JDL - Direction Fifty-four - One Covenant

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 (ESV))

“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3 (ESV))

About a hundred years ago a new theology began to emerge, the millennialistic theology of the John Nelson Darby. It is this new theology that is being espoused and propagated by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins in the “Left Behind” series. This new teaching espouses a new line of thought and indeed a new theology that God made two covenants: one covenant with the children of Israel and a second covenant with the Gentiles. Although there are at least three explanations in this line of thinking, dispensational premillennialism, historic premillennialism, and postmillennialism, they all amount to basically one error, the idea that non-believers will get a second chance at salvation.

This line of thinking is quite opposed to what our Lord tells us, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 (ESV)). Thus, to give people the false hope or false security that they get a second chance at salvation is quite disturbing.

The traditional view of the end-times, and here, I am speaking of what the Christian Church has always believed, confessed and taught, has been what we read in God’s Word, that a person will die and then be judged.

To best understand and see that there is only one covenant between God and man, simply read the giving of the covenant in Genesis (Genesis 3:15). Remember, when God promised to send a Savior, there was only Adam and Eve. There was not a Jew nor a Gentile; thus, God’s promise and covenant were give to Adam and Eve and to all people, of all places, of all times.

When God chose Abram and covenanted with him, it was not a new or a second covenant that God was making with him, but simply that God was narrowing the line of the fulfillment of the covenant He had made with Adam and Eve and all people.

When it comes to being children of Abraham, it is those who have been given faith who are his children. Being children of Abraham is not something that is genetic, but something that is gift and faith. As Jesus told the Jews, “And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham” (Matthew 3:9 (ESV)).

So, by faith in Jesus, faith given to us by God Himself, we are children of Abraham, children of Israel, children of the covenant. And as Jesus has fully and completely fulfilled the covenant and has given Himself to us and for us as our substitute, His life, His suffering, His death and His resurrection are ours. We are indeed a part of that family of the nations of the earth that have been blessed.

As Jesus directs our lives, we would do well to live lives of faith, always ready to give an answer for the hope we have in Jesus so that, when asked, we might boldly proclaim the words of Philip to Nathaniel when he was talking about Jesus, “Come and see” (Luke 1:46). Thus, inviting them to “come and see” Jesus in His Word and in His Sacraments through the Holy Spirit may give the gifts He has to give; faith, forgiveness and life.

Think About
The tree of “Religions of the World” branches at the life of Jesus. Is it Christianity that is a new branch or Judaism? To answer that question correctly, check out to whom the promise of a Savior was given in the Garden of Eden.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of a Messiah. Thank You that Jesus is our Savior, the one and only Savior for all people, of all places, of all times. Forgive us when we fail to call non-believers to faith. Help us to always be ready to give and answer for the faith that we have in Jesus, for His sake. Amen.