THE COVENANTS

The Covenants

1. The Adamic
2. The Noahic
3. The Abrahamic
4. The Mosaic
5. The Davidic
6. The New Covenant as a promise
7. The New Covenant as a reality

Introduction

What is a covenant?

Humans cannot relate with God and God cannot relate with humans except through a covenant. A covenant is a written, binding agreement between two or more parties to do or not to do certain things with consequences. These consequences are called blessings and curses. A blessing is an addition of life while a curse is a reduction of life. When a party does what is stated in the covenant, they receive a blessing, and a curse when they do not obey the covenant. Deuteronomy 28. 1-2 ESV And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.

A covenant is not a contract. A contract is a matter of the head. A covenant is a matter of the heart. We should note that a covenant is as weak or as strong as the hearts or commitments of the parties involved. Weak commitment means a weak covenant, and a strong heart equals a strong covenant.

What is the Bible?

The Bible is a book of covenants. It records several covenants, but we will focus on a few, indeed only seven. Every word and every event in the Bible can be easily interpreted, of course with the help of the Holy Spirit, by placing it in its right covenant.

How is a covenant established?

A covenant is established with words. These words are first thought, then spoken, and finally written. Deuteronomy 4:13 ESV And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone. Who initiates a covenant? Either of the parties may initiate a covenant. What is important in a covenant, however, is that both agree to the terms and conditions, regardless of who initiated it. For example, regarding the Mosaic covenant, the Israelites and the average Christian believe that God gave the Law. But when Jesus came, he said, “Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.” John 7.19. again, the Israelites and the average Christian believe that Moses gave them manna, but when Jesus came, he said, “It is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.” John 6.32. Some of the covenants we shall discuss were given by the people and placed on the mouth of God, while others were given by God and placed on the mouth of people.

How does one enter a covenant?

People enter a covenant by faith. Faith is a matter of the heart. The process is simple. The written covenant is proclaimed. A person hears it and believes it. The content takes possession of the thoughts and begins to impact their lives. That is how someone becomes either a partner or a beneficiary of the covenant. There is an important distinction between partners and beneficiaries. A party to the covenant may or may not be a beneficiary. Think of a person who sets up a fund for their kids. Setting up a fund is a contract their kids did not sign for but are beneficiaries of.

The Adamic Covenant

The Parties: God and humans

The Initiator: Humans. How? There was no one called Adam and no one called Eve. They were all shadows of Jesus and the Church. However, the Israelites did not know this. They had questions about the world that needed answers. Questions like where did we come from, why do we marry and why do we die, were characteristically answered through myths. Myths, as we know, are shared amongst neighbouring cultures and territories. The Israelites borrowed myths from the Babylonian neighbours and embellished it using the revelations that Moses received. That is why Genesis is among the first five books of Moses. If you study the first chapters of Genesis (1-11), you notice for example that God is Elohim, plural for God in the Hebrew Language. This makes sense considering that the people from whom they borrowed these myths were worshipped more than one God. The famous statement of the Elohim, ‘Let us make man’, which has been wrongly interpreted by many as a reference to the Trinity, is actually a reference to the council of gods. Moses’ revelations about the nature of God reveal that God is one. The Jews therefore became monotheists, that is, worshippers of one God. In fact, the idea of a Trinity would be shocking and offensive to a Jew, and it was! There are many other arguments to support the idea that these were myths but we do not address those here. What is important is to note that this was a covenant and many have placed themselves under this covenant by believing it. And that has implications for them in their relationship with God.

The Terms:

Consequences:

Those under this covenant believe

1. God created the world perfect.
2. He did it in six literal days.
3. A good man is the one who takes care of the world, eg Climate concerns.
4. Serpents are evil, and they speak!
5. Evolution and everything about it is from the devil.
6. One human being sinned and messed up the world.
7. God had to react and send his son to save the world.
8. Every child is born with sin. The reason for baptism is to take away this sin.
9. Women are subordinate to men, in every sphere, especially religion.
10. Jesus came to restore what was lost through the sin of Adam.
11. God was so angry with man’s sin that he cursed the world.
12. God did not want man to live in a state of sin forever.
13. The essence of baptism is water and some religious formula.
14. Creation proclaims the glory of God.
15. Eternal life is the same as immortal life. Humans were not designed to die originally. Sin caused physical death. Salvation will cause everlasting physical life.
16. Eternal life starts after we die. Hence, no one is a saint or is saved until they die.

The Noahic Covenant

The Parties: God and humans

Initiator: Humans. How? Just like the Adamic, the Noahic is an embellished myth designed to answer certain questions like what do the gods do to sinners, what is the future of the righteous, and why do we have storms, floods and a rainbow in the clouds. In this covenant, God speaks about his son, Jesus and the Church. We shall discover that that is and has always been his concern, from the beginning. There was no one called Noah and God has never destroyed the world. He has no intention to do so. The covenant was drawn up by humans as they sought to answer life questions. But since it involved God, it became the way in which those who subscribe to these covenants related with God.

The Terms:

Consequences:

1. All the consequences of the Adamic
2. God is a destructive force. He reacts to sin by destroying the sinner, either here on earth or in a future hell.
3. Those who obey God’s instructions are saved.
4. The ark is some occult group or institution you have to belong to in order to be saved. You do not need a personal relationship with God.
5. Diseases and natural disasters are God’s reactions to increasing sin in the world.
6. One day, sin will rise to a degree that God will have no choice but to destroy the world.
7. God is surprised by the sins of people.
8. God hates both sin and sinner.
9. God has a fixed age for humans that he cannot allow them to go beyond. He kills them or ‘takes’ them around that time.
10. There is an ark of Noah somewhere in the world. Keep looking.
11. Eternal life is the same as immortal life. Humans were not designed to die originally. Sin caused physical death. Salvation will cause everlasting physical life.

The Abrahamic Covenant

The Parties: God and Humans

Initiator: God, but as a shadow. How? Abraham was the first historical figure to receive a revelation from God the Father of Jesus. When Jesus talks about his Father, he confidently calls him the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Matthew 22.31-32 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”) That is why his covenant is the closest to the New Covenant. When Paul tries to explain the New Covenant, he used Abraham a lot because, as a shadow, the words of his covenant with God mirror very closely the Covenant of Grace. However, these were Abraham’s words, coloured by his understanding of the revelation he received from God. So, while God initiated the covenant, with the sole intention of speaking about his son who was to come in the future, Abraham’s understanding of the covenant ‘corrupts’ the true image of God, which Jesus thankfully corrects when he arrives. After all, before Abraham was, He is. For example, Abraham interceded with God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. This continues the ignorance that paints God as destructive of sinners and humans as somehow more approachable than God. God is thus the initiator but as a shadow. What is the difference between this shadow and the shadows in the other covenant? (1) He is the first historical figure to hear from the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. This sets him apart from the two purported to be before his. (2) The covenants after his were largely ‘human’, ‘religious’ reactions or attempts to establish another righteousness.

The Terms:

Consequences:

1. All the consequences of the Adamic and the Noahic covenants.
2. Blessings are transferred by natural childbirth, through the umbilical cord, maybe. “Blessed is the one who gave birth to you, suckled at your breast.’ ‘Blessed from generation to generation. Your children are blessed or cursed because of you.’ Generational blessings and generational curses flow freely in this covenant. Women and slaves are saved through men.
3. God needs a human to stand in the ‘gap’ created by sin and disobedience. Intercession ministry approved.
4. Faith will not produce works. Believe and do. Walk before God and be blameless.
5. Slavery is okay.
6. Men are more important than women. (circumcision) the relationship is for and through the male.
7. Some lands are more special and blessed than others. Pilgrimages to the ‘Holy Land’.
8. God hates and punishes those who oppose the chosen ones/ Abraham and his family. He strikes with barrenness and disease and death those who are opposed to his plans and purposes.
9. God gives children at his own time.
10. God has a special love for the oppressed.
11. God needs sacrifices as a proof of love.
12. Tithing is established as honouring God.

The Mosaic Covenant.

Parties: God and Humans

Initiator: Humans. How? We already pointed out Jesus’ statements on this. Here are more:

John 1.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 7.19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law.

John 7. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken…

Matthew 19. 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.”

Mark 7. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honour your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’

Mark 10.4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”

Luke 24. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

It is as if Jesus was intentionally refusing to call it ‘the Law of God’ or to say ‘God gave you the Law!’ Moses received a revelation from God, which of course was in shadows and types about Jesus. Like others before and after him, he made the shadows the reality and initiated a covenant. He then presented the covenant he thought out to the people.

Without hearing the covenant and presuming on their own ability, Moses initiated and the Israelites signed the Covenant of Moses! Needless to say, they all failed.

Exodus 19. 3-8 The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel. So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.”

Terms:

Consequences:

1. All the consequences of the Adamic, Noahic and Abrahamic covenants.
2. God is very demanding, always checking for sin. He shows you what is wrong with you but never corrects you, like a mirror.
3. God’s anger is against us, not for us.
4. The intercessor, prophet or priest is more approachable than God.
5. God has a special people, namely the Jewish people.
6. God’s preferred location for worship is a mountain.
7. Self-righteousness is righteousness. Righteousness is down to our constant effort, despite our failures.
8. Priests and sacrifices can restore us to holiness. These sacrifices should be as regular as possible to ensure our safety. Prophets are there to warn us against sinfulness and remind us of how terrible god can be.
9. There are special days and months and years that must be celebrated to please the Lord. Pleasing the Lord and avoiding his displeasure is the goal.
10. The aim of a relationship with God is ‘gaining heaven’. (the Promised Land)
11. God is frightening.
12. God kills. Exodus 32.28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell.
13. God demands holiness and purity.
14. God blesses and curses at the same time. Up and down life. Blessed today, cursed tomorrow. Blessings and curses have expiry dates.
15. Slave mentality and slave-kind of relationship with God.
16. Always looking for and asking for blessings.
17. Humans can save themselves by their right actions.

The Davidic Covenant

Parties: God and Humans

Initiator: Humans. How? What we said about Moses applies to David as well. However, Kings and kingdoms are more central than the people. Also, it was not David himself that received the revelation that led to this covenant. It was the prophet Nathan. 2 Samuel 7.17 ‘In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.’ We must never forget that the prophets spoke in the name of God but that does not mean that they are God or that all they said represented the mind of God or even His acts. There were many mentions of ‘Thus said the Lord’ and ‘Then the Lord did this or that’ that in Christ Jesus we know were not said or done by the Lord. All God was doing, as always, was speaking about his son in types and shadows. It is also worthy of note that in the covenant of David, God begins to reveal the Father-Son dynamic that is at the root of the New Covenant or the Covenant of Grace.

The Terms:

Consequences:

1. All the consequences of the Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, and Mosaic Covenants.
2. The Messiah must be a social and political phenomenon. God is nothing if He cannot and does not solve our social, political and economic problems.
3. God disciplines his children as men discipline their children, with rods and stripes (punishment, sickness, disease, failure, disgrace, rejection, etc.)
4. God’s special location for worship is the Temple.
5. God’s way of giving people rest from their enemies is by destroying their physical enemies.
6. Loving God is rewarded by God.
7. Prophets are designed to tell kings what to do. (Political prophesying)
8. God appoints political leaders.

The New Covenant as a promise:

Parties: God and humans

Initiator: God. How? We find the New Covenant as a promise first in the mouth of Prophet Jeremiah and then again, the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews. It is a promise because it is made to the Jews, whereas the reality of it is for the gentiles. It is also a promise because the content of it is still shadows. For example, the promise in Jeremiah 31.31-34 is to put the law into people’s hearts. The reality was the Holy Spirit. The promise was to be their God and they His people. The reality is that He is our Father and we are his children.

The Terms:

Consequences:

1. All the consequences of the Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic covenants.
2. Every blessing is in the future. Salvation, Redemption, Forgiveness, Holiness, Success, Victory, Prosperity, Rest, Power, Wisdom, Knowledge of God, Communion with the Lord, etc. Already and not yet mentality. Always hoping. Eternal life is future.
3. Mixing of the old and New Covenants, law and grace.
4. Spiritual schizophrenia/split personality: Never sure of their real identity.
5. Hates spirit, soul and body distinction.
6. Ever learning but never knowing for sure.
7. Student but not disciple. Will never act on the word.

The New Covenant as a reality.

Parties: God and the God-man, Jesus Christ.

Beneficiaries: Christians/Believers/Disciples

Initiator: God. How? This is the Covenant. It is the Covenant of Grace. It is a special covenant. All the others had the possibility to fail but not this one, because it does not have the weakness of the others. It is also the Covenant of truth because it was established by the Truth himself and only in it do we see God as he really is. It reveals the true nature of God. It cannot fail because it does not depend on humans or their actions. It is a perfect covenant. It is made between God and God and humans become beneficiaries by faith. A covenant is sealed with an oath.

The oath is like the signing, making a statement established and sure.  Deuteronomy 29.12 “You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God, a covenant the Lord is making with you this day and sealing with an oath.” He swore by himself: Hebrews 6.16-18 “For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.” Again, like Paul, the Hebrews’ writer uses Abraham’s covenant to show that

1. This is between God and God.
2. We are heirs of the promise, in other words, BENEFICIARIES.

Covenants were inaugurated with blood and sacrifices. Hebrews 9.18 ‘Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.’ This was inaugurated by the sacrifice of Jesus as we see in the terms below.

The Terms:

Consequences:

1. Nothing in the world is perfect without Jesus. Hebrews 10.14
2. He is creating the world in and through us (e.g., Miracles). Romans 8. 19-23
3. A good man is the one who believes in Jesus. Matthew 12.29-35
4. Serpents are neutral, like all other creatures, and they do not talk! The devil talks through evil ideas. 2 Corinthians 11.3
5. Evolution and everything about it is not from the devil. There are factual things there as well as plain untruths and lies.
6. Humans sinned, and do not qualify for the glory of God. The world is beautiful, with problems, not messed up because of one man’s sin. If it was messed up by Adam’s sin, why didn’t the rescue mission of Jesus work and repair the mess? Romans 3.23
7. God never reacts. Jesus was the original plan. He sent his son to save the world as a means to the ultimate end of sharing his life with people. John 1.1, John 10.10
8. Every child is born innocent. The reason for baptism is to launch believers into the mission of Jesus, just as it launched Jesus into his own mission. Sins were taken away on the cross. The baptism that counts is the baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus by which we receive new life. Romans 6.3, John 9. 1-3
9. Women are not subordinate to men, in any sphere, including religion. There is no male or female in Christ. Galatians 3.28
10. Jesus did not come to restore what was lost through the sin of Adam. He came to bring us new life. New life means never-before-seen-or-experienced life. Luke 22.20, John 2.10
11. God was never angry with man’s sin that he cursed the world. He never cursed the world. He loves the world. John 3.16, Luke 6.28,32
12. God does not want man to live in a state of sin at all. Romans 6.1-2
13. The essence of baptism is not water and a religious formula, but new life. 1 Peter 3.18-22
14. Creation does not proclaim the glory of God. Jesus is the glory of God. A deformed baby or a man born bling does not proclaim God’s glory. Their healing in the name of Jesus does. 2 Corinthians 4.6
15. Eternal life is not the same as immortal life. Eternal life is the life of God shared with humans, causing an intimate, personal knowledge of God. Humans were not designed to be immortal. They are finite beings. That is part of their definition. Jesus died. Sin did not cause physical death. Death was a metaphor for ‘not enjoying communion with God’. We were all born innocent and ‘dead.’ Salvation will not cause everlasting physical life. Saints die. 1 Corinthians 15.16-20
16. Eternal life does not start after we die. We start living eternal life the moment we believe in Jesus. Eternal life is knowing God personally. Hence, there are living and saved saints. John 17.2-3, Acts 9.13
17. God is not a destructive force. He planned for sin long before anyone sinned. He does not destroy the sinner, either here on earth or in a future hell. Luke 6.9
18. Obedience to God’s instructions does not cause people to be saved, unless it is the instruction to believe in him. Believing in Jesus does. We are saved by Christ’s obedience. Romans 5.19
19. The ark is a picture of Jesus, not some occult group or institution you have to belong to in order to be saved. You need a personal relationship with God in Christ. That is how you enter the Ark. Acts 26.18, Romans 3.26, 2 Timothy 3.15
20. Diseases and natural disasters are not God’s reactions to increasing sin in the world. They are either natural results of being human and imperfect or the work of the evil one. Luke 13.16, Luke 8.23-25
21. Sin will never rise to a degree that God will have no choice but to destroy the world. In fact, where sin increases, Grace abounds the more. Romans 5.20
22. God is not surprised by the sins of people. Nor does he regret that he made humans. He knew beforehand the frailty of humans. Romans 11.33, Ephesians 1.11
23. God hates only sin. He loves the sinner. Luke 15.2
24. God has no fixed age for humans that he cannot allow them to go beyond. He does not kill them or ‘take’ them around that time. His desire is that people live to the age when they are ready to die. Dying is not solely God’s decision. Philippians 1.21-26
25. There is no ark of Noah somewhere in the world. Hence, there is no need to keep looking. 1 Peter 3.20 and 1 Timothy 1.16
26. Eternal life is not the same as immortal life. Humans were designed to die originally. It is part of the definition of being a human creature. Sin did not cause physical death. Sin caused spiritual death by preventing communion with God. Salvation will not cause everlasting physical life but will cause everlasting communion with God. Romans 6.22-23
27. Blessings are not transferred by natural childbirth, and neither are curses. There are no generational blessings and generational curses. Faith opens the door to receiving the blessings of God that flows endlessly and unbelief closes up the person from receiving. Women are saved personally. Slavery is evil. No one is like a property for men. There is no gender distinction in Christ. Galatians 3.6-14, 28
28. There is no need for a human to stand in the ‘gap’ created by sin and disobedience because there is no such gap. People are spiritually dead till they receive Jesus and receive life. Intercessory ministry reinforces a bad image of God. Jesus is mediator because he brings us to knowledge and spiritual union with the Father. His intercession is not a prayer to the unapproachable father on our behalf but proof that there is no separation between us and the father because of his finished works. 1 Timothy 2.5, Hebrews 9.15
29. Faith automatically produces works. Only believe. Faith is not mental assent. Walk by the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. James 2.18
30. Slavery of any kind is horrible, except ‘slavery’ to righteousness, which is not slavery but true freedom since the believer happily chooses it. Galatians 4.9
31. Men are not more important than women. Circumcision is not necessary, except for medical reasons. Relationship is not for and through the male. It is for all. Romans 2.29, Galatians 5.6
32. No land is more special and blessed than others. Land was a picture of our spiritual place in Christ today where all things are provided for by Grace. Pilgrimages to significant places in the histories of Judaism and Christianity do not give pilgrims an advantage. They only have the same effects as tourism. They work on the mind, not the spirit. They build confidence, not faith. Colossians 2.16-19
33. God does not hate and punish those who oppose His chosen ones. He does not strike with barrenness and disease and death those who are opposed to his plans and purposes. He rather sends us to them with the Good News for He loves them equally as He does His chosen ones. James 1.17
34. God partners with us in the making of children. His time is NOW. ‘Kairos’ 2 Corinthians 6.1-2
35. God has no special love for the oppressed. God has the same love for all. We translate this love to all according to our ability and their need.  Matthew 5.45
36. God does not need sacrifices as a proof of love. He is the one who sacrifices His son for us to prove His love for us. John 3.16, Ephesians 5.2, Hebrews 9.26, Hebrews 10.12
37. Tithing does not honour God. God gives to us and transforms us. We give generously, because we have been given, and not in percentages. 2 Corinthians 9.10-15
38. God is not demanding, always checking for sin. He is a God of supply, always supplying and never searching for sin. He shows you what he has done to sort out your problem, not what is wrong with you. He always corrects you when you go wrong by teaching. The image He shows you on a mirror is the image of His son. Philippians 4.19, Hebrews 12.17, 2 Corinthians 4.6
39. God’s anger is never against us. God’s anger is always for us. Romans 8.31
40. The intercessor, prophet or priest is not more approachable than God. God is so beautiful and approachable. He never chides. 1 John 4.16
41. God has no special people, namely the Jewish people. He loves all tribes, tongues, peoples and nations equally. Revelations 7.9
42. God has no preferred location for worship: neither a mountain nor a temple. He lives in people. John 4.21-24
43. Self-righteousness is not righteousness. Righteousness is not down to our constant effort, despite our failures. Righteousness is a gift of God, given to those who believe in Him. Romans 5.17
44. Priests and sacrifices cannot restore us to holiness.  We do not lose holiness, only the consciousness of it. The sacrifice that made us holy was one and is unrepeatable. There is no need to perform more sacrifices because we are spiritually made holy forever by His one sacrifice involving eternal blood. Progressive holiness or sanctification is only a matter of body and soul, not the spirit. We do not need prophets to warn us against sinfulness and remind us of how terrible God can be. We have the Spirit, and God is not terrible. We only need prophets to comfort, edify and encourage us. 1 Corinthians 14.3
45. There are no special days and months and years that must be celebrated to please the Lord. Every day is equally pleasing to Him because all the special days were designed to point to Jesus. Pleasing the Lord and avoiding his displeasure is not the goal. Getting all to know Jesus is. Matthew 28.19
46. The aim of a relationship with God is not ‘gaining heaven’. ‘The Promised Land’ is not in the future. It is where we live now in the spirit. Ephesians 2.6
47. God is not frightening. Our fear of the Lord is our reverence and comes naturally from our new, born-again spirits. Reverence is never forced. Hebrews 11.28-29
48. God does not kill. He gives life in every way. At the giving of the Spirit, three thousand received life and salvation or union with God. Acts 2.41 ‘So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.’
49. God does not demand holiness and purity. He supplies holiness and purity. Hebrews 10.10
50. God does not bless and curse at the same time. He only blesses. Those who reject His blessings remain under a curse or the displeasure of God, that is, where He does not want them to be.  Christian life is up and up, glory to glory. We are blessed today, and more blessed tomorrow. Our blessings never fade and do not have expiry dates. Ephesians 1.1-3
51. We have a son-ship mentality and relationship with God. Galatians 4.6
52. We are not always looking for and asking for blessings because we are already blessed in every way. Ephesians 1.3
53. The Messiah is not directly a social and political phenomenon. He saves people so they can go into politics and help their people. God is efficient even if the whole social, political and economic structures are in shambles. John 18.36
54. God does not discipline his children as humans discipline their children, with rods and stripes (punishment, sickness, disease, failure, disgrace, rejection, etc.) He does so by teaching, as Jesus disciplined His disciples. Matthew 5.2
55. God’s way of giving people rest from their enemies is not by destroying their physical enemies but by providing an abundance. Matthew 11.28-30
56. Loving God is not rewarded by God as one’s effort. It is rather a product of God’s love. He rewards us for letting His love flow through us. 1 John 4.10-19
57. Prophets are not designed to tell kings what to do. They can support, strengthen, advice and teach them.
58. God does not appoint political leaders. We elect them. He is available to guide us by His Spirit if we let Him. The idea that we are free to lie and cheat and manipulate elective processes and yet our choice is from God is not Christian but of the devil. This is usually hidden under the axiom ‘God writes straight on crooked lines.’ John 18.36
59. Every blessing is in the present except the promise of Resurrection of the body and all that follows from and after it: Salvation, Redemption, Forgiveness, Holiness, Success, Victory, Prosperity, Rest, Power, Wisdom, Knowledge of God, Communion with the Lord, etc. There is no already-and-not-yet mentality. We have only one hope and it a not-yet hope. Eternal life is not future. It is present. Titus 2.13
60. Here, there is no mixing of the Old and New Covenants, law and grace. We are qualified to minister only the New Covenant of Grace. 2 Corinthians 3.6
61. We are sure of our real identity: no split personality of saint and sinner. Romans 11.6, 2 Corinthians 5.21
62. We love the spirit, soul and body distinction because nothing makes sense without it. 1 Thessalonians 5.23
63. We know God for sure. We don’t understand everything and we always learn but that does not apply to our personal knowledge of God as a communion of spirits. We are one spirit with God and He lives in us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 1 John 2.13
64. We are not students but disciples. We act on the word naturally. Acts 14.21

What you have read in this article is just an introduction. There is no space to explain every scripture in context. However, if one is diligent and study them in context, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I am confident that the reader will come to the same conclusion as the author, that our God is a God of grace, an amazing God!

by

 Ifeanyi Chibuzo Fidelis C.S.Sp