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  It is no longer in force today.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.

Roop-Crappell Ministries

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Apostolic Theological Seminary

Context Principle

Context Principle

             The Context Principle is where the Bible student keeps Scripture in the same context in which it was intended by the author, and to keep it’s same meaning intact.

             The most common source of false doctrine and Christian cultist beliefs is the misinterpretation of Scripture, knowingly or through ignorance, by taking it out of its intended context.  Knowing the context is the key to knowing the mind of God through His Word.   Every verse must be studied in the context that God has given it.  We should never take a verse out of its setting and give it a different meaning.  By taking Scripture out of its context we only deceive ourselves.

             Nobody makes isolated statements.  Everything we say and think is in a certain context   Without context nothing would make since!  The Word of God is no exception.  God had His Word written in His context.  By not knowing the context of Scripture we will most certainly misinterpret God’s Word.  Here are five easy rules for finding the context.

             1. Observe carefully the immediate context; that which precedes and follows the passage.  This usually tells you the most about your target passage.  This is called the “near” or “immediate” context.  If the key to the context is several chapters before your target passage, this is called the “remote” context.

             2. Observe carefully any parallel thoughts in the same book to the materials in the passage being interpreted.  Be aware of the purposes and development of thought in the book.  I call this the “contextual flow.”  The contextual flow is especially important in the Gospels and the New Testament. It seems these texts were well thought out before the writing and written in one setting.  We should also read these books in one setting.

             3. Observe carefully any parallel thought in another book by the same author or in other books by different authors.  Take into account the purpose and development of thought in these books.

             4. Have a good understanding of metaphors, shadows and types, and other figures of speech.  The Bible is full of these figures of speech!  We must recognize them and understand what they are telling us.  If we fail at this then all kinds of silly doctrines could be imagined!

            5.  Bear in mind that the smaller the quantity of material to be interpreted, the greater the danger of ignoring the context.  No axiom is better known and more frequently disobeyed than the oft quoted: “A text without a context is only a pretext.”  Somehow, to discern this kind of error in someone else is easy but to recognize this same fault in ourselves is most difficult.[1]

             Here are some of the most misinterpreted verses of the Bible.  Let us go through them and find the correct interpretation, using the correct context.

             Baptism for the dead- 1 Corinthians 15:  The Mormon Church (LDS) believes that a living church member, in good standing, can go to their Temple and baptize themselves in the place for people long dead, and baptize and provide salvation in their stead.  They use 1 Corinthians 15:29 as their justification for their strange doctrine. “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?”  They have taken this one verse and built an entire doctrine from it.

             If we read the entire book at once, we can fully understand the context and the contextual flow of the book. The “dead” in chapter fifteen is a reference to Christ. This is reveled in verse twelve of the same chapter. “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” Now knowing this, to better understand verse twenty-nine substitute “Christ” for “dead.” Chapter fifteen starts with the explanation of the resurrection of Christ, and then uses that example to explain our own resurrection. This is a beautiful chapter of the Word of God, and it is the full mention of our own resurrection.  It is a shame that it has been sullied by misinterpretation!

             Paul’s choice of the word “they” in verse twenty-nine is not a reference to a group of people or Christians as the Mormons claim, but just an indirect reference to the fact that Paul baptized very few persons himself.  This fact Paul states himself in chapter one verse fourteen through seventeen. In twenty-five years of ministry Paul baptized only two persons and one household himself. Paul did not feel called to baptize but to preach the Gospel.  The Apostle Paul always allowed the local church leaders do all of the baptizing.

        Faith- Psalm 23:  Most people consider this beautiful Psalm to be about a thanksgiving on God’s blessing.  It really is not about thanksgiving, but it is about faith.  In order to see this, we must read Psalm twenty-two; this is the psalm that sets up psalm twenty-three.  “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  Also, “O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not.”  Psalm twenty-two is a cry for help when God seems distant.  It is a cry for help when you cannot find God or His Presence.

             Now read psalm twenty-three.  David’ reaction to the absence of God ‘Presence is an explosion of faith!  “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  And again, “He restoreth my soul.”  We should always read these two psalms together because twenty-two sets up the meaning and beauty of twenty-three!

             Valley of the dry bones- Ezekiel 37:  This is not the Church as some will say.  The eleventh verse clearly states that this is a vision of “the whole house of Israel.”  Chapter thirty-six speaks on God blessing Israel once more.  Starting at verse sixteen of chapter thirty-six speaks of Israel’s new life.  Then we now have the vision of the dry bones.

             Starting at verse fifteen the prophecy begins to speak of the future unity of Judah and Israel. The vision of the dry bones is a vision of this future unity and restoration in the Promised Land.  Looking at the proceeding chapter and then the whole of chapter thirty-seven we can see the flow of the context that God has given it.  It clearly does not speak of the Church. 

             Let’s look at the context of the times.  The prophet Ezekiel was in exile in Babylon like the rest of the people of Israel.  The people were wondering and even fearful that they would never see the Promised Land again.  They needed and wanted hope.  God sent this series of prophecies through Ezekiel in order to tell the people that the House of Israel would be restored in due time.  And it was restored exactly as the LORD had said!

             Robbing God- Malachi 3:7-11: “Will a man rob God?”  This is the most widely used verse today and is used in conjunction with tithing or church giving. It is many a preacher’s sugar stick.  But, sadly, it is used out of its context on purpose.

        Let’s put the book in its proper context.  The priests had got accustomed to spending large amounts of money on themselves instead of the Kingdom of God as the Temple tithing system was designed to do. The priest’s in the countryside were withholding the full amount of the tithes from the temple. When the money reached the temple, it was skimmed off by the temple priests.  Due to this corruption the Kingdom of God and the temple services were being neglected.

             In the first chapter of the book of Malachi God tells the Jewish people how much He loves them and that they are still His people.  Then (1:6) God rebukes the priests for being corrupt.  Starting at the tenth verse of chapter two God then rebukes the people for abandoning the Law of Moses.  In (2:17) God warns of the coming judgment for their sins.  In (3:6) God then commands the priests and Levites to stop robbing God by stealing the tithes.  In (3:13) God then promises mercy if the Israelite would obey from then on.  Chapter four is about the coming of the Messiah, which indeed happened about four-hundred years later with the birth of Jesus Christ.

             The book of Malachi is all about the priests of that day and the sins in which they were involved.  The priests were irreverent and neglectful.  The priests were offering worthless animals (1:8) in sacrifice to God that they would not offer to the governor.  They refused to work except for money (1:10).  Mixed marriages became common (2:11), some would even divorce their Jewish wives to make this possible (2:14).

             Fool's- Matthew 5:22:  Jesus says that one who calls a brother a fool is in danger of hell-fire, yet He calls the Pharisees fools in 23:17-19.  Some have said that Jesus is contradicting Himself, let’s look at it.

             In the first instance that Matthew brings this up is when Jesus is in Galilee on a mountain.  The great crowds followed Him, but the disciples followed Jesus to the top of the mountain.  Those that were willing to climb the mountain were the ones who received the insightful teaching.  There Jesus gave the famous Beatitudes sermon.  Part of this sermon was about anger, and what it can lead into.  Talking about anger is the context for calling someone a “fool” in this instant.

             The Greek word here is “Moros,” which has a meaning of “moral stupidity.”  God has given everyone a basic understanding of right and wrong and we have all been given a moral compass to follow.  Plus, we all have Scripture available to us and God’s Spirit is always available to those open to Him.

 For a man to call another man “morally stupid,” is evil and not true.  Jesus did not have to tell His disciple this for they already understood that all know right and wrong from birth.

             Matthew relates in the second instance that Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees in the temple, Jesus was there teaching and then tells the Scribes and Pharisees that they are a bunch of “blind fools” and that they are stealing and robbing God and the people in general.

             Matthew is trying to tell them that being a spiritual leader, leading people astray spiritually, and stealing the churches money for your own benefit will put you in danger of hell-fire.  God is not contradicting Himself, but instead is trying to teach us a valuable lesson.  If you want to be a priest or a preacher, you have to be honest with your position and the money in your charge.  If not, it does not matter who you are, or what you have done, you are in danger of hell-fire in eternity!

             Persecutions- Matthew 10:34: “Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth:  I come not to send peace, but a sword.”  What!  This sounds like the Prince of Peace wants to start a war.  If we take this verse out of its proper context it could seem to mean that Jesus wants us to wage war.  Now then, you may think that is silly, but we can clearly see that some people do not need much to fall into false doctrine.  That’s why we never take a verse out of its context.

             At the beginning of chapter ten, Jesus is about to send out the twelve disciples out into the land to preach the Word of God.  They will go out alone and will experience persecution (10:14).  Starting at verse sixteen Jesus warns them about persecution and how to deal with it.  Jesus understands that many people will resent their message and be filled with hate and rage and persecute them.

             When Jesus speaks of a sword in verse thirty-four, He is speaking of the Word of God not an actual metallic sword.  The Word of God will divide the people into those who believe, and those who do not.  The sword has always symbolized the Word of God in the Bible.  Husband and wife will be divided.  Father and son will be divided.  Brother and sister will be divided.  Jesus is getting His disciples ready for this type of conflict.  By reading the flow of Scripture before and after the target verse, we can clearly see the proper context.

        Purgatory- Matthew 12:32; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15: Purgatory is a wide spread doctrine of the Catholic Church, among others. They formed this false doctrine by taking two separate verses, from two separate books of the Bible, by two different authors out of their proper context, and making them mean something altogether different.  Let’s take a look at it.

             Matthew wrote in his Gospel, “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him:  but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Matthew 12:32.

             The last part of this verse is what is of interest, “neither in the world to come.” This is just a vague reference to eternity, heaven or hell.  There is no mention of which “world” is coming, nor should there be any, since the context is speaking of something else entirely, which is blasphemy.  Let me explain further.

             Jesus went into the synagogue and healed some people on the Sabbath day.  The local Pharisee called Jesus out for that saying that Jesus was using demonic powers in order to heal.  The truth was the Pharisee could not heal anyone nor tell them how to get healed and then arrives Jesus, who heals everyone present.  The local Pharisee probably felt very small and insecure.  Their prideful spirits were crushed!

             Jesus uses this opportunity to teach a lesson about maliciously misrepresenting the work of the Holy Spirit.  To know of, and to be, or was, filled with the Holy Spirit and then to say it is all the work of the devil is an unforgivable sin.  This is the context of this half of chapter twelve.  The idea of purgatory is nowhere to be found.

 The second verse that people take out of context to mean purgatory is found in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.  Let’s start with verse fourteen, “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:  but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

        It’s the last part of verse fifteen here that is of interest, “...but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”  There is no mention of any place called purgatory here.  In chapter three of this book, Paul is speaking of being a servant of God in His Kingdom. When we are saved by Christ’s Blood, we then work in His Kingdom doing good works, building up the Kingdom.  If our works are good and holy and from God, then they will be cast into the fire of judgment and will be proven to be righteous. That saint will receive a reward in accordance to his work and the natural talents he had in this world.   If our works are not from God, but are selfish, they will be thrown into the fire of judgment and will be burned up like chaff.  The saint will be saved, but he shall receive no reward in heaven.

The reward of a Christian is to enter Heaven for eternity and to see the face of Jesus Christ, and to partake of God's Righteousness.  Revelation 22:4. 1 John 3:2.  Matthew 5:8-12, 25:21-23. 

             So, we have reviewed both of these verses and have found out that both have been taken out of their proper context and used for something entirely different.   We must keep all Scripture in its context!

             Transfiguration- Matthew 17:1-13:  Some have said that verse Matthew 16:28 proves that Jesus would make His second return during the lifetime of the disciples.  You can only believe this by taking this verse out of its context.  Let’s take a look at it.

             Six days before the transfiguration Jesus and His disciples were along the coast of Caesarea Philippi.  Jesus asks Peter who he thought that He was.  Peter said that he thought Jesus was the “Christ.”  Later, Jesus mentions that “There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom (Matthew 16:28).”

             Well, only six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain, probably Mt. Herman, “And was transfigured before them:  and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light (Matthew 17:2).”  This is what Jesus referred to as “coming in His Kingdom.”  The context of chapter sixteen blends right in with chapter seventeen.  To not understand this, verse twenty-eight of chapter sixteen will be misinterpreted.

        The Lords Supper- Matthew 26:26-29:  Roman Catholics around the world take communion and actually believe that Christ’s flesh and blood is in the wafer and wine at the communion table.  This is not true at all, this is taking a metaphor and making it literal.  Jesus was just giving the disciples a simple metaphor of the two different sacrifices in each covenant (Moses’ Covenant and the New Covenant).  There are many metaphors in the Bible; we must know them, understand them, before we interpret Scripture.  Jesus also said He was the “door,” is He really a “door,” of course not, it is just a metaphor to teach us.  Well, the bread and wine symbolizing the body and blood of Christ is the same, just a metaphor.

 God provided the blood for the Old Testament alter in Exodus 24:8, now He does again through Jesus in Matthew 26:28.  Sins can only be remitted by blood (Hebrews 9:22).  Jesus was just referring to His upcoming death, sacrifice, and resurrection to fulfill our salvation.

             Thirty Silver Coins- Matthew 27:9-10:  Jesus in referring to a prophecy of the prophet Zechariah 11:12, proclaimed it to be from the prophet Jeremiah.  Some have said that this is a mistake   This was not a mistake, but quite intentional.  It was the custom of that day to refer to all of the prophets by just one of the Major Prophets, in this case, Jeremiah.  This is never done today but was common in Jesus’ day.   That is the historical context.

             Rewards- 1 Corinthians 3:6-15:  Some have said that there are no rewards in heaven.  They have said that heaven itself is the reward.  Well, heaven will surely be rewarding, and it is our eternal reward.  But there are additional rewards that will be given to those who have built up God’s Kingdom and have used their talents in this life doing God’s work.

             Let us now look at the context of what I am talking about.  In the first chapter of First Corinthians the apostle Paul writes about the power and wisdom of Christ.  In chapter two he writes about the message of the crucified Christ, then on God’s wisdom.  After this is established, Paul then writes about how to be a servant of God.

             We are servants of God when we witness, teach, and preach to others about Christ (3:6-7).  Each one building upon the others works with the help of God (3:7).  In the end God will give us a reward according to our labors (3:8). Together, we are building God’s building (3:9).  The foundation of this building is Jesus Christ, and everyone we bring to salvation is then a part of that building (3:11).  This work will be judged by fire, good work in building God’s building will be proved good, unworthy work will be consumed by the fire (3:13-15).

        Working out salvation- Philippians 2:12: “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”  Many silly things have been said and written about this last half of verse twelve.  It is a great verse of Christian humility and liberty in Christ.  The contextual flow begins at the first chapter where the apostle Paul writes that to live is Christ.  Chapter two then explains Christ’s humility and greatness, commonly referred as “the kenosis. The Apostle Paul speaks on the humility of Christ’s life and it was that humility before God and man (2:7) that made Him great in the Kingdom of God (2:9). 

             Now then, that is the context upon which we find verse twelve. We work out our salvation through “fear and trembling,” because of the humility that Jesus showed the world, we should emulate that humility ourselves.  We should always be fearful to show pride in our lives.  The meaning of this verse is revealed by the context of the first two chapters.

             Clearly this was written so that Christians will emulate this same example.  So then, in that light we need to “work out our own salvation.  But how do we “work it out?”  Well, the next two verses tell us.  “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  Do all things without murmurings and disputing” (2:13-14).

[1] Mickelson, A. Berkeley.  Interpreting the Bible.  Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, MI, p. 113.  1963.

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

Roop-Crappell Ministries

Hospice Care and Dying
The Trucking Tango
Apostolic Theological Seminary

Compound Names of God Principle

Compound Names of God Principle

            By understanding the compound names of God in the Old Testament we can gain a better understanding of the nature of God and what He is to us.  This is a small minor principle, but can be useful while reading Scripture and how it can apply to our individual lives.  The Lord's names are an insight into His personality.

1.      Jehovah-Jireh:  This name means that “The Lord will provide.”  It can be found in Genesis 22:14, where Abraham names the place where he built an alter to sacrifice his son, Isaac.   The Lord provided a ram for sacrifice instead.  It was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, on the Cross where by His sacrifice sin was dealt with, as we read in Hebrews 10:10-12.

2.      Jehovah-Rapha:  This name means “The Lord that heals.” It can be found in Exodus 15:26. This is the first mention of the blessings of obedience found in Deut. 7:12-15 and 28.   It was fulfilled by Jesus Christ before the Cross, as told in 1 Peter 2:24, “...by whose stripes ye were healed.”

3.      Jehovah-Nissi:  This name means “The Lord our banner or victory.”  It can be found in Exodus 17:15. It was fulfilled by Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

4.      Jehovah-M'Kaddesh:  This name means “The Lord that sanctifies.”  It can be found in Exodus 31:13. It was fulfilled by Jesus Christ at the Cross as seen in Hebrews 10:10, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

5.      Jehovah-Shalom:  This name means “The Lord our peace.”  It can be found in Judges 6:24. It was fulfilled by Jesus Christ in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace...”

6.      Jehovah-Saboath:  This name means “The Lord of Hosts or warfare, or Almighty.”  It can be found in 1 Samuel 1:3. It was fulfilled by Jesus Christ in James 5:4-7, “...are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth...”

7.      Jehovah-Elyon:  This name means “The Lord most high.”  It can be found in Psalm 7:17. It was fulfilled in Luke 1:32, 76, 78 “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest...”

8.      Jehovah-Raah:  This name means “The Lord my shepherd.”  It can be found in Psalm 23:1. It was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whom is our Chief Shepherd as seen in 1 Peter 5:4; John 10:11. “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear...”  “I am the good shepherd...”

9.      Jehovah-Hoseenu:  This name means “The Lord our maker.”  It can be found in Psalm 95:6. It was fulfilled at creation as revealed to John the Apostle in John 1:3. “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”

10.  Jehovah-Tsidkenu:  This name means “The Lord our righteousness.”  It can be found in Jeremiah 23:6. It was fulfilled by Jesus Christ as revealed in 1 Corinthians 1:30.  “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

11.  Jehovah-Shammah:  This name means “The Lord is present.”  It can be found in Ezekiel 48:35. It is fulfilled in Jesus Christ by His own testimony in Matthew 28:20. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”

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

Roop-Crappell Ministries

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Apostolic Theological Seminary

Christ-Centered Principle

Christ- Centered Principle

             In this principle Jesus Christ is shown to be written about and is the center of the entire Bible.  We read of Him in the Gospels, but He is written of throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament.  This is a very important principle to keep in mind while reading the Old Testament because Jesus Christ can be found throughout the Bible.

             In the Gospels, Jesus Christ proclaimed this truth about Himself:

             “…in the volume of the book it is written of me…”  (Hebrew 10:7).  This is reference to the Old Testament, the first five books of the Bible.  Jesus Christ had arrived to replace the sacrifices of the Law and be our sacrifice for sin.  Jesus Christ can be found throughout the Law of Moses.

             “Search the Scriptures…they are written which testify of me.”  (John 5:39).  Here Jesus Christ himself tells us to study the Old Testament and look for Him.  The Old Testament testifies of the coming of Jesus Christ, His ministry, His sacrifice and death on the Cross.

             “...believe all that the prophets have spoken:  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”  (Luke 24: 25-27).

             “…all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”  (Luke 24:44).

             The apostles also said that this is true:

             “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”  (Acts 10:43).  They admit that all of the prophets witnessed about Jesus Christ.  Not some of the prophets, but all of them!  This would include the entire Old Testament!

             “…we have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  (John 1:45).

 Here the Apostles tell us that Jesus Christ is spoken of throughout the Old Testament.  The Law is a reference of the first five books of the Old Testament and the Prophets is a reference to the rest of the Old Testament.

             “For by him were all things created…And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.…that in all things He might have the preeminence.”  (Colossians 1:16-18).

  Here the Apostle Paul admits that Jesus Christ has created all things, including Scripture and He is preeminent in Scripture.

The Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus Christ considered Himself equal with God.  Being equal with God really means that He was God in the flesh.

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”  Philippians 2:6.

The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote that Jesus Christ is the power and authority of God, which is what this phrase means.

“…sat down on the right hand od God.”  Hebrews 1:3.

The writer again says the same thing but in another way.

“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God…” Hebrews 1:8.

Jesus Christ, and the Apostles said that He has created all things!

Jesus Christ had made it very clear to the Romans and the Pharisee’s that He was God who had created the world.  If Jesus Christ is the creator of the world, then He is the creator of the Word of God as well.  That would make the Bible Christ centered!

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM!” (emphasis is mine) John 8:58.

The Apostle John repeated this in his Gospel of John.

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”  John 1:3.

And again, the Apostle John repeats this thought.

“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”  John 1:10.

Not to be out done, the Apostle Paul said the same thing in his writings to the Colossians!

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominion, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”  Colossians 1:16-17.

Also, later in this same book:

For of him, and through him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”  Colossians 11: 36.

Salvation of man is by Jesus Christ alone:

If this is correct then Jesus Christ is indeed the center theme of the entire Bible since the Bible’s story is centered on the salvation of sinful man!  The Apostle Peter gives us the Plan of Salvation.

 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  Acts 2:38.

And again, Peter repeats this before the Council of the Sanhedrin.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12.

John the Baptist also proclaimed the salvation of man of his sins by Jesus Christ as told by the Apostle John in his Gospel.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.”  John 1:29.

            As we can see from the Bible itself and the testimony of Jesus Christ and some of the Apostles is that Christ is spoken of throughout the Scriptures and is the central theme of the Bible.

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

Roop-Crappell Ministries

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Apostolic Theological Seminary

Application Principle

Application Principle

             Applying God’s Truth only after the correct interpretation has been learned.  If we do not learn the correct interpretation first, the application can never be applied correctly, leading directly to false doctrine.   When we learn the proper interpretation of a certain text, then we can apply its truth to our lives and community. The interpretation of a text supplies us with the meaning.  When we understand the meaning of a text, then we are free to apply the meaning to our lives.  Here are some examples.

             The True Light- Exodus 10:21-24:   The Israelite's are in Egyptian bondage and God is in the process of freeing them.  The proper application of the story is that the sinner is in slavery to Satan and is in spiritual darkness, but was freed by God and brought into His Light of Salvation.

             This is the application.  In the ninth plague God judges the Egyptian sun god called Ra. The god Ra was the most important, and powerful of all of the Egyptian gods.

            The Egyptians were being judged because they did not worship the True Light, but instead worshiped a false god they had invented.  The leader of the Egyptians, Pharaoh, was trying to keep God’s people in bondage.  The wicked world that we live in today also is trying to keep us, God’s people, in spiritual bondage.  God put the Egyptians in physical darkness because they did not worship the One True God.  Today there is spiritual darkness because the world does not worship the One True God. 

             The Israelite's had light in their dwellings, but it was not a natural light, it was a supernatural light from God.  This supernatural Light shined out of their homes into a dark Egyptian land   Today, our bodies is our dwelling and temple of the Holy Spirit, it is not a natural light, but a supernatural light from God.  This supernatural Light shines forth out of our soul through our worship, good works and daily living in this dark world.

             There was total darkness over Egypt for three days (Exodus 10:22-23).  Egypt, in Scripture symbolizes the world; the world would again be in spiritual darkness while Jesus was in the tomb for three days.

             The Salvation of Rahab-Joshua 2:  Joshua had led the people across the Jordan River and was going to attack the city of Jericho.  The Israelite's were in large numbers, but Jericho was the strongest fortified city in Palestine and was confident.  But Rahab, a sinner, believed the messengers of God’s people and was saved.

             The application is as follows.  Rahab was a sinner living in a condemned city that was under the curse of God.  Jericho is a type of this world.  Rahab was a sinner living in a lost world, just like we are sinners living in this lost world.  Rahab was a prostitute and a bad character, on her own she is a condemned person.  We are spiritual prostitutes and are bad characters, and we are all condemned unless Christ saves us.  There was nothing about Rahab to commend her to God.  There is nothing in man to commend us to God (Romans 3:10).

             But Rahab had something that others in Jericho did not have, and that was she had faith in God.  She heard the message given to her by God’s messengers and believed the word of their God.  A few in this lost world will have faith.  We heard the Gospel and believed God’s world.  Rahab’s messengers said “Our life for yours.”  Here is the message Jesus Christ also have given us.  His life for ours! Everyone in this world is a potential Rahab, but like then, only a few will have the faith and believe.  Salvation of God comes from faith in His Word.

             Achan and Ai- sin in the Church- Joshua 7-8:  In Chapter 6 we have the stunning victory over the city of Jericho.  That was because the people were obedient to the Lord.  But after the victory they were supposed to give the wealth of the city to glorify the Lord in providing the victory.  Everyone did, except one, that was Achan.  A major theme of the book of Joshua is that obedience brings blessing, while disobedience brings defeat.  Chapters seven and eight discuss Achan’s sin and the implications of that sin on the entire house of God which Israel was at this time.

             This is the application for us today in the Church.  Until willful sin is purged from the Church, God’s blessing will be withheld, even the giving over of some saints to the devil for correction.  Jesus would later tell us that it takes only a little bit of liven to affect the whole loaf.  Christians would have much more power from God if we will just be obedient and refrain from sinful behaviors.  Achan’s sin was committed at the time of victory for Israel, but it led to a defeat soon after. 

            Sin usually catches Christian’s while they are on the mountain top, flush with spiritual victory.  If sin is quickly repented of it’s not a problem, but unrepentant sin will send a Christian or an entire Church crashing down into the valley. 

             David and Mephibosheth- 2 Samuel 9:  This is a beautiful story reflecting that God has mercy on mankind for the sake of another, which is Jesus Christ.  This is a beautiful picture of salvation by Christ.

             This is the application for us today.  David is now king and wishes to show the kindness of God to the house of Saul because of his covenant with Jonathan, Saul’s son.

             David now had the upper hand, and no one would have found any fault with him if he had rounded up the members of Saul’s family and killed them all, but David’s throne became a throne of mercy rather than of judgment because of another (Jonathan).  We may draw a comparison here and show that through the blood of Jesus Christ the throne of God is a throne of mercy today because of Another, God’s Son.  But this throne will someday become a throne of judgment because of those who reject Christ.

        Verse three tells us that Jonathan had a son whose name was Mephibosheth and was lame on both feet.  Mephibosheth was lame because of a fall.  His nurse had dropped him when fleeing with him from the enemy.  He had fallen at the hands of another.  Sinful man has fallen at the hands of another, who was Adam.  Every son of Adam is lame on both feet.  Now where was Mephibosheth?  He was in the house of Machir, in the land of Lodebar.  That was an interesting place, and that is just where the sinner is.  Machir means “sold.”  Mephibosheth was living in a house of bondage.  We are all sold under sin in a house of bondage- a slave of sin and a slave of Satan. 

 The land of Lodebar means “no pasture.”  Where there is no pasture there is no satisfaction.  No pasture means “no peace.”

             We read later that David sent and fetched him.  Mephibosheth did not go, he was not seeking David, and he did not fetch himself, but David sent and fetched him.  When we are sinners, God sends and fetched us.

             When Mephibosheth came to David, he fell on his face.  He feared David.  This is a picture of the sinner in fear on that great judgment day.  But Mephibosheth was to be shown kindness for the sake of another.  God, for Christ’s sake, will save the sinner.  God did not save you for your own sake, but because of another.  Mephibosheth went to live in Jerusalem, which means “Peace.”  He came from Lodebar (no pasture) to Jerusalem, the “city of peace.”  Here is an opportunity to tell the sinner to leave Lodebar and move down to Jerusalem.  God is already to fetch him out of Lodebar and over to Jerusalem.

             The end of the story is- “so Mephibosheth did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both feet.”  The fact of the matter is, that when Mephibosheth came from Lodebar to Jerusalem, he brought his lame feet right along with him.  When we came to the King’s house and ate at the King’s table, and became members of the family of God we brought our lame feet with us.[1]

             Naaman and Elisha- 2 Kings 5:  This has to do with a Syrian captain and the Jewish captive.  Here was a little girl who believed that the prophet could heal Naaman of his leprosy.

             Here is the application.  Someone has said that there are millions of lepers in the world.  We are not certain as to the exact number, but we do know that there are many times that number of spiritual lepers.  Spiritually, every man is a leper until cleansed in the Blood.  His story gives the Gospel plan of salvation.

             Leprosy is a symbol of sin.  Men are lepers in the sight of God, when in sin.  In the nation of Israel, lepers were excluded from worship in the Temple of God, by the command of Jehovah.  This was not true in any of the other nations, for lepers were allowed to mingle with the rest of the people.  Sin, like leprosy, breaks out in the most loathsome forms.  You can see it on all sides.  Sin, like leprosy, makes everyone hideous.  Sin, like leprosy, brings separation.  In the nation of Israel, the leper could not come into the camp with the others.  When anyone came near, he must shout, “unclean, unclean!”  If the moral lepers of today had to shout, “unclean” there would be a terrific racket.  Sin, like leprosy, cannot be cured by man.  A sinner is a death-doomed man and no one can cure him but God.  It seems that no one could cure leprosy but God, in the Scriptures.  We mentioned here that there are some ways in which the sinner and a leper are not alike.  A leper never makes light of his leprosy, but a sinner does make light of his sin.  The leper knows he is a leper, but the sinner fails to recognize that he is a sinner.

             When a sinner is awakened to his sin, he will be miserable, as was Naaman.  With all of his good things, Naaman was not happy.

             The Gospel of cleansing came to Naaman through a little girl, not a great woman; but she had a great message.  She had a humble position.  Though she was a servant of Naaman and his wife, she was also a servant of Jehovah.  Here is a lesson.  The thing necessary to get Naaman into touch with God was the testimony of a servant.  When this little girl started to testify, things started to move, and the king moved, and then Naaman moved over into Israel.

             The law of Assyria did not bar Naaman from society, but in Israel God’s law said a leper must be separated.  When Naaman came into Israel, then Elisha treated him as a leper should be treated.  The trouble today is that the world is trying to make sin respectful, and God will not have it so.  You should treat the sinner as a sinner and put him in his place.  You can never save a man by patting him on the back and then feeding him cream puffs.  When the sinner takes a sinner’s place, then he will be saved.  There is too much fellowship with sin, and compromise with sin.  Naaman had to take the leper’s place before he was cleansed.  The sinner must take the place of the sinner.

             Naaman was willing to go far and do much, but he wanted to do things his own way.  The sinner is much like Naaman, for he is not satisfied with the remedy prescribed.  He will say it is too easy.  A sinner never does like God’s plan, and the reason is- God’s plan strips the sinner of all his righteousness.  It brings all sinners on the same plane.

             Naaman dipped seven times.  Seven is the number of God.  Six is the number of evil and of man.  There is no cleansing for man until six is submerged in God’s seven.  In Adam we are marked with six, but in Christ we are marked with seven.[2]

             The Lost Sheep- Luke 15:1-7:  Jesus has an audience of sinners and Pharisees and Scribes together.  Because we have two different groups of people, we therefore have two different applications.  A man has a hundred sheep, but one has strayed off from the ninety-nine.  Jesus asked what man would not leave the ninety-nine to go and get the one that has strayed.  The answer is that they all would.  Jesus is saying to them that God will also.

        The application to the sinners in the audience is that God loves them and will diligently seek them out and lead them home.  Every sinner is precious in the sight of God and He will call all of them home. Sheep are silly little animals. Sheep are a prey animal so they will seek the safety in the pack.  But they are absent minded and will get distracted and accidentally wander off from the rest and get themselves into trouble.  People are like silly sheep sometimes, we will get distracted with the cares of this world and wander off from the Kingdom.  But when we come to our senses, we will also have a good shepherd by the name of Jesus Christ who will be there when we call out for help.

             The application for the Scribes and Pharisees (and preachers of today) is that instead of concerning themselves with making money and keeping power to themselves they should be a shepherd to the people and be looking for the strays and bring them back home.

             The Prodigal Son- Luke 15:11-32:  Jesus was eating at the house of one of the chief Pharisees with other Pharisees and Scribes, on the Sabbath day (Luke 14:1).  Chapter fourteen is the context setting up chapter fifteen which deals with the Prodigal Son.  While Jesus is there the Pharisees bring in a sick man to see if Jesus would heal him on the Sabbath day.  They are setting up Jesus so that they can accuse Him of working (healing) on the Sabbath day and kill Him.  These men are considering an evil act to stop the preaching of Jesus.  They know that Jesus can heal at will, they do not dispute this.  Because of this they know that Jesus is from God   Instead, these preachers are only concerned about their Temple money that they pocket and their positions that allow them to profit off the people.  Jesus heals the sick man in their sight (Luke 14:4) and then teaches on humility, the parable of the great feast, worthless salt, the lost sheep and the lost coin.  Now, Jesus sets Himself up to speak on the Prodigal Son.

             This is the application.  Jesus was trying to teach the Pharisees that God’s will is to be humble, and love the people.  They were only concerned with rules and regulations of their religious system that they had built up, not to serve God, but to serve themselves.  Their concern should have been to love one another and preach in the spirit of Godly love and not out of judgment and control.

             If any application is to be made to this present dispensation it must be made to people who are in a covenant relationship with God.  In other words, the prodigal son is not a lost sinner but a saved sinner.  He is a son.   The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost boy all apply to the backslider.  The one-hundred sheep were saved; the coins were saved; the two boys were saved.  It was a sheep that was lost, not a goat.  It was a real coin that was lost, not a counterfeit.  It was just as good as the rest of the coins on the string.  The boy was lost was just as much a son as the one who stayed at home.  This boy was a son, and nothing could unmake him a son.  He was a son in the home and a son when he left home, and a son when in the field feeding swine.  If he had died in the far country, he would have still been a son.  This boy was a son even when he brought shame to the family.  The parable teaches the everlasting love of God for His own.  The son could waste and spend all that he had, save his father’s love, but he could not spend that; and when he returned home his father met him with outstretched arms.[3]

[1] Hartill, J. Edwin.  Principles of Biblical Hermeneutics.  Zondervan Publishing House; Grand Rapids, MI, pgs. 44-45.  1947.

[2] Hartill, J. Edwin.  Principles of Biblical Hermeneutics.  Zondervan Publishing House; Grand Rapids, MI.  Pgs 45-46.  194

[3]Hartill, J. Edwin.  Principles of Biblical Hermeneutics.  Zondervan Publishing House; Grand Rapids, MI, p. 46. (only last paragraph).

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

Roop-Crappell Ministries

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Apostolic Theological Seminary