The Real New Testament Church
  • Home
  • Contents
  • Preface
  • Real Plan
    • Chapter 1 - In the Beginning
    • Chapter-2-After the Beginning
    • Chapter 3 - Kingdom
    • Chapter 4 - Earth in the Kingdom or Kingdom on Earth
    • Chapter 5 - Original Earth in the Kingdom
    • Chapter 6 - Renovated Earth in the Kingdom
    • Chapter 7 - Kingdom on the Degenerated Earth
    • Chapter 8 - Tribulation
    • Chapter 9 - Kingdom on the Regenerated Earth
    • Chapter 10 - New Earth in the Kingdom
    • Chapter 11 - Covenant
    • Chapter 12 - Major Covenants of the Bible
    • Chapter 13 - Eternal Covenant
    • Chapter 14 - Renovation Covenant
    • Chapter 15 - Covenants for Israel
  • Real Church
    • Real Fundamentals >
      • Chapter 16 - Real Church
      • Chapter 17 - Church Covenant
      • Chapter 18 - Calling
      • Chapter 19 - Parables
      • Chapter 20 - Kingdom of Heaven Parables
      • Chapter 21 - Description
    • Real Legality >
      • Chapter 22 - Law
      • Chapter 23 - Transgression
      • Chapter 24 - Justification
    • Real Life (zoe) >
      • Chapter 25 - Life (zoe)
      • Chapter 26 - Progression of Life (zoe)
      • Chapter 27 - Birth
      • Chapter 28 - Dependent Life
      • Chapter 29 - Sanctification
      • Chapter 30 - Rule of Life
      • Chapter 31 - Return to Law
      • Chapter 32 - Faith
    • Real Composition >
      • Chapter 33 - Headship
      • Chapter 34 - Body
      • Chapter 35 - Women
    • Real Incarnation >
      • Chapter 36 - Function and Form
      • Chapter 37 - Purpose and Mission
      • Chapter 38 - Manifestation
    • Real Doctrine and Practice >
      • Chapter 39 - Apostolic Teaching
      • Chapter 40 - Apostolic Tradition
    • Real Apostolic Teaching >
      • Chapter 41 - Values
      • Chapter 42 - Prayer
      • Chapter 43 - Works
      • Chapter 44 - Giving
    • Real Apostolic Tradition >
      • Chapter 45 - Governance
      • Chapter 46 - Simplicity
      • Chapter 47 - Gatherings
      • Chapter 48 - Supper: Celebration and Sign
      • Chapter 49 - Supper: Apostolic Tradition
      • Chapter 50 - Practice
    • Real Growth >
      • Chapter 51 - Growth
      • Chapter 52 - Exponential Growth
    • Real Warfare >
      • Chapter 53 - Temporal Simulation
      • Chapter 54 - Confirmation of Scripture
      • Chapter 55 - Sovereignty of God
      • Chapter 56 - Warfare
      • Chapter 57 - Utter Defeat
      • Chapter 58 - Freedom
      • Chapter 59 - Incomparable Power
      • Chapter 60 - Armor
      • Chapter 61 - Full Armor
  • Real Reformation
    • Chapter 62 - Law and Life
    • Chapter 63 - From Law to Life
    • Chapter 64 - Divine Reformation
  • Conclusion
    • Chapter 65 - Real New Testament Church
  • Endnotes
  • About
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Chapter 17 - Church Covenant
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The real New Testament church was critically important to the eternal plan of God. Therefore, it was secured before the foundation of the world according to the unconditional benefit of His gracious, redemptive covenant of life (zoe),  the Eternal Covenant.  


                                 Church and Covenant

 In contrast to the New Testament church, Israel partnered with God through the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants. They entered into covenant with God by trusting Him to fulfill the stipulations of the unconditional Abrahamic and Davidic covenants and agreeing to obey the law of the conditional Mosaic Covenant.
    
The Abrahamic and Davidic covenants were unilateral, unconditional covenants of promise. God promised to fulfill the stipulations of both covenants regardless of the performance of Israel. In contrast, the Mosaic Covenant was a bilateral, conditional covenant of law. Both God and Israel had clearly stated responsibilities that would lead to the fulfillment of covenantal stipulations.
    
Unlike ancient Israel, the real church of the New Testament does not relate to God through covenant partnership. Instead, its relationship with God is much more intimate.

The real New Testament church is the primary beneficiary of the gracious Eternal Covenant. Its stipulations were satisfied by God alone apart from the influence of the church. The fundamental benefit of the Eternal Covenant is new law and new life.

The new law of the Eternal Covenant is the “law of Christ.” It is also described as the “law of faith,” the “Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus,” the “perfect law,” and the “law of liberty.” (Romans 3:27; 8:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2; James 1:25; 2:12) The “law of Christ” is often referred to in this book as the “rule of life.”


The fundamental benefit of the Eternal Covenant also includes new life. It is fulfilled by union of life with the mediator of the covenant, Jesus Christ.
    
Made legally suitable and organically compatible with God by the unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant, the real New Testament church enjoys heavenly position and privilege beyond compare. Sharing life with Jesus Christ, the mediator of the covenant, it is “blessed….with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:3) By grace through faith alone, the unparalleled benefit is received directly and immediately.   

                        Heavenly Position and Privilege
 
The following is a mere sampling of the lavish, unconditional benefit of the real New Testament church in union with Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the Eternal Covenant:
       
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Eternal Covenant headship:
  • Eternally positioned under the federal (representative) and natural (representational) headship of Jesus Christ.
Consequently:
  • Legally representative of the law of Christ on earth.
  • Organically representational of the life (zoe) of Christ on earth.
Romans 5:12-17; 2 Corinthians 5:21
​Eternal Covenant legal status:
  • Justified from sin. 
  • Forgiven of all transgression of the rule of law (past, present, and future).
  • Presented with an eternally binding, legal declaration of righteousness.
  • Holy and blameless and beyond reproach according to the standard of the rule of law.
  • Released from the jurisdiction of the rule of law.
Romans 4:1-5:11; 8:15; Ephesians 1:4-5; 7 
Eternal Covenant
life status: 

  • New life.
  • Resurrected with Christ.
  • Life shared with Christ.
Romans 5:18- 6:14; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 2:12-13; 3:4
Eternal Covenant governance:
  • New law.
  • Rather than governed by the rule of law, graciously obligated to God by the rule of life (zoe); otherwise known as the “law of the Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus,” the “law of faith,” the “law of Christ,” the “perfect law,” and the “law of liberty.
  • Made obedient from the heart or the innermost being.
Romans 3:27; 6:14-7:13; 8:2-4;
1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2; James 1:25; 2:12

Eternal Covenant leadership:
  • According to the Apostle Paul, to “live….according to the Spirit” (NIV), be “in the Spirit”; be “led by the Spirit”; and to “live by the Spirit” are synonymous terms reflective of the believer’s union of shared life with Christ.
  • In addition, Paul’s language is descriptive of the believer’s position in the realm or sphere of the Spirit of Christ where he is subject to His controlling influence.
  • By faithful submission to the controlling influence of the Spirit, the believer has the opportunity and obligation to “walk by the Spirit.”
Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16; 18; 25
Eternal Covenant familial status:
  • Sons of God legally (awarded the full legal privileges of an adult in the family of God by adoption).
  • Children of God naturally (awarded a future inheritance by spiritual birth - “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ”).   
Romans 8:15-17
Eternal Covenant security:
  • Ascended and seated with Christ. 
  • Sealed by the Spirit.  
  • Secured by divine hope (Romans 8:18-25).
  • Secured by divine intercession (Romans 8:26-27).
  • Secured by divine purpose (Romans 8:28-30).
  • Secured by divine benevolence (Romans 8:31-34).
  • Secured by divine love (Romans 8:35-39).
  • Secured by divine choice (Romans 9:1-11:36).



Romans 8:18-11:36; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 2:22
Eternal Covenant citizenship:
  • Citizen of heaven. 
  • A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession.
Philippians 3:20; 1 Peter 2:9
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The unparalleled position and privilege of the real New Testament church were established by the divine fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant and the subsequent choice of God to apply its unconditional benefit to the real New Testament church before the foundation of the world. Received by grace alone, the church does not perform to receive or maintain its heavenly position and privilege. Instead, resting in the finished work and consequent blessing of the Savior, it enjoys the benefit by faith alone. (2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:6)
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                                   Covenantal Security
 
The real New Testament church is united with God by benefit of the redemptive Eternal Covenant. The union was graciously awarded to the church without condition.
    
The only prerequisite necessary for the elect of the real New Testament church to receive the benefit of the Eternal Covenant is willing consent. According to plan, the consent must be offered by faith alone.
    
The benefit of the Eternal Covenant received by the elect is permanently secured. God ensures its security by the blood of the Eternal Covenant and the presence of His indwelling, eternal life (zoe). (cf. Ephesians 1:7, 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
     
The covenantal security of the real New Testament church is further guaranteed by the sealing work of the Holy Spirit. It is a pledge of divine ownership that promises eternal position and privilege. (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30)
    
In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul also provided significant testimony about the eternal security of the real New Testament church. Despite the apparent insecurity associated with the suffering of this present fallen world (Romans 8:18), he revealed that the covenantal security of the New Testament church was assured through divine hope (Romans 8:19-25); divine intercession (Romans 8:26-27); divine purpose (8:28-30); divine benevolence (Romans 8:31-34); divine love (Romans 8:35-39); and divine choice (Romans 9-11).

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                                     Gloriously Inclusive

The eternal plan of God is gloriously inclusive. By the unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant, it was designed to accommodate the inclusion of both the elect of national Israel and the Gentile nations.
    
While temporarily suspended from the covenant plan of God, the elect of national Israel do not experience its glory. During the Church Age they are a people of promise only. However, the blood of the Eternal Covenant provides them with a guarantee that the promises and stipulations of the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants will indeed be fulfilled. Their fulfillment will occur through the future invocation of the New Covenant.
    
In contrast, the real New Testament church is privileged to experience the benefit of the heavenly Eternal Covenant directly and immediately. Rather than waiting for the fulfillment of covenantal promises, its unconditional enjoyment of covenant position, privilege, and security is a present reality. 


© 2022 James Hiatt  

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