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Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts

Friday, December 9, 2022

Once Saved, Always Saved?

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!


John Wesley on “Once Saved always Saved?”

“Calvinists, who deny that salvation can ever be lost, reason on the subject in a marvelous way...

They tell us, that somehow....

No virgin’s lamp can go out...(Matthew 25:8)

No promising harvest can be choked with thorns...(Matthew 13:7)

No branch in Christ can ever be cut off for unfruitfulness...(John 15:6)

No pardon can ever be forfeited...
(Matthew 18:32)

They say that no name can be blotted out of God’s book!
(Revelation 3:5; Exodus 32:33)

They insist that no salt can ever lose its savour...
(Matthew 5:13)

That nobody can ever...
“receive the grace of God in vain”... (2 Corinthians 6:1)

“bury his talents”...(Matthew 25:18)

“neglect such great salvation”... (Hebrews 2:3)

trifle away “a day of grace”... (James 5:5)

“look back” after putting his hand to the gospel plow...( and become unfit for the kingdom of God)
(Luke 9:62)

Nobody can “grieve the Spirit” till He is “quenched,”...
(Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19) and strives no more, (Romans 11:21,22)

nor “deny the Lord that BOUGHT them”...
(2 Peter 2:1)

nor “bring upon themselves swift destruction.”.. (2 Peter 2:1)

Nobody, or body of believers, can ever get so lukewarm that Jesus will spew them out of His mouth... (Revelation 3:16)

They use reams of paper to argue that if one ever got lost he was never found. (John 17:12)

that if one falls, he never stood. (Romans 11:16-22 and Hebrews 6:4-6)

if one was ever “cast forth,” he was never in, and “if one ever withered,” he was never attached to the vine and once green. (John 15:1-6)

and that “if any man draws back,” it proves that he never had anything to draw back from. (Hebrews 10:38,39)

that if one ever “falls away into spiritual darkness,” he was never enlightened. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

that if you “get entangled again in the pollutions of the world,” it shows that you had never escaped. (2 Peter 2:20)

that if you “put salvation away” you never had it to put away, (Hebrews 10:35; Psalms 51:11)

and if you make shipwreck of faith, there was no ship of faith there!! (1 Timothy 1:19)|

In short they say: If you get it, you can’t lose it; and if you lose it you never had it.

May God SAVE US...
from accepting a doctrine, that must be defended by such fallacious reasoning!”
~ John Wesley


William James Roop, M.A.B.S.

Roop-Crappell Ministries

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Monday, November 25, 2019

Grace Principle

Grace Principle
        This is where God suspends, or lays aside, His own Laws in order to show His Grace on a person or a nation.  The Apostle John wrote in John 1:16-17, “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”  Also, the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
            Noah:  Noah and his family lived in a wicked time.  “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  Genesis 6:5.  God set aside judgment for Noah, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”  Genesis 6:8.
            Abraham:  Abram was just an older man with no children in an average community.  God showed grace to him with a promise of greatness and vast lands.  God did not have to choose Abram, but he decided to show grace to him.  Genesis 12.
            Joseph:  Joseph was an arrogant and sinful young man, but God showed him grace from the life of slavery in which he had found himself.  Genesis 37.
            Moses:  Moses was a murderer and a sinful man, but God showed mercy and grace, to him, in the desert.
            Judges:  Throughout the book of Judges the people of Israel would fall into sin and God would extend grace to save them from themselves.
            Rahab:  Rahab was a prostitute and not worthy to receive God's grace until she helped the spy's of Israel and God extended His grace to her.

            David:  King David was caught up in sexual sin and then murder.  The penalty for those sins is death.  God, instead, after David's repentance, extended His grace to him.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.


Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Covenant Principle

Covenant Principle

             This is an oral or written agreement between mankind and God.  Some are conditional, in which they depend upon man’s fulfillment of it.  Some are Unconditional, in which it only depends on God’s fulfillment on it.  Four have signs from God, but three do not.  There are seven total covenants.
             In today’s terms a covenant is a contract.  A legal agreement between God and man.  They have been drawn up by God, in His Grace, with different people, at different periods, and for different purposes.  It is important for the Bible student to learn of these contracts, their provisions, parties involved, and their purpose.
             Eden’s Covenant: This covenant is found in Genesis 1:28-30 and 2:15-17.  This covenant orders life in the Garden of Eden and Adam’s relationship with God.  This covenant is conditional; it depends on Adam being obedient.  This covenant was current from the creation of Adam to the expulsion from Eden.  It is no longer in force today.
             “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:  and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
             And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
             And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
             And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
             And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
             But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
             Here are the contents and requirements of Eden’s covenant:
1.  Produce a lot of children (Genesis 1:28). God’s first command to Mankind was to have a lot of children.  A command we today routinely ignore.  To “multiply” means to have a great number.  God did not say to not have children or even to add.  God commanded us to multiply!  Instead today we take a little man-made pill to close the womb that God have opened for us.  This is rebellion against God’s Word and His Will!  Today we would rather spend our money on luxury items, and vacations, on ourselves than to spend it on a large family as God commanded us.
             2.  Subdue the earth (Genesis 1:28).  God commanded us to subdue the earth and all of its life forms for the benefit of mankind.  Man was created spiritually superior to all other life on the earth and therefore it is ours to subdue.
             3.  Have dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28).  We were created in God’s own image (Genesis 1:27), not any of the animals or even the earth itself.  Therefore, it is for us to have dominion over the earth and its creatures.
             4. They are to be vegetarians (Genesis 1:29).  God gave mankind all of the fruit from the trees and plants of the earth to eat.  God did not give animals to eat at this time, but He will add animals to our diet in Noah’s covenant.  This also went for the animals as well (Genesis 1:30).  Animals could only eat fruit and plants, not other animals or man.
             5.  Adam must dress the garden (Genesis 2:15).  Adam was commanded to dress the garden and to make it looking nice and to keep it functional.  Even thou it was the Garden of Eden, I’m sure the trees still needed to be trimmed and so forth.  Men were designed to work and Adam was no exception.
        6.  Adam must keep the garden (Genesis 2: 15).  It seems that Adam was also to keep the garden safe and in his possession.  To keep it physically or spiritually, or from whom, we really do not know.
             7.  Adam must not eat of the tree of good and evil (Genesis 2: 17).  The first six contents of the covenant were for Adam to do.  The last thing God mentioned was one thing he could not do.  I am very sure this last item got Adams attention more than the others.  Especially since God in His good humor, put this “forbidden tree” smack in the middle of the garden!  I’m very certain the fruit of this tree probably looked very delicious!  The first six things Adam did very well, but unfortunately, he also eventually did the last one too.  God had said if he did eat of the tree of good and evil, he would certainly die.  This was true.  Adam died physically and also spiritually.  The Apostle Paul would later write, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  Adam rejected this gift and chose death instead!
             Eden’s covenant began with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden enjoying eternal life with God.  The covenant ended with sin introduced into the world which brought physical and spiritual death.   
             Adam’s Covenant: This covenant is found in Genesis 3: 14-19.  This is an unconditional covenant, which means the God will fulfill all of the requirements.  It consists of many curses for disobedience but one great promise of redemption.  This covenant is current from the expulsion from Eden until the end of the current world.  So, it is still in force today.
             “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
             And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
        Unto the woman he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat from it:  cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
             In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken:  for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
             Adam ‘s covenant consists of fourteen curses and a great promise for the future.
             1.  The serpent is cursed above all creatures (Genesis 3:14).  This is still true even today.  Most human beings are afraid of snakes, or any reptile for that matter, instinctively.  The only exceptions are people who are raised with snakes at childhood, like the snake people of India.  Even harmless grass snakes that only eat insects and don’t even have teeth put ear into the average person.
             2.  The serpent must crawl on its belly (Genesis 3:14).  From the textual context here, it is implied that serpents had legs.  Snakes probably had four legs like other reptiles.
             3.  The serpent shall eat dust (Genesis 3:14).  Snakes today spend there entire lives crawling around in the dirt.  They are bound to eat a lot of dust if only by accident.
             4.  The serpent and women shall be enemies (Genesis 3:15).  Almost all women around the world are afraid of snakes and most or all reptiles.  This is pretty much a universal trait for women.  This is an instinct that God has placed on the hearts of women.
             5.  The serpents and woman’s descendants will be enemies (Genesis 3:15).  Eve was never afraid of serpents before, that is why she so freely spoke to one.  All of her descendants are now naturally afraid of serpents.  This fear goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden.
6.  The serpent shall be crushed by the woman’s seed (Genesis 3:15).  This is prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ.  Satan has always been characterized as a serpent.  Jesus Christ freed mankind from the bondage of sin at Calvary and defeated Satan forever.  Satan has been crushed!
7.  The serpent shall fight and lose the woman’s seed (Genesis 3:15).  Jesus Christ was of the seed of a woman, which was Mary.  The woman’s seed fought and overcame the serpent, which is Satan.
             8.  The woman will have painful childbearing (Genesis 3:16).  When Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, they began producing children.  As any woman will tell you, it is a very painful experience birthing a child.
             9.  The woman’s desire will be for her husband (Genesis 3:16).  While Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, they lived together in harmony with God.  They were not married to each other and they had a platonic relationship.  Adam and Eve both lived for God together and equality.  After the expulsion from Eden, Eve had to depend not on God, but now she depended on Adam for most of her needs.  Women’s desire now was for their husbands instead on God.
             10.  The woman loses her independence (Genesis 3:16).  While Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, they were both equal to one another.  After the expulsion Eve depended on Adam for food and shelter and protection.  Life was easy in Eden.  From now on life for both of them is much more difficult.  Women from now on are much more dependent on their men.
             11.  The ground is cursed (Genesis 3: 17).  In the Garden of Eden, the land was rich and fertile all of the time.  Weeds and thistles never grew; only good thing to eat grew in abundance.  Life was easy.  All Adam and Eve had to do was to pick and eat and be full.  After the expulsion from Eden life was much more difficult.  Weed grew instead of vegetables.  Thistles grew in abundance instead of fruit.
       12.  Adam must eat from the field (Genesis 3:19).  If man wanted to eat from now on Adam will have to plant the crops and eat whatever he could grow.  Sometimes the crops would grow and sometimes they would not grow.
            13.  Adam must work (Genesis 3:19).  As any farmer will tell you crops do not grow by themselves!  They have to be planted by hand, weeded, fertilized; birds and small animals need to be run off.  Then the crops need to be harvested.  They do not pick themselves and just jump into the bucket.  Adam had to do all of this himself and work for his living.
             14.  Adam will die and return to the cursed ground (Genesis 3:19). Adam and Eve had eternal life.  They did not grow old and did not die.  That is now over!  Now we live a short life and die.  Our dead bodies are then buried in the ground.  The bodies then rote and break apart and return back unto the earth.
             Noah’s Covenant:  This covenant is located in Genesis 8:20- 9:17. This covenant is unconditional to man.  This covenant does have a sign that we all know and love.  The rainbow we see after a good rain.  It is current from the Flood unto the end of the current world.  So, it is still in force today.
             “And Noah builded an alter unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the alter.
             And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.
             While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
             And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
             Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have, I given you all things.
             But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
             And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of every man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.
             Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed:  for the image of God made He man.
             And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
             And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
             And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
             And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every living beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
             And God said, this is the token of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
             I do set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth.
             And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
             And I will remember my covenant, which is between Me and you, and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
        And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I shall look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
             And God said unto Noah, this is the token of the covenant, which I have established between Me and all flesh that is upon all the earth.”
             Here are the contents and requirements of Noah’s covenant.
            1.  God vowed never to curse the ground (Genesis 8:20-21).  The first thing that Noah did when he left the ark was to set up an alter to the Lord and make a sacrifice.  Noah was thankful and had a good heart towards God.  So, God vowed never to curse the ground (flooding) again.
             2.  God vowed never to kill all living creatures again (Genesis 8: 21).  Just because man’s heart is evil from his youth, why should all other creatures die?  From now on man will be judged for his own sins.
             3.  God commanded Noah and his sons to have a lot of children (Genesis 9:1).  God blessed Noah and his family and commanded them to multiply.  God did not say to add to themselves, but to multiply!  This is the same command God gave Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28. This command has never been changed or countermanded.  It is for us even today!
             4.  The fear of man was put into all animals (Genesis 9:2).  As any biologist will confess, all animals have an instinctive fear of mankind.  Why is this?  The Flood.
             5. All animals are delivered into our hands (Genesis 9:2).  Mankind has the mental capacity to kill or capture all and any animal on this planet.
             6.  All animals as well plants are food (Genesis 9:3).  God told Adam that they can eat all plant life for food.  Now God is adding all animal life (except with the blood) to our diet.  For the Israelite God will add some restrictions to this, but that will only apply to the Jews during the Law of Moses.  But for non-Jews there have never been any restrictions since this time.
        7.  No one may eat blood (Genesis 9:4).  We are forbidden to eat blood.  Blood is to be shed for a sacrifice and not to be eaten (Acts 15).  Christ would shed His Blood for the redemption of our sins.  Blood is an important symbol and is not to be cheapened.
             8.  We may not murder our fellow man (Genesis 9:5-6).  If we murder man we will be murdered by man.  In other words, we will reap what we will sow.  This also established the principle of Capital Punishment; God will no longer deal with murders but no man will police himself.
             9.  God will never flood the earth again Genesis 9:11-17).  The rainbow is the sign of the covenant.  Every time it rains and the rainbow comes out, God looks upon it and remembers His covenant with all living things to never flood the earth again.
             Abraham’s Covenant:  This covenant is located in Genesis 12:1-3.  But God clarifies this covenant three more times in 13:14-17; 15:1-18; 17:1-8.  This is a conditional covenant for Abram, He had to be obedient and leave to this new land. The animal sacrifice in Genesis 15:8-15 and walking between them was the ancient way to seal an everlasting agreement.  Today we get a lawyer and sign paper contracts.  Back then it was much more personal.  Abraham fell asleep (Genesis 15:12) and it was only God who walked between the animal sacrifice. This is because God vowed to protect and take care of Abrams future descendants, but He did not want to confuse Abram of future events.
             This covenant does have a sign that was added later to the covenant.  The sign is circumcision of all males on the eighth day. This sets them apart as a marked people.  It was a mark of separation, purity, and possession.  This sign is located in Genesis 17:9-14.
             This covenant concludes when this world is over and until the new heavens and new earth is made.  Here is Abram’s Covenant as written in Genesis 12:1-3. So, it is still in force today.
             “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
        And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
             And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:  and in the shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
             1.  Leave your country (Genesis 12:1).  God told Abram to leave his nation and people.  He needed to give up the protection that a country can supply its people.  From now on if Abram gets into trouble he will not have an entire nation to protect him.   God asked Abram to leave all this and just rely on Him alone.
             2.  Leave your extended family (Genesis 12:1).  Unlike American families, these families stayed together in one area.  A family would grow, ten to twenty children per woman, and would stay in the same village, town, or area.  Sometimes they would eventually form a tribe or even a nation.  This family network would provide jobs and work for everyone.  God asked Abram to abandon this network and to rely on Him alone.
             3.  Leave your father’s house (Genesis 12:1).  The father here meaning, family patriarch.  It is the family patriarch that provided direct protection and financial assistance to the immediate family.  He was called father because almost always the family patriarch was the oldest male in the immediate family.  God is in effect telling Abram that He will be his direct protector.
             4.  I will give you land (Genesis 12:1; 13:14-17; 17:8).  No promise could be more meaningful then that of land and children in that day.  This was a big promise to Abram.  Even though the land was empty in that day it is very doubtful that Abram owned anything.  Land was seldom owned, but controlled by the family patriarch or tribal leader.  If they were nomadic then no one owned anything.  This promise was a big reward for the faith Abram would need to fulfill the first three requites by the Lord.
        5.  I will give you a lot of descendants (Genesis 12:2; 13:16; 15:5; 17:2, 4-8).  As before, no promise could be more meaningful then that of land and children in that day.  In that day children meant security in old age.  It could even mean your very survival.  It also was a sign from God that you are blessed and you are walking rightly before Him.  This last belief is of course incorrect, but nevertheless, that was the wide spread belief.
             6.  I will bless you (Genesis 12:2).  God promised Abram that He would bless him.  To have God bless the works of your hands is a very comforting promise.  It means guaranteed prosperity.  Today Abraham's name is only next to the name of Jesus Christ, and occurs some three-hundred times in Scripture.
             7.  I will make you a great man (Genesis 12:2).  God said no matter what happens or were I lead you, you will be greatly respected by the people around you.  Men need and crave respect.  It is an important part of being a man.  God promises Abram respect and honor in life.
             8.  You will be a blessing (Genesis 12:2).  In Abram’s mind this meant that God will make him a family patriarch.  And indeed, he most certainly was a great patriarch.  The family patriarch was the one who controlled all of the money and land and he did all of the blessing that was bestowed on others.
             9.  Abrams friends will be blessed and his enemies will be cursed (Genesis 12:3).  Other nations are mentioned throughout Scripture only when they come in contact with the Israelites.  England and America have traditionally welcomed and protected the Jews and have been blessed accordingly.  Europe has traditionally cursed the Jews and has been plagued with wars and disease.
       10.  All families of the earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:3).  This is in reference to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, the redeemer of all mankind.  In Christ all of the inhabitants of the earth have been blessed.  Jesus Christ is a descendant of Abram both through the mother, Mary (Luke 3: 23-38), and Joseph (Matthew 1:1-17).  The blessing is access to God through faith and eternal salvation by the name of all names, Jesus Christ.
            Moses’ Covenant (Law of Moses):  As Abraham was the father of a people, Mosses’ was the founder of the nation.  Mosses’ Covenant was given to the Israelite through Mosses.  When Mosses discovered that he was a Hebrew, he decided to worship the God of the Hebrews.  This meant giving up his life of privilege, and honor, and wealth to live like a slave with his people.  Moses’ Covenant is also called the “Law of Moses.”
             This covenant is located in Exodus 20:17-23:19; 25:1-40; 38; Leviticus 11-15; 17-20.  This covenant is very large in comparison to all of the former covenants therefore I will outline it differently.
             Moses’ covenant is a conditional covenant for man.  There is a promise of blessing if the Law is obeyed (Exodus 19:5-6; Leviticus 26:3; Deuteronomy 28:1-4, 29:9).  But there is a promise of judgment if Israel did not obey (Leviticus 26:14-26; Deuteronomy 11:10-17, 28:15-68).
             This Covenant has a sign, the Sabbath Day. This sign was given to the nation of Israel before the Advent of Christ, not to Gentiles or Christians (Romans 2:12-14; Exodus 20:12,20; 31:12-18; Deuteronomy 5:12-15).  The Sabbath was part of the Law of Moses which was done away with in Christ.  Christ did not change the Sabbath but it just passed away with the Law of Moses.  Moses’ Covenant concluded with the coming of Christ (Galatians 3:19).  The Sabbath to the Jews was a day of rest.  Today we rest in a Person, Jesus Christ, not a day.
            1.  Moral Laws.  These are the Ten Commandments.  They are located in Exodus 20:1-17 and is repeated in Deuteronomy 5:1-22.  Without obeying these ten laws all of the others are powerless!  Nine of these ten laws are eternal laws and are still in effect today.  Only the law to keep the Sabbath has been discontinued at Calvary.
       1.  Civil Laws:  These were laws to govern the social life of Israel.  These laws are found in Exodus 21-23; Leviticus 11-15, 17-20.  These include laws governing slaves, Exodus 21:1-11. Buying and letting go free, slave children, and volunteering for slavery.
       Laws about violent acts, Exodus 21:12-27.  Murder, striking your parents, stealing slaves, cursing your parents, fighting, striking slaves, striking pregnant women, and bodily damage.
            The responsibilities of owners of oxen, Exodus 21:28-36.  If your ox kills another, damage done to an ox or by an ox.   Laws about the repayment of stolen animals, Exodus 22:1-15.  Repayment and restitution, damages.
              Assorted moral and religious laws, Exodus 22:16- 23:9.  Sex crimes, witches, bestiality, idolatry, treatment of strangers, widows, lending money.
              Sabbatical day and year, Exodus 23:10-14.  Letting the poor eat, no working.
              The three great festivals, Exodus 23:14-19.  The feasts of unleavened bread, harvest, and in gathering.
             Animals that may be eaten, Leviticus 11.  Which animals were clean or unclean for eating.
              The Purification of woman after childbirth, Leviticus 12.  Ceremonies for women after childbirth.
             Laws concerning skin diseases, Leviticus 13:1-46.  Different ways to spot leprosy.
              Laws concerning mildew, Leviticus 13:47-59.  Cleaning and burning items with mildew.
            Purification after having skin diseases, Leviticus 14:1-32.  Sacrifice and ceremony.
             Mildew in houses, Leviticus 14:33-57.  Cleaning and repairing houses with mildew.
        Unclean bodily discharges, Leviticus 15.  Washing everything that is touched by mochas, blood or puss.
             The sacredness of blood, Leviticus 17.  Laws concerning blood of people and animals.
             Forbidden sexual practices, Leviticus 18.  Public nudity, adultery, sacrificing children, and homosexuality.
             Laws of holiness and justice, Leviticus 19.  Holiness, idolatry, offerings, gleanings for the poor, stealing, sex, swearing, treatment of workers, deaf and blind, respect of persons, gossiping, hating, revenge, unclean breeding, sex with slaves, fruit trees, eating blood, witchcraft, cutting hair, tattoos, prostitution, wizards, and treatment of strangers.
              Penalties for disobedience, Leviticus 20.  Sixteen laws that required the death penalty.
            2. Ceremonial Laws:  These are laws to govern the religious life of Israel.  These laws are found in Exodus 25:1-40; 38.
              The Ark, Exodus 25: 10-22.  Measurements and materials in its construction.
             The table for a bread offering, Exodus 25: 23-30.  Measurements and materials in its construction.
             The Lamp Stand, Exodus 25: 31-40.  Measurements and materials in its construction.
             The Tabernacle, Exodus 26   Measurements and materials in its construction.
             The Alter, Exodus 27: 1-8.  Measurements and materials in its construction.
             The Court of the Tabernacle, Exodus 27: 9-19.  Measurements and materials in it’s construction.
             Taking care of the Lamp, Exodus 27: 20-21.  Oil and operation.
             The Garments for the Priests, Exodus 28: 1-14.  Who wore these garments and why?  Which materials were used to make them?
       The Breastplate, Exodus 28: 15-30.  Measurements and materials in its construction.
            The other priestly garments, Exodus 28: 31-43.  Measurements and materials and engravings and who wore them.
              Instructions for ordaining Aaron and his sons as priests, Exodus 29: 1-37, and wave offering and ceremony with anointing.
              Daily offerings, Exodus 29: 38-46.  Lamb offerings in the morning and evening.
Altar for burning incense, Exodus 30: 1-10.  Measurements and materials in it’ construction.  When to burn incense.
              Tax for the Tabernacle, Exodus 30: 11-16.  Half a shekel from every person.
             Bronze Basin, Exodus 30: 17-21.  Where to put it.
              Anointing Oil, Exodus 30: 22-33.  Recipe for the oil and how to use it.
             Incense, Exodus 30: 34-38.  Recipe to make it.
             Sabbath Day, Exodus 31:12-18. Penalty for defiling, a sign.
             Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16:1-19; 23:26-32.  Sin and burnt offering, sacrifices, scapegoat, and the ceremony.
             The Scapegoat, Leviticus 16:20-28.  Putting sins upon it and setting the goat free, then themselves washing.
             Observing the Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16:29-34.  When and why.
 The holiness of the priests, Leviticus 21.  They and their families must live a holy lifestyle, and the penalty for disobedience.
              The holiness of the offerings, Leviticus 22.  Keeping it ceremonial clean and inspection of sacrificial animals.
             The religious festivals, Leviticus 23:1-4.  Proclaims the Sabbath then introduces the rest.
             Passover and unleavened bread, Leviticus 23:5-14.  The fourteenth day of the first month, seven days celebration. Education.  Wave, lamb and meat offerings.   No working.
             Harvest festival, Leviticus 23:15-22.  Time of the year.  Meat, wave, burnt, and drink offerings.  Sacrifices.  Gleanings for the poor.  No working.
              New year festival, Leviticus 23:23-25.  Time of the year, no working.
              Festival of Tabernacles, Leviticus 23:33-44.  Time of the year, seven days.  Gifts and vows.  Living in booths.
              Taking care of the Lamps, Leviticus 24:1-4.  Oil and location.
              The bread offered to God, Leviticus 24:5-9.  Cake ceremony with the priests eating them.
             An example of just and fair punishment, Leviticus 24:10-23.  God uses a situation to set an example for all Israel.
             The seventh year Sabbath, Leviticus 25:1-7; 18-22.  No farming to let the land rest for a year.
              The year of Jubilee, this has also been called the year of Restoration, Leviticus 25:8-17; 23-34.  No farming for a year.  Returning land and possessions to their original owners.  Freeing Jewish slaves.
              Loans for the poor, Leviticus 25:35-38.  No usury was to be charged.
             Release of slaves, Leviticus 25:39-55.  Take no Jewish slaves, but pay them to work until the year of Jubilee.  Keeping foreign slaves.  A rich foreigner that sells a poor Jew into slavery can be redeemed by a relative.
        Blessings of obedience, Leviticus 26:1-13.  Rain in season, land will increase, plenty of food, safety and peace, victory in battle, many children.
             Punishment of disobedience, Leviticus 26:14-46.  Disease, heartbreak, famine and drought, defeat in battle and occupation, wild beasts will kill children and animals, scattered among the heathen.
              Laws concerning gifts to the Lord, Leviticus 27.  Making vows of money unto the Lord.  The priests shall estimate persons or property.
             David’s Covenant:  This covenant is located in 2 Samuel 7:8-19.  David’s Covenant was made with David, thru the prophet Nathan, five-hundred years after the era of Moses.  This covenant was made by God and is unconditional and eternal (2 Samuel 7:14).  This Covenant has a sign in Luke 2:11-12, “For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a savior, which….”  The covenant is in two parts.  The first part is what God has already has done for David.  The second part is what God will do for David.  Here is the covenant.
             “I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
            And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
             Moreover, I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
             And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies.  Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
             And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
       He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son.  If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
            But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
             And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.”   
What God has already done:
            1.  I took you from the sheepcote (2 Samuel 7:8).  A sheepcote is a very small, temporary shelter for sheep.  God reminds David of his very humble origin in which God has called David from.  Shepherd’s like David had to sleep at night with his sheep in such a shelter.   Just in case it is all starting to go to David’s head!
             2.  I made you ruler over Israel (2 Samuel 7:8).  Just a little reminder that it was really God that has installed David to the throne of Israel. God was working behind the scenes to make it all happen.
            3.  I was with you (2 Samuel 7:9).  God has placed his Spirit upon David (Psalm 51:11). God was with David the entire time of his journey to the throne of Israel.  Just like today, without the Spirit of God in our lives we can do nothing.
             4.  I defeated your enemies (2 Samuel 7:9).  It was really God the whole time that directed the fighting.  David had been outnumbered the whole time.
             5.  I made you a great man (2 Samuel 7:9).  Clearly, without the Holy Spirit David would not have achieved so much.  And this had given David a great name among the people.
        6.  I will appoint a place for Israel (2 Samuel 7:10).  The people will remain in the Promised Land by the hand of God.  They are there today.
 What God will do:
             7.  The wicked will not afflict Israel (2 Samuel 7:10).  As long as they stay obedient, God will not let other peoples hurt or dominate the people of Israel.  Israel stayed the dominate power in that are for the next eighty years.
             8.  I will make your descendants rulers of Israel (2 Samuel 7:11-12).   David’s descendants will continue to rule over Israel, as long as they remain obedient.  Jesus Christ is a direct descendant of David.
             9.  Your son will build God’s Temple (2 Samuel 7:13).  King Solomon did in fact build the Temple.  David collected the material’s ad Solomon had it built.
            10.  Your throne will be eternal (2 Samuel 7:13,16).  Jesus Christ is the descendant of David through his father and mother.  Jesus Christ is eternal, so the throne of David is eternal.
            11.  God will have a close relationship with David’s descendants (2 Samuel 7:14).  This is historically correct.  God did work with the following king’s after David.
             12.  Their sin will be punished by man (2 Samuel 7:14).  God uses man to do His will.  This is the case with most things.
             13. God’s Mercy will never be taken away from David’s descendants (2 Samuel 7:15).  We still have it today though the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ!
             The New Covenant:  This Covenant is located in Jeremiah 31:31-34.  It is later fulfilled in Acts 2, and explained in Hebrews 7-9.  It has no conditions and is eternal.  The covenant began in Acts 2 and is here today.  Here is the New Covenant.
       “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new 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 LORD:
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
             And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
             This is the great promise from God to Israel of a coming New Covenant that will be much greater than Moses’ Covenant that the Israelis just could not keep.  Even though this covenant was promised to the Jews, God had promised from the very beginning that He was going to graft into Israel, the Gentile nations (Exodus 4:22; Hosea 11: 1).  Later, when the New Covenant was created, they were grafted into this new Kingdom (Romans 9:4; 2 Corinthians 6:18; James 1:18).
            This prophecy was made to Israel by the mouth of Jeremiah only a few short years before the Jews are taken away into captivity in about 606bc. The people know was is coming, but they will not repent to the LORD of their sins if disobedience.  Jeremiah gave some of the Jews hope of a coming day of salvation in the midst of their dire situation.  Here is the promise that was spoken by Jeremiah.
             1. A future covenant (Jeremiah 31:31).  This covenant will not be now, but in the future.  “…the days come…”  Jeremiah is very clear that this is a prophecy of the future.  It was prepared by Christ and began upon His death on the cross, and was fulfilled in Acts 2.
        2.  This covenant is with the Jews (Jeremiah 31:31).  It is clear that this covenant is with the house of Israel and Judah.  But remember Christians have been grafted into these houses.
            3.  A new covenant (Jeremiah 31:32).  This is not Moses’ Covenant or a continuation of the same. This will be a completely new covenant.
            4.  Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:33).  God said that He would put this new law into our hearts and our inward parts.  Later in Acts 2 we see the fulfillment of this with the coming of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians.
             5.  They shall know me (Jeremiah 31:34).  Everyone today knows who the LORD is and is all about.  In Jeremiah’s time this was not the case.  Only Jews, or someone who knew a Jew had an understanding of their God.  Today everyone knows the LORD.  But we Christians know Him in a deeper way upon receiving the Holy Spirit.  We read the Word to learn of Him, but to know God is to be filled with His Spirit.

             The covenant of Moses, or the Law of Moses, is now obsolete now that Christ has come (Hebrews 8:13).  It has been made obsolete because Christ has made a better covenant with us (Hebrews 7:19; 8:6-7).  Moses’ Covenant originated on earth in Mt. Sinai (Galatians 4:24-25), but the New Covenant originated in heaven from New Jerusalem above (Galatians 4:26-27).  Moses’ Covenant was totally impossible to obey (Romans 8:3) and brought nothing but death and condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:7-9).  But the New Covenant brings life (Ephesians 2:1-13) and was fulfilled perfectly by Christ (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25).  Moses’ Covenant they were required to bring annul atonement for their sins (Hebrews 9:7-8; 10:1-4) and this restricted their access to God (Hebrews 9:7-8).  But the New Covenant removed sin once and for all in our lives (Hebrews 9:12; 10:2,22) and opened up our access to God (Hebrews 9:15-16).

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.