The "New" Covenant Part 4

Over the last several days, we have studied the words new, torah, and covenant in an effort to understand what YHWH is referring to in Jeremiah 31:31-33"Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will make a new (actually "renewed") covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the YHWH: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith YHWH, I will put my torah in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people." At the time the covenant was given at Mt. Sinai, the children of Israel were already redeemed, i.e delivered from the bondage of Egypt. The term "salvation" means something different to Jews and Gentiles. If you ask a Jew does he want to be saved, his response will most likely be, "From what? Am I in danger?" The Jews are not really concerned about the life to come. In "The Ethics of the Fathers," it states: "All Israel has a share in the World to Come...." They have a promise that they will have a place in the world to come. Jews follow YHWH not to get some reward, but to demonstrate their love for the One that Created them and the world. Gentiles focus on the world to come. Salvation is more future to the Gentile. Jews concentrate more on the now.

Gentile Christians sometimes teach that Jews were saved by the law and Christians are saved by grace. This is an untrue doctrine. As we have previously seen, the Hebrews did not receive the torah until after they were delivered. Think about Abram and how he became righteous. It was by faith and not by the law. What did Abram have faith in to be declared righteous? Was it belief in some theological teaching? No, he had faith that when YHWH said he was going to be a father in his old age, that he would. The whole idea that Jews are saved by law and Christians by grace is a product of the movement in the 4TH Century to sever the followers of Yeshua from the Hebraic roots of the faith. It was a concentrated effort to eliminate the Jewishness of Yeshua from the Christian faith. Sometime read just the red letters from the gospels. Hear what Yeshua actually taught as opposed to what was taught about Him later. Consider Matthew 25: 32-46. The sheep and the goats are divided before they receive their eternal reward or punishment. What is the basis of the decision? Was it the prayer said at the altar, i.e. repeat after me. Was it a correct belief in the Trinity or the correct mode of baptism? No, it was how they treated other people in time of need.

When someone says that they are a "New Covenant" Christian, ask them is the torah written on their heart. Notice that this discussion of the New Covenant is not really about "getting saved." It is about YHWH instructing His people how they should live to bring the most esteem to His name. It is not obedience to get in the family of YHWH; it is obedience because I am in the family of YHWH. But what about salvation? That is easy. Salvation is all YHWH's grace extended to man and man's faith in His words. Yeshua is the first born from the dead and YHWH's Son. How do I know? Because I have faith in the Word of YHWH.