amen!

All of the provisions made available to us through the New Covenant, enable us to be the “Holy Nation” that Christ desires.

The sequence of some of the following chapters may not be in the order of Jeremiah chapter 31. Jeremiah begins the promise with “having the laws written upon the heart,” whereas, Ezekiel's version ends with “having the laws being written upon the heart.” At conversion, we are (theoretically) given a new heart and a new spirit. However, the actuality of this may take a considerable time!

There will be a certain repetition throughout this commentary. This is intentional, and it is key to retaining certain truths. To hear something three times is not redundancy, it is a fact that we must hear something at least three times in order to retain it.

Israel forfeits their privilege to the Church

In the introduction of this book, we made mention of the fact that Israel was going to forfeit their New Covenant privilege to the Church. Indeed, Israel was destined to be cut off from the promised covenant for the whole of the Church Age (about 2000 years). In order for us to fully appreciate their predetermined fate, we must consider some of the Old Testament types or foreshadows.

The tabernacle scenario

Firstly, let us consider the tabernacle of Moses, which was a shadow of spiritual truths (Heb. 8:5). There were three sections to this tabernacle, which speak of the three dispensations: the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Millennial age. (The word testament and covenant are the same word in Greek.) The dimensions of the three sections of the tabernacle are as follows:

• The Outer Court Fence – 1500 square cubits

• The Holy Place – 2000 cubic cubits

• The Holiest Place – 1000 cubic cubits

The Outer Court speaks of the Old Covenant, which was roughly 1500 years. It began at the giving of the covenant upon Mt Sinai, until the initiation of the New Covenant – at the cross (Heb. 9:16-17).

The Holy Place speaks of the Church Age, which is about 2000 years. The Church Age began with the death/resurrection of Christ and continues until the Second Coming or the Millennium (Rom. 11:25-26).

The Holy of Holies speaks of the Millennial age, which features the 1000-year reign of Christ upon earth. It begins at the Second Coming and concludes at the great “White Throne” judgment (Rev. 20:6-15).

Reflecting upon the tabernacle scenario: Israel fits into the outer court, and the Church fits into the holy place. What divides the holy place from the holiest place is the veil. (Remember that the ark was in the holiest place.) For those of us who are in the Church Age, the veil has been rent. We have access to the promises of this covenant through the Blood of Christ! For those in the outer court (Israel) there is a two thousand-year gap between them and the promised covenant.

The “2000” gap

Consider yet another figure; when Israel was crossing into the Promised Land, they had to maintain a 2000 cubit gap between them and the ark:

And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

(Joshua 3:3-4)

Notice how the last sentence is worded: “…That ye may know the way by which ye must go.” Here was another forecast that Israel would be cut off for the 2000-year dispensation of the Church. At the end of the (approximate) 2000-year Church Age, Israel is redeemed, and they enter the promised covenant given through Jeremiah.

St. Paul expounds on the subject

The apostle Paul is very explicit as to Israel’s salvation as a nation. In the book of Romans, chapter 11:25-27, We read: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

It really cannot be made much clearer than the above passages. Israel is blinded until the Church Age is over. When the Church Age (approx. 2000 years) is over, the Savior comes as Israel’s deliverer – He turns them from their ungodliness. Notice the last sentence: “For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” This is my covenant unto them, when I take away their sin. What covenant promises the removing of sins? The New Covenant!