This is a bit deep but please stick with it. This blog is going to be a great blessing for someone out there. Now I believe that God has been directing my morning studies to a better understanding of what a Covenant is. As I got deep into this study, I found that the word "Testament" is interchangeable with the world "Covenant." Both of these words mean "agreement." Now when God makes Covenants with His people, a promise or sign always follows. One of the very first covenants that God seals, is His promise to the Noah, the earth and all living creatures. God promises to never again destroy the world by water. As a sign of this promise, God establishes a rainbow in the sky to mark this promise. Whenever this rainbow appears it is to be a sign of this everlasting covenant. It's interesting to note that this promise is on going. This promise can be read in Genesis 9:13.
Now the first five books of the Old Testament was given to Moses by God and penned by Moses, to give to the Hebrew people. These books make up what is known as The Torah. The Torah itself was a Covenant by God to His people, the Hebrews. This is where we get the idea behind the name of the Old Testament or Old Covenant. The origins of the Torah itself set the stage for understanding "Covenant." The Covenant between God and the Hebrew people started with Abraham in Genesis chapter 17:10-14. The sign of the covenant between God and His people was to be "a sign of flesh." After 8 days, every Hebrew boy was to undergo circumcision. Please keep in mind that the story of Abraham and the idea of circumcision was passed down orally, before God had Moses write it in the Torah.
Also, it's important to know that the Torah itself did not come into existence until the day of Shavout, when Moses reveals the Torah to the Hebrews on Mount Sinai. Now Shavout is the Holy day that happened 50 days after the day of Passover and of course, Passover marked the Hebrew exodus out of Egypt. The Torah contained in it the "Mitzvah." This is a Hebrew word which means means "commandment" and refers to the 613 rules in Torah that the Hebrew people were required to follow. In order for these rules to apply, one had to be in "Covenant" with God. It's important to note that the Mitzvah brought both blessings and curses, but right off the bat, we find that it first brings a curse with it.
Upon returning to near the bottom of the mountain, Moses presents the Mitzvah (2 tablets of stone, which contained the 10 commandments) to the entire nation of Israel who is gathered at the bottom of Mount Sinai. Of course this is the same day where Moses cannot keep his cool as he see's the evidence of idol worship, the golden calf. On this day we read that 3,000 people die from this disobedience/sin. Instead of serving the God of Israel, who took all of the Hebrews out of the land of Egypt, the Hebrew people instead turn to a lifeless Egyptian idol. (Exodus 32:28) Moses of course breaks the tablets of stone and commands for the ring leaders of this idol worship to die. Now real quick, we must keep in mind that these stone tablets contained much more than just the 10 commandments. (Exodus 25:16) Forget what you heard in Sunday school, the Charlton Heston movie, and what tradition and western culture have lead you to believe. The stone tablets contained the entire Mitzvah. (Of course the account of what happened after this event was added to, after it happened.) Now the Mitzvah is the 613 obligations that the Hebrew people were to obey and practice. Of course if they failed to keep the Mitzvah there were sacrifices and things that they were commanded to do to make amends for not keeping Mitzvah. This is why they had to do animal sacrifices. Now, as far as the Mitzvah is concerned, all laws that are in Torah were on these stone tablets, in fact Moses even reads them to the Hebrews! All of these laws were given on this day, the day of Shavout.
Now in order to be in Covenant with these obligations and in Covenant with God, the Hebrew people had to first of all undergo the "Brit Milah" or "covenant of circumcision." In fact the Brit Milah is one of the 613 obligations and is the sign of flesh. (Leviticus 12:3) absolutely required in order to be in Covenant with God. In fact one was not a Hebrew if they did not undergo this right. After all, this is what separated the Hebrews and made a Hebrew a Hebrew in the first place. Even Hebrew/Jewish proselytes (converts) had to undergo this right as their confession of faith, to be in Covenant with God and to be considered a fellow Hebrew. Now even if a flesh and blood Hebrew did not do this, he was to be CUT OFF from his people, making him no more a Hebrew. (Genesis 17:12), (Genesis 34:22)
Staying in line with this same thought, we enter the New Testament. A few thousand years later on this very same Holy day of Shavout a very similar event occurs. This day is actually known to most people, especially "Christians" as the day of Pentecost! Keep in mind that Pentecost is a Greek word, because the New Testament was written in Greek and not Hebrew like the Old Testament. Pentecost is basically the Greek word for the Hebrew, Shavout! In fact, Pente means fiftieth and cost means day! Remember Shavout happened 50 days after Passover? Remember that Jesus actually dies on the day of Passover? The Lords supper is also nothing new. If you recall in the account of Luke, Jesus tells His disciples to prepare the passover meal, which ends up being the last supper Jesus partakes in. (Luke 22:8) Yet again, contrary to popular belief, Jesus doesn't even fully partake in the meal! (Mark 14:25) (Luke 22:18)
So here it is, the false church and western culture makes up this idea of "Holy sacrament" when all that is happening is Jesus showing His apostles that he is going to be the fulfillment of the Passover meal! We don't become Holy eating bread and wine? Really? Anyways, this is why it is so important to know the scripture for yourself. This is also why we cannot throw away the Old Testament. Without the Old...the New makes absolutely no sense. Would you read a story half way through and understand it without the proper context being laid out?
Now getting back to Pentecost, on this day Peter first delivers the Gospel message (Acts 2:14-36) to the Hebrew people. God uses Peter to be the vessel, like Moses to deliver His very words and His very Covenant to His people. Acts 2:37 is key because this is where the Jewish people ask, what they should do to be saved. Again, remember that all Biblical covenants are sealed with a sign. In Acts 2:38, Peter COMMANDS all the Jewish people present, what they ARE to do. We see that the right of baptism or "full body immersion" was to be done in the name of Jesus so that sins could be remitted! This was the act of faith, like the cutting of the foreskin in circumcision, and removing of what is unclean. Like the sign of flesh that was the pinnacle of the blood covenant with God, God sealed what was left with His very Spirit! This of course was made evident by speaking in tongues. (Holy language, not always understandable.) In fact it was this idea of tongues, that had everyone's attention in the first place! (God's Spirit fell first on the 120 Apostles gathered together in the upper room in Jerusalem.
Please keep in mind that the Jews did not need to hear the apostles in their own language, even though they were Jews from all over, they ALL knew Hebrew. Also keep in mind that not one Gentile was present, as we don't see any non-Jew able to obtain Salvation until Acts chapter 8 and 10. The Jews were the most literate people the world has ever seen. In order to keep Mitzvah, you have to be able to hear it on a daily basis or simply be able to READ! Most historians would agree that Jewish literacy was the exception to the rule in the ancient world. Have you ever wondered why Jewish people are so blessed? Because they pride themselves in education! (Because it is commanded by God)
As we read through Acts chapter 2 and get to Acts 2:41 we see that 3,000 people gain eternal life on this day! Now keep in mind that the Old Covenant brought death as 3,000 people died when Moses came down from Sinai, and the original day of Shavout. (Exodus 32:28) Of course in the later chapter of Acts that same number comes into the church, God's people of the New Covenant.
As I myself re-read this blog and these scriptures, I can't help but think to myself how I can never again be fooled by anyone who gives me a salvation message, other than the word of God says, found in Acts 2:38. This is the Covenant of the New Testament and the only way to get into it, is to follow the word, particularly this verse. The same idea goes for circumcision! In fact, circumcision is a shadow of baptism. Colossians 2:11-13 Even tells us point blank that Baptism is the new circumcision! It is the circumcision of the New Covenant!
In the Old Testament, if one did not become circumcised, they would be cut off from the Hebrew people and they themselves wouldn't even be considered a Hebrew anymore! Not only should all this scriptural evidence above show this, but the very fact that on this day 3,000 enter the church. The word "enter" is a clear marker that this is the beginning of the church age, a spiritual covenant. In order for them to get in, they obviously had to do something or adhere to some form of doctrine? Well, Acts 2:38 is it. God is speaking but are we listening and do we want to listen?
This idea sure wasn't in my comfort zone the first time I heard it! This all was completely foreign to anything I've ever heard concerning what I thought was "Christian." Of course this lead me to the idea of, not my will but your will be done. I searched the scripture daily to see if these things that I was told were true. To my surprise, I couldn't deny. Like the Berean Jews of Acts 17:11 I dived in the Old Testament and that solidified my faith in God's word in Acts 2:38 even more. Keep in mind that in Acts 17:11, that the Berean Jews didn't have a New Testament book. They only had what was in the Old Testament, so their conclusion about everything the apostle Paul had told them was all based on THE OLD TESTAMENT! Now isn't that crazy? This should show you how deeply important the Old Testament is and still is!
It's so clear now and this should completely hit home the idea of New Testament Salvation being first found in the book of Acts chapter 2 vs 38! My words will not convict, but the very word of God in scripture will and I pray that Jesus very Spirit can minister and confirm His world with whoever reads this. What the Old Testament conceals, the New New Testament reveals! What a deep and amazing God we serve! Thank you Jesus! I pray that this message will be a great encouragement in truth, to whoever reads it. God bless!
Now the first five books of the Old Testament was given to Moses by God and penned by Moses, to give to the Hebrew people. These books make up what is known as The Torah. The Torah itself was a Covenant by God to His people, the Hebrews. This is where we get the idea behind the name of the Old Testament or Old Covenant. The origins of the Torah itself set the stage for understanding "Covenant." The Covenant between God and the Hebrew people started with Abraham in Genesis chapter 17:10-14. The sign of the covenant between God and His people was to be "a sign of flesh." After 8 days, every Hebrew boy was to undergo circumcision. Please keep in mind that the story of Abraham and the idea of circumcision was passed down orally, before God had Moses write it in the Torah.
Also, it's important to know that the Torah itself did not come into existence until the day of Shavout, when Moses reveals the Torah to the Hebrews on Mount Sinai. Now Shavout is the Holy day that happened 50 days after the day of Passover and of course, Passover marked the Hebrew exodus out of Egypt. The Torah contained in it the "Mitzvah." This is a Hebrew word which means means "commandment" and refers to the 613 rules in Torah that the Hebrew people were required to follow. In order for these rules to apply, one had to be in "Covenant" with God. It's important to note that the Mitzvah brought both blessings and curses, but right off the bat, we find that it first brings a curse with it.
Upon returning to near the bottom of the mountain, Moses presents the Mitzvah (2 tablets of stone, which contained the 10 commandments) to the entire nation of Israel who is gathered at the bottom of Mount Sinai. Of course this is the same day where Moses cannot keep his cool as he see's the evidence of idol worship, the golden calf. On this day we read that 3,000 people die from this disobedience/sin. Instead of serving the God of Israel, who took all of the Hebrews out of the land of Egypt, the Hebrew people instead turn to a lifeless Egyptian idol. (Exodus 32:28) Moses of course breaks the tablets of stone and commands for the ring leaders of this idol worship to die. Now real quick, we must keep in mind that these stone tablets contained much more than just the 10 commandments. (Exodus 25:16) Forget what you heard in Sunday school, the Charlton Heston movie, and what tradition and western culture have lead you to believe. The stone tablets contained the entire Mitzvah. (Of course the account of what happened after this event was added to, after it happened.) Now the Mitzvah is the 613 obligations that the Hebrew people were to obey and practice. Of course if they failed to keep the Mitzvah there were sacrifices and things that they were commanded to do to make amends for not keeping Mitzvah. This is why they had to do animal sacrifices. Now, as far as the Mitzvah is concerned, all laws that are in Torah were on these stone tablets, in fact Moses even reads them to the Hebrews! All of these laws were given on this day, the day of Shavout.
Now in order to be in Covenant with these obligations and in Covenant with God, the Hebrew people had to first of all undergo the "Brit Milah" or "covenant of circumcision." In fact the Brit Milah is one of the 613 obligations and is the sign of flesh. (Leviticus 12:3) absolutely required in order to be in Covenant with God. In fact one was not a Hebrew if they did not undergo this right. After all, this is what separated the Hebrews and made a Hebrew a Hebrew in the first place. Even Hebrew/Jewish proselytes (converts) had to undergo this right as their confession of faith, to be in Covenant with God and to be considered a fellow Hebrew. Now even if a flesh and blood Hebrew did not do this, he was to be CUT OFF from his people, making him no more a Hebrew. (Genesis 17:12), (Genesis 34:22)
Staying in line with this same thought, we enter the New Testament. A few thousand years later on this very same Holy day of Shavout a very similar event occurs. This day is actually known to most people, especially "Christians" as the day of Pentecost! Keep in mind that Pentecost is a Greek word, because the New Testament was written in Greek and not Hebrew like the Old Testament. Pentecost is basically the Greek word for the Hebrew, Shavout! In fact, Pente means fiftieth and cost means day! Remember Shavout happened 50 days after Passover? Remember that Jesus actually dies on the day of Passover? The Lords supper is also nothing new. If you recall in the account of Luke, Jesus tells His disciples to prepare the passover meal, which ends up being the last supper Jesus partakes in. (Luke 22:8) Yet again, contrary to popular belief, Jesus doesn't even fully partake in the meal! (Mark 14:25) (Luke 22:18)
So here it is, the false church and western culture makes up this idea of "Holy sacrament" when all that is happening is Jesus showing His apostles that he is going to be the fulfillment of the Passover meal! We don't become Holy eating bread and wine? Really? Anyways, this is why it is so important to know the scripture for yourself. This is also why we cannot throw away the Old Testament. Without the Old...the New makes absolutely no sense. Would you read a story half way through and understand it without the proper context being laid out?
Now getting back to Pentecost, on this day Peter first delivers the Gospel message (Acts 2:14-36) to the Hebrew people. God uses Peter to be the vessel, like Moses to deliver His very words and His very Covenant to His people. Acts 2:37 is key because this is where the Jewish people ask, what they should do to be saved. Again, remember that all Biblical covenants are sealed with a sign. In Acts 2:38, Peter COMMANDS all the Jewish people present, what they ARE to do. We see that the right of baptism or "full body immersion" was to be done in the name of Jesus so that sins could be remitted! This was the act of faith, like the cutting of the foreskin in circumcision, and removing of what is unclean. Like the sign of flesh that was the pinnacle of the blood covenant with God, God sealed what was left with His very Spirit! This of course was made evident by speaking in tongues. (Holy language, not always understandable.) In fact it was this idea of tongues, that had everyone's attention in the first place! (God's Spirit fell first on the 120 Apostles gathered together in the upper room in Jerusalem.
Please keep in mind that the Jews did not need to hear the apostles in their own language, even though they were Jews from all over, they ALL knew Hebrew. Also keep in mind that not one Gentile was present, as we don't see any non-Jew able to obtain Salvation until Acts chapter 8 and 10. The Jews were the most literate people the world has ever seen. In order to keep Mitzvah, you have to be able to hear it on a daily basis or simply be able to READ! Most historians would agree that Jewish literacy was the exception to the rule in the ancient world. Have you ever wondered why Jewish people are so blessed? Because they pride themselves in education! (Because it is commanded by God)
As we read through Acts chapter 2 and get to Acts 2:41 we see that 3,000 people gain eternal life on this day! Now keep in mind that the Old Covenant brought death as 3,000 people died when Moses came down from Sinai, and the original day of Shavout. (Exodus 32:28) Of course in the later chapter of Acts that same number comes into the church, God's people of the New Covenant.
As I myself re-read this blog and these scriptures, I can't help but think to myself how I can never again be fooled by anyone who gives me a salvation message, other than the word of God says, found in Acts 2:38. This is the Covenant of the New Testament and the only way to get into it, is to follow the word, particularly this verse. The same idea goes for circumcision! In fact, circumcision is a shadow of baptism. Colossians 2:11-13 Even tells us point blank that Baptism is the new circumcision! It is the circumcision of the New Covenant!
In the Old Testament, if one did not become circumcised, they would be cut off from the Hebrew people and they themselves wouldn't even be considered a Hebrew anymore! Not only should all this scriptural evidence above show this, but the very fact that on this day 3,000 enter the church. The word "enter" is a clear marker that this is the beginning of the church age, a spiritual covenant. In order for them to get in, they obviously had to do something or adhere to some form of doctrine? Well, Acts 2:38 is it. God is speaking but are we listening and do we want to listen?
This idea sure wasn't in my comfort zone the first time I heard it! This all was completely foreign to anything I've ever heard concerning what I thought was "Christian." Of course this lead me to the idea of, not my will but your will be done. I searched the scripture daily to see if these things that I was told were true. To my surprise, I couldn't deny. Like the Berean Jews of Acts 17:11 I dived in the Old Testament and that solidified my faith in God's word in Acts 2:38 even more. Keep in mind that in Acts 17:11, that the Berean Jews didn't have a New Testament book. They only had what was in the Old Testament, so their conclusion about everything the apostle Paul had told them was all based on THE OLD TESTAMENT! Now isn't that crazy? This should show you how deeply important the Old Testament is and still is!
It's so clear now and this should completely hit home the idea of New Testament Salvation being first found in the book of Acts chapter 2 vs 38! My words will not convict, but the very word of God in scripture will and I pray that Jesus very Spirit can minister and confirm His world with whoever reads this. What the Old Testament conceals, the New New Testament reveals! What a deep and amazing God we serve! Thank you Jesus! I pray that this message will be a great encouragement in truth, to whoever reads it. God bless!