SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY AND BAPTISM

SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY AND BAPTISM

Exodus 25:1,2,8,9,22,40
And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the sons of Israel, that they take an offering for Me. From every man whose heart stirs him, you shall take My offering.
And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its articles, even so you shall do.
And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, everything which I will command you concerning the children of Israel.
And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.


The Foundational Principle Of Scriptural Authority

The foundational principle of ‘Scriptural Authority’ is embedded within Old Covenant scripture. In Deuteronomy 12, God directed His covenant nation with very specific instructions concerning their worship and spiritual service: “In the place where God has put His name, there bring your sacrifices.” Where was the place that the Lord was referring to? It was in Shiloh (Hebrew = rest), where the Tabernacle of the Congregation was set up; which design was given to Moses by God according to a heavenly pattern - Exodus 25:8,9,22,40; 26:30; 40:16,20-38; Hebrews 8:5.
Within the Tabernacle, was the altar of sacrifice, again specifically patterned and built by the instruction of God to be the very place for the burning of offerings and sacrifices for the sins of the people - Joshua 18:1.
God had already instructed His people that they were neither to burn their sacrifices in the high places nor in any other place where the Lord did not endorse – Deuteronomy 12:5-14,18,26,27 (this instruction is repeated numerous times in Deuteronomy!).
The account of the occupation of the promised land of Canaan by the covenant nation under Joshua’s leadership during which time, when the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh were almost obliterated (*Joshua 18:1; 22:9-34) should sufficiently serve to warn us not to trifle with God’s instruction concerning the place that He has specifically authorized His people to bring their sacrifices.
In this New Covenant age, the place where the blood sacrifice of Christ has been specifically applied in order to purchase those who have come to Him to be set free from the bondage of sin is the Lord’s local, scriptural New Covenant assembly whose founder and Head is Jesus Christ. He is the mediator of the New Covenant; the perfect sacrifice of the better covenant – Acts 20:28; Hebrews 8:6; 9:16; 12:24. This is where worship and sacrifices are pleasing before the Lord, and where acceptable service may be brought forth to Him Who dwells in the midst of His New Covenant congregations – Ephesians 2:22,23.


Baptizing In The Name Of Jesus Christ

In Acts 18:24-19:7, Apollos knew only the baptism of John (Acts 18:25). The 12 disciples that Paul met at Ephesus also claimed to know John’s baptism (Acts 19:3,4) although it was evident that they did not fully comprehend John’s baptism.
In Acts 19:4,5, Paul expounded to the 12 Ephesian disciples the fact that John baptized the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe into (eis) Jesus Christ who should come after him. Following Paul’s exposition of John’s baptism, these 12 believed and were baptized into (eis) the name (authority) of Jesus Christ.
The question that begs an answer at this point is: Where did God first put his name? In the New Covenant passage of Matthew 28:19, it was to His first assembly that Jesus appointed the New Covenant Commission investing upon them His complete authority. They were to go into all the world, making disciples in so doing, to baptize them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Again, where has God put His name today? To which institution on earth has He put His name or given His authority to perform His New Covenant work? It is important that we answer this question with a clear understanding and conviction from the heart.


The New Covenant Commission And Its Continuity

The New Covenant people today have been chosen out of the world to bear witness to the rest of the world of the Savior who would have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the New Covenant truth (1Timothy 2:4). For this reason, the Lord’s assemblies are to bear witness of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, the one and only mediator between God and man.
After our Lord’s resurrection, He gave His assembly in Jerusalem the New Covenant Commission and also made a promise to them:
“… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” ~ Mat 28:20.
This promise appears to have been given to the eleven remaining apostles (Judas had already committed suicide), but if it was given to these eleven per se, then it would mean that the responsibility of the New Covenant commission ceased long ago when all the eleven apostles passed away. If this is true at all, then neither the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ today, nor anyone else for that matter, have any New Covenant mandate to fulfill. That would put the future of all mankind in a very bleak position, without any opportunity of hearing the Kingdom Gospel.
However, we must understand that Christ appointed the 12 apostles as the first officers of His first assembly that was made up of many disciples to begin with.
“And God has placed some in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that works of power, then gifts of healing, helps, governings, tongues of nationalities.” ~ 1Corinthians 12:28
In Luke 6:12-16, the Lord went out to a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer unto the Father in view of an exceedingly important occasion that was to ensue the next morning. At the break of day, He called His church disciples together and out of all these, He chose 12 of which He appointed as ‘apostles.’
It is critical for us to comprehend the Great Commission to have been specifically given by the Lord to His churches. The first assembly that Christ organized out of the ‘materials’ (disciples) that John the Baptist had prepared (made and baptized – John 4:1) officially received the worldwide New Covenant Commission through the 11 apostles after the Lord’s resurrection.
It should be understood that that the New Covenant Commission has its continuing perpetuity through the assemblies that belong to Christ, as described by the Lord Himself as “My church” (Matthew 16:18); He being their true founder and foundation stone.
“For no one is able to lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” ~ 1Corinthians 3:11.
There is no other way to perceive of a continuity of the New Covenant Commission or the continuing practice of this mandate except that we understand it to have been given to all the Lord’s scriptural churches until the end of this age; until the Lord comes again for His bride people to be glorified in Him. Only by this simple logic of scripture, can we properly appreciate what Jesus meant in His promise:
“Lo, I am with you always, until the end of this age.” ~ Matthew 28:20
The apostles have already passed on, but the Lord’s church (‘church’ generically used here), as Jesus promised, will remain on earth until the end of the age, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against her (Matthew 16:18).
Consequently, the Lord’s assemblies in this present age, since the time of Christ’s first assembly in Jerusalem, are to engage in the making of disciples: to make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the authority of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and to continue to teach them to observe whatsoever the Lord has passed down through the apostles (the apostles teachings – Acts 2:42).
Obedience to this mandate can only lead to two things: the growth of individual churches within themselves, or the multiplication (duplication) of other like assemblies without, also described in our modern-day term as ‘church planting.’
It is totally illogical to assume that the Roman Catholic church, including her protestant daughters, and all other churches of similar man-made authority and origin have any share in the New Covenant Commission. These had not existed at the time Christ instituted it; neither was this heavenly Commission shared with them in anyway afterwards by His apostles, or by His other true assemblies. In such a manner ought we to appreciate the importance of Scriptural authority, else we fail to grasp the essence of Christ’s words:
“All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore …….” (Matthew 28:18,19)


Churches Out Of Nowhere!

“Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” ~ Acts 8:1
“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up.
And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” ~
Acts 9:31
At the mentioning of Acts 8:1, the record of history from the Scripture reveals that there were only two places where the Lord’s assemblies had been established – Jerusalem and Damascus. The Apostles chose to remain in Jerusalem with the suffering church amidst the mounting havoc and persecution spearheaded by Paul (Saul).
Acts chapter 9 records how Saul was set free from the curse of the Law and was converted into the New Covenant relationship in Jesus Christ. There were certain (church) disciples there at Damascus (8:10,19) when Paul journeyed there to accomplish his evil designs against members of the Jerusalem assembly. Having been blinded by the Lord and led to these disciples at Damascus, he was baptized into the Damascus assembly, and at the same instance, healed of his blindness and received the Holy Ghost. The conversion of Saul made a tremendous impact upon the spread of the New Covenant truths as Paul who once was a persecutor of Christ disciples, had now himself become one of Christ disciples.
For some reason, a chunk of history concerning the missionary endeavors of the Jerusalem brethren that had scattered since the persecution by Saul (8:1) was not recorded for us in scripture. It seems as though there was a gap in history between Acts chapters 8 and 9.
Nevertheless, it is not difficult to establish the fact that the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria that we know hardly anything about, but is suddenly mentioned in Acts 9:31, right after Paul’s conversion, were properly established churches. Where did these churches come from? It is not difficult to construct the very plausible evidence from Acts 2 and 8:1. It is certain that the Jews recorded in Acts 2 who came to Jerusalem, many from far away, outside the nation of Israel were converted (repented and baptized into Christ, into the first assembly at Jerusalem) and properly organized by the authority of the Jerusalem assembly through the Apostles, into small assemblies just prior to their being ‘scattered abroad’ or, to use a better term, ‘being sent out’ in an orderly fashion, throughout the regions of Judea, Galilee, Samaria, and even to various regions beyond where they originally came from.
In the heat of mounting persecution led by Saul upon the church at Jerusalem, these newly organized and authorized New Covenant assemblies were ‘scattered’ for their physical safety’s sake, to seek refuge elsewhere so that they could continue to exercise their religious liberty. Wherever they went, they carried with them the torch of the New Covenant Commission, making and baptizing other disciples, establishing other like assemblies. (This was how the Anabaptists survived centuries of persecution by their enemies.)
It should now be very evident to us that these new assemblies in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, were properly established through the authority of the New Covenant assembly in Jerusalem; and they did not just appear out of nothing or nowhere.


John’s Baptism

The first person recorded in the New Covenant who administered baptism without the need for any church authority was John the Baptizer as there was no scriptural church existing before him, or at the time he began his ministry. John received his authority directly from heaven (from God Himself) to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, the message described as ‘the baptism of repentance’ and to baptize those who respond in repentance (Mark 1:1-4; Malachi 3:1; John 1:6,33). His authority clearly came from heaven – Matthew 21:23-27; Luke 7:24-30. Otherwise, Jesus would not have gone from Galilee to Jordan to find John, and was adamant that John baptize Him. Jesus knew that this was a heavenly arrangement, and that their submission to this heavenly arrangement fulfilled all the righteousness of God – Matthew 3:13-15.
Although there are no exact words in scripture to tell us that Jesus Himself organized the first New Covenant assembly in Jerusalem, this fact is not difficult to perceive. The fact of the origin of the Jerusalem assembly coinciding with our Lord’s earthly ministry is so very evident in scripture.
In Luke 6:12-16, Jesus chose 12 of His disciples whom he appointed as Apostles. These disciples clearly were members that made up His first assembly, and out of them, 12 were appointed as the first officers of the assembly. This again attests to the fact that the Jerusalem assembly had already been organized and in existence before apostles could be appointed out from them? Paul’s statement in 1Corinthians 12:28 clearly support this fact when he said that God had set the apostles first ‘in the church.’ These were the first spiritual leaders that Christ Himself had appointed in the history of the very first assembly of Jesus Christ on earth.
During the early phases of Christ’s ministry, his disciples were given only a limited commission – to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel - Matthew 3:5-7. After His resurrection, Christ commissioned His first assembly to a world-wide ministry as His witnesses to make disciples, to baptize them, and to teach them to observe all that was passed on to them through the apostles whom He had ordained and personally taught during His ministry with them – Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20 (Acts 2:42 – the apostle’s teaching). So, apart from John baptizing with heavenly authority, Christ Himself had authorized His disciples to make and baptize other disciples (revealed in John 4:1,2). Being that the New Covenant commission was specifically given to His churches unto the end of this age, this commission must therefore have its continuity (perpetuity) through His scriptural assemblies on earth up until today, since the passing of the apostles until the end of this age.
All this serves only to reinforce our understanding in what our brother Paul meant when he described the Lord’s house as being built upon the foundation of the apostles, and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone – Ephesians 2:20-22 (1Cor 3:10,11).


Baptism Demands Scriptural Authority In Order For It To Be Scriptural And Right In The Eyes Of The Lord

It should already be clear by now, that the New Covenant Commission to make disciples and to baptize them in the authority of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit was given to the Lord’s scriptural assemblies. We now move on to consider next, what the expression “baptize into (eis) Christ” truly means.
Romans 6:3 – “… so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
Galatians 3:27 - “… as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on (enduo = been clothed with) Christ.”
The expression “baptized into Christ” clearly describes more completely that baptism involves being baptized into His body, the local assembly. Baptism adds a person into the body of Christ, the local assembly.
In Acts 2:38, about three thousand Jews repented and trusted Christ upon hearing the preaching of Peter and the 11 disciples, and were baptized. These were added to the existing assembly - Acts 2:41,47. It is not possible to add something to ‘nothing.’ They were added to something that already existed, and that was the local, visible body of Christ, the first assembly in Jerusalem. Evidently then, baptism administered by the authority of a scriptural New Covenant assembly simply adds a person into that local, visible assembly itself.
Therefore, it is obvious now, that baptism and the putting on of Christ are inevitably connected to the local, visible New Covenant assembly of Jesus Christ. Baptism cannot be scriptural apart from a scriptural administrator which today, would be scriptural New Covenant assemblies established by the Biblical pattern of Jesus Christ as described already in the preceding paragraphs.
Can we be sure that the account in Acts chapter 2 involved the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon the first assembly of Christ? Certainly, without a doubt! Neither the New Covenant Commission nor the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit was given to the whole world, or to the unbelieving Jewish crowd. The promise of the indwelling Spirit (John 14:16-18,26; 15:26; 16:17) was first made by Christ to His first assembly. After His resurrection, Christ reiterated about the promise of the Holy Spirit that they were soon to receive; that would empower them – Luke 24:49; Act 1:8.
“And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued (enduo = clothed with) power from on high. ~ Lk 24:49.
In Acts 1:4,15, after our Lord’s resurrection, we see only a small remnant of about 120 that made up the Jerusalem assembly gathering in one place. Having been instructed by the Lord Himself in Acts 1:4, this faithful remnant awaited in anticipation in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father that Jesus had earlier promised them. They were a bigger assembly before, but now, had shrunk to about 120 members. Most of the rest probably became too fearful and uncertain about their future that they left following Christ in the heat of the mounting persecution led by the unbelieving Jews that climaxed with Christ’s crucifixion.
Very clearly, the account in Acts 2 records the fulfillment of the promised indwelling Holy Spirit to that same assembly on the Day of Pentecost after Christ’s ascension into heaven, to be seated on the right hand of the Father.
#Verse 33 confirms this beyond any shadow of doubt! All this again points to the fact that baptism and the putting on of Christ are inevitably connected to the local, visible New Covenant assembly of Jesus Christ; and that baptism cannot be scriptural without a scriptural administrator (a scriptural New Covenant assembly) without which, a person being baptized cannot be added into Christ’s local New Covenant body. To believe otherwise would only be tantamount to believing in the universal, invisible church theology conjured by Martin Luther.


The Remission (forgiveness) Of Sins And ‘Covenant’ Salvation

That a person’s sins are washed away in baptism is what is declared in Acts 22:16.
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” ~ Acts 22:16
Many have misunderstood the meaning of this verse, and have tried to avoid it in order to stay clear from the Cambellites’ theology of requiring water baptism to be ‘saved from hell.’
The water or medium of baptism alone does not, and cannot wash away sin. The New Covenant relationship in Jesus Christ is where there is remission (forgiveness) of sins – Acts 2:38; Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for (eis = into) the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” ~ Acts 2:38
One enters into the New Covenant relationship in Jesus Christ through scriptural baptism, and this involves first, the hearing of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (the New Covenant Gospel, the Gospel of the Kingdom) and then, a heart’s response involving repentance-faith- baptism – Mark 1:1-4.
In other words, the baptism of repentance involves repentance toward sin, a personal faith in Jesus Christ as the only Savior, followed by a willingness to be immersed in water by the authority of a scriptural New Covenant assembly - Acts 20:21; 8:12,13; 18:8; Galatians 3:26-29.
“Baptism does also save us …… by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” – 1Peter 3:21. Through scriptural baptism we enter into the realm of the New Covenant promises and God endues us with the power to overcome sin and death through the imparting of the new life, the quality life of Christ, our resurrected Savior, the living Spirit of God. This is the power that enables us to daily overcome the flesh and sin that otherwise would bring death. For this reason and more than this, we are to seek scriptural baptism – 1Corinthians 15:29,30.


Important Symbols Connected To Baptism

Scriptural baptism typifies the resurrection birth into a new life (the newness of life, the resurrected life of the Messiah – Romans 6:3-5). Just as Paul had emphatically referred to Christ’s resurrection as the new birth in Acts 13:32,33, Jesus also had earlier, in His discourse with Nicodemus, told him about the necessity of being born again (from above).
I may be wrong here, but it is my personal opinion that to be ‘born of water (baptism)’ and (kai = even) to be ‘born of the Spirit’ are one and the same thing, or at least they are related in that one is a means to the other. Jesus said in John 3:4,5 & 7:
“Except you are born from above (out of water and of the Spirit), you cannot ‘see (perceive, comprehend)’ the Kingdom of God.”
“Except you are born ‘from above,’ you cannot ‘enter’ into the Kingdom of God.”
“Marvel not that I said to you, you must be born again (from above).”
It is in the Lord’s assembly (also called the temple of God), that the Holy Spirit dwells today according to the promise of Christ. Needless to say, one can only receive the indwelling Holy Spirit (born of the Spirit = experience the resurrection birth) when one is added (having truly repented and scripturally immersed into Christ) to the assembly where the Holy Spirit dwells – 1Corinthians 3:16; 6:19 (‘body’ here is singular referring to the body, the church).


One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God

Ephesians 4:4-6 – one body, one Spirit, one baptism …
Again, this may sound repetitive, but where does the Holy Spirit dwell today? … in the Lord’s local New Covenant assemblies.
One body – the local assembly
One Spirit – God’s Holy Spirit promised by Christ to indwell the local assembly
One hope – hope of the resurrection glory as promised to those that are Christ’s (Rom 8:18-25; 1Corinthians 15:20-23; Colossians 1:26-29)
One Lord – “The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” ~ 2Corinthians 3:17
One faith – the faith of Christ (the faithfulness of Abraham, the father of us all – Romans 4:16)
One baptism – by the scriptural authority that comes from heaven invested upon His scriptural assemblies, and not from man.
One God – even the Father of us all
In you all – in His assembly (Ephesians 2:12)
One standing outside of Christ (without Christ) stands in a very bleak position – Ephesians 2:12.


The Description: Churches ‘In Christ’

Food for thought: Paul described churches of the Lord as “in Christ.”

“… persecution of the churches which in Judea are in Christ Jesus” – 1The 2:14 (Gal 1:22).

There must be some significance in that Paul described the Lord’s churches in such a manner.

SALVATION AS A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

SALVATION IS MORE THAN JUST A PURCHASE AGREEMENT. IT IS A TWO WAY COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

The Hidden Beauty of Salvation
My understanding of Salvation used to be that of a transaction. A repentant person says a prayer asking Christ to be his Savior and God gives that person Salvation, and Eternal Life, deal closed and done. Maybe you have been taught to see salvation in this same manner, but there is much more to it that has been covered up through time until much of the beauty of it is lost. There is much more to salvation than the simple transaction of saying a prayer and you are saved.

The hidden beauty of Salvation is that it is an invitation to and an ongoing relationship with the Creator of the universe. To be more specific in revealing the beauty of Salvation, it is a Covenant relationship. This is almost a foreign word to some of us today in Western Civilization Christianity. However this was the religious context in which the writers of the Old and NEW Covenant grew up in. The idea of the covenant relationship with God was so common that the writers of the New Testament did not spend a lot of time developing it for their readers.
The basis or reason for God establishing this covenant relationship with us throughout His revelation to us is His great love for us. If we lose sight of that then the covenant relationship becomes, in either setting of the Old or New Covenant, just a system of earning God’s favor.
There are a couple of man-made covenants, the wedding covenant, and the Suzerain (King)/Vassal (subject) covenant that are similar to the covenant relationship that God establishes with us. First of all the covenant relationship is God’s deal. You may not like the idea of a covenant, especially in the individualistic, self-realizing Western civilization, but you don’t have a say in the matter.

Here, our first comparison comes into play. In the Suzerain/Vassal covenant the Suzerain sets up the covenant because he has all the cards so to speak. The vassal just agrees to abide by the terms. In our record (the Bible) of covenant relationship with God you never see man setting up the arrangements. It is always only on God’s terms that we enter into a relationship with Him. Another way of looking at it is as the invitation to wed. Traditionally, the groom has given the invitation to the bride to enter into this relationship with him, not the other way around. We are invited to become the bride of Christ.

Secondly, there are consequences for one’s response to this covenant relationship. If one is obedient and faithful, then there are blessings and the aionios life (God's quality kingdom life). If one is disobedient then there are curses and death. These consequences affect life now and in the future. If now we cooperate with God by being obedient to His will we enjoy His blessings, which among other things is an ever deepening and more loving relationship with Him. If now we do not cooperate with God and in disobedience seek our own self-satisfaction, we experience the curses or the chastisement of God to bring us back into a right relationship with Him. If we repent, we remain in this covenant relationship and we are promised the inheritance of aionios life. If however we, by our disobedience forsake Him and do not remain in this covenant relationship, then we forfeit our inheritance of aionios life.

The Covenant relationship which is described as in Christ Jesus is entered into when a person receives Jesus Christ as Savior through a personal repentance and faith in Him and identified with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection through baptism in water by the authority of a scriptural New Covenant assembly of Jesus Christ.

Members of the Lord’s assemblies are the betrothed bride people waiting for our Lord (the bridegroom) to return. We are not the wife yet. That happens at the marriage supper of the Lamb provided we remain faithful and do not forsake our beloved Lord. Similar to the wedding covenant, who would marry a fiancée who has forsaken her husband to be?

Some have made a lot of effort to show different classifications of covenants in the Bible. They have identified several different covenants in the Old Testament ending up with us being now in a Covenant of Grace. On the surface that sounds great, however the covenant relationship has always been a Covenant of Grace. God has, from the very first fall into sin, graciously provided a way for man to continue in relationship with Him. God said that He was going to make a New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Yet if you read the scriptures, you will see that the difference in the new one and the old one is where the law will be. In the new covenant established through Jesus Christ, God puts His law in the hearts of His covenant saints through the indwelling Holy Spirit. There is no cancellation of the blessings or curses that are shown throughout the Bible in relation to the God’s covenant relationship with us.

Biblical Proofs that the Hidden Beauty of Salvation is a Covenant Relationship
The word 'covenant' shows up in 269 verses and in 35 of the 66 books of our Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Specific New Testament references of our Salvation as a Covenant Relationship
Jesus said, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:28, also see Mark 14:24, and Luke 22:20
Paul said, "Who also made us able ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive." 2Corinthians 3:6
The author of Hebrews said, "Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant." Hebrews 7:22

Examples of the elements (a call to faithfulness, blessings, and cursings) of the Covenant Relationship seen in the New Testament
John 15:1-8; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 8:12-13; 11:22; 1Corinthians 10:1-12; 15:2; Galatians 6:7-10; 2Timothy 2:11-13; Hebrews 6:1-12; 10:19-31; 12:25-29.
In your readings of the New Testament check and see if you don’t run across these elements of the covenant relationship:
1. A call to faithfulness.
2. Blessings for faithfulness in our relationship with the Lord, ultimately blessed with eternal life.
3. Curses for unfaithfulness in our relationship with the Lord, ultimately cursed with destruction.

Brethren, since we are in this beautiful covenant relationship with our Lord, we need to be ever anxious to spur on one another to faithfulness and quickly seek to restore those who fall into sin. If we repent, we remain in this covenant relationship and we inherit the aionios life. However, if we, by our disobedience forsake Him and do not remain in this covenant relationship then we forfeit our inheritance of the kingdom and the aionios life.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON IS SCRIPTURALLY BAPTIZED?

He partakes of the indwelling Holy Spirit that has been promised to the Lord’s churches – Acts 2:33,38.

§ He is adopted into the sonship of God through the Spirit of adoption - Exo 4:22; Hos 11:1; Jn 1:12; Gal 4:1-7 (3:26-29); Rom 8:14-17; Eph 1:5 (Rom 9:4).

§ Becomes the seed of Abraham (a covenant son) – Gen 17:1-9. By the same quality of genuine faith comes into the “IN CHRIST New Covenant relationship” (the renewed Abrahamic Covenant), as the seed or children of Abraham and are counted righteous through Christ. Partakes/ shares in the everlasting covenant God made with Abraham (Gal 3:13-18; Heb 2:14-18). How is this possible? Through scriptural baptism one is grafted into the New Covenant relationship (#Gal 3:26-29). Abraham is the father of those who are counted as faithful (Rom 4:16,17).

§ Circumcised by the circumcision of Christ - Scriptural baptism is the circumcision of Christ in the heart by the operation of God through the Holy Spirit - Col 2:9-15.

§ Partakes of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ into the New Life in Jesus Christ - Rom 6:3-5.

§ Experiences putting on Christ for the first time - Gal 3:27.

§ Sealed with the earnest of the inheritance – 2Cor 1:21,22; Eph 1:13,14; 2Cor 5:5.

§ Anointed for service – Exo 30:30; Lev 8:12; 1Sam 10:1,6; 16:12,13; Mat 3:16,17; Acts 10:37,38; Jn 3:34 (Isa 61:1,2 cp Luk 4:18,19; Jn 3:34); 1Jn 2:20,27; 2Cor 1:21; 1Pet 2:5,9.

GOD CREATED MAN FOR COVENANT FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM

GOD CREATED MAN FOR COVENANT FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM
God Created Man In His Own Image (glory) and Gave Him Life - Gen 1:26,27; 2:7; 5:1,2.
God’s Covenant With Man - Gen 1:28
The Covenant Terms – Gen 2:8,9,15-17.
Rebellion (Sin) & Fall Of Man - Gen 3:9-11; 4:1-16 (Ecc 7:20,29; Rom 3:10,23)
None Can Hide From God – Jer 23:24.
Sin Breaks Covenant Fellowship With God - Hos 6:7; Josh 6:18; 7:1,10,11
Sin Brings Death (Physical & Spiritual) & Curse – Gen 2:15-17; 3:1-8,17-19, 23,24; Rom 5:12; 6:23.
God Is Looking For Those Who Would Seek After Him – Psa 14:2,3; 53:2,3; Rom 3:10-18. God’s Provision To Restore Man To Covenant Fellowship & Abundant Life – Gen 3:21 (type of Christ); Jn 1:29; 10:10; 11:25; 14:6.
A Choice To Return To Covenant/Life – Deu 30:19.
God Constantly Seeks To Covenant With Man To Fulfill His Eternal Purpose - Abraham (through him and his seed, all the families of the earth are to be blessed) - Neh 9:4-8 (Isa 51:1,2); Gen 12:1-3; 15:1-20; 17:9-14,19; 18:18,19; 22:17,18; 26:2-5,14; 1Chr 16:13-17; Psa 105:6-11
Israel (God’s Covenant Nation was to be a living witness to the Gentiles) - Gen 12:1-3 (Gal 3:6-9); Isa 42:6,7; 49:1-7; Lk 1:67-79; 2:25-35; Acts 2:39; 3:25,26; 13:26-33,46,47; 26:22,23; 28:23-29; Rom 3:1,2; 9:4,5; 15:8-12; Gal 3:8,19.
Israel Was Unfaithful - Isa 1; 5:1-7; Jer 2:21; 3:6-14; 50:6; Hos 10:1,2 (Rom 10:1-3).
Israel Sinned & Broke Covenant - Jer 31:31,32.
God Is Merciful & Still Loves His People Because Of His Everlasting Covenant – Gen 17:7; 1Chr 16:15-17; Psa 105:6-10 (Gen 18:16-33); Jer 2:1-4; Deu 2:7; 8:2,3,16; Neh 9:1-32; Psa 105:37-43; 136:1-26; Isa 63:7-14; Eze 20:10-20.
A New Covenant Was Promised To The House of Israel – Jer 31:31-34.
Jesus is the Promised Seed of Abraham – Isa 42:6,7; 49:1-7; Lk 2:25-35; 4:17-19; more Heb 2:16; Gal 3:16.
Jesus, The Messanger & Mediator Of The New Covenant – Mal 3:1; 1Tim 2:5; Heb 8:6; 9:14,15; 12:24.
Jesus Was First Sent To Israel But They Rejected Him - Psa 119:176; Isa 53:6; Jer 50:6; Mat 1:21; 2:1-6; 9:36; 10:6; 15:21-24,25,26; 18:11-13; Lk 1:67-75; 2:25-32; 15:3-32; Jn 1:11,12,31; 11:47-52; Acts 3:25,26; 13:32,33, 45,46; Rom 1:16; 2:10; 9:4,5; 11:28,29; 15:8-12; Gal 4:4-7; 1Pet 2:25.
Gospel Was For The Jews First – Gen 12:1-3 (Gal 3:8); Lk 24:47; Jn 4:22; Acts 1:8; 2:39 (Eph 2:11-17); 3:25,26; 13:24; Rom 1:16; 9:4,5; Gal 3:8; 4:4,5.
Gentiles Become Children of Abraham, Made Righteous In Christ Out Of Faith – Isa 11:10; (Mat 8:1-12; 12:17-21 {cp. Isa 42:1-4}; Lk 2:30-32); Acts 15:14; Rom 9:15,16, 22-26,30; 10:20 (Isa 65:1; 60:1-6; Mal 1:11); 11:17-19; Gal 3:7-9,13,14,22-29; Eph 2:11-19; 3:1-6; Col 1:12. God Seeks Anyone Who Fears Him – Lk 1:46-55; Acts 10:34,35; 13:26-51.
Those In the NC IN CHRIST Are the Seed of Abraham – Gal 3:13,14,22-29.
The Blessings Of Abraham Open To Gentiles à Cornelius – Acts 10:1-48; 11:18
Paul, Apostle To Gentiles – Acts 9:26:17,18. Gal 3:6-9; Isa 42:6,7; 49:6; Lk 1:67-79; 2:30-32; Acts 2:39; 3:25,26; 10:45; 11:18; 13:26-33,46,47; 14:27; 26:22,23; 28:23-29. Rom 4:3; 9:4,5 (3:1,2); 15:8-12; Gal 3:8,19; Eph 3:6; Col 3:11.
God’s Solution For Broken Covenant à A Promised Savior To Die For Sins – Gen 3:21; Jn 10:10; 11:25
Jesus Christ, The ONLY Savior (Solution) – Jn 14:6; 1Tim 2:5; 2Tim 1:1 à Jesus Christ, The Savior Of The World - (Rom 5:8) Jn 3:15-18; 4:42; 12:47; 1Tim 1:15; Heb 2:9; 1Jo 4:14.
Yet Not All The World Receives Him – Jn 3:19; 1Cor 1:21 (Jn 1:11,12; Acts 2:38-39 à 1Cor 1:9; 1Jn 1:1-4)
Need For Repentance – Lk 2:32
Need To Receive Christ By Entering Into Covenant Fellowship – Jn 1:11,12; Acts 2:38,41; 8:12,13; 16:30-33; 18:8; Gal 3:26-4:7.
Covenant Fellowship - IN CHRIST, In His Body, The Church (Gal 1:22; 1The 2:14) – Jn 15:1-5; Rom 16:3,7,9; 2Cor 12:2; Eph 1:1; Phil 1:1; 4:21; Col 1:2 (Mat 26:26-29; 1Cor 11:23-34) à
Covenant Fellowship Involves Walking With God As A Faithful Disciple Of Christ (a life of obedience & daily submission to His Word) - John 8:31; Acts 2:41,42
Covenant Fellowship Involves Continuing Faith In Christ – Acts 14:22; 1Cor 16:13; Gal 5:1; Phil 4:1; Col 1:12-23; 1The 3:8; Heb 3:6; 4:14; 10:23-26,35-39; Rev 2:25-29; 3:3-6. Reward For Faithfulness à An Abundant Entrance Into The Everlasting Kingdom Of God To Rule With Jesus Christ - Mat 13:52; 2Peter 1:10,11.

DISCIPLESHIP

First Mention Of Christ’s Disciples – Jn 2:1,2.

Disciples Are Made (matheteuo) - Mat 28:19,20 (Mat 3:1-10 - repentance before baptism); Jn 4:1,2; Acts 6:1; 14:21.

A Special Relationship With Christ – Mat 12:46-50; Lk 8:19-21 (Jn 17:6-10).

The Principles (raising sons in the faith) - 1The 2:1-12; 1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2; 2:2 (1Pet 5:13); 1Cor 4:15,16; 11:1; Phil 3:17-19; 1The 1:5-10; 2The 3:6-9.

The Purpose – Mat 13:47-52; Acts 14:22.

The Expectations - Mat 7:13,14; Lk 6:20-49; 13:24-30; Jn 8:31,32; 10:27-29; 13:34,35; 15:1-8,16 (Rom 7:4; Psa 1:1-3; 92:12-15); Acts 14:21, 22.

Not All Can Be Disciples - Lk 14:25-33; 9:23-26,57-62; Mat 10:16-25, 32-39; 19:27-30 [Mk 10:28-31; Lk 22:24-30; Phil 1:29; 2Tim 3:12; 1Pet 2:19-25; 4:1,2,12-16]. Heb 5:8 – school of obedience!

SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY AND THE NEW COVENANT

THE HEAVENLY ORDER: The Pattern & Image of Heavenly Things - Heb 8:1-5.

The Tabernacle in the time of Moses and the Temple in the time of King David were built according to God’s blue print given from heaven (heavenly authority). They were patterns of the perfect Tabernacle in heaven, but they were built with hands and made of earthly materials. The Lord’s New Testament church first established at Jerusalem was also established by a heavenly authority although the New Testament church is not a building made with hands, but a people in whom God dwells. So, we can say that the Lord’s House today, the New Testament church (1Tim 3:15) is a closer type of the final and perfect Tabernacle (dwelling place of God) which is in heaven now where Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
The following study give us a preview of the earthly dwelling places beginning with the Tabernacle during the time of Moses, follow by the Temple in Solomon’s time and then the scriptural New Covenant church of today. Of course not all ‘churches’ are the Lord’s dwelling place because of the lack of the heavenly authority. A careful study of the outline below should lead you to see the importance of heavenly authority for the Lord’s church to be scripturally called the House of God. Without being a part of the Lord’ scriptural House, we cannot worship God acceptably, because as Christ said, “They that worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.” It is only in the Lord’s scriptural House where the Spirit (1Cor 3:16,17; 2Cor 6:16) and the truth (1Tim 3:15) are.

> The Ark in the Tabernacle (Shiloh)
Exo 25:8,9,22,40; 26:30
> God’s Glory Filled The Tabernacle – Exo 40:16,20-38.
> Heavenly Authority (Where God Chose To Put His Name) - Deu 12:5-14,18,26,27;
14:22-26; 16:1,2,5,6,7,11,15,16; 26:1,2; Josh 18:1; 22:9-34 (v.19,29); Jer
7:10-14,30.
> The Ark in the Temple (Jerusalem) – 2Sam 7:1-17; 1Kin 5:1-3; 6:1,2,11-14; 1Chr
28:1-6,9-13,20
> Pattern Given By The Spirit Of God - 1Chr 28:1-6,9-13,20; 29:1; Acts 7:44
> The Glory Filled The Temple - 1Kin 7:51-8:11,19-21,29 (also 2Chr 5:1,13,14)
> God Hallows His House – 1Kin 9:1-9; 2Chr 7:11,12,16.
> Israel Broke Covenant With God & Cut Off
Hos 5:6; 6:7; 8:1,4,14; 9:15-17; 10:1. 11:7; 13:1-3,6,9; 14:1; Rom 11:20-23.
> Israel Was Cut Off From The Covenant – Hos 5:6; 8:4; 9:15,17; 11:7; 13:1-3,6,9;
14:1.
> The NC Promised - Jer 31:31-34; Psa 53:6 (Eze 37:21-28).
> Change Of Order (House of God & Priesthood) – (**Num 8:24-26) Acts 7:44-50;
Heb 7:1-10:39.]


THE NEW COVENANT TEMPLE
Authority Of John, The Messenger à Heavenly Authority - Mal 3:1-3; 4:5,6; Isa 40:3-8; Mat 17:10-13; Mk 1:1-3; Lk 1:11-17; Jn 1:6,33 (Mat 11:7-15)

Jesus Defended John’s Authority – Mat 3:13-17; 21:23-28; Lk 7:29-30

Christ, The NC Messenger & Mediator - Heb 7:6-13,22; 8:6; 9:15-24; 12:24.
Christ therefore is the messenger of His NC church and the Mediator as well, between the faithful members and God. He intercedes for us as long as we are faithful.
The coming of Christ is a prophetic fulfillment of Scripture – Mat 1:21; Lk 1:67-79; 4:14-21,43 (Visitation – Psa 80:14,15; 130:7,8); 7:11-17; 24:13-27; Jn 1:11; Acts 3:11-26; 13:46,47; Rom 15:8-12; 9:1-5.

Jesus’ Heavenly Authority – Lk 4:14-21,43; Acts 10:37,38; Jn 3:25-27,34,35; 4:34; 5:30,36-38; 6:37,38,57; 7:14-31; 8:42; 17:8,11-25.

Christ Is The Founder & Head Of His Ture Churches – Mat 16:18; 1Cor 3:11; Eph 1:22,23; 5:23; Col 1:18. All the denominational churches today can either trace their origin back to a human founder or one of the Protestant founders which eventually traces them further back to the Roman Catholic church founded by Emperor Constantine. Scriptural New Testament assemblies believe and practice the principle of a true church being the one to authorize the organization of another true church and so on. This principle and practice of scripture is imperative in order to safeguard an assembly's origin as coming from Christ and not from man. Christ was sent by the Father and He received the Father's authority in heaven and in earth (Mat 28:18). He organized the first disciples who had been baptized by John the BAPTIST, into the first scriptural New Covenant assembly.

Christ Authorized His First Church Disciples To Establish Other Scriptural Chruches - Mat 28:18-20; Lk 9:1,2; 10:1-3; Jn 3:22-4:2; 20:21. The New Covenant Order – Heb 12:18-24; Col 1:12,13. The first assembly in turn was given the New Covenant Commission (Mat 28:19-20) to plant other scriptural New Covenant assemblies throughout the world. Churches established by the authority of man or by a denominational authority apart from that of a scriptural assembly cannot in the eyes of the Lord be recognized as a the Lord's New Covenant assembly, but merely an organization. A true local assembly is God's house, the temple or dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, the place where God has put His name and this identifies it as one of the Lord's assembly.
True churches of the Lord today have scriptural authority to establish other scriptural assemblies. This pattern is a heavenly pattern as we see the way the churches in Bible times were established by this same pattern. Churches established upon man’s authority are not the Lord’s churches and have no promised indwelling Spirit (1Cor 3:16,17).

THE SAINTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The Protestant Universal Invisible Church theology identifies a person as a saint at the point he/she is saved from hell. This is purely presumptuous; and to adopt this definition is to accept a grave error with severe consequences that inevitably lead to further misapplication of other truths in scripture.

1. The term ‘saints’ found in the New Testament is NEVER used to describe someone
outside the Lord’s church. Instead, it is ALWAYS used to describe members in the
Lord’s church, the body of Christ wherein the Holy Spirit dwells (see 1Cor 3:16;
2Cor 6:16).
1Corinthians 14:33 ~ “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as
in all churches of the saints.”
Ephesians 4:12 ~ “For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (this was referring to the local
assembly at Ephesus)

2. Saints (Greek = hagios) mean ‘holy’ or ‘holy ones.’ This is the same Greek word
for ‘holy’ as in Holy (hagios) Spirit (pneuma). Hence, ‘saints’ infer one who is
being sanctified (hagiosmos - made holy) by the work of the Holy Spirit. Members
of the Lord’s true churches are sanctified (made holy) in the Covenant
relationship IN CHRIST (in His body, the church where the Spirit dwells), and
are therefore called SAINTS (hagios, holy ones).
1Corinthians 1:2 ~ “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints with all that in every place
call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (See also
1Cor 6:11)

Romans 1:7 ~ “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace
to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Note: Paul
here is addressing members of the church at Rome)

2Corinthians 1:1 ~ "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the
saints which are in all Achaia:”
[Note: Corinth was a sea port within the province of Achaia where a scriptural
church existed]

Ephesians 1:1 ~ “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the
saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:”

Ephesians 2:19 ~ “Now (being in the New Covenant relationship IN CHRIST –
context from verse 13) therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellowcitizens (of the same citizenship) with the saints, and of the household
of God;”

Philippians 1:1 ~ “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the
saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”
(Note: this was written to the brethren of the church at Philippi)

Colossians 1:2 ~ “To the saints and (even) faithful brethren in Christ which are
at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.”

3. Compare the following two groups of parallel passages and observe carefully how
both the words “church” and “saints” are used interchangeably:
a. Acts 8:1; 1Cor 15:9 & Gal 1:13 - where ‘church of God’ is used
b. Acts 9:13; 26:10 - where ‘saints’ is used
Acts 8:1 ~ “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there
was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they
were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria,
except the apostles.”
1Cor 15:9 ~ “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
Gal 1:13 ~ “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’
religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and
wasted it:”
Acts 9:13 ~ “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man,
how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:”
Acts 26:10 ~ “Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints
did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests;
and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.”

4. Paul, a member of the Lord’s church identified himself as a saint. Ephesians 3:8
~ “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that
I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

5. Jesus is the King of saints.
Revelation 15:3 ~ “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the
song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty;
just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”


Footnote:
In the Old Covenant, “saints” mean "separated ones, those set apart" for holy work. "Saints" is a word used of the angels (Deut 33:3; Ps 89:5-7; Job 15:15) and holy men (Ps 16:3; 34:9; Lev 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:26; Num 15:40; 16:3; 2Chron 35:3; Dan 8:24). For example, Aaron is called "a saint of YHVH" (Ps 106:16). Daniel uses the equivalent Aramaic term - intensive of the same root, "consecrate" to refer to "holy men" (Dan 7:18,21,22,25,27), to righteous Israelites of the End-Time who shall "possess the kingdom."

GOD'S COVENANT PEOPLE

GOD’S COVENANT PEOPLE
Exodus 4:21-23; 1Chr 17:21,22
“I am your God and you are My people”

INTRODUCTION
God created man with an eternal purpose in view. This eternal purpose involves God dwelling with man in a special intimate relationship called a Covenant. It is only by the terms of God’s Covenant that man can be counted righteous before God so that his walk, his worship and his service can be pleasing and acceptable in His sight. For man to approach God in any other way that is not within God’s Covenant terms is to establish his own righteousness instead of submitting himself to the righteousness of God. Such an attempt is not only vanity; it is zeal not according to the knowledge of God - Rom 10:1-3.

SERVICE OF GOD IS GIVEN TO GOD’S ELECT NATION, ISRAEL (Exo 4:21-23; 6:1-8; 19:4-6)
In the 3rd month after Israel left Egypt and arrived at Sinai, was the beginning of the historical event of God making a covenant with Israel. Moses was sent to accomplish this covenant (as mediator) between YHWH and Israel, the children of Abraham (Deu 34:10,11). The whole book of Exodus pertains to the Covenant of the Kingdom given to Israel and the teachings of the coming kingdom.
The Covenant expectations are in Exo 19:5,6. If ….. then ….
Conditions must be met before promises are fulfilled. Israel was admonished to keep the covenant through a living faith relationship – to be faithful to God within the bounds of the covenant relationship. Such obedience made them special – Exo 19:5b. They were God’s “prized possession” (Deu 7:6; 14:2,21; 26:17; Mal 3:17.
Based upon their faith covenant relationship with God, Israel became the nation elected by God to serve Him as “a kingdom of priests” (“kingly priests” unto the Lord) – Exo 19:6. The function of a holy priesthood speaks of a king on the throne with priests who are subject to His orders. Through every covenant Jew, all the nations of the earth were to be blessed – Gen 12:1-3; Isa 60:1-3.
The sealing of the covenant was made upon Israel’s unanimous commitment acceptance of the covenant expectations – Exo 19:8; 24:4-8.

SERVICE OF GOD STILL BELONGS TO ISRAEL (Rom 9:1-5)
During the ministry of Jesus Christ, only a remnant of the stock of Israel was still faithful and kept their covenant with God. The rest (majority) were cut off because of unbelief (no continuing faith) - Rom 11:1-10. Believing Gentiles obedient to the faith were grafted into the remnant stock of covenant Israel (Rom 11:11-20).

ISRAEL AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR COVENANT WALK WITH GOD
God describes His elected Covenant nation Israel at the beginning as:
1. “The choicest vine” - Isaiah 5:2
2. “A noble vine, wholly a right seed” - Jer 2:21a
3. “The sheep nation – Psa 78:51,52; 79:13 (80:1); 100:1-3; Isa 53:6; 63:17-19.

A BROKEN COVENANT
Because of the sin and rebellion of His covenant people, God gave them the law, so that they might recognize their sin of disobedience, turn back to God in repentance, seek forgiveness and thereafter walk by faith again in covenant relationship. The law was for the good of the people as long as they responded in the way it was intended – Gal 3:19,24. Sadly though, most of them did not respond in the right way! They transgressed the law and sinned, breaking covenant with God through wilful disobedience and rebellion. The curse of sin (breaking covenant with God) results in condemnation by the law, the verdict of which is spiritual death (Gen 2:17; Rom 6:23). Through constant disobedience and sin, God’s covenant nation broke the covenant they had made with Him at the foot of Mount Sinai. It grieved the heart of God to see his people walk away in pride and self-sufficiency, not continuing in His covenant – Isa 1; Jer 3:6-14. Thus God disregarded them no longer as His people because they had forsaken Him – Hebrews 8:9.

ISRAEL AND THE RESULT OF BREAKING COVENANT WITH GOD
This is how God describes the disobedient nation:
1. Jer 2:21b – “a degenerate and strange vine”
2. Hosea 10:1,2 – “an empty vine, producing fruit only for themselves”
(similar to Rom 10:1-3.
3. Jer 50:6 – “lost sheep”

GOD DENOUNCES/CONDEMNS ISRAEL WITH CHASTISEMENT
Heb 12:5-13
1. Lev 26:33-38 – a scattering
2. Num 14:11,12 – sickness and disease
3. Deu 9:6 – inheritance taken away
4. Deu 28:25,48; 32:28 – overwhelmed by their enemies
5. 2Kin 17:13,14,19, 21 – stiff-neck and sinful people
6. 2Chr 36:14 – defiling God Tabernacle
7. Isa 42:18,19 – deaf and blind
8. Jer 2:7 – defiled God’s land
9. Jer 5:11 – treacherous people
10. Jer 32:20 – provoked God to anger
11. Eze 7:25 – destruction, no peace
12. Micah 7:13 – land to be desolate
13. Captivity foretold – 2 Kin 21:11-15; Isa 39:6; Jer 4:7; 9:16; 12:7; 13:19-21; 15:2-5, 14; 17:4; 24:8-10; 25:8,9; 32:4,5; 34:1-3, 21; 38:1-3; Eze 5:12,14-16; 12:10-12,15.

GOD PROMISED A NEW AND BETTER COVENANT
All the condemnation and chastisement of God’s dearly loved and specially chosen nation was because they had broken the covenant they had made with YHWH. “All that the Lord hath said we will do and be obedient,” they had professed and God did declare, “I will be your God and ye shall be my people.” But oh, how quickly had they gone back on their word and had broken covenant! They were desolate, barren, wasted and left without a God to lead them for a long time. The Psalmist seeing the hand of God, laments over God’s chastisement and pleads for God to return and visit the vine (Psa 80:7-19).
In spite of their unfaithfulness, God in His great mercy (Heb 8:12), promised to make a New Covenant with His people Israel - Jer 31:31-34 (cf. Heb 8:6-13; 10:9-25).

GOD ANSWERS AND VISITS ISRAEL AFTER 400 YEARS OF SILENCE
After the last OT prophet was gone, God remained silent and spoke not a word to Israel for 400 years. Had God forgotten them? NO! God is faithful; He will keep His promise – He cannot lie! God remembers the Psalmist’s cry (Psa 80 7-19)! Israel’s long-awaited visitation from God finally comes - Lk 1:67-73; 19:41-44. God indeed comes to visit them - in the person of Jesus the Messiah to fulfil His promise of the New Covenant relationship with them (Jer 31:31-34). God is faithful and will not fail to keep His Word. However, in spite of all that God had done for His covenant nation, Israel (1Chr 17:21,22), only a small number remained in covenant when Jesus came. These were considered the true Israel. The rest of the nation remained outside of the Covenant through unbelief (Rom 9:6-8 à Gal 4:28).

JESUS CAME TO FULFILL GOD’S PROMISE OF THE NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL – Jeremiah 31:33
By the grace of God, Christ came to destroy the curse of the Law upon sin – Acts 3:25,26; Gal 3:13.
1. Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant - Heb 8:6-9,13; 9:15.
2. Christ, the seed of Abraham came to redeem/liberate the covenant nation from the bondage and curse of the law and to offer them a New Covenant relationship. God desired that Israel might be restored in covenant relationship with Him through His Son, and that they might once again be His witnesses in the world, drawing all the (Gentile) nations to the saving knowledge of the one True God and Savior and to partake of the covenant relationship and blessings in Messiah - Gal 4:4,5.

WHO DID CHRIST, THE SENT ONE, COME TO LOOK FOR?
Mat 15:21-24; Mat 10:1-7; Luke 19:10 - the lost sheep of the house of Israel, His estranged covenant bride-people that He might save them. Before Jesus began His ministry, John the Baptist, Christ’s forerunner already came, calling the covenant nation to repentance - Mat 3:1. After Jesus was baptised by John, He began His ministry, also calling the covenant nation to do exactly the same thing - Mat 4:17. Notice the mention of the coming kingdom!
What were they to repent for? It was for their sins of disobedience and unfaithfulness toward the Covenant God of Israel. Both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ came calling Israel to repentance and to return to covenant relationship and fellowship with their God; to be restored in the covenant they had broken. How greatly He desired them to repent and return to Him – Acts 3:25,26; Rom 1:16; Mat 18:11-14.
Before the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus, there were not many godly Old Covenant Jews that were still faithfully looking for the Messiah (eg. Zechariah, Simeon, Ananias, Anna, Joseph of Arimathaea). However, Jesus came looking for the fruit of faith from the whole nation - Luke 13:7. Did He find it? Most of them rejected Jesus as the Messiah - Jn 1:11. Only a small portion of the nation (a remnant) responded to the call to repentance and to faithfulness). Some of these were those who responded to John the Baptist’s preaching (Mat 4:17-22; John 1:35-45) before Jesus began His ministry. John was preparing these people for the Messiah – Luke 1:13-17.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REST OF ISRAEL? The majority of the nation refused to believe. They remained disobedient and separated from their Covenant God! Some followed Messiah with ulterior motives or selfish reasons, but these did not last - John 6:26. Others fell away due to their lack of persevering faith in the face of hardship, mounting opposition and persecution from the unbelieving Jewish leaders – Jn 6:66-69; 9:22; 12:42,43; 16:1-6. The fruitless and disobedient ones were eventually cast away – Mat 8:5-13; John 15:1-11; Rom 11:20 – cut off (from covenant relationship - not UNSAVED)!
Can God graft them back in again? YES, but on condition that they repent of their unbelief (apistia, unfaitfulness) - Rom 11:23. This was the very message John the Baptist and Jesus came to preach to the nation of Israel – repentance! (Mat 3:1; 4:17,23).
In the Old Covenant days, the leaders and dishonest prophets of Israel led the people astray from God to become “lost” sheep - Jer 10:21; 23:11-15; 50:6; Isa 56:10-12; Eze 34:7-12. When Jesus the Good Shepherd of Israel came, He sought to bring His “lost (strayed away – not unsaved)” sheep back to Himself – Mat 18:12,13; Rom 9:5; Lk 19:10; 1Pet 2:25; Jn 10:11-13. However, the company of religious leaders called Pharisees, Saducees, chief priests and scribes that existed during that time also deceived the people by turning them away from Jesus in unbelief through their man-made laws and traditions – Mat 15:1-3,7-9,12-14; 23:1,2,13-39 (Rom 10:1-4).
With the exception of those few, faithful remnant that followed Jesus as their Messiah, the bulk of the nation of Israel remained the same – disobedient, unfaithful, and unfruitful! Remember Isa 5:1,2; Jer 2:21,22? God in the person of the Messiah Jesus came, visiting His choice vine, His covenant bride people, His sheep nation, but they outwardly rejected Him - John 1:11; 10:25-27. Eventually, national Israel was no longer considered as God’s covenanted sheep nation.

THE REMNANT
Let’s look closer at those few who followed Jesus as their Messiah. These were the faithful few of the nation, the true covenant sheep, the remnant of Israel, the ISRAEL of Israel, those that submitted themselves to Jesus Christ the Great Shepherd, believing and following Him in faith, entering into a new covenant relationship with God and Christ, receiving scriptural baptism (Rom 11:1-5). These were the believing “branches” of the entire nation of Israel that abided in God’s vine while the unbelieving branches were cut off (Jn 1:12; 15:1-5). These became the New Covenant people of God.

THE NEW COVENANT PEOPLE PREPARED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST
Before Messiah Jesus began His ministry, John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare A People for Jesus Christ (Mal 3:1-3; 4:5,6; Mat 17:10-13. His ministry was declared by an angel of God - Luk 1:13-17; Mk 1:1-4. He was preparing the nation of Israel for Messiah Jesus, announcing the Messianic kingdom as “at hand” (near to arrive) and that Christ is King over His everlasting kingdom. He preached the message and baptism of repentance (Mat 3:2, Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3), baptizing only those who truly repented (Mat 3:7-10).
à John’s divine authority was strongly defended: Jn 1:6,33; Mat 3:13-17; 21:23-27; Lk 7:28-30.

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST NEW COVENANT ASSEMBLY - CHRIST’S EKKLESIA
Jesus organized the first New Covenant Ekklesia out of the Jewish disciples that John the Baptist had prepared. This happened early in His ministry not long after He came to Galilee to be baptized by John. These disciples who were the remnant of Israel that believed Jesus as their Messiah were organized into the first New Covenant church (EKKLESIA). (The first church was never the Roman Catholic church!)

Let’s look at the events that led to the beginning of the first church:
· John 1:37-39 (v.29-36) - Here, beginning at Bethany, they accepted Jesus as their Master or Teacher. Note the names of those of John’s disciples that followed Jesus (Jn 1:40-47 - Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, John). These disciples now become Christ’s disciples – Jn 1:41-2:2 (the first mention of “his disciples” recorded here!). This infers that as early as at this time, Christ had already organized these disciples into His New Covenant EKKLESIA. The next mention of “his disciples” is in Jn 2:11.
· Jn 2:13-17 - Christ’s disciples still following, being taught by Him.
· Jn 4:1,2 - Christ’s disciples serving Him (making and baptizing other disciples). Only a church has this authority!
John recognized those disciples that had left him to follow Messiah as “the bride” that belongs to Messiah (John 3:27-30; Mk 2:18-20; 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:21-33; Rev 19:6-9).
· Mat 4:18-23 (Mk 1:16-20) - At Galilee, Jesus calls His disciples to a surrendered life of service.
· Luke 6:12,13 - Christ appoints apostles in His church and authorized them to preach and demonstrate the powers of the coming age (the age of the kingdom of God).

THE MARKS OF A NEW COVENANT CHURCH ON EARTH
1. Christ is the founder and foundation/corner stone of His church (Mat 16:18 - divine preservation promised; 1Cor 3:11; Eph 1:22,23; 2:20).
2. Christ is the Head and High Priest of His New Covenant Church (Col 1:18; Heb 10:19-27).
3. The New Covenant church is established upon the Biblical principle and pattern of proper authority, and distinguishes itself from all other groups or denominations founded upon man’s authority. Therefore no New Covenant church can be established without the invested authority of an existing New Covenant church (Mat 28:18-20; Acts 13:1-4).

THE PERPETUITY OF THE LORD’S CHURCH ON EARTH
Perpetuity speaks of continuity. Before Jesus left this earth to return to the Father, He gave His first Ekklesia the authority & commission to continue His work on earth – Mat 28:18-20. The faithfulness of His New Covenant congregations in keeping this commission ensures the perpetuity of New Covenant assemblies in the world through the work of church planting. Moreover, God gives each New Covenant assembly, whose Head is Christ, ‘shepherds’ or ‘overseers’ to lead, to feed and to protect each flock (Acts 20:28; John 21:15-17; 1Cor 12:28; 1Pet 5:2-4; Eph 4:11-16).

ENTRANCE INTO THE NEW COVENANT RELATIONSHIP IS THROUGH THE NEW COVENANT EKKLESIA
God did not forget the New Covenant promise He made with the House of Israel - Jeremiah 31:31-34. Those who fail to understand that Christ was sent by God to be the mediator of that Better (New) Covenant, fail utterly to see the faithfulness of the covenant-keeping God who has a continuing purpose to fulfil in His elect covenant people, Israel. In spite of the unfaithful covenant nation, breaking the covenant, God ever keeps His part of the promise. Messiah Jesus came to fulfil that promise in Jer 31:31-34 (cf. Heb 8:6-13).
Before Christ’s death, He partook of the last Supper with His disciples (Mat 26:26-29). In this memorable occasion, Jesus was picturing the New Covenant relationship with God through the death of His body and the blood that was to be shed on the cross (the unleavened bread symbolizing His body, and the fruit of the grape vine symbolizing His blood, the blood of the New Covenant). The New Covenant relationship they had entered into was ratified at Christ’s death. His shed blood, the blood of the New Covenant provided remission for their sins. With His own blood, Christ purchased His church from the bondage of sin – Acts 20:28 (Heb 9:15-26 – Jesus mentioned remission - Mat 26:28).
It should be very clear, that entrance into the sphere of the New Covenant relationship with God involves entering into Christ’s scriptural EKKLESIA. And entering into Christ’s EKKLESIA requires Scriptural baptism, one that is administered by right authority (already mentioned). The recipients of scriptural baptism are “baptized INTO CHRIST” (***Gal 3:26-29; Rom 6:3,4). This is synonymous with being baptized into a scriptural New Testament assembly, the body of Christ, the EKKLESIA.

A DIVINE ENABLEMENT IS PROMISED TO THE LORD’S CHURCHES ON EARTH
(John 14:15-18,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Lk 24:36-53; Acts 1:1-9,15 à fulfilled in Acts 2:1-5 - read also v.14, 22, 29-41).
As long as God’s people willingly walk in the Spirit, they will have the Spirit’s leadership and power to abide in the covenant relationship “in Christ” and to live an overcoming life (Gal 5:16,25; Rom 8:14). Jesus promised His indwelling Holy Spirit to the Lord’s churches (not to all the saved) to guide, to teach, to empower and to unite the members of each assembly together for the continuing work of preaching the Gospel of the kingdom to the whole world, making and baptizing disciples; thereby establishing New Covenant churches with the heavenly authority given by Christ to His churches until He comes again (Mat 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

TERMS DESCRIBING THE NEW COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
à This New Covenant relationship with Christ is a positional relationship described all over in the New Covenant scriptures as “IN CHRIST,” “IN HIM,” “IN THE BELOVED,” “YOU IN ME AND I IN YOU” (Gal 3:28; 1Cor 1:2; Eph 1:1,3,4,6,7,10; Gal 1:22; 1The 2:14; Jn 15:1-5, etc.).
à The New Covenant ministry (service) given to the Lord’s true churches is a ministry of the Spirit and a ministry of righteousness – 2Cor 3:5. It is also a ministry of reconciliation (to bring back into the covenant relationship).

The New Covenant WAS PROMISED TO ISRAEL, BUT WAS NOT LIMITED TO ISRAEL ONLY
In the Old Covenant era, Gentiles and strangers outside the covenant nation Israel could come into covenant with the God of Israel only through being assimilated into the nation of Israel. Firstly, they needed to forsake their old Gentilic religious beliefs and practices; embrace Jehovah as their God; be subject to the laws of Israel’s God; then be circumcised and live with the community of God’s people. This, some did!
God promised a New Covenant with ‘Israel’ (Jer 31:31-34), but it is critical for us to understand that this New Covenant relationship, entered into through scriptural baptism is not limited to the Jews only. Through genuine faith (Gal 3:7-9), Jews and Gentiles alike who after having trusted Jesus as Messiah and received scriptural baptism from Christ’s authorized Congregation, enter into the New Covenant relationship with God (Gal 3:26-29; 6:15,16; Col 3:10,11; Rom 1:16; 3:30).

PROPHESIES OF GENTILES COMING INTO COVENANT WITH GOD
Gen 12:1-3; Deu 32:21 (Rom 11:11,12); Psa 117:1,2; Isa 11:1,10; 42:1,6,7; 49:6,22; 55:35; 56:3-8; 60:1-5; 66:15-21; Hos 1:10; 2:23; Acts 13:47; 26:23; Rom 9:23-26; 15:8-21; Eph 3:1-6; Rom 4:13-16.
Jesus said, “Other sheep have I” (Jn 10:16).
In the parable of the vineyard (Mat 21:33-46), the vine was NOT destroyed, but given over to the authority of others who proved to be faithful to the householder. Remember Mat 8:5-13; Rom 15:8-12?

GENTILES GRAFTED INTO THE NATURAL OLIVE TREE
The Biblical evidence of the first Gentiles coming into Covenant with God is the record of the baptism of the Roman centurion, Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:1-11:1-18) who as a result were grafted into the New Covenant relationship. This was a landmark event in the history of the Lord’s first Jewish New Testament church in admitting Gentiles into the covenant fellowship.
The grafting in of Gentiles into the tame olive tree described in Rom 11 pictures what happens when believing Gentiles enter into the New Covenant relationship ‘IN CHRIST’ through baptism into Christ’s EKKLESIA (which had its beginning with the remnant of Jews that trusted in Jesus as their Messiah and were organized into an EKKLESIA by Christ Himself). The wild (Gentile) branches were grafted in among the remnant of believing Israel, and together with them (members of the first Jewish church), the Gentiles were able to “partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree. This was a kingdom mystery (secret) embedded within the Gospel of the Kingdom – Rom 11:25.
For what purpose was this grafting in? Not for salvation from hell! That those Gentiles who are grafted in might no longer serve sin but by the New Covenant of grace, be able to serve the living God now in this present age and also in the kingdom age (Rom 6:1-6; Eph 2:6-10).
Through scriptural baptism from Christ’s authorized Congregation, Jews and Gentiles therefore, could all become members in the same assembly and partake of the covenant blessings God has promised originally to the Old Covenant people – Rom 3:1,2; Rom 9:4,5; Gal 3:7-9,14,28,29.
Formerly aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, now the Gentiles are incorporated into the commonwealth of Israel - Eph 2:11-22; Rom 9:22-33; 1Pet 2:9-12. The middle wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles is broken down (Eph 2:13-18) – there is no more distinction of nation, race or historical lineage “in Christ,” “neither Jews nor Gentiles …” (Gal 3:28 {5:6; 6:15,16}; Col 3:1-14).
This is the Mystery (secret) revealed in this age beginning with the teachings of Christ – Mat 13:10-17 (Mat 16:18,19; 18:18-20); and later revealed further to the Lord’s churches through Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles - Rom 11:7-10,25; 16:25,26; Eph 1:9,10; 3:1-6; Eph 5:32; Col 1:24-27.

A REDEFINITION OF TERMS
In the New Covenant relationship “IN CHRIST,” there is a redefinition as to who are the true Israel of God, the true Jew, or the true circumcision (Rom 9:1-8 cf. Gal 3:29; 4:22-31{v.28}). The faithful saints in the Lord’s New Covenant EKKLESIA are now described as:
a. The circumcised in the heart à Rom 2:17-29.
b. The circumcision which worship God in the spirit à Phil 3:3;
c. Able ministers of the new covenant à 2Cor 3:6-11;
d. The Israel of God à Gal 6:15,16.
(Notice these passages were addressed to churches in Gentile lands. Members of the Lord’s churches that are IN CHRIST, are no longer the Gentiles of old, but have become the true Israel of God - 1Cor 12:1,2; Eph 2:11; 4:17-19; 1The 4:5; 1 Pet 4:3,4). (Dispensationalists who separate Israel and the church cannot see this!)

THE IMPORTANCE OF SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY FOR BAPTISM
The Principle of Institutional Authority (Deu 12:5-14,32; 14:22-26; 16:6,11,15,16; 26:1,2; Josh 22:1-34; 1 Kin 8:12-30)
God is not pleased with those who rebel against this – Josh 22:10-34 (breeching such a command warrants severe consequences - v.19,29). Without scriptural authority, there is no scriptural baptism. Without scriptural baptism, there is no indwelling Holy Spirit – therefore, no scriptural church. An unscriptural church cannot baptise scripturally! Those rejecting Scriptural baptism are warned: (Mat 21:23-27; Lk 7:29,30).

What Makes Baptism “Unscriptural”?
1. When the subject (person) being baptized is unrepentant – Mat 3:7-9 (therefore a infant/young child cannot and should not be baptized!).
2. When the mode is other than immersion (baptizo) – Mat 3:16; Acts 8:36-39. [NOTE: Anglican (English Catholic) scholars translated the Greek New Testament into the English KJV. The Greek word “baptizo” should be literally translated into the English language as “immerse” instead of being transliterated as “baptize” as in many other Bible versions. To properly and honestly translate the word “baptizo” into “immerse” would contradict the practice of sprinkling for baptism.
3. When the authority is not from God - Acts 18:24-19:7.

The Biblical Precedence of Re-baptism
Aquila & Priscilla were Grecian Jews. They were driven out from Rome by the decree of Claudius Caesar. While at Corinth doing tent-making business, they met Paul, also a tent-maker, who probably led them to Christ - Acts 18:1-3. From here, they accompanied Paul to Ephesus (Acts 18:18,19) where they later established a church in their house - 1Cor 16:19; 2 Tim 4:19. This faithful and godly couple was well known and often commended by Paul. They later went back to Rome and started another church assembly in their own house – Rom 16:3-5.

Apollos was a Jew born in Alexandria, Egypt and well taught in the way of the Lord. He taught carefully the things of the Lord, but knew only the water baptism of John the Baptist. He did not yet know that what John had foretold in Mat 3:11, “I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance, but He [Messiah] shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and with fire,” had actually been fulfilled according to Christ’s promise to His church when the first church at Jerusalem was baptized and indwelt with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. Apollos probably left Palestine before the public ministry of Jesus Christ and therefore was ignorant of Christ’s baptism of His church in the Holy Ghost. When Apollos came to Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla who had been there since Paul’s second journey (Acts 18:19) found him preaching boldly in the synagogue, and they taught him more perfectly “the way of God” (Acts 18:25,26). It appears that Apollos had received proper water baptism from John the Baptist (no need for re-baptism), but thereafter, without proper authority, he on his own accord, made and baptized 12 disciples at Ephesus. After being properly taught the scriptures by Aquila and Priscilla, he left for the province of Achaia having received a recommendation letter from the Ephesian brethren (church in Aquila and Priscilla’s house? - 18:27; 1Cor 16:12. At a later time, Apollos became the bishop of the Corinthian church.
Paul the apostle to the Gentiles was sent out by the church at Antioch to plant churches - Acts 13:1-4; 14:26; 15:40. His first visit to Ephesus was during the final leg of his second missionary journey enroute to Jerusalem (18:18-21). In a hurry to return to Jerusalem for a feast, he reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue for a relatively short time. Paul who had earlier met Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth left them at Ephesus while he departed for Jerusalem (18:1-13). During Paul’s absence, Apollos came to Ephesus where he made and baptized 12 Jewish disciples on his own accord. Later, when Paul arrived at Ephesus during his third missionary journey, Apollos had already left Ephesus for Corinth (19:1). There, Paul found the 12 disciples that Apollos had HereHH baptized without scriptural authority. Having instructed these 12 disciples more perfectly, Paul then properly baptized them (Acts 19:3-7). Because they were earlier immersed without scriptural authority, Paul ‘reimmersed’ them by the scriptural authority invested upon him by the church at Antioch that authorized him for the work of the Gospel (the Antioch church was started by the Jerusalem church). Thus, Paul became the first “Anabaptist” in the history of the Lord’s church.
The twelve disciples at Ephesus When Paul found the 12 “disciples” at Ephesus, they were already saved. Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they had believed, but to his surprise, these 12 disciples had never heard of the Holy Ghost. It is evident here that they were ignorant about the baptism in the Holy Spirit that both John the Baptist and Jesus had testified (19:4; Mat 3:11,12; Acts 1:4-5). It is therefore reasonable to believe that likewise, Apollos knowing only John’s baptism (in water) but had never heard of Jesus’ baptism (in the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:1-4), baptized these 12 disciples on his own accord (19:2,3 cf. 18:24,25). Although Apollos had received proper baptism, he nevertheless had not received scriptural authority to baptize others. Without scriptural baptism, these 12 disciples did not receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Lord’s church is the dwelling place/temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 3:16; 2Cor 6:16). Only upon scriptural baptism by the authority of a scriptural church, does one partake of the indwelling of the New Covenant Spirit – Acts 19:5-7; 2:38,39. It is assumed that these 12 disciples eventually became members of the church at Aquila and Priscilla’s house after Paul ‘rebaptized’ them.
John the Baptist was given heavenly authority to make and baptize disciples, but he could not confer this authority to anyone else to baptize. Therefore, Apollos, on his own accord, did not have scriptural authority to baptize even though he himself had been properly baptized.
Messiah Jesus had all authority in heaven and in earth and He did rightfully confer upon His scriptural ekklesias beginning with the first church at Jerusalem with the authority to engage in the Covenant commission (John 4:1,2; Mat 28:18,19).


CRITERIA FOR A CONTINUING COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
God’s expectation from His New Covenant people (His Church) is no different from the expectation He had from His Old Covenant people (Israel). It is the same and has never changed! To disregard these terms of the covenant relationship is to breach the covenant with God; hence, a departure from the covenant relationship. God expects of His people:
1. An abiding or continuing faith – This faith is demonstrated by a life of holiness and righteousness, and of obedience and submission to the will of God. Every sin or disobedience is a breaking or breech of the Covenant. Just as Israel through unfaithfulness broke their covenant with God, members of the Lord’s New Covenant Congregations who are unfaithful also break their covenant with God and stand to lose all the covenant promises and blessings of inheritance.
Mat 24:13; Jam 5:5-11; Jn 15:1-5; Acts 13:43; 14:21,22; 1Cor 9:24-27; 10:1-12 (2Cor 13:5); 15:1,2; Col 1:21-23; 2:4-7; Phil 3:7-14; Heb 3:1-19; 10:21-39; 12:1-4,15-17; 1Pet 1:1-16; 2Pet 1:5-11; 3:1-18; 5:10-13.
2. A constant putting off of the old nature and a putting on of Christ – Eph 4:20-32; Col 3; Rom 13:14.
3. A life of purity and separation - 2Cor 6:14-18 (*v.14); 1Jn 2:15-17; Jn 8:23; 15:18,19; 17:6,14,16; Jn 18:36; (Lk 12:22-40); Rom 12:1,2; 14:17.
4. A walk in the Spirit – Gal 5:16-26; 6:7-9; Rom 8.6,7,12-14.
5. An overcoming life – Rev 21:7; 2:7,10,11,17,25-29; 3:5,12,13,21,22 (Lk 9:23-27); 1Jn 5:4,5 (some will fall – Mat 13:18-21 – seed on stony ground).

PROMISED BLESSINGS & REWARD OF A CONTINUING COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
1. RESURRECTION/AIONIOS-ZOE/REDEMPTION/GLORIFICATION – Jn 1:4; 8:12; 11:23-27; 20:31; 1Tim 4:8; 2Tim 1:1; 2:11,12; Rom 2:6,7; 8:14-25; 2Cor 4:14-18; 2The 2:13-17; Heb 9:15; 1Jn 2:25; 1Pet 4:12-14; 2Pet 1:1-11; Rev 2:10,11.
2. RULERSHIP - Mat 19:27-30; Luk 22:28-30; 2Tim 2:12; Rev 2:26,27; 20:1-6; 22:5.
3. LIBERTY - Jn 8:31,32,51 (Rom 6:18; 8:2; Gal 4:1-7; 5:1; 2Cor 3:17).
4. A HEAVENLY INHERITANCE - Heb 6:12; 10:36 (9:15); 11:11-16; 12:10.

THE KINGDOM IS PROMISED TO THE NEW COVENANT EKKLESIA
An abundant entrance into kingdom of God is the ultimate hope of the true saints of God (Luk 12:31,32; 2Pet 1:11); to be clothed in the full righteousness of God – Rom 14:17; 2Pet 3:13. This kingdom is yet future - Luk 21:25-31; 22:16-18; 28-30; 23:50,51; 2Tim 4:1,18; 2Pet 1:1-11. However, a foretaste of the kingdom age (the powers of the age to come) can now be experienced as a Covenant blessing to members of the Lord’s EKKLESIA - Luke 12:32; 22:28-30; 1The 2:12; 1Tim 4:8.
[Note: Those not abiding in the faith will fall away from this experience – Jn 15:1,2; Heb 5:10-6:12]. The unfaithful (those not reckoned as righteous) shall not inherit the Kingdom – Mat 7:21-27; 25:1-46; Lk 13:23-30; 1Cor 6:9,10 (5:11-13); Gal 5:16-21; Eph 5:1-6.

CUSTODIANSHIP OF THE WORD OF GOD
The New Covenant people, the Lord’s churches today have been solely appointed the custodian and upholder of the Word of truth, the Gospel of the Kingdom – 1Tim 3:15. By a life of abiding faith and obedience to the Word of God (Mat 24:14; 28:20), members of the Lord’s churches are kept pure (sanctified) and holy for the service of God – Jn 15:1-3; 17:14-19; Eph 5:25-27. A life sanctified by the Word and led by the Spirit of God is one that has the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

THE ORDER OF THE LORD’S CHURCH ON EARTH
Jesus taught order and discipline to His first church (Mat 18:15-22; 1Cor 5:1-13; 1Tim 1:20). He also took the Lord’s Supper with them – Mat 26:26-30; 1Cor 11.23-34. Christ also promised to the faithful covenant ones in His New Covenant assemblies that He has appointed them a Kingdom, that one day, they will eat and drink at His table in His Kingdom, and rule with Him – Mat 26:29; Lk 22:28-30.

CONCLUSION
In spite of all that God had done for His covenant people Israel, only a small number of them were faithful (Rom 9:6-8 à Gal 4:28). This remnant of Israel was grafted into the New Covenant relationship “IN CHRIST” through scriptural baptism and became the first New Testament (Covenant) church. To them were added other believers through baptism and from this first church that Jesus established with divine authority, other churches were established in the world. This is the continuing commission of church planting given to the Lord’s churches until Jesus comes again (Mat 28:18-20).
A Charge to the Lord’s People - 1Cor 16:13***

Personal Questions:

Not all churches are true assemblies of Jesus Christ, though they may preach from the Bible, have church services and activities. For this reason, it is important that an assembly is one where the Lord has put His name (authority) one established by the authority of a scriptural assembly otherwise it is not the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, not the Temple of God, and one can only partake of the indwelling Holy Spirit as one is scripturally baptized and added into a scriptural, local body of Christ .... Acts 2:38; 1Corinthians 3:16,17

“Are you in the New Covenant relationship in Jesus Christ?”
"Are you a member of an assembly that was established upon a scriptural, heavenly authoritory - not one traced back to the Roman Catholic religion or Protestantism or a group historically started by a human leader?"