From: christlife+noreply@googlegroups.com
Date: Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:19:34 +0000
Subject: [ChristLife] Digest for christlife@googlegroups.com - 3
Messages in 2 Topics
To: Digest Recipients <christlife+digest@googlegroups.com>
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Today's Topic Summary
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Group: christlife@googlegroups.com
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/topics
- The new covenant and surrender [2 Updates]
http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/bb9643183b25177
- IDOLS OF THE HEART [1 Update]
http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/ace201d6383adb2e
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Topic: The new covenant and surrender
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/bb9643183b25177
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---------- 1 of 2 ----------
From: Jacob <jninan@gmail.com>
Date: Sep 02 06:35PM -0700
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/msg/7aef257b902e43bf
The new covenant between God and man, which Jesus ratified with His
blood (Lk.22:20), is far superior to the old covenant which God had
brought earlier to Israel (He.8:6). In fact, the old covenant has
become obsolete since it has now been replaced with the new (He.8:13).
The old covenant was based on God's commandments which man was to
keep, and it failed because nobody could manage to get right with God
that way (Ro.3:20), because of the weakness of our flesh (Ro.8:3). The
new covenant was in God's heart from eternity (Ep.1:4,5), and He
announced its coming when Israel had failed the old covenant miserably
(Je.31:31).
The new covenant replaces the 'You shall' of the old covenant
concerning man with 'I will' from God's side. When we come to God as
helpless sinners and place our trust in Jesus as God's sacrifice in
our place, we receive forgiveness from God freely--as an unmerited
gift of grace from God. He accepts us as His children and makes us
heirs of every blessing that is available (Ep.1:3).
The Bible describes the new covenant as a fulfillment of the full
implication the old covenant (Ro.8:4). In other words, if the old
covenant was a shadow, the new covenant is the body that cast that
shadow (Co.2:17). The law of the old covenant was like a guardian who
was to prepare his ward until he became mature enough to take on full
responsibility (Ga.3:24). But now that Christ has come with the new,
perfect covenant, we are no longer under that guardian (v.25), and we
have a direct relationship with God as His sons.
The old covenant laws were only indicators of the full requirements
that were in the heart of God. For example, Jesus explained that
commandments against physical murder and adultery actually pointed to
the time when even unholy anger and lustful looks were recognised as
being practically the same as those (Mt.5:21,22,27,28). Offering
animal sacrifices became unnecessary when Jesus made the supreme and
all-sufficient sacrifice of Himself for us (He.9:12). Symbolic
requirements such as keeping one day in seven as being holy to God and
giving a tenth of the income to God get fulfilled when we realise that
every day of our life is to be kept holy to God (Co.2:16,17), and we
are to be stewards of all our wealth before God (Lk.16:11,12). Holy
places and clean foods gave way to an inwardly holy life.
The new covenant works on the basis of grace from God's side and faith
(trust) on our side. The only way we can experience more of His grace
is by trusting God more. The mark of our trust in God is in believing
His word and obeying Him in everything--surrender to God. We hand over
the ownership of our lives and all that we have to God and His will.
Then we don't just give Him a part of our life (as in the old
covenant) and live our own lives otherwise. It is when people are
unwilling to make this wholehearted surrender to God that they prefer
to live under the old covenant even now. But then they will also miss
out on the full blessings of the new covenant.
---------- 2 of 2 ----------
From: tasha yancy <tyancy81@gmail.com>
Date: Sep 04 01:22PM -0400
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/msg/f4fb4419b308895a
Thank you so much! I couldn't have said it better myself! I love the
scriptures used. This is something that needs to be shared. I know so many
that are still lost in some ways. Its easy to get caught up in the ways of
the law & religion. Our Lord is not religious but loving, spiritual,
graceful & merciful. There are numerous times where He shows us this in the
New Testament. I'm an Ambassador for Peace and an Evangelist, I'd love to
use this for my street ministry, if you don't mind. :) Please e-mail me. I'd
like to discuss something else with you as well. God bless!
Ms.Yancy { Tyancy81@gmail.com
On Sep 3, 2011 3:19 PM, "Jacob" <jninan@gmail.com> wrote:
The new covenant between God and man, which Jesus ratified with His
blood (Lk.22:20), is far superior to the old covenant which God had
brought earlier to Israel (He.8:6). In fact, the old covenant has
become obsolete since it has now been replaced with the new (He.8:13).
The old covenant was based on God's commandments which man was to
keep, and it failed because nobody could manage to get right with God
that way (Ro.3:20), because of the weakness of our flesh (Ro.8:3). The
new covenant was in God's heart from eternity (Ep.1:4,5), and He
announced its coming when Israel had failed the old covenant miserably
(Je.31:31).
The new covenant replaces the 'You shall' of the old covenant
concerning man with 'I will' from God's side. When we come to God as
helpless sinners and place our trust in Jesus as God's sacrifice in
our place, we receive forgiveness from God freely--as an unmerited
gift of grace from God. He accepts us as His children and makes us
heirs of every blessing that is available (Ep.1:3).
The Bible describes the new covenant as a fulfillment of the full
implication the old covenant (Ro.8:4). In other words, if the old
covenant was a shadow, the new covenant is the body that cast that
shadow (Co.2:17). The law of the old covenant was like a guardian who
was to prepare his ward until he became mature enough to take on full
responsibility (Ga.3:24). But now that Christ has come with the new,
perfect covenant, we are no longer under that guardian (v.25), and we
have a direct relationship with God as His sons.
The old covenant laws were only indicators of the full requirements
that were in the heart of God. For example, Jesus explained that
commandments against physical murder and adultery actually pointed to
the time when even unholy anger and lustful looks were recognised as
being practically the same as those (Mt.5:21,22,27,28). Offering
animal sacrifices became unnecessary when Jesus made the supreme and
all-sufficient sacrifice of Himself for us (He.9:12). Symbolic
requirements such as keeping one day in seven as being holy to God and
giving a tenth of the income to God get fulfilled when we realise that
every day of our life is to be kept holy to God (Co.2:16,17), and we
are to be stewards of all our wealth before God (Lk.16:11,12). Holy
places and clean foods gave way to an inwardly holy life.
The new covenant works on the basis of grace from God's side and faith
(trust) on our side. The only way we can experience more of His grace
is by trusting God more. The mark of our trust in God is in believing
His word and obeying Him in everything--surrender to God. We hand over
the ownership of our lives and all that we have to God and His will.
Then we don't just give Him a part of our life (as in the old
covenant) and live our own lives otherwise. It is when people are
unwilling to make this wholehearted surrender to God that they prefer
to live under the old covenant even now. But then they will also miss
out on the full blessings of the new covenant.
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=============================================================================
Topic: IDOLS OF THE HEART
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/ace201d6383adb2e
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---------- 1 of 1 ----------
From: Bayo Afolaranmi <spiritualdigest@gmail.com>
Date: Sep 03 08:16PM +0100
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/msg/e55e90a1cb9dc5ab
Dear Beloved,
IDOLS OF THE HEART
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven
above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down
to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…"
(Exodus 20:4-5 NIV)
"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked
stumbling blocks before their faces" (Ezekiel 14:3 NIV).
The primitive Africa was full of idolatry. The more I like the African
culture, the more I hate its connection with idolatry. I thank God that I
have been saved from all these ancestral idols. In Christ, I can be a true
African without being idolatrous. However, while I have done away with all
the physical idols, what of the unseen idols of the heart? Am I free from
them?
God accused the exiled Israelites of idolatry of the heart. Though they were
sent into exile because of this sin, they continued in it in the exile.
Interestingly, these people still wanted to hear from God, which meant that
they probably did not realize that they had set up idols in their hearts
against God's will.
I doubt if you still have any physical idol that you are worshipping.
Nevertheless, what are the idols in your heart? What are the things that
have taken the place of God in your heart? Is it money, occupation, time,
sports, pleasure, reputation, position, your children, your spouse, or even
your life? Anything you like or love more than God is an idol of your heart.
Remove them now and put God in His right position in your heart.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on September 28, 2003.
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