January 28, 2019

The answer to the question: How do I do this? by Gary Rose



This quote from “Mother Teresa” is true. Very hard to actually do, but TRUEnonetheless. Many years ago, I had the honor of being allowed to preach full-time (but mostly part-time) for several congregations of the church of Christ.

I attempted to do all that is positive within Teresa’s statement, but ultimately gave up. For years I told myself that it was only for family reasons, but I no longer believe this to be true. After years of reflection, I believe that I just couldn’t completely put into everyday practice the following passage….


1 Corinthians 13 ( World English Bible )
 4  Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,  5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;  6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;  7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.  9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;  10 but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.  11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.  12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.  13 But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love. 


Being a Christian can (at times) be a very challenging goal. Being a Gospel preacher is the highest, most difficult goal I can think of. While I may have failed in my quest to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a preacher, I am cognizant of the fact that even the smallest of efforts to serve Christ will not be forgotten.
Jesus said:

Matthew 10 ( WEB )
 34  “Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.   35  For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.   36  A man’s foes will be those of his own household.  37  He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.   38  He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me.   39  He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.   40  He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.   41  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.   42 Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward.” (emphasis added)


So, how do we actually put into practice “Mother Teresa’s” admonitions? The answer is love, a love that embodies everything that is taught in 1 Corinthians, chapter 13. And, when you think about it…

LOVE is really the biggest word of them all!

So, Please be patient with me, as I am still trying to get that greatest of all words integrated completely into my life. And I sincerely hope that all who read the post will also have the same goal as well.

Bible Reading January 28 and 29 by Gary Rose


Bible Reading January 28 and 29

World English Bible

Jan. 28
Genesis 28

Gen 28:1 Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
Gen 28:2 Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother.
Gen 28:3 May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples,
Gen 28:4 and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your seed with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which God gave to Abraham."
Gen 28:5 Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, Rebekah's brother, Jacob's and Esau's mother.
Gen 28:6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan,"
Gen 28:7 and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram.
Gen 28:8 Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn't please Isaac, his father.
Gen 28:9 Esau went to Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.
Gen 28:10 Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
Gen 28:11 He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.
Gen 28:12 He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Gen 28:13 Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, "I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed.
Gen 28:14 Your seed will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.
Gen 28:15 Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you."
Gen 28:16 Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I didn't know it."
Gen 28:17 He was afraid, and said, "How dreadful is this place! This is none other than God's house, and this is the gate of heaven."
Gen 28:18 Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top.
Gen 28:19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
Gen 28:20 Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on,
Gen 28:21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God,
Gen 28:22 then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God's house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you."

Jan. 29
Genesis 29

Gen 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
Gen 29:2 He looked, and behold, a well in the field, and, behold, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well's mouth was large.
Gen 29:3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again on the well's mouth in its place.
Gen 29:4 Jacob said to them, "My relatives, where are you from?" They said, "We are from Haran."
Gen 29:5 He said to them, "Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?" They said, "We know him."
Gen 29:6 He said to them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep."
Gen 29:7 He said, "Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them."
Gen 29:8 They said, "We can't, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth. Then we water the sheep."
Gen 29:9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.
Gen 29:10 It happened, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
Gen 29:11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
Gen 29:12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father.
Gen 29:13 It happened, when Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister's son, that he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
Gen 29:14 Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. He lived with him for a month.
Gen 29:15 Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?"
Gen 29:16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Gen 29:17 Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
Gen 29:18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."
Gen 29:19 Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me."
Gen 29:20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
Gen 29:21 Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her."
Gen 29:22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
Gen 29:23 It happened in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. He went in to her.
Gen 29:24 Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
Gen 29:25 It happened in the morning that, behold, it was Leah. He said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Didn't I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
Gen 29:26 Laban said, "It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Gen 29:27 Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me yet seven other years."
Gen 29:28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
Gen 29:29 Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her handmaid.
Gen 29:30 He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
Gen 29:31 Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
Gen 29:32 Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, "Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction. For now my husband will love me."
Gen 29:33 She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, "Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also." She named him Simeon.
Gen 29:34 She conceived again, and bore a son. Said, "Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore was his name called Levi.
Gen 29:35 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, "This time will I praise Yahweh." Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

Jan.  28
Matthew 14

Mat 14:1 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,
Mat 14:2 and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him."
Mat 14:3 For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
Mat 14:4 For John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
Mat 14:5 When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
Mat 14:6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.
Mat 14:7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.
Mat 14:8 She, being prompted by her mother, said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer."
Mat 14:9 The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,
Mat 14:10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
Mat 14:11 His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother.
Mat 14:12 His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.
Mat 14:13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.
Mat 14:14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
Mat 14:15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, "This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food."
Mat 14:16 But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."
Mat 14:17 They told him, "We only have here five loaves and two fish."
Mat 14:18 He said, "Bring them here to me."
Mat 14:19 He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
Mat 14:20 They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.
Mat 14:21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Mat 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
Mat 14:23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.
Mat 14:24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
Mat 14:25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
Mat 14:26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear.
Mat 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid."
Mat 14:28 Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters."
Mat 14:29 He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
Mat 14:31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Mat 14:32 When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.
Mat 14:33 Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, "You are truly the Son of God!"
Mat 14:34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
Mat 14:35 When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick,
Mat 14:36 and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

Jan. 29
Matthew 15

Mat 15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
Mat 15:2 "Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat bread."
Mat 15:3 He answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Mat 15:4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'
Mat 15:5 But you say, 'Whoever may tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,"
Mat 15:6 he shall not honor his father or mother.' You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
Mat 15:7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 'These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.' "
Mat 15:10 He summoned the multitude, and said to them, "Hear, and understand.
Mat 15:11 That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
Mat 15:12 Then the disciples came, and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?"
Mat 15:13 But he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father didn't plant will be uprooted.
Mat 15:14 Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."
Mat 15:15 Peter answered him, "Explain the parable to us."
Mat 15:16 So Jesus said, "Do you also still not understand?
Mat 15:17 Don't you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body?
Mat 15:18 But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn't defile the man."
Mat 15:21 Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.
Mat 15:22 Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely demonized!"
Mat 15:23 But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away; for she cries after us."
Mat 15:24 But he answered, "I wasn't sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Mat 15:25 But she came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, help me."
Mat 15:26 But he answered, "It is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
Mat 15:27 But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
Mat 15:28 Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Mat 15:29 Jesus departed there, and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there.
Mat 15:30 Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,
Mat 15:31 so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, injured whole, lame walking, and blind seeing-and they glorified the God of Israel.
Mat 15:32 Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way."
Mat 15:33 The disciples said to him, "Where should we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?"
Mat 15:34 Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."
Mat 15:35 He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;
Mat 15:36 and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
Mat 15:37 They all ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.
Mat 15:38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
Mat 15:39 Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala. 

Chapter 8 THE COVENANTS by CA Feenstra

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Feenstra/C/A/1931/ch08.html

Chapter 8
THE COVENANTS

Q. Where in GOD'S WORD do we read of the one "Covenant of Grace" which is said to run from Abraham to this present day and on to the end of time?
Q. How many Testaments are there in your Bible and what are they called?
Q. If we wish to learn about the what, why and when of circumcision, as commanded and practiced under the old covenant, to which Testament in GOD'S WORD should we go?
Q. If we wish to learn about the what, why and when of baptism, as commanded and practiced under the new covenant, to which Testament in GOD'S WORD should we go?
Q. Do men have the right to take what they like of Old Testament circumcision and what they like of New Testament baptism, and with the parts of the two, make their own ceremonial religious sacrament?
* * *
"And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." Gen. 17:7-8
Q. Where in GOD'S WORD is Gen. 17:7 ever referred to as a promise and covenant which was given to any other than to Abraham and to his physical seed?
Q. Where in GOD'S WORD is Gen. 17:7 ever referred to as the promise and covenant by which God would bless all the families of the earth?
* * *
"And I will establish my covenant between me and thee (Abraham) and thy seed (the Jews) after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee." Gen. 17:7
Q. Do the words, "everlasting covenant" in Gen. 17:7 mean eternal or forever?
Q. Comparing the "everlasting" of Gen. 17:7 with its use in the other books of Moses, does it mean forever, OR as long as the old covenant with the house of Israel is in effect?
"And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father (Aaron), that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: and their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. Thus did Moses: according to all that Jehovah commanded him, so did he." Ex. 40:15-16
"And it shall be unto him (Phinehas), and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel." Num. 25:13
"And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth parts of an ephah shall be in one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before Jehovah. ... Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before Jehovah continually; it is on the behalf of the children of Israel, an everlasting covenant." Lev. 24:5-6, 8
"And he shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make atonement for the children of Israel because of all their sins once in the year. And he did as Jehovah commanded Moses." Lev. 16:33-34
Q. Does GOD'S WORD already in the Old Testament tell us that God planned to take away the covenant He made with Abraham and with Abraham's seed through Moses, and in its place to give all men a new eternal covenant?
"And in thee (Jacob) and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee, whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." Gen. 28:14-15
"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh come: And unto him (Christ) shall the obedience of the peoples be." Gen. 49:10
"Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt." Jer. 31:31-32
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from following them, to do them good; and I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me." Jer. 32:40
"They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come ye, and join yourselves to Jehovah in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten." Jer. 50:5
"Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore." Ezek. 37:26
"Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts." Mal. 3:1
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, are we yet today living under the covenant that God made with Abraham and with Abraham's seed through Moses?
"Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:" Jer. 31:31 Heb. 8:8
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Matt. 26:28 AV
"And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you." Luke 22:20
"God; who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant." II Cor. 3:5-6
"And for this cause he (Jesus) is the mediator of a new covenant." Heb. 9:15
"And to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant ... See that ye refuse not him (Jesus) that speaketh." Heb. 12:24-25
"By so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant." Heb. 7:22
"In that he saith, A new covenant he hath made the first (covenant) old. But that (covenant) which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away." Heb. 8:13
"He (Jesus) taketh away the first (covenant), that he may establish the second (covenant). By which will (covenant) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Heb. 10:9-10
"Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus, make you perfect in every good thing to do his will." Heb. 13:20-21
"Tables of stone,
... the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones...
for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it (the old covenant) is done away in Christ. But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord (Jesus), the veil is taken away." II Cor. 3:3, 7, 14-16
* * *
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, what is the great spiritual promise and covenant that God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and by which all nations and families can be benefited today?
"Now Jehovah said unto Abram...
I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Gen. 12:1, 3
"And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?" Gen. 18:17-18
"And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son ... And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Gen. 22:15-18
"And Jehovah appeared unto him (Isaac), and said...
I will establish the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." Gen. 26:2-5
"And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba...
And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set up on the earth...
And, behold, Jehovah stood above it, and said, I am Jehovah, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac...
and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed...
for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." Gen. 28:10-15
"Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Acts 3:25
"And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed. So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham." Gal. 3:8-9
"Neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed." Rom 9:7-8
"And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise." Gal. 3:29
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, what is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?
Old Covenant - II Cor. 3:14New Covenant - II Cor. 3:6
1.Given by the fathers and prophets - Heb. 1:1Given by Christ - Heb. 1:2
2.Given to Abraham and his seed - Gen. 17:7-9Given to every creature - Mk. 16:15-16
3.Fleshly circumcision - Gen. 17:9-11Circumcision of the heart - Col. 2:11-12
4.Moses the mediator - Ex. 20:19 Gal. 3:19Christ the mediator - Heb. 12:24
5.Its law from Sinai - Ex. 19:16-25Its law from Jerusalem - Isa. 2:2-4
6.Written on stones - II Cor. 3:7Written on hearts - II Cor. 3:3
7.Was glorious - II Cor. 3:9-10Exceeds in glory - II Cor. 3:10-11
8.Blood of animals - Heb. 9:18-20Blood of Christ - Heb. 9:12
9.Carnal ordinances - Heb. 9:10Spiritual sacrifices - I Pet. 2:5
10.A ministration of condemnation - II Cor. 3:9A ministration of righteousness - II Cor. 3:9
11.A temporal inheritance - Ps. 105:9-11An eternal inheritance - I Pet. 1:4
12.Priest of the tribe of Levi - Heb. 7:11Priest of the tribe of Judah - Heb. 7:14
13.Priest had sins - Heb. 7:27A sinless priest - Heb. 7:26
14.Priests without an oath - Heb. 7:21Priest by an oath - Heb. 7:21
15.Many priests all died - Heb. 7:23One Priest abides forever - Heb. 7:24
16.Offer many sacrifices - Heb. 10:11Christ once for all - Heb. 7:27
17.A shadow of good things to come - Heb. 10:1The true - Heb. 8:1-2
18.A figure of the true - Heb. 9:24 AVThe true - Heb. 8:1-2
19.Infants - Gen. 17:1-14All know the Lord - Jer. 31:34 Heb. 8:11
20.Natural birth - Gen. 17:1-14Spiritual birth - John 3:3-7
21.A remembrance of sins - Heb. 10:3Sins remembered no more - Heb. 10:17
22.Bondage - Gal. 4:24-25Freedom - Gal. 4:26,31
23.No clear conscience - Heb. 9:8-9Conscience cleansed - Heb. 9:14
24.Made nothing perfect or complete - Heb. 7:19Made perfect or complete in Christ - Col. 1:28
25.Faulty - Heb. 8:7Better, perfect - Heb. 8:6 Jas. 1:25
26.Christ takes away the first - Heb. 10:9Christ establishes the second - Heb. 10:9
27.Passed away - II Cor. 3:11Remaineth - II Cor. 3:11
28.Blotted out - Col. 2:14Remaineth - II Cor. 3:11
29.Abolished - Eph. 2:14Remaineth - II Cor. 3:11
30.Taken away - Heb. 10:9An eternal covenant - Heb. 13:20
Q. Do men have the right to take what they like of the old covenant and what they like of the new covenant, and with the parts of two covenants, make their own system of salvation and worship?
"He (Jesus) taketh away the first (covenant), that he may establish the second (covenant). By which will (covenant) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Heb. 10:9-10
"Tables of stone...
... the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones...
... for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it (the old covenant) is done away in Christ. But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord (Jesus), the veil is taken away." II Cor. 3:3, 7, 14-16
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, when was the old covenant taken away and the new covenant with its new conditions of salvation, established?
"Having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he (Christ) hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross." Col. 2:14
"And for this cause he (Christ) is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth." Heb. 9:15-17
"He (Christ) taketh away the first (covenant), that he may establish the second (covenant). By which will (covenant) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Heb. 10:9-10
"He (Jesus) became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation." Heb. 5:9
"Jesus the mediator of a new covenant...
See that ye refuse not him (Jesus) that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him (Jesus) that warneth from heaven." Heb. 12:24-25
Q. Does GOD'S WORD teach that there are those in this present day, who by their physical birth are born into a special covenant relationship to God, and that therefore it is not necessary for them to obey the gospel of Jesus to be saved?
"Neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed." Rom. 9:7-8
"But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father." Eph. 2:13-18
"For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him (Jesus) shall not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him." Rom. 10:11-12
"Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction." Rom. 3:22
"And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. ... And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." Acts 10:34-35, 48
"Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us; and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. ... But we believe that we (Jews) shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they (Gentiles)." Acts 15:7-9, 11
"Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed. So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham...
For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus. And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise." Gal. 3:7-9, 26-29
* * *
"For to you is the promise, and to your children..." Acts 2:39a
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, is Acts 2:39a addressed to good covenant-keeping Jews, OR is it addressed to people who were guilty of the greatest crime that has ever been committed.?
"Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay." Acts 2:22-23
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified." Acts 2:36
* * *
"For to you is the promise ("remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit" Acts 2:38) and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him." Acts 2:39
Q. If this promise of remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit is not to all men of all time on the same conditions (repent and be baptized, Acts 2:38), according to GOD'S WORD, who are those who are not included in it?
* * *
"For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife,
and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother:
else were your children unclean; but now are they holy." I Cor. 7:14
Q. If this scripture teaches that children are holy or sanctified because of one of the parents is a believer, WHY does it not also teach that the unbelieving husband or wife is sanctified because of the faith of the believing husband or wife?
* * *
Q. Does Gal. 3:29 teach that we are the spiritual sons of Abraham because of a physical birth into a so called "covenant home", OR does it teach that we must first become Christ's and that only then are we the spiritual sons of Abraham?
"And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise." Gal. 3:29
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, how do we become Christ's, get into Christ, and put on Christ?
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ...
And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise." Gal. 3:27, 29
"Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" Rom. 6:3

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)