Table of Contents
The Bible is presented as a book of covenants between God and His chosen people. The two main covenants are the Old Testament (between God and the Israelites) and the New Testament (between God and believers in Jesus Christ).
The Old Covenant involved the Law given through Moses, with the promise of a coming Messiah. However, the Israelites repeatedly broke this covenant by worshipping other gods. When the promised Messiah (Jesus) came, most did not recognize Him, fulfilling prophecies about their rejection.
This led to the need for a New Covenant, established by Jesus through His blood sacrifice. The New Covenant offers salvation and eternal life to those who have faith in Jesus as the Son of God. It replaces the old laws with Jesus’ teachings on true freedom through self-control and love.
While the Old Covenant was confirmed by animal blood, the New Covenant is sealed by the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God. The Book of Revelation contains key promises about the fulfillment of this New Covenant when Jesus returns.
The lesson emphasizes that blessings come from truly internalizing and keeping the covenants, while consequences result from breaking them. Understanding and applying the covenants is crucial for receiving God’s promised salvation.
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.
While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.
The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.
Basics of the Bible Part One
The parables represent God’s symbolic language and secret code. This raises the question – how do we discern who belongs to God? Now that we understand how God carries out His work through prophecy that resonates with certain people, we can recognize that those who genuinely understand the prophecies and parables have an affinity with God. These people often face persecution by those who lack spiritual understanding and belong to destructive forces.
Conversely, we can identify those aligned with evil forces by their tendency to persecute the enlightened, as well as their inability to comprehend God’s symbolic messages. Instead, they often twist the truth through lies and distortion. Discernment requires us to recognize these contrasting traits in order to distinguish those who belong to God versus those who align with evil.
We will be covering fundamentals that may seem basic, but basics form an important foundation. We will review key sections of the Bible to understand the fundamentals. Then we will examine how these fundamentals apply to God’s work as depicted in the Bible.
Over the next three lessons, we will study the basics of the Bible in a three part series.
Here is the total summary of all the content that will be covering over the next three lessons.
Understand the covenants of the bible so that we can keep our covenant.
Key Points of the Bible.
1. A Book of Covenants
The Bible contains two main covenants: the Old Testament and the New Testament. In our seminary lesson, we learned that covenant and testament mean the same thing – an agreement between God and humans. So the Bible is truly a book of covenants, with God establishing agreements with humanity.
2. Writing of God
The Bible is the writings of God, meaning God is the author, not man. Some say the Bible is only the writings of man, but the Bible itself states many times ‘this is what God said to me’ and that the human writers simply documented God’s words. This happens repeatedly throughout the Bible. Therefore, the Bible contains the actual words of God, not merely the words of man.
3. Contents
We’ll look at the different contents in the Bible. What does the Bible comprise and what should we focus on? How can we categorize the Bible in our minds so that we can understand it?
4. Book of War
We’ll look at how the Bible is a book of war. The past several lessons distinguishing good from evil, Parts One and Two, and those who belong to God and Satan, were an introduction to that war. However, we haven’t really talked about the war itself that has been happening for six thousand years. So we’ll discuss a little bit about that.
5. Importance of Prophecy and Fulfilments
We’ll look at the importance of prophecy and fulfillment.
6. 7 Eras of the Flow of Work
We’ll look at the seven arrows showing the flow of the work in the Bible. So what are the ways God has organized people? He has organized them based on what He intends for them to do at any given time.
7. Order of fulfillment of prophecies
God has refreshed his people many times throughout the Bible, as evidenced by the fulfillment of prophecies. These prophecies do not come to pass randomly or arbitrarily. Though the writings may be separated by hundreds of years, biblical prophecies are often fulfilled in a deliberate order and sequence.
8. Purpose of God, Salvation and Eternal Life for His People
The purpose of God: 1. Salvation and 2. Eternal Life for his people.
1. A Book of Covenants
The Bible is a book of covenants.
You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,
In this passage, God is confirming that David is truly His chosen one by emphasizing the covenant He has made with him. Throughout the Bible, God establishes covenants with those He has chosen to work with. These covenants come with a set of instructions that the chosen people must follow and fulfill in order to receive the blessings or face the consequences.
The chosen people of God go by different names in the Old Testament, especially in the prophecies and scriptures. They have been called Israel, Judah, Jerusalem, and Zion. When you see these names in the texts, think “chosen people” – a people who have a solemn covenant with God that includes conditions they must meet.
A covenant is a serious promise that comes with stipulations. The chosen people must uphold their end of the covenant in order to reap the rewards or punishments associated with that agreement.
Let’s look at the two covenants that comprise the Bible or the two kinds of macro covenants.
There are only two macro covenants in the Bible: The New and Old Testament.
We will be focusing on the Old Testament in today’s lesson.
1.- This covenant spans from Genesis to Malachi, encompassing the entire Old Testament. The Old Testament contains 39 books, with 9029 chapters and 23,144 verses total. It is important not just to know these facts, but to study and memorize them.
2.- Studying the breadth of God’s recorded words helps us gain deeper understanding. There is much that God wants us to know. God has been guiding people to write down his words for a long time.
3.- The new covenant now includes us. The New Covenant consists of 27 books with 260 chapters and 7,957 verses.
Some of you may be familiar with the history of the Bible. Different Bibles contain different numbers of books. For example, the Catholic Bible has 73 books, as the Book of Psalms was originally divided into five separate books.
In the modern Bible, the Book of Psalms has been consolidated into one book. There is some history regarding how the Bible was compiled, but the modern Bible read by most people contains 66 books, 1,189 chapters, and 31,101 verses.
This Bible is comprised of two major covenants. Let’s explore these covenants more deeply, as understanding how God works and carries out His word is very important. We’ll first examine the Old Covenant.
Old Covenant
This is the first major covenant that God established with his people. The reason is because God intended for them to uphold this covenant completely. There are five main parts of a covenant.
Five points of a covenant.
1. Subject: Who is the agreement between?
2. Content: What are the details of the covenant to be kept?
3. Time the covenant was made. Or the time the covenant is to be fulfilled.
4. Time Kept. Intended duration of the covenant.
5. Consequences of upholding and not upholding the covenant.
Using an employment contract as an example – when entering into an agreement with an employer, there are two parties: the employer and the employee, the subject.
The agreement stipulates the key terms – the content: the employee agrees to show up at the workplace at a specified time each day in order to perform assigned duties for a set number of hours, the time period.
In exchange, the employer agrees to provide compensation. This mutual agreement is formalized when a job offer letter is signed.
There are consequences built into this agreement for both parties: If the employee fulfills their role by showing up on time and completing their duties, they will continue receiving their compensation per the terms. However, if the employee fails to show up or complete work as expected, they risk termination of employment.
In summary, most contracts and agreements or covenants follow this structure – stipulating the involved parties, the terms, timing, and consequences for meeting or failing contractual obligations.
1. Subject.
The subjects of the first covenant,
The subjects of the covenant were between God and the Israelites, with Moses as an intermediary between them. As Moses spent time on the mountain, God gave him the covenant to deliver to the Israelites. Moses served as the middleman, receiving the covenant from God and bringing it to the people.
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
God is speaking to Moses here, not directly to the Israelites. This was God’s usual way of operating – he would communicate through Moses when conveying a message to the Israelite people. In fact, the Israelites occasionally complained about God only speaking through Moses. For example, in Numbers chapter 12, they took issue with this method.
But God had his reasons – he wanted a single authoritative source (a single source of truth) through which to relay his word.
If one wanted to know what God says, they needed to go to Moses.
The first thing God says to Moses to tell the people starts with the words “Now if…” This sets up a conditional statement, meaning the blessings are not automatic just for being a follower of God. Instead, the Israelites have to meet the conditions established in the covenant with God in order to receive the blessings.
If they do this, then they would be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” in God’s eyes. Consider the state of the world at this time, several thousand years after the fall – God intends to restore what was lost through this covenant.
For God to carry out this work of restoration, He needs to work through a people, since God is now separated from humans in spiritual form. God has always chosen righteous individuals to do something – “You are a righteous man. I will carry out My work through you,” He told Abraham. So God has always needed people.
However, for God to work through people, they need to be holy so that they can then teach others how to be holy as well. This was part of what God wanted them to do. As the saying goes – “Clean your own house before you try and go clean other people’s houses.” In order to follow God’s commands and be representatives of holiness, they first needed to make themselves holy so that the world could learn from their example.
Why would God ask the Israelites to follow these covenant laws? If they do not uphold the covenant, there will be consequences. God promised blessings for keeping the covenant and curses for breaking it.
As we examined in Deuteronomy 28, the blessings spanned 14 verses, but the discussion of the curses went on for 53 verses. This reflects how seriously God takes covenants. Those who keep the covenant will be blessed, while those who break it will be cursed, as God must fulfill His word.
God cannot make a promise or statement that does not come to pass – that is not His nature. We often have a mindset that everything is fine regardless of how we live – that God loves me, so I’m good. However, the Bible makes clear that is not the case. There are serious ramifications for not living according to God’s laws.
God keeps His promises with utmost seriousness. Let us discuss the content of this covenant, as well as whether these people were able to uphold their covenant with God.
2. Content
Let’s look at the content of that covenant.
And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
God brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The first and most important commandment given to them was to worship no other god but Him. This commandment emphasizes that He is the one true God that they must worship above all others.
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he echoed this by saying to love God with all your heart, soul and mind. This summarizes the intent behind all the laws that were given.
The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 were just the beginning. The books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy contain many additional laws and instructions that the Israelites were expected to follow. Collectively, these are referred to as the Law of Moses.
There were two key components to the covenant God made with Israel at this time. First, there was the Law they had to obey. Second, there was the promise of a future messiah – a chosen one who would come to deliver them. The Israelites eagerly awaited the fulfillment of this promise for generations.
Deuteronomy 18:18-23 contains a prophecy about this coming messiah and how God would confirm his covenant through him. Just as a contract takes full effect once signed, God’s covenant with Israel would be fully realized and confirmed through the messiah.
4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.
He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”
8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
What was the covenant confirmed with? It was confirmed by the blood of animals. This is very important – keep this in mind, as it will resurface later in the lesson. The covenant was confirmed by the sprinkling or shedding of blood – the blood of an animal, often a lamb, ram or goat. The blood of that animal was like a signature, stamping and confirming the covenant. The Israelites also verbally affirmed, “We will obey and follow this covenant.”
Remember, the first rule of the covenant was no worshipping other gods.
But the Israelites were unable to follow this, covenant number one, commandment number one. In fact, in Exodus 32, they had already begun breaking the covenant by worshipping the golden calf. This continued to be an issue – the Israelites would often be enticed by gentile nations around them to worship other gods – the gods of the Amorites, Hittites, Jebusites etc.
There was one time when it was at its worst in the Kingdom of Israel – First Kings 11 talks about Solomon bringing false gods into Israel. As the king did this, his subordinates followed suit by decree. This was a major betrayal of the covenant with God. When God saw what King Solomon had done, he told him “I am going to tear the kingdom from the hands of your son.” At that point Israel split into Israel and Judah, and was invaded by Assyria and Babylon, destroyed, and enslaved for 70 years.
You can read the full account in First Kings 11, but I want us to see God’s reaction to this disaster – his heart towards what took place.
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
7 As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.
God made a covenant with Adam and Eve to not eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This covenant had several key components:
1. The subjects: were God, Adam, and Eve.
2. The content: was that Adam and Eve could eat from any tree in the Garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
3. The Time Period / Condition kept or no: The covenant was made by God speaking directly to Adam and commanding him not to eat the forbidden fruit, intended to be kept for all time.
4. The consequence / Result: given was that if Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they would surely die.
God made a covenant with Adam and Eve to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This covenant was established when God spoke to Adam and told him that if they eat from that tree, they will surely die. The covenant was meant to be kept always and forever. However, when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they broke their covenant with God.
Similarly, the Israelites broke their covenant with God during the time of Solomon, which greatly grieved God’s heart. As a result, books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel were written, where God laments over his people who have fallen away from him and how they are being judged. The breaking of these covenants did not end well, resulting in negative consequences.
Comment:
Do you see the pattern here? If you don’t, history will repeat itself to remind us.
The results of the covenant are that if you keep it, you are blessed, but if you don’t keep it, you are cursed.
God did keep his part of the covenant. He sent the Messiah as promised, right on schedule. But the people who were supposed to keep the covenant did not receive the Messiah who was sent.
The people did not perceive Jesus as the Messiah. As it says in John 1:11, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” So what was the reason for this? Why were they not able to receive Jesus?
Comment:
There are a few possible reasons why the people did not receive Jesus. They may have been expecting a different kind of Messiah. They may have been expecting a military leader who would overthrow the Romans and establish a new kingdom. Jesus did not fit this expectation. The prophecy is written in code, when it was fulfilled, the result is not what the enemy was expecting, because the enemy couldnt interpret it correctly, and allowed the promised be fulfilled by God without any disruption from the enemy, otherwise the enemy wouldnt allow this to happen. 1 Corinthians 2:8, Mark 4:12?
26 “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
Why the Israelites were unable to keep their covenant with God? It had been prophesied that they would not accept the Messiah when he came. However, before this prophecy was made, they were already struggling to uphold their covenant. Subsequently, Israel was enslaved by foreign powers like Assyria and Babylon.
Specifically, the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Because they failed to recognize him, they persecuted and killed him, thus fulfilling the prophecies made about them in the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. After this betrayal, they faced complete destruction and were exiled by the Romans once again.
It was during the exile in Assyria and Babylon that prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel foretold the Israelites’ future redemption but also warned of further destruction if they continued to disobey God.
Tragically, the very people who were reading these prophecies did not understand that the scriptures spoke of their coming Messiah. So when Jesus arrived, they saw only a radical preacher from Nazareth rather than the fulfillment of prophecy.
Even today, after 2,000 years, many are still waiting for the Messiah’s first coming instead of recognizing his arrival and promised return. We as Christians must humbly reflect and ask if we too could fail to correctly interpret prophecy.
Careful study is required so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.”
13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
We observed that the fault did not lie with God, but rather with the people who could not uphold their covenant with God. As a result, they lost God’s favor. God then established a new covenant with a people who would honor it. The old covenant thus became obsolete, leading to the need for a new covenant.
So now we’ll talk about the new covenant. The covenant that applies to us.
New Covenant
So who are the subjects of the new covenant? The subjects of the new covenant are between God and believers of the promised messiah from the Old Covenant.
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
We see a new covenant here, intended for those who receive Jesus. They claim the right to become children of God. No longer is covenant membership determined by human decision or physical birth, as that old covenant has become obsolete. Rather, the new covenant is between God and those who believe in the Messiah who was sent. This second covenant comes with blessings.
Let’s examine the contents of this new covenant, just as the first law had two key aspects. The new law, the new covenant also has two main components.
First, it contains the law of freedom that Jesus inaugurated, as referenced in James 1. Second, it comes with the promise of Jesus’s second coming.
Comment:
In summary, the new covenant replaces the old one, offers a path to becoming God’s children through faith in Christ, grants freedom, and promises Jesus’s eventual return. The blessings of the new deal go to all who embrace Jesus and the liberation he offers.
Jesus spoke about his second coming (promise) and taught about attaining true freedom (law of freedom) through self-control and love.
He said “Do not judge others or you will be judged; treat your neighbor as yourself; knock and the door will be opened.” He was giving guidance to lead to freedom.
The old laws governed people’s physical actions, but Jesus taught that our thoughts are the source of our actions. That’s why he said to control our thoughts and desires, as this leads to freedom.
For example, he said “Do not hate, as hate equals murder; do not lust, as lust equals adultery.” By controlling hateful and lustful thoughts, we can live freely.
When Jesus established this covenant, it is in:
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
What did we observe here? When Jesus was reclining at the table with his disciples on the night of the Passover for the Last Supper, before he was to be crucified, he established the new covenant with them.
He said many profoundly important things here that are critical for us to comprehend regarding this covenant. He declared two things – I will not eat this again, and I will not drink this again until the Kingdom of God arrives. So he provides them, the deeper part of the covenant, something to perform daily – bread and wine – but it signifies something far greater coming later, as detailed in Revelation.
The Kingdom of God comes, but first, the covenant is confirmed by Jesus’s blood, just as the original covenant was sealed by the shedding of the blood of a perfect lamb.
It is the same concept with the new covenant – the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. And recall what I mentioned – there are facets to be fulfilled when the Kingdom of God comes, during the time of Revelation. (New Covenant points to Revelation)
Aspects of Jesus’s blood actually take effect at the Second Coming. I will note down these verses, which are very significant. We will truly be examining them in depth later. But please take some time to record these and read them when you can.
Revelation 1:5-6, Revelation 5:9-10, Revelation 7:4 and Revelation 12:11
Book of Revelation references Jesus’s blood shed 2,000 years ago and how it continues to have an effect today. It connects the idea of a new covenant to the Book of Revelation in the Bible, which contains many promises about the second coming of Christ.
Time Period: A new covenant points to and equals a book of revelation.
The key points are:
– Jesus’s blood sacrifice establishes a new covenant between God and humankind
– The Book of Revelation provides important details about this new covenant and Jesus’s second coming as there are many promises.
– To fully understand the new covenant, one must study and know the Book of Revelation
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Jesus says “I am coming soon.” These words were written approximately 2,000 years ago. Given that considerable time has passed since then, it reasons that Jesus’ promised return is potentially much closer now than it was when those words were first written.
The second coming of Jesus appears to be drawing very near. As Christians await Christ’s return, we are called to live according to God’s laws and commandments.
The results of those who keep the new covenant and those who do not keep it. The “If” conduction.
Those who uphold the new covenant receive the blessings of salvation and eternal life in Heaven. However, those who fail to keep the new covenant face the opposite outcome. Rather than salvation, they encounter destruction in hell and eternal punishment. The “IF” condition conveys that one’s eternal destiny hinges on whether or not they remain faithful to the new covenant.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Blessed is the one who reads and blessed is the one who keeps the message in their heart. To take something to heart means more than just memorizing – it requires thoughtful reflection and application.
What it means to keep or take to heart?
10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
What does it say? I will put my law into their minds and hearts. When my law is within them, they will become my people and I will become their God. I will remember their sins no more.” This conveys that God’s law must be internalized – both understood intellectually and believed fully, not just accept Jesus superficially – in order for it to transform us. Mere understanding without belief is useless.
Have we truly inscribed God’s new covenant onto our minds and hearts? Do we comprehend its meaning? Let us study so that we may internalize it. This requires more than a one-time acceptance of Jesus; it is an ongoing process of knowing and believing.
That is likely why Jesus questioned in Luke 18:8 – “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Despite over two billion Christians on earth, Jesus worried many would not genuinely know and understand him.
There is more depth to faith than a surface-level confession. Internalizing God’s law into our minds and hearts takes continual effort.
Memorization
“Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds.”
Instructor Review
SUMMARY
Old Testament. God, through Moses, gave the law to the Israelites. If they kept it, they would be God’s holy nation and kingdom of priests. The content was the Law of Moses – the Ten Commandments with additional laws as well. It also contained the promise that God would send the Messiah. This is just one example, but there are many throughout the Old Testament detailing the coming of the Messiah.
The number one commandment was to worship God alone. “No other gods before me.” This covenant was intentionally established by blood. Nothing God does is an accident; everything is intentional. But the people struggled to keep this law and not worship other gods. Under Solomon’s rule, idolatry was widespread, which broke the covenant.
As promised, God sent the Messiah, but the Israelites did not receive him. Though they read the scriptures every Sabbath, they misunderstood the words. When Jesus explained the scriptures, it contradicted what they already believed, so they rejected him.
God had to establish a new covenant with those who accept Jesus as the Son of God and the One sent by God. This new covenant contains Jesus’ laws of freedom, controlling thoughts to overcome sin. Like the old covenant, this new covenant was established by blood – Jesus called the cup of wine his blood. Later his blood was shed on the cross, sealing the new covenant. Jesus’ blood plays a big role in Revelation which we’ll discuss more.
Jesus promised he will come again and do new things in that time. The results? Those who keep this new covenant, first must know what it is in detail. But if they keep it – salvation, heaven and eternal life. Those who do not keep it – destruction and hell. Those who keep it are blessed. Those who know it, having put it in their mind and heart, receive a blessing.
Let’s Us Discern
Discernment is still a work in progress …. Proverbs 14:15 (ESV)
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
Analysis
Questions to Self-Reflect
Outline
Outline: Understanding Biblical Covenants
Part 1: Introduction – Decoding God’s Language
- This section establishes the importance of understanding biblical parables and prophecies as God’s symbolic language. It emphasizes that discerning those who belong to God versus those aligned with evil depends on recognizing the ability to comprehend and uphold God’s messages versus the tendency to distort and persecute.
Part 2: Laying the Groundwork – Fundamentals of the Bible
- This section introduces the overarching goal of the three-part series: comprehending the covenants of the Bible to better uphold them. It lays out the key points to be covered, including the Bible as a book of covenants, the nature of these agreements, the Bible’s contents, the concept of spiritual warfare, the significance of prophecy and fulfillment, and the ultimate purpose of God’s work.
Part 3: Delving into Covenants – A Deeper Dive
- This section focuses on the first key point: the Bible as a book of covenants. It establishes the definition of a covenant as a solemn agreement between God and humanity, highlighting the two main covenants: the Old and New Testaments.
Part 4: The Old Covenant – Examining the Agreement
- This section dissects the Old Covenant, using an employment contract as an analogy to explain the five key components of a covenant: subject, content, time made/fulfilled, time kept, and consequences. It explores the specific details of the Old Covenant established between God and the Israelites, emphasizing the conditional nature of the blessings and curses associated with upholding or breaking the agreement.
Part 5: The Israelites’ Struggle – Failing to Uphold the Covenant
- This section examines the Israelites’ repeated failure to uphold the covenant, particularly the commandment to worship only God. It highlights King Solomon’s introduction of idolatry and the subsequent division, invasion, and enslavement of Israel, emphasizing God’s disappointment and the severe consequences of breaking the covenant.
Part 6: The Messiah’s Arrival – Fulfilling the Promise, Facing Rejection
- This section discusses the arrival of Jesus as the promised Messiah and the tragic irony of the Israelites failing to recognize him due to their misinterpretation of scripture. It emphasizes the importance of careful study and reflection to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
Part 7: The Need for a New Covenant – Addressing the Failure of the Old
- This section explains the necessity of a new covenant due to the Israelites’ inability to uphold the Old Covenant. It introduces the New Covenant as a replacement, highlighting its establishment with those who believe in Jesus as the Messiah.
Part 8: The New Covenant – Embracing Freedom, Awaiting the Second Coming
- This section explores the key elements of the New Covenant: the subjects (God and believers in Jesus), the content (Jesus’ law of freedom and the promise of his second coming), and the time period (pointing towards Revelation). It emphasizes the importance of internalizing God’s law into our minds and hearts for true transformation.
Part 9: The New Covenant’s Consequences – Blessings for the Faithful, Destruction for the Unfaithful
- This section outlines the contrasting outcomes for those who uphold versus break the New Covenant: salvation and eternal life in Heaven versus destruction and eternal punishment. It emphasizes the urgency of comprehending and living according to the New Covenant, as Jesus’s promised return draws near.
Part 10: Review – Solidifying Key Concepts
- This section provides a concise review of the main points discussed, reiterating the nature of the Bible as a book of covenants, the details of the Old and New Covenants, the reasons for the Israelites’ failure, and the importance of embracing the New Covenant for salvation and eternal life.
A Study Guide
Understanding Biblical Covenants: A Study Guide
Short-Answer Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.
- What are the two macro covenants in the Bible and what does the term “covenant” mean?
- Describe the five key components of a covenant, using an employment contract as an example.
- Who were the subjects involved in the Old Covenant and what role did Moses play?
- What was the primary commandment in the Old Covenant and what were the consequences of keeping or breaking it?
- Why were animal sacrifices significant in the Old Covenant?
- How did the Israelites violate the Old Covenant, specifically during the reign of King Solomon?
- Why did many Israelites not recognize Jesus as the Messiah?
- Who are the subjects of the New Covenant?
- How is the New Covenant established and confirmed?
- What are the consequences for those who keep the New Covenant versus those who do not?
Short-Answer Quiz Answer Key
- The two macro covenants in the Bible are the Old Testament and the New Testament. A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties, involving promises and stipulations.
- The five key components are: 1) Subjects (involved parties), 2) Content (terms), 3) Time Made/Fulfilled (timing), 4) Time Kept (duration), 5) Consequences (for upholding or breaking it). In an employment contract, the subjects are the employer and employee. The content outlines duties, hours, and compensation. The time period specifies start date and duration. Consequences include salary for fulfilling duties and termination for failing to do so.
- The subjects of the Old Covenant were God and the Israelites. Moses acted as an intermediary, receiving the covenant from God and relaying it to the people.
- The primary commandment was to worship no other god but Yahweh. Keeping the covenant brought blessings, while breaking it resulted in curses, reflecting the seriousness of the agreement.
- Animal sacrifices, often involving lambs, symbolized the shedding of blood, acting as a seal or confirmation of the covenant between God and the Israelites.
- The Israelites violated the covenant through idolatry, worshipping foreign gods. This was especially prevalent during Solomon’s reign, when he introduced idols into the kingdom, leading to the division of Israel and eventual exile.
- Many Israelites did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah because they misunderstood the prophecies and expected a different kind of deliverer, one focused on military and political liberation.
- The subjects of the New Covenant are God and believers in Jesus Christ, those who accept him as the promised Messiah foretold in the Old Testament.
- The New Covenant is established through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His shed blood on the cross serves as the ultimate confirmation, just as animal blood sealed the Old Covenant.
- Those who keep the New Covenant receive salvation and eternal life in Heaven. Those who reject it face eternal punishment, highlighting the choice between accepting or denying Christ’s sacrifice.
Additional Questions
1. So what are the two macro covements in the Bible? The Old and New testaments.
So if it is a covenant, there must be two parties involved, right? In the Old Testament, it is between god and his chosen people. And since this is a conditional promise.
2. What is the content of this covenant?
There were two key components to the covenant God made with Israel at this time. First, there was the Law they had to obey. Second, there was the promise of a future messiah – Jesus
The results of the covenant are that if you keep it, you are blessed, but if you don’t keep it, you are cursed. Hosea 6:6-7
3. Why didn’t they recognize Jesus?
They did not understand the scriptures and prophecies. Jesus is the fulfilmment of the Old prophecies and people did not recognize him.
4. What kind of book is the Bible?
The Bible is a Book of Covenants and is divided in Old and New testaments as known as macro covenants.
5. Why was there a need of New Covenant?
The old covenant was broken repetitively by people of Israel of not obeying major command:
Glossary of Key Terms
Covenant: A binding agreement between two parties, involving promises and stipulations.
Old Covenant: The agreement between God and the Israelites, mediated by Moses, outlining laws and blessings/curses for obedience or disobedience.
New Covenant: The agreement established by Jesus Christ, based on his sacrifice, offering salvation and eternal life to believers.
Messiah: The anointed one, a deliverer prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.
Law of Moses: The collection of laws and instructions given to the Israelites through Moses, forming a central part of the Old Covenant.
Law of Freedom: The teachings of Jesus emphasizing internal transformation through self-control and love, leading to true freedom from sin.
Blood Sacrifice: The ritual shedding of animal blood in the Old Covenant, symbolizing atonement and confirmation of the agreement; fulfilled in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the New Covenant.
Book of Revelation: The final book of the New Testament, containing visions and prophecies concerning the end times, the second coming of Christ, and the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events
Pre-Genesis:
- Creation: God creates Adam and Eve and establishes a covenant with them in the Garden of Eden. The covenant is broken when they eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Old Testament Era:
- Exodus: God establishes a covenant with the Israelites through Moses. This covenant includes the Law of Moses (Ten Commandments and additional laws) and the promise of a future Messiah. The covenant is sealed with the blood of animals.
- Exodus 32: The Israelites break the covenant almost immediately by worshipping a golden calf.
- Period of the Judges and Kings: The Israelites repeatedly fall into idolatry and break their covenant with God.
- Reign of Solomon: Solomon further breaks the covenant by bringing false gods into Israel. As a consequence, the kingdom is divided and eventually conquered and exiled.
- Prophets of Exile: During the exile in Assyria and Babylon, prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel foretell both future judgment and the coming of a Messiah who will redeem Israel.
New Testament Era:
- Coming of Jesus: Jesus arrives as the promised Messiah, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies.
- Rejection by Israel: The Israelites, failing to understand the prophecies, reject Jesus as the Messiah. This fulfills prophecies about their rejection and leads to further judgment.
- Last Supper: Jesus establishes the New Covenant with his disciples. This covenant is sealed with his blood, symbolized by the bread and wine.
- Crucifixion: Jesus’ death on the cross serves as the ultimate sacrifice, atoning for the sins of humanity.
- Present Era: Christians live under the New Covenant, awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus as promised.
Future (Book of Revelation):
- Second Coming of Christ: Jesus will return to establish his kingdom and fulfill the remaining promises of the New Covenant.
Cast of Characters
God: The central figure of the Bible, God is presented as the creator and sustainer of all things. He enters into covenants with humanity, offering blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience.
Adam and Eve: The first humans created by God. They break their covenant with God by disobeying his command, leading to the fall of humanity.
Moses: The prophet who leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. He acts as an intermediary between God and the Israelites, delivering the Law of Moses and establishing the Old Covenant.
The Israelites: God’s chosen people in the Old Testament. They repeatedly break their covenant with God through idolatry and disobedience.
King Solomon: A wise king of Israel who eventually leads the nation into idolatry, leading to the division and downfall of the kingdom.
Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel): Prophets who speak God’s word to the Israelites, warning of judgment for their disobedience and foretelling the coming of a Messiah.
Jesus Christ: The Son of God and the promised Messiah. He fulfills the Old Testament prophecies and establishes the New Covenant through his death and resurrection.
Disciples: Jesus’ followers who receive the New Covenant and spread the message of salvation.
Believers: Those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and live under the New Covenant, awaiting his return.
Overview
Overview: Basics of the Bible Part One
Main Theme: Understanding the Bible as a book of covenants, focusing on the Old and New Testaments, their content, consequences of upholding or breaking them, and the transition from the Old to the New.
Most Important Ideas & Facts:
1. The Bible as a Book of Covenants:
- The Bible is comprised of two main covenants: the Old and New Testaments.
- Covenant means “an agreement between God and humans,” making the Bible a collection of such agreements.
- Covenants are serious promises with stipulations and consequences for both upholding and breaking them.
2. The Old Covenant:
- Subject: God and the Israelites, with Moses as the intermediary.
- “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” – Exodus 19:5-6
- Content: The Law of Moses, encompassing the Ten Commandments and numerous additional laws found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It also included the promise of a future Messiah.
- Confirmation: Sealed with the blood of animals.
- “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” – Exodus 24:8
- Consequences: Blessings for keeping the covenant and curses for breaking it.
- Failure: The Israelites repeatedly broke the covenant, particularly by worshipping other gods, culminating in Solomon’s widespread idolatry.
- “As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.” – Hosea 6:7
- Result: The Israelites faced exile and destruction, fulfilling prophecies of judgment. Despite reading the scriptures, they failed to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah.
3. The New Covenant:
- Necessity: The Israelites’ failure to uphold the Old Covenant led to its obsolescence and the need for a new agreement.
- “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.” – Hebrews 8:7
- Subject: God and believers in Jesus Christ.
- “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” – John 1:12
- Content: The law of freedom inaugurated by Jesus, focused on controlling thoughts and desires to overcome sin. It also includes the promise of Jesus’s second coming.
- Confirmation: Sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ.
- “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” – Luke 22:20
- Connection to Revelation: The new covenant points to events in the Book of Revelation concerning Jesus’s second coming.
- “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” – Revelation 22:20
- Consequences: Salvation and eternal life in Heaven for those who uphold the covenant, destruction and eternal punishment for those who do not.
- Emphasis on Internalization: God’s law must be inscribed on believers’ minds and hearts for them to truly know God and experience His forgiveness.
- “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” – Hebrews 8:10
Key Questions Raised:
- How can Christians ensure they are correctly interpreting prophecy and avoid repeating the Israelites’ mistakes?
- What does it truly mean to internalize God’s law and live according to the New Covenant?
Overall, the lesson stresses the importance of understanding the biblical covenants, their conditions, and consequences. It highlights the transition from the Old to the New Covenant and emphasizes the need for believers to actively engage with scripture, internalize God’s law, and prepare for Jesus’s second coming.
Q&A
Q&A: Basics of the Bible Part One
1. What is a covenant and how does it relate to the Bible?
A covenant is a serious, conditional promise with specific stipulations that must be met to receive its blessings. The Bible is essentially a book of covenants, comprised of two main agreements: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Both represent contracts between God and humanity.
2. What are the key differences between the Old and New Covenants?
Old Covenant: Established between God and the Israelites, mediated by Moses. It contained the Law of Moses, emphasizing obedience to God’s commandments, including the paramount rule of worshipping no other gods. Blessings were promised for adherence, curses for disobedience. The Old Covenant also foretold the arrival of a Messiah. However, the Israelites repeatedly broke the covenant by worshipping idols and ultimately failed to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah.
New Covenant: Established by Jesus through his sacrifice, available to all who believe in him. It emphasizes internalizing God’s law, focusing on freedom through self-control and love rather than strict adherence to external rules. This covenant is sealed by Jesus’s blood, promising salvation and eternal life for those who keep it, and judgment for those who don’t.
3. Why did the Israelites fail to recognize Jesus as the Messiah?
The Israelites struggled to understand the scriptures and prophecies, particularly those regarding the Messiah’s arrival. They expected a military leader who would liberate them from Roman rule, failing to grasp the spiritual nature of Jesus’s mission. Their misinterpretation led to their rejection and, tragically, to their participation in his crucifixion.
4. What does it mean to “keep” the New Covenant?
“Keeping” the New Covenant goes beyond simply acknowledging Jesus. It requires internalizing God’s laws, integrating them into our minds and hearts. This involves continual effort to understand and apply his teachings, striving for a genuine, deep-rooted faith that guides our actions and thoughts.
5. What is the significance of blood in both covenants?
Blood plays a symbolic role in confirming both covenants, representing sacrifice and commitment. The Old Covenant was sealed with the blood of sacrificed animals, while the New Covenant is established through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice.
6. How does the Book of Revelation connect to the New Covenant?
The Book of Revelation elaborates on the promises of the New Covenant, providing further details about Jesus’s second coming and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan. Understanding Revelation is crucial to fully grasping the implications of the New Covenant.
7. Why is it crucial to study and understand these covenants today?
Comprehending these covenants is essential for understanding God’s relationship with humanity throughout history and his plan for salvation. Recognizing the significance of Jesus’s sacrifice and the call to internalize God’s law guides us toward fulfilling the conditions of the New Covenant and receiving its blessings.
8. What is the ultimate consequence of keeping or breaking the New Covenant?
The New Covenant offers a clear dichotomy: those who keep it will receive salvation, eternal life in Heaven, and God’s forgiveness; while those who break it will face eternal punishment and separation from God. Our eternal destiny hinges on our commitment to understanding and living by the principles of this new agreement.