Jesus Unmasked: The Truth Will Shock You (21 page)

> A joy to your heart (Ps. 119:111)

> A sustainer (Ps. 119:116)

> Above fine gold (Ps. 119:127)

> Wonderful (Ps. 119:129)

> Very pure (Ps. 119:140)

> Righteous (Ps. 119:144)

> Truth (Ps. 119:151)

> Founded forever (Ps. 119:152)

> Salvation (Ps. 119:155)

> Great treasure (Ps. 119:162)

God’s Word so closely resembles God Himself, when we defend God’s Word, we are indeed defending God. And these days, God’s Word needs lots of defending.

Not Siding with God’s Enemies

When we side with false teachers, we are siding with God’s enemies.

More than that,
every time we partner with the world, we are partnering with God’s enemies and thereby, siding against God.

You
adulteresses
, do you not know that friendship
with the world
is
hostility
toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself
an enemy of God
(James 4:4).

Whoa. Did you catch that? When you sin by siding with the world system, you are an adulterer. When you sin, you are “having an affair” with the world and cheating on your covenant partner. Ponder that the next time you are tempted.

Are You an Adulterer?

How might you be doing that? What do you covet? What trifle do you think you need to have? What are the things on your “bucket list”? By loving the things of this world, you are showing disdain for your God.

What is your pet sin? What is the vice you struggle to give up? When you continue to “make love” to your sin, you are committing spiritual adultery against your Savior.

Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He
jealously desires
the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:5–6).

God, your covenant partner, is jealous for you. Yes, the Bible says that jealousy is a sin (Gal. 5:26), but this type of jealousy is an appropriate form of jealousy. Are you not jealous for the faithfulness and affection of your spouse? Yes, and you are not sinning. The same thing is true with God.

Sinful jealousy is desiring something that doesn’t belong to you, but you belong to God and He jealously desires you. After all, He gives us everything, is it too much of Him to ask us for everything in return?

Step #3: The Exchange of Belts or Girdles

The belt of the garment held one’s weapons in place. It was a symbol of a man’s strength. To give another your belt in covenant signified the giving of your strength to your covenant partner.

Does God give us strength to endure persecution? Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

This verse is not intended to mean that a Christian can do everything he sets his mind to. Evander Holyfield displayed this verse on his boxing trunks when he got knocked out by Mike Tyson. Plenty of Christians who have taken Philippians 4:13 as their life verse filed for bankruptcy.

This verse tells us that God will help us endure all hardship when we are persecuted for our service to Him. Our covenant partner gives us the strength to endure.

Do We Give God Our Strength?

Ha! We have no strength. All we give to God is our weaknesses. Once again, we get the much better end of the bargain.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for
my power
is made perfect in
weakness
.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about
my weaknesses
, so that
Christ’s power
may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in
weaknesses
, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am
weak
, then I am
strong
(2 Cor. 12:9–11; NIV).

We get His righteousness and He gets our sins. We give Him our weaknesses and He gives us His strength. Anyone with an ounce of sense would advise, “You would have to be a fool to not enter into this covenant.”

Step #4: The Cutting of Wrists Signifying Oneness

When you and I make an agreement, we sign our names with ink and shake each other’s hands. Biblical covenant was far more serious and symbolic.

When a covenant was cut, the two parties would strike hands. Frequently an incision would be made and wrists were locked in such a way so their blood would mix with one other. This co-mingling signified that they had become “blood brothers.” In essence, two had become one.

In keeping with the oneness of blood brothers, consider Colossians 1:27, and note how it shows the oneness that is ours with Jesus Christ.

To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is
Christ in you
, the hope of glory.

If you are a Christian, Christ is dwelling in you with the power of His Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9–11; Eph. 3:17) and you are in Christ (Rom. 8:1; 1 Cor. 15:22).

It is the blood of Jesus that was shed that we might be made His brother (Matt. 12:49–50).

Step #5: The Taking of an Oath

Typically, while the hands were struck an oath would be taken. The two participants would speak an oath of curses and blessings of the covenant. In doing this, they would list all of their resources that would now be made available to their new covenant partner, basically saying, “All that I have is now yours.”

A witness would record this in a testament of the covenant. Deuteronomy 28 is a good example of this.

Does God Share His Possessions with Us?

And my God will
supply all your needs
according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely
give us all things
?
(Rom. 8:32).

Are We to Share Our Possessions with God?

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to
present your bodies
as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Rom. 12:1; ESV).

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that
you are not your own
?
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God
in your body
(1 Cor. 6:19–20).

We might say we are willing to die for God, but are we willing to live for Him? Should we not happily live for the One who temporarily gave up His throne for our sakes?

God performed the greatest miracle of all time — He became flesh for you. He lived for you. He died for you. Are you dying to yourself, living for Him?

Chapter 19 — Jesus Is the New Covenant, Part Two

Sequels are rarely as good as the originals. Case in point:

>
Rocky Balboa

>
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid

>
Any movie with a number behind it.

Let’s hope this chapter does not flop like
Arthur II
.

This is the second half of the ten steps to cutting a covenant. According to several critics we consulted, this chapter is more like
The Empire Strikes Back
than
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV
. (Yes, they made four. Four!)

Step #6: Seal of the Covenant

What is your wedding ring? Among other things, it is a reminder of the covenant you entered when you vowed to be faithful to your spouse — “till death do you part.” Your wedding ring is a seal of your covenant promise.

Biblical covenants regularly had signs or seals to remind the covenant partners of their promise and obligations. After the taking of the oath and the cutting of wrists, the covenant partners would take sand or dirt and rub it deep in the wound so that a scar would develop.
The seal was a visible reminder of their promise given to their covenant partner.

> The seal of the Noahic covenant was the rainbow (Gen. 9:13).

> The Abrahamic covenant seal was circumcision (Gen. 17:9–14).

> The seal of the Mosaic covenant was the Sabbath (Exod. 31:13–17).

New Covenant Seal

God’s seal in the new covenant is the Holy Spirit.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were
sealed in Him
with the
Holy Spirit
of promise, (Eph. 1:13).

Our outward “seal of the covenant” with the new covenant is to walk in the newness of life, bearing fruit in keeping with repentance (Luke 3:8).

Do we bear any physical seals on our bodies? Perhaps Paul had this in mind when he wrote:

From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I
bear on my body
the brand-marks of Jesus (Gal. 6:17).

Being persecuted is a sign of being a Christian.

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (1 Tim. 3:12).

Step #7: The Exchange of Names

Covenant partners would exchange names upon entering the contract. Historically, that is why women would take the name of her covenant partner: to indicate an exchange of identity.

When God cut the Abrahamic covenant, Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. God became the God of Abraham (Gen. 17:5, 8, 15).

When you repent and trust Jesus, God’s name changes to the God of (insert your name here).

What about us? When we become Christians, do we get a new name? Yes, we become children of God.

Our Old Names

And you were
dead in your trespasses
and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air
,
of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature
children of wrath
, even as the rest (Eph. 2:1–3).

Before God saved you:

> You were dead (Eph. 2:1). Now you are alive (Eph. 2:5).

> You were under the power of the devil (Eph. 2:2). Now you are under the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:25).

> You were a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3). Now you are a child of God (2 Cor. 6:18).

You were formerly child of Satan, now you are Child of God. But did you know that God has a special name reserved for you?

Your New, New Name

To him who overcomes . . . I will give him a white stone, and a
new name
written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it (Rev. 2:17).

Your new name will astound you when you receive it because that name will accurately describe the essence of who you are. It will nail you to a t.

Don’t even try to figure out what your new, special name will be; you can’t figure it out. Your special name will be given from the One who knows you better than you know yourself.

How deeply does God know you? When you receive your new name, you will realize that there is One who knows you intimately, profoundly, and lovingly. That is your God.

Step #8: Splitting of an Animal

As part of the covenant-cutting ceremony, the contract was not the only thing to get cut — animals would get cut. In two. We saw an example of this at the Abrahamic covenant cutting (Gen. 15:9–10).

This demonstrated the solemnity of the ceremony. Furthermore, an oath would be taken while the two covenant partners would stand between the two dead animals asking God to do to them what had just happened to these two animals if they broke the covenant. It is as if they were saying, “God, kill me if I break this covenant.”

Who Died?

The animal that died to cut the New Covenant was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Do We Die?

Having concluded this, that
one died for all
, therefore all died; and
He died
for all, so that they who live might
no longer live for themselves
, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. . . . Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the
old things passed away
; behold, new things have come (2 Cor. 5:14–17).

For through the Law
I died
to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is
no longer I who live
, but
Christ lives in me
; and the life which
I now live
in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave Himself up for me
(Gal. 2:19–20).

The Christian walk is not about fulfillment; it is about death to self and new life in Christ. If you are following a preacher who promises “your best life now,” run. The only way you can live your best life now is if you plan on going to hell. Our best life is yet to come in heaven.

In this life, we are only promised trials, tribulations, temptation, and persecution (John 16:33; 2 Tim. 3:12). This life is not about happiness, it is about holiness. This life is about dying to our carnal, selfish, sinful desires and living for the One who died for us.

Step #9: Walking through the Pieces or the Walk of Death

After pieces of the sacrificial animal were laid opposite one another, the covenanting partners would walk between those pieces, signifying a walk into death. This walk into death was a testimony of their intention to die to their own independent living. Now they were to always live in consideration of the other person.

Is there a new covenant “walk of death?” Absolutely.

The ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies of God’s tabernacle represented the throne of God. Only on the Day of Atonement was the priest allowed to go into the Holy of Holies and put the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant. The people themselves could not enter the Holy of Holies to be in the presence of God; the veil shut them out.

Do you remember what happened to the veil when Jesus died as a scapegoat outside of the city?

And behold, the
veil of the temple was torn
in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split (Matt. 27:51).

What does that mean to us? What does that symbolize?

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence
to enter the holy places
by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us
through the veil, that is, His flesh
(Heb. 10:19–20).

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was split for us that we might walk though Him and have direct access to the Father. No more outer courtyard. Because of Jesus, we are brought into an intimate relationship with the Father.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).

Step #10: The Covenant Meal

When the cutting of the covenant was complete, a special covenant meal would follow. At this meal, each partner would feed the other. At this point you are no doubt seeing the parallels between ancient covenant ceremonies and modern-day weddings.

> A walk of death as you walk down the aisle between your family and the in-laws. Just kidding. Maybe.

> Two become one.

> An oath to remain faithful “till death do you part”

> A visible seal of the covenant: your wedding ring

> A covenant meal with overpriced chicken

> Feeding cake to one another

There are two differences in the old covenant meal and the modern ceremony.

1. In the old days, when covenant partners would feed each other, they would not smash the food into their covenant partner’s face. What’s up with that, anyway?

2. In the old days, they did not feed one another cake. At the covenant meal, a piece of bread was dipped into wine and then fed to their covenant partner. The bread represented their body and the wine their blood. This was symbolically saying, “I am giving you my life.”

Consider what Jesus said when He shared His last supper with His disciples.

The Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed
took bread
;
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “
This is My body, which is for you
; do this in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is
the new covenant in My blood
; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:23–25).

Are You in the Covenant?

Why did you become a Christian? How did you become a Christian? Were you aware of the demands of becoming a Christian prior to confessing faith?

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must
deny himself
, and
take up his cross daily
and
follow Me
.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels (Luke 9:23–26).

Did you know that Jesus asks you to die to yourself and live for Him? Did you know that following Jesus will cost you everything? Did you know that you must be willing to forsake everything to gain eternity?

None of your sacrifices earn you a single thing. Instead, you should be willing to sacrifice everything because Jesus sacrificed Himself for you. You do not earn salvation by dying to self, but you should be willing to die to yourself because He died for you.

What does Jesus demand? Repentance.

Repentance

Unfortunately, the word “repent” is rarely used in churches these days. That is unfortunate, because the New Testament commands us to repent 30 times. Some people ignore the word altogether, others offer an incorrect definition.

The Greek word for repentance is
metanoia
. It literally means: change of mind. That transliterated meaning has led too many to claim that repentance is a mere change of mind. That falls far short of Jesus’ words and the biblical use of the word
metanoia
.

Imagine a man who committed adultery against his wife. He gets busted. He is bummed. He returns home, empty-handed, and announces to his wife, “I have changed my mind about you. I am coming home.”

If that wife had a frying pan handy, I suspect that fellow would have it applied directly to the top of his head. A change of mind is appropriate, but hardly adequate.

You Can’t Do That

Some people say that a person can’t turn from their sins; it’s impossible. No, it’s not.

For starters, repentance is a gift from God (Acts 11:18). Second of all, with the right information, a person most certainly can repent.

If you love chocolate and someone you respect told you to “repent of your chocolate,” you might give it up for a while; but as soon as you saw a Godiva Truffle, you would backslide. Fast.

But if you discovered that someone took DNA from your fingerprints on this book and ran them through some tests and the tests concluded, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that chocolate will kill you, you would give up chocolate. Fast.

You might still desire chocolate. You might even occasionally slip and sneak a Hershey Kiss, but you will have turned from your chocolate and given it up. That is repentance — new attitude toward the things you once loved and a desire for things you once hated.