Keys to the Covenants

Keys to Understanding the Scriptures

2 Pet 3:1 -- I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

Old vs. New Testament

This is very simple, and very simply misapplied by many in the Church. The Old Testament contains the types and shadows which point to the fulfillment of these in the New Testament. What is testified in the Old Testament is made visible in the New. Do not make the mistake of some who try to use the Old Testament to explain the New when it is the New which explains the Old. The Old Testament and most of the Gospels speak to the flesh and soul. The New Testament beginning with the resurrection of Jesus as Savior and Lord, speaks of and to the spirit.

Heb 1:1, 2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

* God spoke in past times by the prophets of the Old Testament of things which would come.
* Today we have the visible revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ Who was and is and is to come.

Heb 10:1, 2 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

* The Law is a shadow of what is to come
* The image (visible manifestation) is the fulfillment of the Law in Jesus Christ

Rom 1:1-4 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

* Promised before through the Old Testament prophets
* Shown openly in the flesh by the resurrection

Heb 8:6, 7 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

* The ministry of Jesus Christ is now
* It is a more excellent ministry
* We have a better covenant the New Covenant (Testament)
* It is established on better promises

Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

* The new covenant supercedes the old

Doctrines of Men

Col 2:16-2:22 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

* We are not to allow ourselves to cater to the dictates of men in will worship
* We are no longer subject to the Law for righteousness
* We now hold the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is NO other.
* We are dead to the rudiments of the world with its concerns over soulish behavior
* We are not to follow the doctrines of men

The Power of God

Rom 1:16, 17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

* The Gospel is the power of God
* It reveals the righteousness of God in those who are His

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

* No justification is found in the keeping of the Law
* Our justification is by faith in Christ not by works of the Law
* No flesh is justified by the works of the Law

Christ the Fulfillment

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

* We have our High Priest, Jesus the Son of God
* We must now hold fast our profession (of faith in Him)

Gal 2:19-21 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

* In Christ we are dead to the Law having been crucified with Him
* We gave up our old spirit and now have a new creation spirit alive with the life of Jesus himself!
* Righteousness comes only by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God on the Cross

Gal 3:10-13 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

* Trying to live by the Law is to live under the curse of the Law
* Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law (sickness, poverty and death)

Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

* The Law was given to show us the deadliness of sin
* Jesus Christ came and died for us and completely set us free from the Law and the sin it made clear

How We Hear

Heb 5:11,--6:3 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.

* Trying to live by the provisions of the Old Testament keeps us flesh and sin minded
* We become dull of hearing because we hold to the dead works with which the Law dealt

Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

* Choose this day spirit or flesh!

Gal 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

* God deals with us through the Spirit not through the Law

Stand Fast in Faith

Heb 10:55-57 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

* Stand in faith placing your confidence in Christ and His finished work
* He is coming quickly, He will not be late

Rom 5:2-5 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

* We have access by faith into the very Presence of our Heavenly Father
* Even in trials we stand in patient hope of His promised deliverance
* His Love is never a disappointment working in us by the Holy Spirit Who indwells and anoints us

1 Cor 16:15 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

* By the power of the Holy Spirit we can and must stand strong

Eph 6:15-17 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Having done all, stand in the power and protection of God wielding the sword of the Spirit.

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.


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