Understanding the Bible through New Covenant lens

Understanding the Bible through New Covenant lens

Rightly dividing 2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

spear hose fan wall pole rope

Lost, Saved Lost Safe & Sound Nun When not rightly divided the Bible can be used to justify anything Poor Pastor Vegan Meat eater Terrorist Universalist Monk Poverty Sickness Rich Pastor Licentious Socialist Single Prosperity Charity Worker Health Legalist Married

tusk trunk ear body leg tail

Rightly dividing 2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. orthotomeo = orthos (straight) + temno (to cut). cutting straight the word of truth How do we rightly divide the word of truth? Dividing between the Old and New Covenants.

Covenant, Will, Testament Heb 9:15-17 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, 16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.

Covenant, Will, Testament Jesus : both the testator died for the will to take effect & Executor rose again so that He can execute the will for us.

The cross divides the covenants It is finished Exodus Genesis Malachi Old Testament Gospels Acts Epistles Revelation New Testament

No Law Old Covenant: Law of sin & death Under the Law Condemns the very best of Man New Covenant: Law of the Spirit of life Under Grace: Law Free Reconciles the very worst of Man Exodus Genesis Old Testament It is finished Jesus: Fulfilled the Law (Matt 5:17) Abolished the Law (Eph 2:14,15) Gospels Acts Epistles Revelation New Testament Christ the end of the Law (Rom10:4)

The Cross: the dividing line Jesus always pointing towards the cross as making all the difference. John 14:19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

The Cross: the dividing line Before : old law covenant in force After : new covenant of grace made old covenant obsolete 13 By calling this covenant new, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. (Heb 8:13)

The Cross: the dividing line Filter Bible through the cross Does verse/passage describe old covenant new covenant of law of grace that or that makes condemns sinners sinners righteous How does the cross help me understand the passage?: Not what should I do or not do, but what Jesus had already done.

The Old Testament 1. Jesus taught that all of the OT were shadows of Him. Luke 24:25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.

The Old Testament 1. Jesus taught that all of the OT were shadows of Him. 44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

The Old Testament 2. Understand biblical truths through New Covenant lens. Psalm 51:11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Matt 28:20b And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. John 14:16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.

The Old Testament Old Covenant Prayer Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. And God granted his request.(1chron 4: 10) New Covenant Praise Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Eph 1:3)

The Gospels Jesus earthly life: a)fulfill the Law b)introduce the New Covenant The New Covenant effected after His death; Jesus pre-cross life was under the Old Covenant: 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. (Gal 4:4-5)

The Gospels Often Jesus preached the pure Law of Moses to the Jews under the Law: Q: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? A: What did Moses command you? (Mk 10:3) Q: What is the greatest commandment in the law? A: Quoted the Law: love the LORD your God love your neighbor as yourself.(mt 22:36-39). Sermon on the Mount was classic pure Law.

The Gospels He understood the Law & its purpose: 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. (Rom 3:19). Purpose of the law : make us conscious of our sin & reveal our need for a Savior

The Gospels Scribes and Pharisees ring-fenced the Law of Moses with their traditions and interpretations By their traditions they diluted the law and removed the key to knowledge. Result: the menace of sin was not fully recognized and self righteousness not silenced.

The Gospels As Law teachers incompetent, Jesus preached both the Law and the Gospel. He preached the pure Law that made sin utterly sinful so that they looked for the Saviour. He also told them I am the way, the truth and the life.

The Gospels Besides encounters with the Law teachers, the Gospels also introduced the New Covenant by Jesus a) demonstration of His power over diseases, death and nature b) teaching of God s kingdom c) celebration of the last supper The details of the cross, Jesus death and resurrection feature prominently too.

Pauline Epistles Gospels : physical happenings as to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Epistles : spiritual consequences of events that we died with Christ, rose with Him and are seated with Him in heaven.

Mystery: not just Jews, also Gentiles God s secret purpose revealed by Paul: The mystery, was hid in God, kept secret, not revealed to the sons of men, but now made known (Eph 1:9,3:1-11; Col 1:24-27; 1 Cor 2:7,8; Rom 16:25-26) The mystery : that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Eph 3:6)

Mystery: not just Jews, also Gentiles a)salvation for ALL, no distinction (Rom 10:12,13; Gal 3:26-28) b)not because of, BUT in spite of Israel (Rom 11:7-11) c)not by our works BUT solely by Christ s. (Rom 3:24-26; Eph 2:8,9) d)his relationship to us is NOT as Messiah or King (of Israel), BUT as Head of the Body, the Church... and as our elder brother. (Col 1:18)

Pauline Epistles Paul s epistles are truly New Covenant: 1. Gospel preached 2. Epistles written as received by after the Holy Spirit revelation from the had come. He shows resurrected and all truth of Jesus & ascended Jesus His finished work. (Gal 1:11-12) (John 16:13,14) 3. Paul was called specifically to be an apostle to the gentiles.

Pauline Epistles Paul s message 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1Cor 1:23,24) 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1Cor 2:2)

Pauline Epistles Basically Indicatives 2 parts Define to Us every Imperatives epistle: Lead Us a)indicatives They declare: (the done) They are how we b)imperatives who God is (the do) respond to who God what He has done is in Christ and how in Christ He relates to us who we are in Christ as a result Indicatives Empower Imperatives indicatives = roots; imperatives = branches.

Pauline Epistles Paul did not contradict Jesus but expanded and continued from where Jesus left off. Eg Righteousness what level of righteousness is required by God?

Pauline Epistles Matt 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:28 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Pauline Epistles Rom 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, Rom 3:21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Pauline Epistles Rom 4:5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. Rom 5:17b how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Conclusion 2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is Godbreathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Conclusion Why Bible divinely inspired?: that we know what Jesus has done for us to be the righteousness of God in Him. Rightly divide the Word know how we are righteous by His grace and become: Workmen who do not need to be ashamed but Equipped for every good work