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Whispers of
the New Covenant (1)
by Ray and Doris
Prinzing
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto Himself; not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).
In the life of every believer it is essential that there be a progressive
revelation of THE FATHER, and of THE SON. For, "This is life eternal, that
they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast
sent." (John 17:3).
"Philip saith unto Him, Lord, Shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou
not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how
sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believeth thou not that I am in the
Father, and the Father in Me?" (John 14:8-10).
Well do we sing the little prayer chorus:
"Only to know Him, only to know Him,
Is the prayer within my heart.
Not just in measure, but in Thy fullness,
This, O Lord, is the cry of my heart."
Such glorious truth contained in these words, "GOD WAS IN CHRIST," for
the Father is vitally involved in the outworking of the NEW COVENANT with
men. He did not just "send His Son" to reconcile the world unto Him, but
verily, HE INDWELT THE SON, so that it was GOD HIMSELF shewing forth His
love and mercy to His wayward creation. "I am in the Father, and the Father
is in Me, " is the very heart of our reconciliation. For in the sending
forth of His own Son to be our Saviour, He was THERE IN HIS SON, so that
it could truly be said, "God manifest in the flesh." (1 Timothy 3:16).
Nor
does it stop with "God in Christ," for we also are to be "IN CHRIST," and
thus in vital UNION with God Himself, that His life might be our life also.
To ask the question: What is the GOSPEL, the TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY? would
bring a variety of answers. Some would say: "This is a faithful saying,
and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15).
THIS IS GOOD NEWS! It is worthy to be received! He is the SAVIOUR of sinners.
To sin-- to err-- to miss the mark-- truly, "All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). Therefore, "Thou shalt call
His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew
1:21).
But the GOOD NEWS is far greater than just a forgiveness of our sins of
the past, it is of a SALVATION, a coming into HIS WHOLENESS, HIS SOUNDNESS,
so that we will never sin again. It is a partaking of His DIVINE NATURE
which cannot be corrupted. No more to "come short of the glory of God,
" but to actually SHARE THAT GLORY. For "The glory which Thou gavest Me
I have given them: that they may be one, even as We are one. I in them,
and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one." (John 17:22-23).
Another may answer the question, What is the Gospel? with Acts 13:38-39.
"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man
is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe
are justified from all things which ye could not be justified by the law
of Moses."
Now we have more than just "forgiveness of sins," but here is the inclusion
of justification-- yes, FAR BETTER than the justification obtained by observance
of the law of Moses, with all of its ceremony and ritual, "in which were
offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the
service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience." (Hebrews 9:9).
The first covenant, the LAW with all of its ceremonies, could not bring
justification to man, it could not make him perfect on the inside--
because it was a system of works designed for outward observance-- things
to DO, or NOT DO, but it was not a LIFE that could be lived from inside
out.
Praise God, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ: by Whom also we have access by faith into
this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."
(Romans 5:1-2). There is a justification, a being DECLARED RIGHTEOUS,
because we are made partakers of HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS through the abundance
of grace which He gives us, which enables us to be partakers of His holiness,
and of His glory.
Others may yet seek to give a fuller answer, to "what is the Gospel?" with
a quoting of John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life." Furthermore, "He is the propitiation ( mercyseat ) for
our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD."
(1 John 2:2). Thus they would expand our consciousness to the fact that
God gave His Son for THE WHOLE WORLD, and the WHOLE WORLD He shall yet
receive unto Himself --fully cleansed, fully redeemed, fully restored into
His life and righteousness.
Long ago the prophet Isaiah declared the fullness of the promise. "There
is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside
Me. Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am
God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out
of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every
knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the
Lord have I righteousness and strength." (Isaiah 45:21-24).
There is a universal outreach and coverage here that is both glorious and
overwhelming-- that every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear-- and
what shall they say? That "IN THE LORD have I righteousness and strength."
That is the fullness of the NEW COVENANT confirmed in Christ our Redeemer!
In the three answers given, we have an unfolding revelation, that He came
to save sinners, He came to justify all who could not be justified under
the law, indeed, He came to bring salvation to the whole world.
But there is one more answer to the question: What is the Gospel? It includes
all of the above, and adds yet another dimension. That by the coming forth
of the ETERNAL WORD, a NEW MAN is brought forth out of our divided nature,
who is truly, "son of God, son of man." Sin's breach is healed, and God
comes to DWELL IN MAN, that man may do the works of God, and yes, that
man may truly come to DWELL IN GOD. This is the INNER HEART of the NEW
COVENANT-- to bring about a UNION of God and man, so that God shall dwell
in man, and live out His righteousness through man. Thus, "IN THE LORD
HAVE I RIGHTEOUSNESS AND STRENGTH" Bless HIS name!
As the Mediator of the NEW COVENANT: Jesus Christ is identified both as
"Son of God, Son of man." This is essential, for He is the BRIDGE, He is
"The Way, the Truth, and the Life," and no man cometh unto the Father except
by Him. HE IS THE GO-BETWEEN, drawing together both God and man.
Galatians 3:19 tells us that even the old (first) covenant was ordained,
arranged "by angels in the hand of a mediator."
There were two realms: God, the divine, the celestial; and man, the earthy.
These two realms must be brought together, and this required a mediator--
literally, a go-between. In the first covenant we have as it were two mediators,
two go-betweens. God was represented by the angels, and man was represented
by Moses. The angels were spokesmen for God, while Moses was Israel's spokesman.
Acts 7:53 confirms the fact of the angels' participation in the order of
the first covenant, when speaking of those "Who have received the law by
disposition of angels. " It was a working of God, using the instrumentality
of angels. It was not to be a permanent arrangement, but only until THE
SEED should come, through whom the New and BETTER covenant could be arranged.
For a temporary order God could use temporary help.
On the earth side, Moses was the go-between. "They said unto Moses, Speak
thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we
die." (Exodus 20:19). For sure, Moses was a very faithful servant, and
he could tell the people of the law, the Word of the Lord, but he could
not change them, nor impart to them a nature to do the will of God. Once
God said to Moses, "0 that there were such an heart in them, that they
would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well
with them, and with their children for ever." (Deuteronomy 5:29). But not
until the day when He fulfills the promise of Ezekiel 11:19-20, will this
be realized. "I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within
you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give
them an heart of flesh: that they may walk in my statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their
God."
The problem was not with the law, for "The law is holy, the commandment
holy, and just, and good." (Romans 7:12). The problem was with the ministration
of that covenant. The angels could BEAR THE SWORD, and slay all who did
not obey. The human spokesman could fervently declare the Word of the Lord.
But neither the angels, nor Moses, could change the inner nature of man,
to enable man to keep his part of the covenant. Thus, "The commandment,
which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death." (Romans 7:10).
Furthermore, Paul went on, "We know that the law is spiritual, but I
am carnal (flesh-minded)." (Romans 7:14). As long as the law was spiritual,
but man remained carnal, it is obvious that the GO-BETWEEN was not bringing
the two realms together. That ministration was a failure!
The ministration of condemnation and death must needs be replaced with
a new ministration which would be of LIFE. How could this be accomplished?
GOD INTERPOSED HIMSELF. He placed Himself as the Mediator, as the Go-between.
"He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor:
therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it
sustained Him." (Isaiah 59:16).
It is essential that a mediator be on equal terms with both realms, to
rightly represent both realms. He must be able to converse freely in the
realm of divinity. He must be able to identify with the low realms of mankind.
Total identity with both dimensions. There is "ONE MEDIATOR between God
and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5).
Certainly He intimately knew the realm of the Divine, HE CAME FROM GOD!
And He was born into the realm of the human. "Forasmuch then as the children
are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of
the same. " (Hebrews 2:14). And, HE "was in all points tempted (tested)
like as we are." (Hebrews 4:14). Now He was fully equipped to bring the
two realms together, for He was both SON OF GOD, and SON OF MAN. In Himself
the reconciliation was made complete. He could be BOTH IN ONE, and now
He is able to work that same reconciliation in us, so that we who have
tasted so deeply of the earthy, might also experience the blessed reality
of the heavenly.
Furthermore, HE retains this identification for the ages. Jesus Christ
the same yesterday, and today, and for the ages. (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus
is the name of identification with our earth realm. Christ is the identification
with the heavenly realm, the anointing Spirit. And as long as there remains
one individual in the universe in whom this reconciliation is not yet complete,
HE IS THERE AS THAT MEDIATOR! The One who can identify with their need,
and also unite them with the Divine. Yes, THE SON reigns until all enemies
are subdued under His feet, and all is fully reconciled.
THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS! That God can take us, "the sons of men,"
and so thoroughly transform us that we can be called "the sons of God."
It
is far more than just saving us from our sins, but it is the whole process
of TRANSFORMATION into the image of God. "That He might be the Firstborn
among MANY BRETHREN." (Romans 8:29).
Indeed, so fully is man to be made "partakers of the divine nature," (2
Peter 1:4), that in due time it can be said, "As He is, so are we in
this world." (1 John 4:17).
There is no need for premature, rash announcements of who we are, for our
very state of being will belie our words. Not until we have FULL Y BECOME,
can it be said that we are "as He is." It will require the full outworking
of the process, in spirit, soul, and body. A quickened spirit, a renewed
mind, and a changed body. Thank God, He who hath begun in us a work which
is good, shall also bring it to a successful conclusion. The fullness of
our salvation is secure in Christ.
When we speak of "father and son," in order to BE a father there must be
the bringing forth of a son. A man may live to be an hundred, and be a
mature man in physical form, in mental prowess, in spiritual integrity,
etc. and yet never be a father. A father is defined as: one who has begotten
an offspring. Thus, when we receive a revelation of God as our FATHER,
it inherently includes the thought of relationship, that we are His sons
and daughters. The FATHER- RELATIONSHIP is also inherent in the heart of
the NEW COVENANT. And it is first manifest in our Lord Jesus Christ.
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the
bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." (John 1:18). He came
to reveal the heart of the Father, that He might become the FATHER OF MANY.
He revealed that there is an eternal love between Him who begets and they
who are begotten. There is a union and a communion with Him who is the
source and ground of all being.
FATHER-- tells us of a source of life; of one in Whom His sons have been--
for all sons have once been in the loins of their father, from whom they
came, and whose image and likeness they are called to manifest.
They said of Jesus, "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not His mother
called Mary? and His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this Man all
these things? (Matthew 13:55-56).
"And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and
mother we know? how is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven."
(John 6:43).
They were continually astonished at His doctrine, His wisdom, His power,
His authority. They thought they knew His father, but what He was saying
and doing was not the image of His father. Of course not! But they did
not know Who His true Father was! They thought it was Joseph. But
they should have asked Mary, His mother, for she knew. It has been said
unto her, "The holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest
shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born
of thee shall be called the SON OF GOD." (Luke 1:35).
When Jesus expressed the NATURE of His Father, they knew Him not, for they
knew not His Father. Joseph wasn't His Father, therefore He did not express
like nature to Joseph. Mary provided His humanity, His body, but HIS NATURE
WAS DIVINE. Thus He, IN HIMSELF, brought together both the earthy and the
heavenly. And IN HIMSELF He triumphed! As Paul wrote in Colossians 2:15,
"Triumphing over them in it," or literally, the Greek text reads, "IN HIMSELF."
Once Jesus asked the Pharisees, "What think ye of Christ? whose son is
He? They say unto Him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth
David in spirit call Him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit
Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? If David
called Him Lord, how then is He his son?" (Matthew 22:42-45). They could
not answer. They understood human relationship, but they could not extend
into the Divine. They were totally baffled, not knowing that He was both
SON OF GOD, and SON OF MAN. His earthen-vessel-body came out of the lineage
of David, via His mother Mary, but truly, HIS NATURE CAME FROM HIS FATHER,
from God.
Therefore do we read, "He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath
broken down the middle wall of partition: having abolished in His flesh
the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to
make IN HIMSELF of twain one new man, so making peace." (Ephesians 2:14-15).
Many long years ago we read a little verse:
"Within this temple there's a crowd,
One of us that's humble, one of us that's proud.
From much corroding care I could be free,
If ever I could determine which is me."
How long we have suffered under duality-- from the day that Adam and Eve
partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. How we long for
all duality within us to cease, that of the twain He would make "ONE NEW
MAN" With a nature that is totally divine, and a body "fashioned
like unto His glorious body," (Philippians 3:21 ), so that we could freely
express that divine nature.
Permit us one more illustration: "Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and
said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. And David came to
Saul and stood before him; and he loved him greatly; and he became his
armour-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee,
stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight." (1 Samuel 16:19,
21-22).
Saul KNEW that the father was Jesse, the son was David. Saul became well
enough acquainted with David that he loved him greatly, and brought him
into the close relationship of being his armour-bearer for a time. The
wording is clear, Saul KNEW both who Jesse was, and who David was, on a
very personal level. Then David returned home, and Saul went off to battle
the Philistines. Jesse sent his son down to see how his brethren were faring.
You remember the record. Goliath gave his challenge to Israel, and when
David heard it, he volunteered to go and fight him. Saul KNEW all about
this, in fact, "Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. And
Saul armed David with his armour. --And David said unto Saul, I cannot
go with these; for I have not proved them, And David put them off him."
(1 Samuel 17:37-39). This is very clear! Saul KNEW David, knew he was willing
to fight Goliath, and even tried to provide what he felt would be the best
armour, which David rejected.
David, with a sling and five stones, ran to meet the Philistine, slew him,
cut off his head, and Saul, from afar, watched the happening. Now make
careful note: "And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine,
he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, WHOSE SON IS THIS YOUTH?
And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O King, I cannot tell." (1 Samuel 17:55).
Saul knew Jesse the father, he knew David the son, why did he not know
this young man? Because on this occasion this young man was not expressing
the image and likeness of Jesse! BY FAITH IN JEHOVAH, David was drawing
out of the DIVINE REALM, even as he said to the Philistine, "I come to
thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel,
whom thou hast defiled. This day will THE LORD deliver thee into mine hand."
At that moment David was not walking "according to men," but according
to a higher realm, and so they could not recognize him.
"David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and
brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And
Saul said unto him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered,
I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite." (1 Samuel 17:57-58).
WHOSE SON ART THOU? Well could David have answered, "Saul, Saul, you will
never comprehend the higher realm, you cannot relate to that identity,
so just know me as you always have-- I am David, the son of Jesse."
David knew, in a measure, of a realm that was far beyond the realm of humanity
which he inherited from Jesse and it serves as a glimpse, a parable, of
this greater relationship into which we come, as we are indeed BORN
AGAIN, born from above, with God as our Father.
With a father there is a relationship in nature, and in blood, a love which
is unchanging, though the son becomes a prodigal. As Jesus gave His parable,
the son is still loved, and though he may wander afar off, as he returns,
the father will run to him, fall on his neck and kiss him, EVEN WHILE THE
RAGS OF THE FAR COUNTRY STILL COVER HIM. For, "God commendeth His love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans
5:8). Far from our FATHERLAND, we have tasted the dregs of this earth,
became impoverished, wasting our substance and ending up destitute. But
LOVE reaches out to receive us, and draw us to Himself again.
Over and over again, with parable after parable, Jesus, THE SON, declared
precious truths of THE FATHER-- of His love, His compassion, His mercy,
His heart toward us, and His ultimate plans for our good. What revelation
He becomes to us, and truly, He is "The true Light, which lighteth every
man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9). Saying, "I shall shew you
plainly of the Father." (John 16:25). And again, "I have declared unto
them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved
Me MAYBE IN THEM, and I in them." (John 17:26).
Jesus Christ came forth to declare-- to become the LIVING EXPRESSION of
the Name of the Father. There is a progressive revelation of the Father
in the revelation of His name.
"And God appeared unto Moses, and said unto him, I AM the Lord (Jehovah):
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of
God Almighty, but by My name Jehovah was I not known to them." (Exodus
6:2-3).
There are specific revelations for specific dispensations, for the
outworking of God's purpose through the ages. The time of the LAW (first
covenant) was at hand, and so there was a specific name of God to be revealed
for that law dispensation. It was not revealed unto Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, it was not needed for their time. They knew Him as the ALMIGHTY,
as El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One, and that was enough to see them
through their days. But now God has a specific time and dealing to be wrought
in Israel, and He needed a NAME which would be identified with that era
and working, so He revealed a NAME that bespoke of all that would be brought
into focus.
Significant that Abraham, that great patriarch of faith, did not need a
particular revelation of this name. "The scripture, foreseeing God would
justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham,
saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:8). GOD LEAPED
OVER AN AGE, and revealed to Abraham the GOOD NEWS which belonged to an
age to come, of the realm of FAITH, and GRACE, and the over-flowing mercy
of the NEW COVENANT, and so it was not needed that he be given a revelation
of the dispensation and name which preceded that glory. Therefore, "By
My name Jehovah (Yahweh) was I not known to them."
Yahweh-- from the tetragram YHWH, meaning, I AM THAT I AM. Let us not become
hung up on the "letter" of this name, but receive the Spirit and Reality
of its message, and then go on to receive more revelation of the unfolding
NAME of God, even that which pertains to this day.
When the time for the LAW was at hand, the name YAHWEH came into the foreground.
It was a time when HE who is righteous must judge evil, wherever it existed,
at whatever cost, whether to the creature, or to the Creator. Holiness,
and the process of becoming into that realm by means of the law, brought
forth this particular revelation of the name and nature of Yahweh. The
cold facts were laid out in the law, and it was condemnation unto death
if you did not, could not keep that law.
"The law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth." (Then Paul gives
a type, an illustration). "For the woman which hath an husband is bound
by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead,
she is loosed from the law of her husband." (Romans 7:1-2).
God took Israel to mount Sinai, and there she made her vows to be joined
to Yahweh-- He became her husband, "till death do us part." Though the
marriage went on the rocks, Israel became an unfaithful wife, seeking out
many lovers (strange gods ), yet she remained bound to Yahweh until DEATH.
God knew when it was time to end that dispensation, and He sent forth His
SON, yes, HE INDWELT THAT SON, "To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST," and then
He went to the cross, and DIED. That ended that particular relationship,
ended that marriage, and ended that dispensation, and methinks in a sense
it ended the usage of the name which was revealed for that time, in this
respect-- that when a man dies, the woman is loosed from her husband, and
she is free to be married to another, AND RECEIVE A NEW NAME.
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body
of Christ (the body that died); that ye should be married to another, to
Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto
God." (Romans 7:4).
Remember, parables, illustrations are given to make a point, not to become
definitive theology. Yet show me the man, named Mr. Smith, who marries
a woman formerly married to a Mr. Jones, now deceased, who asks his wife
to call him by the name of her deceased husband. Nay, she must now use
his name, "Mr. Smith," for she is now joined to a new man, with his own
name.
In the death of Jesus Christ, one order ended, and a new order began.
HE "took away the first, that He may establish the second." The dispensation
of the first covenant was FINISHED IN HIM, and the NEW COVENANT was ratified
by His blood. Now we are free to be JOINED UNTO CHRIST, to Him who is RAISED
FROM THE DEAD, so that we might bring forth fruit unto God-- THE FRUIT
OF THE SPIRIT, of grace, of faith, and not the works of the flesh, as under
the old law. Jesus Christ, the expression of Jehovah on earth, filled up
in Himself all of the old covenant, brought that era to an end, and DIED.
Then out of the tomb came a NEW LIFE, a NEW EXPRESSION, and as we
are joined to Him, we receive of His Spirit-life, that we might bring forth
a spirit-fruit which glorifies God.
As long as we carry the former name we testify that we have not come
into the NEW COVENANT, but remain under, to be judged by the old, which
is a ministration of condemnation unto death.
Just as we see in Christ the ending of the adam nature, to bring in the
new God-nature; so also we see in Christ the ending of the dispensation
of the law, that we might come into the NEW COVENANT, by His Spirit, with
the declaration of a new name, even as He saith, "Him that overcometh will
I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and
I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My
God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God,
and I will write upon Him My new name." (Rev. 3:12).
"Saying, I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the
church will I sing praise unto Thee." (Hebrews 2:12).
One more special thought concerning the name "Yahweh," which is given in
the King James Version by all capital letters, LORD. We have already quoted
the verse, God saying unto Moses, "But by My name YHWH was I not known
unto them (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob)." Yet we find that this name was
in a sense known throughout all the time of the patriarchs, clear back
to Eve, where she said, "I have gotten a man from the LORD (YHWH). (Genesis
4:1). How then could it be said that He was not "known" by this name? The
Hebrew word used here for "known " is "yada " meaning: to be perceived,
understood. Thus literally, this name was not known so as to be understood,
to be experienced. Abraham did not experience the dispensation of the law,
therefore did not intimately understand the meaning of the name YHWH. Yet
by the impartation of revelation by the Spirit, he leaped over that whole
time period, and as Jesus said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My
day; and he saw it, and was glad." (John 8:56).
When did Abraham see this day? Ah, could it not have been on that mount
where he prepared to offer his son, Isaac, according to the commandment
of God. When Isaac said to him, "Behold the fire and the wood: but where
is the Iamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, GOD WILL PROVIDE
HIMSELF a Iamb for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:7-8). Did he not see much
more than the provision of "the ram caught in a thicket by the horns,"
which he offered in place of Isaac? Truly, he saw that God would PROVIDE
HIMSELF. "To wit, that God was in Christ, " to become that Lamb which taketh
away the sins of the world. Abraham saw, and he rejoiced! For to him was
declared the good news, long before the Gospel dispensation would come,
how, that through this SEED all nations of the earth would be blessed BY
FAITH! Yes, he saw beyond the time of the law, into a ministration that
exceeds in glory--no wonder he rejoiced!
So, "By My name YHWH was I not known... " How is such knowledge gained?
Psalm 9:16. gives answer. "The LORD (YHWH) is known by the Judgment which
He executeth." When judgments were predicted against any person or nation,
it was always connected with the statement, then "They shall know that
I am the LORD (YHWH)." For His judgments were calculated to display His
supremacy above all other gods, etc. and they would know that Israel's
God alone was GOD.
Pharaoh says, "Who is the LORD (YHWH), that I should obey His voice to
let Israel go? I know not the LORD..." (Exodus 5:2). But he surely came
to know Him by the JUDGMENTS which He executed!
Many today would cry for a heavy hand of judgment, with death to all those
who oppose righteousness. Since we cannot change men, since we do not have
the power to transform their life into a new creature, if they seem to
be exceedingly sinful and rebellious, we just say, "Okay, Lord, remove
them, wipe them out."
Even Jeremiah experienced this. "Righteous art Thou, O Lord, when I plead
with Thee: YET LET ME TALK WITH THEE OF THY JUDGMENTS: Wherefore doth the
way of the wicked prosper? Wherefore are all they happy that deal very
treacherously?" (Jeremiah 12:1). "Lord, isn't it time that you exercise
your judgments, and just wipe them all out?" Perhaps we know the feeling
all too well, but is not all of this still under the dispensation of the
law, while we want to demand the penalty of the law upon other men?
The Pharisees were so quick to condemn, and more than once Jesus said unto
them, "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not
sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
(Matthew 9:13). How little have we learned this, if we are so ready to
"sacrifice" anything, or anyone, that does not measure up to our standard,
as we set the law, and then become the judge for another. But MERCY, truly--
"blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Jesus demonstrated
for us this tremendous expression of God, for He did not condemn, rather,
He came TO and FOR the sinner, knowing that they desperately needed His
life.
There is a revelation of ALL THE NAMES OF GOD in Christ Jesus, not
just one facet, but all of them, thus unto greater victory-- total redemption!
First, the name "Elohim," from the Hebrew: EL, meaning: STRONG; and ALAR,
meaning: TO SWEAR. Combined they bespeak of GOD IN COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
WITH MAN, ratified by an oath. He gives His own Word, and He has the strength
to carry it through to completion. "Wherefore He is able also to save them
to the uttermost that come unto God by Him" (Heb. 7:25).
The name "Elohim" is uni-plural, speaking of more than two who are bound
together in a basic unity of strength and faithfulness. "He is the Lord
our God (our Elohim): His judgments are in all the earth. He hath remembered
His covenant for ever, the word which He commanded to a thousand
generations. Which covenant He made with Abraham, and His oath unto Isaac:
and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting
covenant." (Psalm 105:7-10).
What a fascinating passage of scripture! God made COVENANT with Abraham--
it is still in effect, and it both PRECEDED the dispensation of the law,
and it FOLLOWS that dispensation. The law was an interjection for a time.
Paul says "it was added" for a time. The promise to Abraham was that
ALL NATIONS (that totally includes every creature), was to be blessed BY
FAITH-- by the outworking of the covenant through Jesus Christ. This
was so great a Word that BY AN OATH God spoke it again to Isaac. But when
we come to Jacob-- who stands in figure for all of his seed after the flesh,
with the Jacob nature in all of its carnality, then God confirms the promise
again, but AS A LAW, with all of its ministration of ceremony and ritual,
which held promise in type and shadow, of the GREATER TO COME. For a time
the covenant was spelled out as a law, "imposed on them until the time
reformation." (Hebrews 9.:10). But when God takes away ungodliness from
Jacob, and brings forth the new nature, re-names him as Israel, then we
see again that it is no more a law, but AN EVERLASTING COVENANT. As
long as one deals externally, by works, it comes as A LAW. But as soon
as one is lifted to the higher spiritual dimensions, the PROMISE is renewed
as an EVERLASTING COVENANT.
Christ Jesus declared the COVENANT RELATIONSHIP of our Father, whose love
never changes, therefore "The blood of the everlasting covenant, " witnesses
that ALL MEN are loved with God's unchanging love. And He also revealed
a NEW DEPTH of the Jehovah (YHWH) nature to judge the wrong, for "God hath
committed all unto the Son." (John 5:22). And plainly He stated, "For judgment
I am come into this world." (John 9:39). HE WAS JUDGMENT! Wherever He went
people were brought face to face with the truth, "that they which see not
might see; and that they which see might be made blind," and thus their
inner state of blindness would be exposed, and could be corrected.
When the disciples were ready to "command fire to come down from heaven,
to consume them... " He said, "The Son of man is not come to destroy
men's lives, but to save. " (Luke 9:54, 56). HE WILL CORRECT, at a great
cost to us, and to Himself, but NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT UNTO LIFE. For all
His judgments are remedial, revealing His great mercy as they are used
to prepare men to receive the fullness of His life.
Thus He taught, "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping
for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the
children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the
evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." (Luke
6:35-36). THE FATHER IS MERCIFUL, and as His children this is to be our
disposition, our nature, our attitude towards all men.
Abraham did not understand the Jehovah nature part of God, i.e. the LAW,
and the JUDGMENT which accompanied the law, with its death penalty-- an
interim imposing of an order upon men. But Abraham knew the Most High,
and even paid his tithes to Melchizedek who was priest of the Most High
God. And he looked forward to the day of the Christ, who is "after the
order of Melchizedek. "
They died under the law without mercy. Jesus, who was judgment, came
declaring mercy. It was not "judgment, or mercy," for in Christ we have
them BOTH, as He brings forth judgment UNTO VICTORY, and covers the whole
with His mercy-- for the end of the NEW COVENANT is His MORE ABUNDANT LIFE.
No more an incomplete, fragmentary revelation of God. No more one manifestation
of Divine character at a time, but in Him, ALL FULLNESS IS PLEASED TO DWELL,
and He can reveal the Jehovah nature of God IN LOVE, with abundant mercy,
as He reconciles IN HIMSELF, to bring forth ONE NEW MAN-- a new creation
species that is truly an expression of the Father, in all of His nature
of love and holiness.
God hid Himself within the Form
Of Jesus Christ His Son,
And through His Son He gave His life
To ransom every one.
'Twas "God in Christ," the Scripture says,
For God so loved the world,
And He would reconcile us all,---
His covenant unfurled.
So long ago Abram had said,
"Himself-- God will provide,"
Provide Himself to be the Lamb,
And so for us He died.
Isaiah said, "God looked, and saw,
Wondered there was no man,
No intercessor in the gap."
So His own arm did span----
Did span the gulf from heav'n to earth,
To be our righteousness.
He interposed Himself to be
The Word, our souls to bless.
Father of mercy, love, and grace,
As God indwelt the Son.
So now His Spirit dwells in us
To finish what's begun.
That we His image truly bear,
His nature be our own.
Praise God, the covenant He gave
Unites us with His throne.
That, as He is, so we shall be,
What wonder of His grace.
Transforming power to make us one,
His new creation race. ________________________________________________________________
Prinzing,Ray and Doris. WHISPERS OF THE NEW COVENANT. P.O. Box 5822, Boise,
Idaho 83705
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