The New Covenant, Communion & the Dispensation of Grace
A 12 hour study examining the fundamental issues regarding the role and function of the New Covenant in this dispensation of grace. Appreciate both the naturalness and necessity of the Apostle Paul being made “an able minister of the new testament” for us in this dispensation of grace. In addition, examine the basic issues of both the commemoration and impact that we are to enjoy and make in the Communion celebration as the members of God’s “new creation,” the church the body of Christ.
Table of Contents
The New Covenant
Lesson 1
Introduction
- Old & New Covenant, I Cor 11:23-26
- The plurality of covenants in Israel’s program, Rom 9:4, Eph 2:12
>Abrahamic Covenant, Gen 12:1-3
>”Palestinian” Covenant, Deut 29:1ff
>Davidic Covenant, II Sam 7:12-17
>Covenant of Peace, I Sam 54:10
Lesson 2
Overview of:
- Abrahamic Covenant
>focus is on the land, Gen12:1-3, 13:14-18, 1:7ff
>the gesture of possession, Gen 13:17, Job 1:6-7, 2:1-2
>Confirmation to Jacob, Gen 28:10-14 - “Palestinian” Covenant, Deut 29:1-29, 30:1-10
>focus is on the replacement of the Law Covenant; Israel’s failure to make themselves that kingdom of priests and holy nation.
>land remains in view; their lack of performance under the law contract forces them out of the land (due to the curses of the law contract) but this covenant promises their return to the land, Deut 29:21ff, 30:3 - Davidic Covenant, II Sam 7:11-17
>focus on the throne & Kingdom of Heaven - Covenant of Peace, Isa 54:7-10, 59:20, 60:8ff, 61:4-8
>focus on material blessings, etc
Lesson 3
- “..an oath for confirmation…”, Heb 6:16
- Contrast the Old & New Covenant, Heb 8:6-13
- Brief synopsis of God’s education to Israel’s education concerning their performance; spiritual unfitness
>” I AM” , “I AM THAT I AM”, Ex 3:11-14
> Review the 5 trials for Israel’s education (cont.’d into lesson 4)
>> (1) Ex 15:22-27
Lesson 4
- > 5 trials for Israel’s education (cont.’d)
> (2) Ex 16:1ff, 16:22-29
> (3) Ex 17:1-7
> (4) Ex 17:8-16
> (5) Ex 18:1ff - Israel’s rejection of God’s Jehovah-ness and grace
- Two categories of ‘natural spiritual unfitness’
(1) unrighteous, Deut 6:24-25, Lev 18:1-5
(2) unholy, Lev 11:44-45, 19:1-2, 20:7-8
Lesson 5
- Justification; Romans chapters 1-5
>”…deeds of the law…shall no flesh be justified…” Rom 3:19-20 - Sanctification; Romans chapters 6-8
> Here in Rom 8:1-5, sanctification is now being dealt with, not justification - Law made nothing perfect; unable to produce ‘natural spiritual fitness’, Heb 7:11, 18-19, 9:8, 10:1, 8-9, 8:6
God made provision to make a new contract/covenant
- “Palestinian Covenant” was made “beside” the old covenant; Deut 29:1
- Recaps Israel failure; Deut 29:21-29
- God will circumcise their heart; his Jehovah-ness & grace is coming! Deut 30:1-3, 30:6
No iniquity in Jacob? No perverseness in Israel? God reserves the right to deal with them with his Jehovah-ness & grace Num 23:18-21
(Mic 6:5 looks back to Moab incident in Num 23:18-21)
Lesson 6
New Covenant takes care of what the Old Covenant could not provide for:
- pertains to ‘inner man’ issues; spiritual in nature Jer 31:31-34
- four foundational components to the New Covenant
> Justification; (1) forgive their sins (2) remember their sin no more Jer 31:34b
> Sanctification; (3) “put my law in their inward parts…write in their hearts” (4) “shall teach no more every man…for they shall all know me” : Jer 31:33-34a
THE NEW COVENANT IS NOT THE PROGRAM (prophecy vs mystery) , but rather it makes an individual ‘spiritually fit’ in the program in which he lives!
New Covenant provides for sanctification:
- the new takes away the old Heb 10:9
- sanctified Heb 10:10, 14
- it is the Holy Ghost who implements the New Covenant Heb 10:15
- Heb 10:16 ref to Jer 31:31-34
- “sin willfully”; a return back into the temple Heb 10:26
- The day of the Lord Heb 10:27
- the blood provides for the sanctification & dealt by God on the basis of grace Heb 10:29
The beneficiaries of the New Covenant get TOTAL SPIRITUAL FITNESS
- as Hebrews teaches the remnant the doctrine of the New Covenant, their hearts are being established with grace Heb 13:9
- “without the gate”; he established the New Covenant Heb 13:12
- Justification Heb 13:20
- Sanctification Heb 13:21
- “suffering the word of exhortation”; James through The Revelation Heb 13:22
Before we examine that we are beneficiaries of the New Covenant in the Dispensation of Grace, it’s necessary to underscore and have it firmly established in our frame of reference that the New Covenant was established through the death of the “testator” and the “blood of sprinkling” of the Lord Jesus Christ that “speaketh.”
(1) The New Covenant was established with Christ’s death
- old covenant was ‘disannulled’ Heb 7:18
- “much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.” Heb 7:22
- “he [Jesus] is the mediator of a better covenant,” Heb 8:6
- “A new covenant, he hath made the first old.” Heb 8:13a
- “Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Heb 8:14b
> “decayeth”; destruction of the structure of the old system; the temple. - transition from the old to the new Heb 9:8
- “Which stood only in meats…until the time of reformation [New Covenant]” Heb 9:10
- “…he IS the mediator…” the New Covenant is in force! Heb 9:15ff
- “…are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” New Covenant established Heb 10:9-10
- “…Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things…” Heb 12:22-24
- “from the dead our Lord Jesus, … through the blood of the everlasting covenant,” Heb 13:20-21
Lesson 7
(1) The New Covenant was established with Christ’s death (covered in lesson 6)
(2) Spiritual Fitness only comes through being a beneficiary of the New Covenant.
- “…better hope…we draw nigh unto God.” (New Covenant) Heb 7:18-19
- “…was not yet made manifest…” They did not have ‘access’. Heb 9:8
- “HAVING…boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,” Heb 10:19-20
- “…we through Christ to God-ward:” We are now ‘nigh unto God.” II Cor 3:4
- “…but the spirit giveth LIFE.” We now have eternal LIFE (justification) and functional LIFE (sanctification) II Cor 3:6
(3) God declared the right that he reserves to himself to be merciful & gracious to whosoever he wanted to be.
- Rom 9:14-16; to properly understand this passage, the context is needed.
>Rom 9:1- 5; what’s happened to Israel in God’s plan & purpose for them.
>Rom 9:6-13; Paul dismisses arguments concerning Israel. - God is not being unrighteous treating Israel by turning to the Gentiles; Rom 9:14
- God reserved the right to show mercy on anyone (Jew or Gentile). Paul is setting forth God’s legal right to usher in the Dispensation of Grace! Rom 9:15-16
- Review Paul’s quote from Exodus 33:19
>”…for thy people…” Ex 32:7
>”…let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them…” The old covenant gave God the right to ‘wipe them out’, so to speak. Ex 32:10
>”…consider that this nation is thy people.” Ex 33:12-13
>”…will be gracious..shew mercy on whom I will…” Ex 33:19, 34:5-8
Lesson 8
“mercy”, “compassion” & “grace” are spoken about continually with the New Covenant Heb 5:1-2, 8:12, 10:29
Summary
- The New Covenant provides for perfect spiritual fitness (justification, sanctification) to be graciously given by God to the beneficiary of it.
- Perfect spiritual fitness only comes through being a beneficiary of the New Covenant
- When God ushered in the Dispensation of Grace, he reserved himself the legal right to bring it in & the legal right to be “merciful”, “compassionate” and “gracious” to whomsoever he will , including the Gentiles in spite of Israel’s program.
- Both the Jew & Gentile need to be made spiritually fit.
Paul, the able minster of the new testament. II Cor 3:1-6
- Paul’s message is two-fold to us in this Dispensation of Grace Rom 16:25-27
>”my gospel“, he ministers the New Covenant/Testament to the Gentiles
> ‘the mystery of Christ’
Paul’s two-fold message is also seen in Colossians, Col 1:21-27
- “the gospel, which ye have heard” Col 1:23
> Paul’s gospel is of reconciliation (no longer alienated)
> “made us meet to be partakers” ‘perfect spiritual fitness’ Col 1:12
>Note: the gospel is preached to every creature Col 1:23 - “Even the mystery…made manifest to his saints” Col 1:27
> the mystery is not made manifest to “every creature”, only to “his saints.” Col 1:26
>Once you are made a member of the church, the Body of Christ, by believing Paul’s gospel you then discover you’ve been made spiritually fit for God’s new program concerning “the mystery.”
“…my gospel…” vs “…Jesus Christ, according to the mystery…”
- only the gospel (milk) was taught to the Corinthians I Cor 2:1-2
- the mystery (meat) not taught to them I Cor 2:6-7
- the mystery was wisdom for “among them that are perfect”, not unto “babes in Christ” I Cor 2:6-7 I Cor 3:1
- Everything Paul taught was NOT “kept secret” Rom 1:1-3
>the Davidic Covenant in view Rom 1:1-3
> v1, the “gospel of God” is about a new covenant by which ‘spiritual fitness’ is given
> v3, “seed of David” The Davidic Covenant provides for the mechanical means by which his Jehovah-ness and grace for for the New Covenant would be put into place.
>”Who will have all men to be saved [gospel], and to come unto the knowledge of the truth [mystery]. I Tim 2:4 - God did not ‘testify’, before the Dispensation of Grace, that the New Covenant (Jer 31:31ff) through Christ (Redeemer/Jireh) would be given to the Gentiles. However, Paul is now “ordained a preacher” to now ‘testify’ unto the Gentiles that Christ is a “ransom for ALL.” I Tim 2:4-7
- Christ is the “mediator” Heb 8:6
>”better covenant”
>”better promises” Heb 8:6, “he had promised afore” Rom 1:2
>”mediator of the NEW TESTAMENT” Heb 9:15 - Paul deals with the issue of Christ’s mediating, redemptive work establishing the New Covenant in connection with Israel’s program (“sins that are past“) and now, how it is declared for this Dispensation of Grace (“at this time“) Rom 3:25-26
- “mediator”, Heb 12:24, I Tim 2:5
Lesson 9
(A review of Paul’s two-fold message; Rom 16:25)
Romans 15:25-27
- “saints” are sanctified ones in any program
- “…the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. ” These are members of the remnant of Israel Rom 15:26
- “…their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.” There is a ‘duty’ concept to the “poor saints” Rom 15:27
- “…For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things,” We have a ‘common-ness’ of SPIRITUAL THINGS with the remnant of Israel. These spiritual things are a result of the blood of the New Covenant.
>Identification of these “SPIRITUAL THINGS” cf Rom15:27
>>“…the Gentiles, …even the righteousness which is of faith.” (Justification) Rom 9:30
>>“For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: “ (Sanctification) Rom 11:16-19
>> “…sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ…” New Covenant 1 Pet 1:2
>>> “redeemed…but with the precious blood of Christ…” 1 Pet 1:18-19
>>> “…leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps…” The remnants’ sanctified position1 Pet 2:21–24
NOTE: the remnant are also “in Christ.” This is not unique to us in the Dispensation of Grace. 1 Pet 5:14
- “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.” 1 Pet 5:14
- Both programs (Israel’s & the Body of Christ’s) share the same ‘identity in Christ” (Justification & Sanctification) except for our Exaltation.
Paul has two covenants in view Gal 4:21-31
- allegories using 2 sons, 2 cities, 2 mothers, & 2 mountains Gal 4:21-31
> Paul quotes Isa 54:1 in Gal 4:27 - 2 covenants, 2 mountains, & 2 cities Heb 12:18-24
Now address the reality of us in the Dispensation of Grace being beneficiaries of the New Covenant II Cor 3:6-11
Old Covenant
- minister of death (no justification) II Cor 3:6b
- minister of condemnation (no sanctification) II Cor 3:9a
New Covenant
- minister of the spirit (Justification; ‘life’) II Cor 3:6b
>”…but the spirit giveth life.” - minister of righteous (sanctification)
> “ …yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” cf Rom 6:13, 6:16, 6:19
Lesson 10
Summary:
Justification (2-fold) Jer 31:34
- “forgive iniquity”; the offensiveness is no longer there
- “remember sin no more”; because of imputed righteousness
Sanctification (3-fold) Jer 31:33-34
- “write it in their hearts“
- “will be their God…they shall be my people“
- “they shall teach no more every man” (taught by God) & “they shall all know me” (intimacy of fellowship with him)
Justification is bestowed based on redemption & propitiation (2-fold)
“…being witnessed by the law and the prophets; ” Rom 3:21
- cf Rom1:2 the gospel of God was promised afore by his prophets: it was witnessed by the law that you cannot justify or sanctify yourself. Thus the prophets declared the way it was going to be performed – by Adonai Jehovah enfleshing himself in the line of the seed of David and the New Covenant being established.
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Rom 3:24
- redemption: pays the price to deliver the individual from the predicament their in that they can’t extricate from.
“…to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,” Rom 3:25
- propitiation: satisfied God’s justice by paying the appropriate price
David described justification: “Even as David also describeth…Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered…” Rom 4:6-8
Sanctification (3-fold)
This corrective doctrine was taught to the Corinthians. It is ‘milk’ doctrine that is setting back in Romans. Paul established himself as an able minister of the New Testament. Rom 1:1-5
- (1) Heart: “written…with the Spirit of the living God…in fleshy tables of the heart.” II Cor 3:1-3
- (2) Their God: “…I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” II Cor 6:11-16, II Cor 7:1
- (3) Taught by God: “we have received…the spirit which is of God…” I Cor 2:10-12 , It’s the teaching ministry of the Holy Ghost to ‘know the Lord’
Purpose of Sanctification
The original designed use for man in the first place?
- “…Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…” Gen 1:26
God-likeness (godliness) defined
- Think like he does”; [heart] Holy Spirit writing an epistle on your heart to think like he does
- Do what he is doing: [be their God] it’s by the Holy Spirit dwelling in you that enables you to things like God
- Labor with God: [taught by God & intimacy] it’s by the Holy Spirit being given to you, who knows the “deep things of God” to illuminate your mind, that gives you the “mind of Christ” so you can labor with him.
“I will put MY LAW in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts;” Jer 31:33
- “my law” is not according to the old covenant (the if/then arrangement) Jer 31:32
- “…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” II Cor 10:3-5, II Cor 3:1-3 This is why we have the epistles from Paul written to us so that every thought is brought into obedience to be written on the heart
- Paul uses the term “LAW”; cf Rom 8:2
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:” I Tim 3:16
- Mystery of godliness is privileging us gentiles with the issue of being ‘godly’.
“…ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” II Cor 6:16
- “temple“: issue of God dwelling in you & walking (not just residing), actively working in you so that what is seen is him walking in you and what he does.
- “…shew me now thy way, that I may know thee…” Ex 33:13, Jer 31:34
Communion (The Lord's Table)
Lesson 11
(1) The naturalness of observing Communion for us in the Dispensation of Grace
(As covered in previous lessons; it’s natural to observe because we are beneficiaries of the New Covenant)
(2) The impact of observing the Lord’s Table in both Israel’s program and in the Dispensation of Grace
“…to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,” I Cor 1:2
- the main thrust of the epistle will deal with corrective doctrine concerning their walk not being consistent with their position ‘in Christ’.
- Ex. :fornication (I Cor 5:1, 6:12), going to law against one another (I Cor 6:1ff), marriage (I Cor 7:1ff), weaker brother & idolatry (I Cor 8:1ff, 10:1-15)
- Chapter 10: the boast they are making concerning their strength in the faith is inconsistent with how to handle a weaker brother situation.
- Corinthians rebelled against their sanctified position as did Israel in the wilderness I Cor 10:1-14
- “communion” – fellowship of “partaking”
“…ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.”I Cor 11:17
- Corinthians turned the Lord’s Table into ‘the Lord’s Supper.’
> “supper” by definition is an appetite satisfying meal.
> stay home if you are hungry I Cor 11:34
> they treated the Lord’s Table as an idol feast
“…flee from idolatry.” I Cor 10:14
- “FLEE” from something that is hazardous
“…speak as to wise men; judge ye…” I Cor 10:15
- Paul is treating them as a “son” to judge
Anytime the word “communion” or “fellowship” come up, the issue is consistently with the identity you possess. There’s an IMPACT that God designed with the observance of the Lord’s Table to them who hate the identity you have ‘in Christ’ because of what that means to them.
Paul brings up their identity in a multifaceted way; much like a diamond having many sides, II Cor 6:1ff
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ” II Cor 6:14
- they were still yoked with idol worshiping gentiles in a ‘fellowship manner being “yoked together.”
- “Communion” : there is the issue of “light” & “darkness.” Communion has an identity with God himself and an identity of the realm he dwells in — LIGHT.
- When Paul talks of communion and the reason he identifies it as communion in I Cor chapter 10,, is because being made a partaker of the blood of Christ and the sacrificial body of Christ, you have become identified with God who is all light even being “…delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Col 1:12-13
- “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light…” I Tim 6:16
Paul understands that when the communion issue comes up, you are dealing with the identity you, as a saint, possesses with the ‘light,” thus having none with the darkness.
The adversary, being the power of darkness, has changed is identity for seductive purposes by transforming “into an angel of light.” And his ministers being “…transformed as the ministers of righteousness;” I Cor 11:14-15
“14 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 15 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” II Cor 6:14-15a
- “concord”: harmony in purpose, goal or objective. It is synonymous with communion, fellowship.
- “part”: in the sense of role fulfilled.
- fellowship, communion, concord, part, agreement all demand separation from those things that there are no fellowship, communion, concord, part, or agreement. This is the foundation of the impact issue.
Separation always makes an IMPACT. And that is what God has designed; the separation, the observance, the manifestation of the Lord’s Table (in both programs) to have. An impact to especially upon the ones from whom the separation has been made.
Lesson 12
Being a beneficiary of the New Covenant, in the Lord’s Table, there’s a commemorative issue in the respect to the implementation of God’s Jehovah-ness and grace.
- “…received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you” I Cor 11:23
- “…in remembrance of me.” I Cor 11:25
- “…ye do shew the Lord’s death…” I Cor 11:26
- Paul is talking about our impact. This is the explanation for why Paul received this from the Lord…to be delivered unto us.
Shew unto who? Let’s first consider the impact made by Israel.
- Because of their identity the remnant merited hatred; “…it hated me before it hated you.” John 15:18
- “..his own…” John 15:19; prince of the world
- “…they do unto you for my name‘s sake…” John 15:21
> “Jesus”: Mt 1:21 Jehovah the Savior; “he shall save his people from their sins”
> he is putting his Jehovah-ness into effect for his people and in so doing he is delivering them from the world and from the possession of the one who owns the world.
> “…they do unto you…” John 15:21, “They” a reference to the vain religious system. “They do not know him, the Father.
A “show” is going to be put on that manifests their identity in many ways. When the final installment begins and the power of the Holy Ghost comes upon them and begin to function as witnesses, they will be persecuted for their identity.
All three members of the Godhead will bear upon the nation in early Acts and during the 5th installment. The remnant will also bear witness with the Godhead. Witness to what? John 15:21
“…they had not had sin:” John 15:22-23, There is one particular “sin” in view: hatred for the Godhead.
Bearing witness is done in various ways; by word, by works, etc., including the Lord’s Table – which was not the table of the Old Covenant which apostate Israel persisted in participating and observing.
“And David saith, Let their table be made a snare…” Rom 11:9 God had a table in the old testament system and it becomes a snare/trap that is used by the adversary. Another table (Lord’s Table) is set in contrast, which the remnant observes.
- “We have an altar…” Heb 13:10, There’s a designed impact in the Lord’s Table in Israel’s program and we in the dispensation of grace have been delivered the Lord’s Table to make an impact. Our impact is slightly different.
“…ye do shew the Lord’s death” I Cor 11:26, The word “shew” is not reflexive; show to each other. cf Col 3:16, Eph 5:19
If not reflexive, then to who are we ‘shewing’? There are two categories of creatures:
- “…wisdom of this world…” I Cor 2:6 (men) cf I Cor 2:4-5
- “…the princes of this world..” I Cor 2:6 (angelic)
- “…wrestle not against flesh and blood,…but against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph 6:12
The impact is on those in the heavenly realm. We are members of the new creation the church the Body of Christ who will take over their realm and be used by God to reconcile it back to himself. The impact God wants us to make is primarily to them. cf I Cor 4:9 Paul is a “spectacle”. And those in the heavenly realm are the spectators.
When Paul deals with the hair issue in I Cor 11:1-10, there was a contrary impact being made by the inconsistent Corinthian conduct. “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.” I Cor 11:10
An education is now occurring in the heavenly places.
- “…that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,…” Eph 3:10
- “…the manifold wisdom of God,…” this is the topic education.
- “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” I Cor 2:8
- By observing the Lord’s Table, we put on display in a visible manner to the heavenly realm the issue of the Lord’s death; THE VERY THING THEY THOUGHT WAS THEIR TRIUMPH, GOD TURNED INTO THEIR DOOM!
- ” I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels…” I Tim 5:21 The “elect angels” look for some particular things to cheer and revel in. This is mere evidence of the impact being made to the angelic realm.
“…having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Col 2:15
- our justification, Col 2:11
- our sanctification Col 2:12
- Our exaltation Col 2:15
- God spoiled their scheme to hold onto the heavenly places as well as their endeavor to hold on to the earth.
- “…shew of them openly…” This is public infamy!
Now we, of possessing that complete identity in Christ, spiritually fit to be utilized by God in this new plan/program (dispensation of grace), exalted with his son to full-right participation in the heavenly realm; in the heavenly places.
We are now given the privilege to observe the Lord’s Table to CELEBRATE his Jehovah-ness and grace to “shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
They have to look!
This is a constant testimony to their impending doom!