Church Covenant
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Theologians often describe the era in which the elect of the Gentile nations of the world are “grafted in” to the eternal, redemptive plan of God as the “Church Age”. It began with the formation of the church in Jerusalem shortly after the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ (Acts 2:1-47). The Church Age will end when the “fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25).
Church and Covenant Israel partnered with God by means of the Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic covenants. They entered into covenant with God by trusting Him to fulfill the stipulations of the unconditional Abrahamic and Davidic covenants and agreeing to obey the law of the conditional Mosaic Covenant. The Abrahamic and Davidic covenants were unilateral, unconditional covenants of promise. God promised to fulfill the stipulations of both covenants regardless of the performance of Israel. In contrast, the Mosaic Covenant was a bilateral, conditional covenant of law. Both God and Israel had clearly stated responsibilities that would lead to the fulfillment of covenant stipulations. Unlike ancient Israel, the distinct church of the New Testament does not relate to God through covenant partnership. Instead, it enjoys relationship with God as the primary beneficiary of the Eternal Covenant. The stipulations of the Eternal Covenant were satisfied by God alone. Therefore, the reception of its benefit during the Church Age does not depend on the performance of the church; good or bad. Instead, under gracious rule of divine life (zoe), the New Testament church partakes of the benefit of the Eternal Covenant by faith alone. The primary benefit of the Eternal Covenant enjoyed by the New Testament church is unconditional union of life with the mediator of the covenant, Jesus Christ. By grace through faith alone, the ecclesia is privileged to share the very life (zoe) of God in Christ. United with Him, the New Testament church enjoys heavenly position and privilege directly and immediately. Heavenly Position and Privilege The heavenly position and privilege of the distinct church of the New Testament is unparalleled. Sharing life with God, the church is “blessed….with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). The following table provides a sampling of the lavish, unconditional benefit of the church in union with Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the Eternal Covenant: |
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The unparalleled position and privilege of the distinct church of the New Testament was established by the divine fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant and the subsequent choice of God to graciously and unconditionally apply its benefit to the church before the foundation of the world. The New Testament church does not perform to receive or maintain the benefit of the Eternal Covenant with its heavenly position and privilege. Instead, resting in the finished work and consequent blessing of the Savior, it enjoys the benefit by faith alone.
Covenantal Security The New Testament church is eternally secure in its unparalleled position and privilege. It is secured by the will and work of God in His application of the benefit of the Eternal Covenant to the distinct church of the New Testament without condition. Relative to the unconditional nature of the benefit of the Eternal Covenant, there are no conditions that the New Testament church, individually or collectively, must satisfy in order to maintain its lofty position and privilege. It is a free gift from God. The unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant is received and enjoyed by the New Testament church by grace alone. Thus, the perseverance of the church in the benefit of the Eternal Covenant is not contingent on its earthly conduct, but faith alone (2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:6). The gracious, unconditional choice of God to provide the New Testament church with covenant security was not without cost. The purchase price was the blood of Jesus Christ (cf. Ephesians 1:7, 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). The blood of the Eternal Covenant was utterly sufficient to pay in full the penalty for the transgression of divine law. The last thing Jesus said on the cross was “tetelestai”. It is translated into English as “It is finished” (John 19:30). However, it can also be translated “the debt has been paid in full”. The blood of the Eternal Covenant completely satisfied the justice of God in regard to human sin. There is no remaining debt that demands payment. By the blood of the Eternal Covenant, the Father was legally free to share His holy, eternal life (zoe) with human beings He foreknew would respond by faith. The divine choice to share life (zoe) with the faithful was not based on their earthly conduct. They were chosen without condition before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Although God had foreknowledge of every act of sin that that would be committed on earth, His eternal plan accounted for the entire debt of sin, without exception. The sealing of the Holy Spirit further serves to confirm God’s gracious, unconditional choice of His elect during the Church Age. It is a pledge of divine ownership that guarantees security of eternal position and privilege (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul went to great lengths to address the unconditional covenant security of the distinct church of the New Testament. In spite of the suffering associated with this present world, he clarifies that the covenantal security of the New Testament church has been assured through divine hope (Romans 8:18-25); divine intercession (Romans 8:26-27); divine purpose (8:28-30); divine benevolence (Romans 8:31-34); divine love (Romans 8:35-39); and divine choice (Romans 9-11). By gracious, unconditional choice of God, the distinct church of the New Testament is eternally secure in its incomparable position and privilege. Its security was purchased by the unconditional covenant benefit of the blood of Jesus Christ. As a consequence, the New Testament church is utterly privileged to enjoy the intimacy of an unconditional union of life with God. Confirmed by the sealing of the Holy Spirit, insecurity and fear have been replaced with security and faith. |
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Gloriously Inclusive
The eternal plan of God is gloriously inclusive. The legal framework of His Eternal Covenant was designed to accommodate the inclusion of both the elect of the nation of Israel and the Gentile nations in His eternal purpose and plan. While temporarily suspended from the redemptive plan of God, the elect of the nation of Israel do not experience the glory of the covenant plans and promises of God. During the Church Age, they are a people of promise only. However, the blood of the Eternal Covenant provides them with a guarantee of the fulfillment of the promises and stipulations of the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants through the future invocation of the New Covenant. It was predetermined by God to occur with the fulfillment of their promised Millennial Kingdom on earth. In contrast, the distinct church of the New Testament is privileged to experience the benefit of the heavenly Eternal Covenant immediately. Rather than waiting for the fulfillment of covenant promises, its unconditional enjoyment of covenant position, privilege and security is a present reality. |
