John 1:29-34; 7:37-39, The Promised Covenant (4)

We have seen many OT prophecies of the “New Covenant.”  In this post we see these prophecies continued to be made in the days of Christ’s incarnation.  What is described in the four Gospels is OT in context.  Here are two of those prophecies.

First, in John 1:29-34 (also Matt. 3:11; Mk. 3:8; Lk. 3:16), John the Baptist is speaking of the One who came after him.  He is the Lamb of God, He was preferred before him, He is the Son of God, and He baptizes with the Holy Spirit.  The “baptism of the Spirit” is linked to the “outpouring of the Spirit.”  We see this in the Acts of the Apostles.  Jesus, after His death, burial and resurrection, and immediately before His ascension, saw this “baptism” as still future: He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (Ac. 1:4-5).  Then, as we noted in the previous post, Peter said that what happened on the Day of Pentecost, involving the birth of the Church, was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh (2:17).  Some time later, when Peter was explaining what happened at the house of Cornelieus, the first Gentile convert, he said, Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit (11:16).  The “baptism” of the Spirit was the “receiving” of the Spirit (10:44-47).  The baptism of the disciples of John the Baptist was the same event (19:2-6).  Zechariah had prophesied that the outpouring of the Spirit would bring about the salvation by faith of the people of Israel (Zech. 12:10-14).  Titus 3:5-6 confirms this: … but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.  For this reason, the Apostle Paul made it clear that every Christian has received the Spirit by being baptized (immersed) in the Spirit: For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13).  This baptism explains how we are “born again” (Jn. 3:3), “born of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:9), the circumcision of the heart (Deut. 30:4) by which we receive a heart of flesh rather than a stoney heart (Ezek. 11:19-20; 36:26-27).

The second prophecy is also in John’s Gospel, 7:37-39.  Recently, in Jerusalem, a path called the “Pilgrim’s Pathway” has been opened for tourists or pilgrims to walk.  It runs from the Pool of Siloam to the temple mount.  It is believed it was used by the priests, during the Feast of Tabernacles, to get a pitcher of water to be ceremonially poured out.  Many believe Jesus’ words here were spoken during this ceremony.  This “outpouring of the Holy Spirit” is a promise of the New Covenant.  Again, it is fundamental to our life in the Spirit.  Not only are we born by the Spirit but we walk in the Spirit Who, like living water, will flow with new life from the heart of those who believe in Christ.  This promise has been fulfilled.  This is our life!

Psalm 92

What tremendous joy we had this morning to find ourselves being led in worship by this Psalm.  We have just gone through a stretch and trial in which we wondered why God was not answering our prayers.  All we knew was that He was our God, and that if we were to know the answer it would come later.

We were more than ready to declare His lovingkindness in the morning, and will not wait until evening to declare His faithfulness.  How great are His works.  He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him!  We have come to a point (not the end but at a most critical moment) when we realized that five of the hardest days of our lives were being overseen by His Sovereign hand, that He was strengthening us all along the way, and was protecting from a potentially hopeless situation.

So this Psalm is very personal.  It is also called “A Song for the Sabbath Day.”  The day of rest is always meant to find us engaged in the work of praise, as Spurgeon said (Treasury of David).  This would be excellent for that day.

·         92:1-4: as noted, it calls us to the most basic element of the universe: it all exists for His praise.  But the praise will come easier when we meditate on His checed, grace for the day; and His emeth, His every word being fulfilled during the day.  In other words, this also teaches us the importance of praise throughout the week, that we might enjoy the Sabbath-rest of faith in all of life.

·         92:5-7: It is a sad reality that the wicked will never know this ultimate relationship with God.  It is their choice, but still sad given the reality of God’s love for the world.  They will be destroyed forever, forever separated from this Sabbath God.

·         92:8-9:  The Lord will be proven right, forever.  He will endure while His enemies will perish and the leaders in sin (workers of iniquity) are scattered.

·         92:10-11:  The saints should rejoice in God’s great works as experienced in their lives.  Remember that God exalts the humble because it glorifies Him.  He is strong in our weaknesses, His grace sufficient for these earthen vessels in which we live, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not us (2 Cor. 4:7).

·         92:12-15: All of this reflection gives us hope at the end of the Sabbath as we look to what is ahead.  This doesn’t say it will be easy.  It says the righteous will flourish and grow like the stately trees that are only more majestic in the strong winds that will blow.  Even in old age the righteous will bear fruit.

Do you not find these thoughts, and the many more the Spirit has impressed on your heart, to be rich fodder for your “morning and evening” each day, as well as for your day of rest?  It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High!

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Additional thoughts on Psalm 92:1-4:

Here are some encouragements on how to thank God properly.  Remember, the first steps away from God are failure to glorify Him as God and failure to give Him thanks (Rom. 1:21). 

·         92:1: Perhaps you know these words as a chorus, as we do.  What a great reminder that giving God thanks is a GOOD thing.  Cain, in his rebellion, could not get this right.  The sin, crouching at the door of his heart, took control.  God is our Creator and has blessed us abundantly.  It is good to thank Him!

·         92:2: How appropriate.  In the morning we declare His lovingkindness, “checed.”  We preach this to ourselves because we want to live out of that goodness all day.  Then, in the evening, we will thank Him for His faithfulness, “emeth”, that He was indeed good all day long!  Families are blessed who pray around the table before breakfast and the evening meal. 

·         92:3: Music is a magnificent way to thank God, allowing us to speak from the soul.  But not just any music.  It must be harmonious, a “symphony” if you will.  As opposed to a “cacophony” of discordant sounds.  All agree in thanking God.

·         92:4: Our gladness comes from God.  We may think, “I did that; what a great person I am.”  But we understand that our triumphs are the result of God’s work.  He always is to be thanked.  When people thank us, we need to thank God.

Prayer for Psalm 92

Lord, this is such a great Psalm.  It is written by someone who knows how to meditate on You, Lord.  He is patient, allowing Your plan to work out because he knows Your thoughts are very deep.  Your plans look awry to the fool but it always works for our good and the demise of the enemies of Christ.  And we can count on You, Lord, because 1) You are on high forevermore; and 2) there is no unrighteousness in You!!!

 

Joel 2:28-32; Ac. 2:14-21, The Promised Covenant (3)

Today’s passage is from Joel, and it was quoted by Peter as an introduction to his sermon on the day of Pentecost.  Peter said, on that day, that what was happening was what Joel had prophesied.  The outpouring of the Spirit. 

Joel said this would happen “afterward” (v28).  After what?

·       First, in Ch. 1, Joel prophesied a coming locust plague in Israel, an event so terrible that he refers to this as “the day of the LORD” and is said to be “at hand” (1:15).

·       Then the prophet announced another coming “day of the Lord” (2:1-11), a time of judgment and refining for Israel, a terrible time.  Some who read this say he is still talking about the coming plague.

·       Because that day is coming, Israel is called to repentance (2:12-17). 

·       Once that call to repentance is heeded they will be restored in the land (2:18-27).  

·       Then the LORD says through Joel, “Afterward … I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” (v28a).  The result of this for Israel is that her sons and daughters would prophesy, etc. (v28b-29).  Also, there would be signs in the sky (v30-31) “before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.”  And lastly, “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (v32) because deliverance shall have come to Zion, the deliverance promised to the remnant of Israel.

This “day of the LORD” (whether the locust plague or the future terrible day) seems to be designed for Israel, to chasten them and cleanse them to be the saved remnant.  But Joel 3 indicates that it also involves the nations.  The nations will be gathered to Israel (3:2) for judgment, called “the day of the LORD” (v14).  The “day of the LORD” speaks of various events in Israel’s history but also refers to an ultimate “day” that is still future.

The question we ask is, what was Peter saying when he quoted Joel in full in Acts 2:16-21?  He says, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel (2:16).  Acts does not tell us there were many Jewish people prophesying and seeing visions and dreaming dreams on that day.  Nor are we told there were wonders in the heavens.  What Peter is referring to is in v17: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Aspects of Joel’s prophecy are still out in the future.  Israel did not become the saved nation on that day.  Peter says this in his “invitation”: repent … be baptized … and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off as many as the Lord our God will call (2:38-39).  The complete fulfillment is still future.  It is by the Holy Spirit that Joel said “afterward” these things would happen.  He did not use the familiar prophetic formula, “in that day.”  The Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, but Israel as a nation still rejected the invitation of the Apostles as they had rejected Christ’s invitation.  There was 70AD and there has been 2000 years gone by in the time of special blessing on the Gentiles.  But Joel’s full prophecy will be fulfilled: all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:26).

Jeremiah 23:1-8, The Promised Covenant (2)

Here are more instructive promises of the New Covenant.

¹⁹ Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, ²⁰ that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. (Ezek. 11:19-20)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezek. 36:26-27)

We see here the promise of the Spirit, the new birth, the ability to do God’s will (which they could not do under the old covenant), and the blessed relationship.  We should acknowledge that our righteousness in Christ, the truth that He is righteous and by Him the righteous requirement of the law was fulfilled in us (Rom. 8:4), is built on the truth of the NC.  Remember this as you read 2 Corinthians.  In Ch. 3-4 Paul speaks of the glory of the NC ministry, and then concludes in 5:21, For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Our ability to live a righteous life is dependent on the relationship we have with the Lord.  The OT promised this righteousness as well.  Today’s reading from Jeremiah tells us the LORD is our righteousness (v6), a reality that comes through the “Branch of righteousness” (Messiah, v5).

And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ says the Lord God.” (Ezek. 39:29)

This verse concludes the prophecies of Israel except for the description of the kingdom temple and land in Ezek. 40-48.  After all the judgment, and then the restoration, God makes this promise.  Remember: the New Covenant is eternal.  The Old Covenant began at Sinai and ended at the cross of Jesus.  It is finished (Jn. 19:30).  This is one of many things encompassed by those words.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Rom. 10:4).

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. (Zech. 12:10)

The NC makes possible genuine and deep repentance and faith.  Genuine repentance is not just sorrow for sin.  It is sorrow for the cross.  Genuine faith has as its object the One on the cross.

Isaiah 44:1-5, The Promised Covenant (1)

What, in terms of the New Covenant, was promised in the OT?

I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ” (Ezek. 37:14)

This prophecy promises God’s Spirit indwelling.  As Jesus said in John 6:63, It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.  Also, note that the NC with it’s deeply spiritual nature, does not deny God’s promised physical blessings to Israel.  Remember that the first promise of the NC in Deut. 30:6 was in the context of Israel returning to the land.  Their inability to keep the first covenant (the Law) lead to their removal from the land; but the promised return happens with the accompanying NC.  The result will be a saved nation residing in the land.

Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. (Isa. 37:26)

The NC (New Covenant) is often called a “covenant of peace.”  It brings peace into Israel’s relationship with God.  Thus Jesus came preaching peace to those who were near (Israel) and those who were far off (Gentiles), For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father (Eph. 2:17-18).

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
⁴ They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.’
⁵ One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
And name himself by the name of Israel. (Isa. 44:3-5)

The “outpouring of the Holy Spirit” is the subject here.  And look at the blessed relationship of Israel with the LORD.  I am “The Lord’s.”  So let’s be clear here.  This promise is made to Israel, the “chosen people.”  But it is the NC, which we have already noted was for those who were near and those far off.  For me, a Gentile, the NC brings the same blessing as to Jewish believers.  I don’t get a lot in Israel.  That comes to Israel via God’s promise to Abraham.  But I get the same Holy Spirit and am born again as anyone who has put their faith in Christ.  And now, Isa. 59:12:

“As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”

You only understand this if you read v20.  God is talking to “the Redeemer” who comes to Zion, the Messiah.  The covenant is with Christ and with all who believe in Him, His descendants (Ps. 22:30: His posterity; Isa. 53:10, His seed).

Mk 14:22-26; Jer. 31:31-34, The New Covenant as Written

It is Passover and Jesus and His disciples kept the feast.  We have seen that the Passover speaks of Christ in many ways.  Now we see that at the meal Jesus used the occasion to show us how the establishment of the New Covenant was tied to His crucifixion.  This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many (Mk. 14:24).  Blood had been shed in establishing the Old Covenant (Ex. 24:8).  Now blood would establish the New Covenant.  The New Covenant is, of course, huge!  It involves the new birth, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and was founded on the blood of Christ that brought about the forgiveness of sin.  For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more (Jer. 31:34).  The promise of this New Covenant is found frequently in the OT.

Let me remind you of the first promise, in Deuteronomy.  The LORD told Moses that while Israel had seen all that God had done, yet the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day (29:4).  But then the LORD told Moses that a day would come, after much history and sin and suffering, that He would bring them back to the land and would circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live (30:6).  This “circumcision of the heart” speaks of the New Covenant.  Col. 2:11-14 tells us that this spiritual circumcision came through the His cross.

The clearest statement of the New Covenant comes in Jeremiah 31:31-34, and for that reason the writer to the Hebrews quotes the entire passage in Heb. 8:7-13.  As the Old Covenant was made with Israel, so the New Covenant is made with the house of Israel.  The new is said to replace the old which they could not keep.  God promises to put His law in their minds and hearts.  He also promised that they will have a relationship with Him, something that God had promised often in the OT: I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  It will be such a deep relationship that no one will need to teach them to “Know the LORD” because they will already know Him.  All this is possible because the sin that separates men from God will be forgiven.  This tells us why Israel in Deuteronomy did not and could not have a heart and eyes and ears to perceive. 

How would the LORD put His law in their minds and hearts?  And how would this relationship be realized?  The answer is found in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Thus we find that in many of the OT prophecies of the New Covenant there is a recognition of this.  These promises are such a blessing I want to share several with you in the next post.  At this point, we should give God the glory that now, in Christ, He has given the ability to know Him deeply, and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit we have hearts and eyes and ears to perceive His truth.  As Jesus told Nicodemus, we can enter and see the kingdom of God!

Acts 13:27-29, Ex. 11:4-7, Prophecy Fulfilled

We have been paying attention to the OT and the things written about the crucifixion of Christ.  Jesus mentioned this to the disciples when they were eating the Passover meal.  Later, in Gethsemane, He said this: I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me.  But the Scriptures must be fulfilled (Mk. 14:49).  Even after His resurrection Jesus emphasized this connection with the OT.  To the Emmaus Road disciples He said, ‘Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Lk. 24:26-27).  Then He said the same with the Twelve: These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me (24:44).

Let me remind you, as well, that we are not finished with this approach.  There is more to come that has its anchor in the OT.  It was not until Jesus had fully suffered the cross and the separation from His Father that it was said, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’ (Jn. 19:28).  And even then, John tells us that the piercing of Jesus’ side was a fulfillment of Scripture (Jn. 19:36-37). 

We also need to remember that Jesus’ crucifixion contains that amazing and mysterious mix of the Sovereignty of God and the responsibility of Man.  In our previous post we noted that the Passover was “the LORD’s Passover.”  It was God’s planned event, as was the fulfillment in the Passover.  As Isaiah said, it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief (53:10). Yet, note how the Apostle Paul described this in Acts 13:27-29.  First, he said, For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.  And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.  Those who fulfilled the prophesied did what they did because of their own sinfulness, their own ignorance of those very Scriptures.  Paul concluded, When they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.  Everything was done according to the will of God, and out of the sinfulness of men. 

There is one other matter I want to say concerning Jesus’ death at Passover.  In Ex. 11:4-7 God gave Moses the initial idea of “Passover,” and that through this event He would make a distinction between Egypt and Israel.  How could God be merciful to Israel given that they were also sinful people?  The answer is found in the blood of the Passover Lamb.  As the LORD said, When I see the blood I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt (Ex. 12:13).  And so it is with Christ, our Paschal Lamb.  Praise the LORD!