Bilateral Covenant Between God And Israel example essay topic

To understand the two covenants that were made null and void at the cross, a person has to understand Gods use of covenants in the Bible. Unfortunately, many Christians do not concern themselves with the basics on this subject and this explains why there is so much confusion. It is not necessary to be confused on this topic, since the Bible provides the answer. God has two types of covenants: unilateral and bilateral. A unilateral covenant is a one-sided covenant, which God imposes upon Himself and / or man.

A bilateral covenant is a two-sided covenant or a mutually agreed upon covenant between God and man. Both types of covenants require a continuous relationship between God and man. Both types of covenants have rules within them giving them the effect and the appearance of law. But, a covenant is more than a set of laws. A covenant requires an ongoing relationship between God and man whereas a law does not. For example, the law of gravity is not a covenant because there is no intelligent relationship between gravity and man.

A law is an authoritative statement and a covenant may have certain laws or authoritative statements within it. The covenants predate Mt. Sinai by hundreds of years. They are: 1. Do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. 2.

I will put end it between the serpent and the woman and will one day send a Savior. 3. I will demand an accounting for each mans life. Murderers are to be put to death.

4. I will not destroy the world again with a flood. 5. To Abraham: Through you, all nations will be blessed.

I will make you the father of many nations. I will give you and your descendants this land. When the purpose of the covenant is fulfilled, the covenant expires. To be legal, bilateral covenants require witnesses.

In ancient times, if third-party witnesses were not available when a bilateral covenant was made, inanimate objects such as stones were stacked into a large pile as a witness to the agreement. (See Genesis 31: 44-48.) The bilateral covenant, which God offered to Adam and Eve was both perpetual (for 4,000 years) and temporary (until Jesus died). The slaying of animals was an act of faith for 40 centuries. The slaying of sacrificial animals, according to the requirements that God established, was an expression of faith. Faith renders obedience; presumption excuses transgression.

At Mt. Sinai, God offered the descendants of Abraham a bilateral covenant. This covenant was an enhanced and expanded version of the bilateral covenant that He had offered to Adam and Eve. The covenant, which God offered to the offspring of Abraham at Mt.

Sinai was not entirely new nor was it entirely unique. Instead, it was a repetition and enlargement of certain issues that had been extended to the human race through Adam and Eve. The bilateral covenant offered to Israel included certain new features for Israel (such as the privilege of being a kingdom of priests to God), but it remained a conditional two-sided c oven ant, If you will be my people, then I will be your God. (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28-30) The bilateral covenant (or Mosaic covenant) between God and Abrahams offspring was temporary from its inception. It had a sunset clause in it. (Matthew 26: 28; Colossians 2: 17; Hebrews 9: 15-10: 4) Jesus offered a covenant to the descendants of Abraham because He needed a special job done.

Basically, He needed a group of informed people to reveal what He was all about to an uninformed world. (Acts 13: 47; 26: 22, 23) As with any covenant, the special covenant that Jesus offered Israel contained a number of laws. The Mosaic covenant included laws regarding food (clean and unclean), tithing, animal sacrifices, purification ceremonies, the observance of annual feast days, new moon celebrations, the observance of sabbatical years, circumcision, the priesthood of Aaron, and many civil laws. All of these laws served as illustrations of Jesus as King and High Priest, His coming kingdom and shadows of His death and ministry. When The Light of the World came to Earth, the shadows expired. (Colossians 2; Galatians 3) After the covenant between Israel and God was nailed to the cross, all believers in Christ stand before God as one flesh.

At the cross, the covenant between God and Israel was declared void. Jesus declared the bilateral covenant between God and Israel, with all its commandments and regulations, null and void. Consequently, God abandoned the nation of Israel because of their persistent unfaithfulness. This is why Jesus pronounced this final benediction upon Israel, Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23: 38, [KJV]) What did He mean with these solemn words? The Jews regarded the temple at Jerusalem as Gods dwelling place.

They believed they were (a) the apple of Gods eye, and (b) safe from the threat of any nation. (Deuteronomy 28; Jeremiah h 7: 4; Luke 21: 5, 6) Israel did have an opportunity to be the apple of Gods eye, but they forfeited this great opportunity by rebellion. They could have been safe from the threat of other nations, but they chose to rebel. The Great I Am came and lived in their midst, but they rejected Him. So, what did Jesus mean when He said, Your house if left unto you desolate? He meant that never again would His Presence enter that temple.

Their house of worship (the centerpiece of their religion) was declared an empty hollow building. A desolate house is an empty house and the Shekinah would never return to it. John says, He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1: 11, [KJV]) In A.D. 70, Jesus sent the Roman army to destroy Jerusalem. He fulfilled the terms and conditions set forth in the blood covenant through His death on the cross. Not only did He shed His blood to fulfill the covenant, He demanded their blood for unfaithful nes's.

(Deuter ono my 28: 44, 45 and Daniel 9: 26, 27) When the Roman army burned Jerusalem, no two stones of the temple were left standing together. (Matthew 24: 2) The Romans pulled the temple stone apart looking for the gold that melted in the great calamity. Jesus decreed an end to the temple that bore His Name and contrary to what many Christians believe, it will not be built again. To ensure His decree remains perpetual, Jesus moved the Moslems to build the Dome of the Rock on that site.

God entered into the old covenant with a nation of people who were carnal and rebellious from the start. God enters into the new covenant with people of all nations who are willing to be born again. Israel was initially awed into submission at the display of His glory and power at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19; Galatians 4: 24, 25), but their hearts remained unconverted.

Bible history faithfully records their failures beginning with the golden calf at the base of the Mt. Sinai! In every case, Israels hard heart led to failure. (Ezekiel 2, 3) The Israel that entered into the Mosaic covenant at Mt.

Sinai was the Israel that died in the desert because of rebellion. (Hebrews 3: 16)

Bibliography

The Holy Bible. American Bible Society, New York, 1976.