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Chapter 8 - Covenant for the Eternal Church |
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The era in which the elect of the Gentile nations of the world are “grafted in” to the eternal, redemptive plan of God is often referred to as the “Church Age.” It began with the formation of the church in Jerusalem shortly after the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Christ (Acts 2:1-47). The Church Age will end when the “fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25).
Church and Covenant 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. The stipulations of the Eternal Covenant were satisfied by God alone apart from the influence of mankind. Therefore, the real New Testament church is privileged to receive its unconditional benefit by faith alone. The primary, unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant is union of life with its mediator, Jesus Christ. Joined to Him in a union of shared life, the real New Testament church enjoys heavenly position and privilege directly and immediately after receiving its covenantal benefit. Heavenly Position and Privilege The heavenly position and privilege of the real New Testament church are unparalleled. Sharing life with God, the church is “blessed….with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). The following is a mere sampling of the lavish, unconditional benefit of the church in union with Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the Eternal Covenant: |
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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 benefit graciously and unconditionally to the church before the foundation of the world. The real New Testament 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.
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Covenantal Security
The real New Testament church is eternally secure in its unparalleled position and privilege. God secured it by His unconditional application of the benefit of the Eternal Covenant. Its benefit applied without condition, there is nothing that the real New Testament church must satisfy to maintain its lofty position and privilege. It was a gift from God. God's gracious, unconditional choice to provide the real New Testament church with covenantal security was not without cost. The price was the blood of Jesus Christ (cf. Ephesians 1:7, 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). The blood of the Eternal Covenant was utterly sufficient to pay the penalty for the transgression of divine law in full. The last recorded word Jesus said on the cross was the Greek word “tetelestai.” It is translated into English as “It is finished” (John 19:30). However, it can also be translated as “the debt has been paid in full.” The blood of the Eternal Covenant completely satisfied the justice of God regarding human sin. As a result, there is no remaining debt that requires payment. By the blood of the Eternal Covenant, the Father was legally free to share His holy, eternal life (zoe) with human beings He foreknew would respond by faith. God chose to share life (zoe) on earth with the faithful. It was related to their conduct. Instead, God chose them without condition before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Although He had foreknowledge of every act of human sin that would be committed on earth, His eternal plan accounted for the entire debt of sin, without exception. The real New Testament church was further secured by the unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant by the sealing work of the Holy Spirit. It is a pledge of divine ownership that guarantees eternal position and privilege (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul went to great lengths to address the unconditional covenant security of the distinct church of the New Testament. Despite the suffering associated with life in this present world (Romans 8:18), he clarified that the covenantal security of the New Testament church had been 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). By the gracious, unconditional choice of God, the real church of the New Testament is eternally secure in its incomparable position and privilege. An unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant, its security was purchased by nothing less than the blood of Jesus Christ. As a result, the real New Testament church is utterly privileged to enjoy an unconditional union of life with God. It was confirmed by the sealing of the Holy Spirit. |
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Gloriously Inclusive
The eternal plan of God is gloriously inclusive. Framed by the unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant, it was designed to accommodate the inclusion of both the elect of the nation of 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. © 2018 James Hiatt |
