|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Church Covenant |
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Theologians often describe the era in which the elect of the Gentile nations of the world is “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 the 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 through 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 covenantal stipulations. Unlike ancient Israel, the distinct church of the New Testament does not relate to God through covenant partnership. Instead, it enjoys its 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 the 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 for the New Testament church is an 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. United with God in Christ, the New Testament church enjoys heavenly position and privilege directly and immediately. Heavenly Position and Privilege The heavenly position and privilege of the New Testament church are unparalleled. Sharing life with God, the church is “blessed….with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). The following is a mere sampling of the lavish, unconditional benefit of the church in union with Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the Eternal Covenant: |
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
The unparalleled position and privilege of the distinct church of the New Testament were established by the divine fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant and the subsequent choice of God to apply its benefit graciously and unconditionally 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.
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Covenantal Security
The New Testament church is eternally secure in its unparalleled position and privilege. God secured it through His unconditional application of the benefit of the Eternal Covenant to the New Testament church. 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 to maintain its lofty position and privilege. It was a 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). God's gracious, unconditional choice 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 the penalty for the transgression of divine law in full. The last recorded word Jesus said on the cross was the Greek word “tetelestai.” It is translated into English as “It is finished” (John 19:30). However, it can also be translated as “the debt has been paid in full.” The blood of the Eternal Covenant completely satisfied the justice of God regarding 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. God chose to share life (zoe) on earth with the faithful. It was related to their conduct. God chose them without condition before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Although He had foreknowledge of every act of human sin 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 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. Despite the suffering associated with life in this present world (Romans 8:18), he clarified that the covenantal security of the New Testament church had been assured through divine hope (Romans 8:19-25); 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 the gracious, unconditional choice of God, the distinct church of the New Testament is eternally secure in its incomparable position and privilege. The blood of Jesus Christ purchased its security. It was an unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant. As a result, the New Testament church is utterly privileged to enjoy the unconditional union of life with God. The sealing of the Holy Spirit confirmed it. |
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Gloriously Inclusive
The eternal plan of God is gloriously inclusive. Therefore, 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 covenant plan of God, the elect of national Israel do not experience the glory of the covenantal plan 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 that the promises and stipulations of the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants will indeed be fulfilled. Their fulfillment will occur through the future invocation of the New Covenant. In contrast, the distinct church of the New Testament is privileged to experience the benefit of the heavenly Eternal Covenant immediately. Rather than waiting to fulfill covenantal promises, its unconditional enjoyment of covenant position, privilege, and security is a present reality. © 2018 James Hiatt |
