God calls the church into divine order; divine order is found exclusively in the covenant of grace and truth.
God's Divine Order Exclusively In The Covenant of Grace and Truth
Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow." 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.") 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
The law came at Mt. Sinai; it was bellowing with smoke there was lightning and thunder and the people begged not to hear the voice of God. The law was given and the very sight and sounds of it brought fear and trembling even to Moses. However that is not the Mount we have been brought to! We have been brought to the place where the blood of Jesus speaks better things than that of Abel. Abel’s blood spoke righteous blood has been pour out and justice needed administered. Jesus’ blood speaks righteous blood has been poured out and sins are remitted. Jesus blood speaks of remission of sins. Jesus blood speaks reconciliation. Jesus blood speaks of holiness and righteousness imputed.
Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
There was the covenant of the law which came through Moses; Jesus however brought the covenant of grace and truth. This greater covenant has a more excellent ministry, with a better Mediator, and it is established on better promises. It is not the old promises updated just a bit! The promises in this covenant are yes and amen in Jesus Christ! Traditions that bring the law of Moses into the covenant of grace and truth bring bondage to the believer. If the sure foundation is Jesus Christ Himself, why would you stand on any other ground? You have been brought to better mountain. It is Mt Zion!
Hebrews 7:22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
The law of Moses had a earthly priesthood. Jesus came with a surety of a better covenant! Because the new covenant has an eternal priesthood, Jesus is able to save to the uttermost! Jesus ministry today is still active; He always lives to make intersession for them that believe! The old covenant was based on earthly ordinances. The covenant of grace and truth is built upon heavenly ordinances. Mixing of the two covenants can bring much false doctrine. The law was weak because of sinful flesh; God had a plan, a divine order! It is with His own arm He has brought salvation and reconciliation to man!
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
The Father’s plan included the Spirit Himself making intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. The Spirit of God making intercession for the saints according to the will of God. This covenant has a greater foundation and better promises than what the law of Moses could offer.
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
This covenant of grace does not depend upon human strength; instead His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. It is based upon what God has done for us that grace (divine influence) and peace (union with God) have been multiplied to us. The great and precious promises are not elusive but real and tangible. The intent of God is we become partakers of the divine nature!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Divine order calls us to walk as the newly created beings we are! Old things have passed away and behold, all thing have become new. It is a new way of walking. It is not taking the old nature and trying to improve upon him. It is dying to the old nature and coming to a new beginning being made a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Grace brings divine order! This precious covenant of grace brought us apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the equipping of the saint. The problem has been we have been hurt by the “fivefold” ministry therefore we have resisted the plan of God. Divine order brings the fivefold ministry by grace and truth. Hurt occurs when the fivefold ministry operates out of the wrong covenant. When apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers operate out of the law it brings death. Many have been hurt, wounded and maligned because the letter of the law brings death.
2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
God’s divine order calls Moses ministry the ministry of death and condemnation. Paul writes he is a minister of the new covenant. God’s ordained ministry is walking under grace. The fivefold is not ministers of the law but minister of grace and truth. The greater glory is found exclusively in the covenant of grace and truth.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. … 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Hebrews spent 13 chapters speaking of the superior covenant found in Jesus Christ then the Holy Spirit writes to submit to the leadership. God’s true leadership is committed to the Word of His grace. There is safety in submitting to shepherds who have the heart of our great Shepherd Jesus Christ. God calls us into divine order!
Galatians 4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar; 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children; 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband." 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Cast out the bondwoman and her son; the son of the bondwoman shall not be heirs with the freewoman and her son. Divine order declares you are not under law but under grace. Walk in the liberty grace has afforded; it is the divine order of God.
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