Hebrew Roots/The Law and the Covenants/Covenants:The Messianic Covenant–1

THE MESSIANIC COVENANT

The Messianic covenant in Hebrew Brit Chadasha, or the new covenant as it is popularly called, is an everlasting covenant promised to the nation of Israel by the prophets before they were taken into captivity (Jeremiah 31:31-34), to give them a hope and an assurance that the former covenant promises would be fulfilled even though they had broken the covenant and it had become obsolete. Yahweh God in His mercy, as a loving Father, endured with much patience their backsliding and breaking covenant relationship, and initiated a new covenant.

From the covenant given to Abraham, and then the covenants given to Israel through Moses, and afterward, all of the covenants built upon the previous ones in developing the overall everlasting plan of Almighty God. The law given through Moses was not opposed to the promise given through Abraham (Galatians 3:17-18). It was instituted upon the basis of the Abrahamic promise in order to further the historical realization of those very promises in a national entity (Exodus 2:24; 6: 8; Leviticus 26:42; Deuteronomy 1: 8; 29:13). All these covenants were limited by the inability of man's sinful nature to remain in covenant relationship.

Each covenant served it's purpose but lacked the power to impart the ability to the recipients, to keep the covenant and were therefore were limited in their effectiveness. So they looked forward to the establishment of a better covenant based on better promises (Romans 7:12; Hebrews 7:19-22)

The Messianic covenant is the last covenant which has been given and brings to fruition the promises in the previous covenants to Israel, Yahweh God's firstborn "son", in and through Y'shua our Messiah. Through it, the partakers of the covenant have imparted to them a new nature whereby they are enabled to walk in covenant relationship and fulfill the original mandate given to Adam. Hebrews 8: 7-10

Although it does not annul the covenant made through Noah for all mankind apart from Israel, it opens the door for the Gentiles to be grafted in and to become a partaker of Israel's covenant blessings in a new way. This covenant is not unconditional, being dependent upon every individual to receive what God has offered.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE MESSIANIC COVENANT

The original covenant given in Eden has been renewed over and over with each covenant having a new "Adamic" head, a new priesthood, a new temple and new promises of a promised inheritance for man. In every one of these covenants, the head was a descendant of fallen Adam who broke the law of God.

Adam and his race were not delivered from the curse which had been pronounced upon them by these covenants although they fulfilled the preparatory purpose of bringing the human race to a development of character and maturity through a training exercise in their knowledge of the fruits of good and evil.

With the coming of Y'shua as the Messiah who fulfilled the just requirements of the law and stood in for the fallen Adamic race to take the curse upon Himself for them, a new "Adam" was born through His resurrection from the dead. Y'shua as a "second Adam" proved faithful to the covenant with His Father, bruised the head (authority) of the serpent and recovered the lost inheritance for man. Genesis 3:15

As such, the Father appointed Him the head of a new race, a new spiritual order of man regenerated by the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit). Genesis 3:15; Luke 4" 1-13; Romans 5:12-19

The sons of the "second Adam" have the spiritual empowerment to fulfill their responsibility of subduing the earth through the ministry they have been given as prophet, priest and king in the earth. He obtained the authority for them to do that, to the glory of God. Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 1:20-23

This covenant is a renewing of the espousal to spiritual union which God made with Israel back at Sinai. Although a remnant entered into the covenant through that era, the nation as a whole did not. Paul says that now in this covenant they have been espoused to Y'shua as their Bridegroom. It was He who also led them out of Egypt and betrothed them at Sinai. 1 Corinthians 10: 1-4; 11: 2; Acts 7:38; Ephesians 5:25

The betrothal is being renewed to Israel to include a remnant from this era also into the "church", the assembly, the "congregation in the wilderness" for which He died, in order to ratify the previous covenants.

Those who have come into the "church of the firstborn" in this era, through this covenant, complete the number of the sons of Israel which He has fore-ordained to be part of His government upon earth. Those of the previous era did not receive the promise, but are made perfect with us. Hebrews 11:40

The marriage betrothal covenant did a complete cycle, being first presented to Israel at Sinai at the first Shavuot celebration (Pentecost - Exodus 19) and being renewed after Y'shua's resurrection on the "second" Shavuot with the outpouring of the "promise of the Father" Acts 1: 4; 2: 1-4; 17-18, 21; Jeremiah 31: 4; 33: 7

A misconception propagated by the Roman Catholic church is that Peter was the head of the church, the Body of Christ, and established the new order, the "Christian church". However, the scripture upon which this is based in Matthew 16:18 wherein Y'shua says to Peter, “I also tell you that you are Petros, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of the kingdom of death will not prevail against it”, is not saying that. There is a play upon words between Peter's name and the word "rock" which is petra. It is upon Himself, to those who have the revelation of who He is, that He will build His assembly of firstborn sons, the Israel of God. Exodus 4:22; Psalm 89:27; Jeremiah 31: 9 The house of faith extends back to Abel and down to the prophets (Hebrews 11), all who "saw the promises afar off" and embraced them. Peter, like David, was an anointed vessel to set in order a divine decree.

The keys of the kingdom were given to Peter to open up the way into the kingdom for the Gentiles, just as a a key was given to David to open up a new order of worship and way into God's Presence. Isaiah 22:22

The Messianic covenant was the raising up again of the Tabernacle of David which had fallen. Acts 15:16-17

The writer to the Hebrews clarifies this further -- "For you have not come to the mountain .. .. .. that burned with fire" - :Sinai and the Tabernacle of Moses "But you have come to Mount Zion" - the place of David's Tabernacle, "and unto the city of the living God" -

the new Jerusalem, which is spiritual, "to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven" Hebrews 12:19, 22-23

As previously said, the names on that register go back to Abel and include Abraham who "waited for the city .. .. whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10) - that heavenly city, the New Jerusalem; and David, together with all those who had the revelation and set their heart on the hope of the redemption in the prophesied Messiah and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom. Isaiah 8:18; Romans 9:33

There were many breaches in the nation of Israel's relationship with Yahweh God. The Tabernacle of David was raised up several times by godly kings during the first temple period and then again by Ezra and Nehemiah when they returned to the land. Now at this time, it is a complete restoration to it's prophetic purpose of redemption for all men and of the scattered seed of Israel in the nations. Amos 9:11-15

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." Rom.11:26-27; Is.59:20 This new covenant was a renewing of the previous covenant, but based on better promises.

PROMISE OF THE COVENANT

The scripture categorises two federal heads of the human race, Adam and Messiah. Adam was the head of the first covenant and Messiah the head of the last one, the Messianic covenant.

The first order of man, Adam, was a "living soul" - a natural man of the earth. The second order of man, the last Adam, Messiah, is a spiritual man, a "life-giving spirit"

As Adam was the head of the first Adamic race, so Messiah is the head of the second Adamic race who has brought in a better covenant, established on better promises than that of the first covenant to the first Adam. He has birthed a new kind of man, a spiritual man, that is destined to grow into the image and likeness of God according to the Father's eternal purpose. 1 Cor.15:22-49; Hebrews 8: 6; 2 Cor.5:17

The New Covenant promised three blessings that were needed for the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants to be fulfilled. Although the promises were to all Israel, only a remnant who choose to enter into it and take possession of their inheritance will receive it. Just as Israel had to conquer the promised land, so the spiritual sons must conquer the spiritual enemies that hinder them attaining the goal.

The promises in the new covenant to Israel are:

1. "I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; -

 ::impartation of the divine nature

2. "I will be their God, and they shall be My people. -

 ::by the indwelling Spirit

3. "I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." -

::forgiveness and cleansing Jeremiah 31:33-34

1. The impartation of the life of the resurrected Messiah, the "second Adam", to the believer gives him a new nature which is in union with the Father. His mind and his heart are at one with the Father and therefore, as long as he abides in that relationship, he will live out of the "law" inscribed upon him. The change in the law is where it is now written. No longer on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. Jer.31:33; Ezek.11:19-20; 36:27; 2 Cor.3: 3; Jn.15:5-6

2. Y'shua sends the Ruach of the Father to dwell in the hearts of the participants of the new covenant. Jer.31:33; Isaiah 7:14; 44:3; Matt.1:23; John 14:16-18

3. It promised the forgiveness of Israel's iniquity and the cancellation of the penalty of sin by taking the curse in His body on the tree for the Adamic race. Jer. 31:34; Deut.21:23; Isaiah 53:10-11; Rom.3:21-26

Those who receive the benefits of the covenant become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Messiah of the world, making them co-regents with the Son forever. Ephesians 2: 6-7; 1 Peter 2: 9; Revelation 1:6

They have an "everlasting inheritance" (Abrahamic Covenant), an "everlasting priesthood" (Mosaic covenant), and an "everlasting throne and kingdom" (Davidic covenant) in and through Y'shua. Heb.9:15; Rev.20: 4, 6

SACRIFICES OF THE COVENANT

This covenant included a sacrifice that would completely take away sins, instead of just "covering" them as the previous covenants had done. It had a new temple not made with the hands of men; a new Melchizedek order of priesthood, and a new spiritual type of "man", born from above, by the Spirit.

The sacrifice was Y'shua! - "But Messiah came as high priest of the good things to come, with a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered the holy place, once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:11-14

"For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Hebrews 10:14

In the Messianic Covenant the blood of Y'shua the Messiah, the Lamb of God, cleanses the repentant sinner. The law which requires a repentant sinner to approach God's throne with 'faith in the blood of a lamb' still applies, only now, it is faith in the blood of Y'shua, THE Lamb of God. Hebrews 9:22;12; 10:16-18

SEAL OF THE COVENANT

The seal of the Messianic covenant is the impartation of the Ruach HaKodesh into the heart of the believer which Y'shua sent from the Father to be with His sons forever, and complete the work of sanctification to prepare them as a Bride ready for His coming. Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 13:20-21; Jude 20-24

It is in the manifestation of this impartation of the divine Presence by "signs following", that evidence is given of the internal seal on the heart and spirit of the new covenant 'man'. Mark 16:17; 1 Cor.14:20-22

The summation of the eternal purpose of Almighty God is seen with man living in a sanctuary-city filled with every spiritual blessing in the spiritual realms in the Messiah. Ephesians 1: 3

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it:

and his servants shall serve him;

They shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads.

There shall be no night there;

They need no lamp, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God shall give them :::light:

And they shall reign for ever and ever." Revelation 22: 3-5

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