Monday, May 30, 2016
498 - Covenant of Renewal, 2.0
Column No. 498
May 31, 2016
Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary
Through the early chapters of the Bible, God’s covenant with Israel is constantly being defiled by the Israelites and constantly being renewed by God.
God never quits.
As we move on to the book of Psalms and beyond, the great glory of the prophets is that they look forward – through God’s eyes – to the coming Covenant of Jesus Christ, which itself actually is renewal. Even God was excited about it.
“… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Then comes Jesus, this Son of Man and Son of God, who would renew all things, set right all things, and change all things. In Jesus was delivered a New Covenant of faith and grace, not laws. God’s eternal love, truth, mercy and judgment were assured. This Covenant of resurrection and glory led Jesus to the Cross, the Holy Spirit into the world and humanity into salvation.
Jesus is many things – the Word of God, authority of all creation, author of all wisdom, the savior of mankind freeing us from sin and divine condemnation. Blessedly and forever, He is God’s gracious gift to a fallen world; the steadfast renewal of hope.
Yes, the Cross of Christ transformed everything about humanity’s opportunity for restored relationship with God, hope for life and love eternal. But notice two things the Cross actually didn’t change: 1) God and 2) mankind.
God’s love is permanent, eternal and unchanging. So too, sadly, are man’s unchanging sins of pride, greed and self-centeredness. God made man free from the very beginning in the Garden, but from Adam and Eve onward we enslaved ourselves by misreading God’s ultimate goal and purpose: His own glory. We used our freedom to try to be like God, rather than simply using it to love God.
So much of today’s Christianity – and by that I mean churches, traditions, preaching, doctrines, discipleship and the rest – forces a depressing, personal imprisonment dragging along our shame, mistakes, fears, weaknesses and sins for the sake of guilty obedience to a Savior whose stated mission is the joyous, uplifting opposite: to set us free in faith and trust.
Also beware the morally bereft Christianity telling us “whatever we do is OK” and that Jesus lives to provide us with health, wealth, comfort and earthly delights.
Both are awful lies.
“Joy in the Lord” is a real and wonderful thing; the ultimate renewable resource and an attainable blessing in this world right now and forever.
Trust the renewal of Christ and rest easy in His peace.
Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) sees mercy and judgment as complements, not opposites.
May 31, 2016
Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary
Covenant of Renewal,
2.0
By Bob WaltersThrough the early chapters of the Bible, God’s covenant with Israel is constantly being defiled by the Israelites and constantly being renewed by God.
God never quits.
As we move on to the book of Psalms and beyond, the great glory of the prophets is that they look forward – through God’s eyes – to the coming Covenant of Jesus Christ, which itself actually is renewal. Even God was excited about it.
“… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Then comes Jesus, this Son of Man and Son of God, who would renew all things, set right all things, and change all things. In Jesus was delivered a New Covenant of faith and grace, not laws. God’s eternal love, truth, mercy and judgment were assured. This Covenant of resurrection and glory led Jesus to the Cross, the Holy Spirit into the world and humanity into salvation.
Jesus is many things – the Word of God, authority of all creation, author of all wisdom, the savior of mankind freeing us from sin and divine condemnation. Blessedly and forever, He is God’s gracious gift to a fallen world; the steadfast renewal of hope.
Yes, the Cross of Christ transformed everything about humanity’s opportunity for restored relationship with God, hope for life and love eternal. But notice two things the Cross actually didn’t change: 1) God and 2) mankind.
God’s love is permanent, eternal and unchanging. So too, sadly, are man’s unchanging sins of pride, greed and self-centeredness. God made man free from the very beginning in the Garden, but from Adam and Eve onward we enslaved ourselves by misreading God’s ultimate goal and purpose: His own glory. We used our freedom to try to be like God, rather than simply using it to love God.
So much of today’s Christianity – and by that I mean churches, traditions, preaching, doctrines, discipleship and the rest – forces a depressing, personal imprisonment dragging along our shame, mistakes, fears, weaknesses and sins for the sake of guilty obedience to a Savior whose stated mission is the joyous, uplifting opposite: to set us free in faith and trust.
Also beware the morally bereft Christianity telling us “whatever we do is OK” and that Jesus lives to provide us with health, wealth, comfort and earthly delights.
Both are awful lies.
“Joy in the Lord” is a real and wonderful thing; the ultimate renewable resource and an attainable blessing in this world right now and forever.
Trust the renewal of Christ and rest easy in His peace.
Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) sees mercy and judgment as complements, not opposites.
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