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The Advance of the Kingdom Seeing the Sequence and Significance of the Biblical Story. “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.” ~ Daniel 4:3b ~. The Progression of God’s Covenant. The Covenant of Creation [pre-Fall]
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The Advance of the KingdomSeeing the Sequence and Significance of the Biblical Story “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.” ~ Daniel 4:3b ~
The Progression of God’s Covenant • The Covenant of Creation [pre-Fall] • The Covenant of Salvation [post-Fall] • Adam [installation]………………….....the seed • Noah [preservation]………..…the greenhouse • Abraham [inauguration]…………..…thesprout • Moses [intensification]……………...…the stalk • David [coronation]…………………...the leaves • Christ [consummation]…………...the blossom
The Covenant of Salvation: Christ In Christ, God brings His grand covenant scheme to consummation. Through the Person & Work of Jesus Christ, God establishes the certainty and the eternality of His Great Kingdom. The OT promises are now fulfilled! The mere shadows give way to the Substance, the reflections surrender to the Reality. Wow! Wow! Wow! The blossom of this glorious gospel-flower has now erupted in unspeakable splendor.
Christ’s Work as a Covenant Work • Jeremiah 31:31-34: • “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…’” • Luke 22:20: • “And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’” • Hebrews 9:15: • “For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
Old Covenant vs. New Covenant • The “Old” Covenant is: • A term used for the Law of Moses[ e.g., 2 Corinthians 3:14] • Remember: With the Law, God was intensifying the gospel-promise by showing Israel her need for It. • Therefore, the Law was not merely demands; in it were also many types/promises of the Christ [Deut. 18:18; 30:6, etc.] • The “New” Covenant is “new” in that: • It fulfills the demands/promises of the Old[2 Corinthians 1:20] Jesus endured the curses of the Law on our behalf[Gal. 3:13] Jesus earned the blessings of the Law on our behalf[Phil. 3:9] • It replaces the shadows with the Substance[Colossians 2:17] Jesus is the High Priest, Sacrifice, Tabernacle, Sabbath, etc.
Covenant of Creation Dealt with man in his innocent condition Obedience is required of man in the Garden Adam broke the covenant by rebelling against God Covenant of Salvation Deals with man in his fallen condition Christ provides the obedience man is lacking Christ is the covenant- keeper, forever The First Adam vs. The Last Adam “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:22 ~ [also cf. vs. 45 & esp. Romans 5:12-21]
The Glory of the Covenant of Salvation • This Salvation has been purchased once & for all! • Hebrews 9:12: • “and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” • This Salvation is intended for sinners of all races! • Revelation 5:9: • “…You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood persons from every tribe and people and nation.” • This Salvation means fellowshipping with God! • John 17:3: • “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God…” • This Salvation is secure forever through Christ! • Romans 8:39: • “…nor anything else in all of creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
How do we get “connected” to this? • By Faith Alone in Christ! • Romans 4:4-5: • “Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” • Hebrews 11:6: • “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” • Genuine Faith is: • The Mind Affirming Christ & The Heart Adoring Christ “For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” ~ Romans 10:13 ~