Carl’s Cogitations: Entering the Covenant (Part 1)

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Several of the past articles in this column have focused on the promise God made regarding the Seed that would come and purchase a covenant of reconciliation that would allow us the opportunity to gain eternal salvation and a home in the eternal rest of God. Since such a covenant exists and is currently in effect, the natural question would be, “How does one enter into this covenant with God?” It is my hope to briefly address this question as it is of paramount importance for everyone to be in a proper covenant relationship with God.

Of first importance, we should note that this covenant has already been ratified by Jesus Christ, and He serves as the mediator of this covenant. Furthermore, it is worthy to note that the ratification of this covenant came at the cost of His blood being shed and His life being offered as the supreme and final sacrifice; for this is the way of a covenant made with God…it requires blood to be shed and sacrifice to be made. To fully understand not only this historical practice by God with regard to His covenants but also the necessity for this covenant (testament) of reconciliation to require such a higher cost than that which preceded it, examine the following lengthy excerpt found in Hebrews 9:16-28. I encourage you to pause, open your Bible, and read through it without interruption first, as I will be breaking it up with interjected comments below.

For where there is a testament, there must also, of necessity, be the testator’s death. A testament is in force after men are dead since it has no power while the testator lives. (16-17)

Here the Hebrew writer asserts a common fact when it comes to testament, for the covenant we have in Christ is a testament, just as the one God had with the descendants of Israel. The fact is that a testament is not ratified until the testator has died…it is similar to how a Will works in our modern society. Thus, while Jesus was still alive in the flesh, the New Testament was not yet in effect. On a side note, this answers the age-old question, “What about the thieve on the cross?” He was still under the Old Covenant, not the New, as Jesus was still alive, breathing, and talking to the thief.

Therefore, not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Then likewise, he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And according to the law, almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding blood, there is no forgiveness. (18-22)

God has always used blood for the purpose of purification and forgiveness. Even at the first offense of humanity committed, God Himself sacrificed life for Adam and Eve. While we do not get all the details in Genesis 3:21, the fact that God made them clothing of skins to cover their nakedness would require the death of the animal(s) from which the skins were obtained; thus, blood was shed, and life was offered for their sin. Likewise, God purified all the elements and people involved in a covenant with Him with blood. The blood of animals was sufficient for the provisional covenant with Israel, but the eternal covenant with all of humanity required the perfect sacrifice of Jesus and His blood. Jesus Himself, in the upper room, referenced His blood in this fashion; “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28). Just as God’s previous covenants were ratified with blood; His final covenant was likewise ratified with blood.

Therefore, it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world. Still, once at the end of the ages, He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this judgment, Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (23-28)

After Christ made the once for all sacrifice, he assumed His place in the true heavenly tabernacle, not made with hands making the necessary intercessions for those who have entered into the covenant of reconciliation, which He purchased with His blood. The writer of Hebrews ends this section with the promise of Jesus’ return. This return is not in regards to sin as He in His previous coming dealt with sin at the cross, but the second coming is for salvation for those eagerly waiting for it. I would conclude that those who are eager are those who maintain their covenant relationship with God through Christ. We will delve more into maintaining our relationship with God in a future article. I will close this article by backing up the passages before the text is examined here. Next week’s article will continue this exploration of what the scriptures have to say regarding how to enter this wonderful covenant God has offered to the world through Christ.

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, He entered the Most Holy Place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant so that those called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:11-15)

(Carl Hartman is the Minister at Main Street Church of Christ in Lockney)

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