₦airaland Forum

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jiggaz:
afternoon

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nnnnn

noted ........

morning .....

morning

The Bible is made up of two documents: the Old Testament and the New Testament. These documents roughly equate to two covenants: the old covenant and the new covenant. I say roughly because the old covenant did not begin in Genesis 1 and the new covenant did not begin in Matthew 1.

A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties characterized by promises and obligations. In a biblical context, a covenant describes how God relates to people.

The old covenant, which was based on law, was how God related to the nation of Israel. The new covenant, which is based on grace, is how God relates to everybody, including the Jews.
The old covenant came into effect at Mt. Sinai through Moses, Israel’s representative, while the new covenant came into effect at Mt. Calvary through Christ, humanity’s representative.

On the night before his death the Son of God announced a “new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). He was literally declaring his last will and testament, a new covenant that would come into effect when he died (Hebrews 9:16-17).

The new covenant was new

In every way, the new covenant is superior to the old.

– The old covenant failed because it hinged on your imperfect obedience, but new covenant endures because it is founded on Christ’s perfect obedience unto death.

– The old covenant says you will be blessed if you do good, but the new declares we are blessed because God is good.

– The old covenant warns that you will be punished if you do bad, but the new declares that in Christ you are eternally unpunishable.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. (Hebrews 8:7)

On the cross the sinless Savior fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law. The old covenant that had been so shabbily treated by the children of Israel could now be satisfactorily concluded. Thus, with his final breath, Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The old covenant began when Moses received the law; it ended when Christ fulfilled it.

Overlapping covenants?

Some say the covenants existed side-by-side for a generation. “The old covenant it didn’t end, it merely became obsolete. The temple sacrifices continued as before until God judged Jerusalem in AD70.”

Those who subscribe to overlapping covenants point out that David was anointed king while Saul was still on the throne. “The new and the old orders existed side by side, and this parallels what happened in the generation after Christ’s death.”

But David did not ascend to the throne of Israel until after Saul’s death. They were never king at the same time. Similarly, Jesus died (fulfilling the old covenant) before ascending into heaven to be crowned as king. There was no overlapping kingship and no overlapping covenant.

The old covenant did not end with the beheading of John the Baptist. Nor did it end with the disappearance of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration. These were dramatic scenes in the final act of the old covenant play, but the curtain did not fall until the climactic sacrifice of God’s Lamb.

The cross changed everything

In the moment Jesus died the temple veil was supernaturally torn. It was rent from top to bottom signifying that God was done with the old covenant. The law was a shadow, but Christ is the reality. Jesus is the old covenant fulfilled.

By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. (Hebrews 8:13, NIV)

Christ’s perfect sacrifice made the old covenant instantly obsolete. From God’s perspective it had served no further purpose. Yet after Christ died religious Jews continued bringing animals to the temple to be slain in ritual sacrifice.

Imagine how offensive those sacrifices must have been in the eyes of heaven. Each sacrifice declared, “Jesus died for nothing.” Every priest and penitent was essentially saying, “God, your Son’s death means nothing to me.” What an insult! What blasphemy!

Yet no lightning bolts fell from heaven. The ground did not open up and swallow these blasphemers.

Unauthorized sacrifices

Contrast that with what happened to Aaron’s sons when they brought an unauthorized offering into the tabernacle: Fire from God consumed them (Leviticus 10:1-2). Nadab and Abihu died as screaming, burning testimonies to the seriousness of sin. But that was under the old covenant which was no more.

Now in the new covenant, priests who brought unauthorized sacrifices went home unharmed. They didn’t know it but they were living testimonies of God’s grace. Had the old covenant still been in effect, there could have been fire and screaming. There would have been one animal sacrifice and no more. But the old covenant was finished, so unauthorized and blasphemous sacrifices continued for years.

But he, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 10:12)

Jesus sat but the Jews stood for there are no chairs in the temple. For forty years they carried on with their religious rituals as though nothing had changed, but everything had changed. This is why God never judged them, not in AD30, nor in AD70.

How could he when their sin had been borne by the Savior they rejected?

___________

Extracted from chapter 29 of Paul Ellis’s new book AD70 and the End of the World.

https://escapetoreality.org/2017/02/16/when-did-the-old-covenant-end/

Evening

Have you ever noticed that Jesus never said the word “grace”?

Doesn’t this strike you as odd? After all, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Jesus is grace personified. So why didn’t he talk about it? The word “grace” appears just four times in the gospels and not once does Jesus say it. In contrast, the word “law” appears hundreds of times, often in connection with Jesus’ preaching. Paul dedicated his life to preaching the gospel of grace, but Jesus was the greatest law preacher of all time.

Here’s something else Jesus never said to any individual: “I love you.” Jesus may not have said it but he sure showed it. His selfless sacrifice on the cross was the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever seen. On the cross, he wrapped His arms around the world and gave us a big “I love you.” It is exactly like that with grace. He may not have said it, but he showed it big time. Here are just five of the ways that Jesus revealed the unmerited favor of a good and gracious God.

How did Jesus reveal grace?

1. By showing up!

Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2:10-11, 14)

I have heard people preach this verse as though God was selective with his favor. “Maybe his favor rests on you, maybe it doesn’t. You’d better behave yourself and hope for the best.” But the angel brought good news of great joy that was for “all the people.” Are you people? Then God’s favor rests on you!

What does the favor of God look like? It looks exactly like Jesus. God’s favor and God’s Savior are synonymous. In every Old Testament mention of promised Savior, we get a hint of grace. Then on the night of his birth we get a shout. “Peace has come to earth!” As Mary discovered and we’re still learning, we are highly favored. How so? Because the Lord is with us. He is not against us; he is for us and with us. You cannot have the Lord and be anything other than highly favored. He is a magnet to his own favor.

2. By proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18-19)

I used to think this verse was good news for handicapped people and those living below the poverty line. Then I realized that Jesus is describing all of us. Relative to God we are all poor and needy. Every one of us is bankrupt of life and righteousness. “The whole world is a prisoner of sin” (Gal 3:22). That’s why Jesus announced the Year of Jubilee. Because of Jesus, we can come home. Our debts are cleared, and we can reap what we haven’t sown. In the Year of Jubilee all the slaves were freed. Again, that’s us. We were bound but knowing the Truth we are free indeed. That sounds like the good news of God’s grace to me.

3. By telling stories about grace

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for pearls of great price; it is like a treasure hidden in a field. (Mt 13:44-45)

Jesus preached law to the self-righteous, but ordinary folks got stories of grace. And what stories! The parables weren’t morality tales for there was no catch, no lesson to be learned. The lost coin did nothing to be found. The lost sheep did not rescue itself. The prodigal returned as a worker but was received as a son.

Without saying the word grace, Jesus left lasting impressions of unmerited favor. He came for us because in his eyes we are the treasure; we are the pearl of great price. Jesus’ stories leave us, like the prodigal, speechless in the loving arms of their Father.

4. By showing (and preaching!) unconditional forgiveness

Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” (Matt 9:2)

When preaching to those under the law, Jesus made forgiveness conditional. But on the street, Jesus revealed a forgiveness that is unconditional. The paralytic had forgiven no one yet he was forgiven. It was the same with the sinful woman (Luke 7). It was the same for the whole world when Jesus hung on the cross (Luke 23:34).

If this seems confusing to you, look at the cross. The cross is the dividing line of history and the crossroads of two covenants. Before the cross it was, “Forgive and you will be forgiven.” But speaking of what would happen as a result of the cross, Jesus also said, “every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men” (Matt 12:31). When was every sin and blasphemy forgiven? At the cross! Unconditional forgiveness is one of the most liberating manifestations of grace. When you know that you have been completely forgiven, you are free to forgive yourself and others.

5. By preaching faith over flesh

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Joh 3:16)

Look carefully at the end of that verse. There is a full-stop, a period. Thank God for that period! It is the greatest period in the history of periods. That period declares the scandalous grace of God that will not share the stage with any man. The old covenant required about a hundred chapters to list all the things you need to do if you were to have any hope of impressing God, but here in the new, you just have to believe. Full-stop!

Jesus didn’t come with a list of commandments. We already had those from Moses. It’s true that Jesus preached law before the cross to those under the law but that wasn’t his main reason for coming. He came to open blind eyes, set the captives free, and give us new life. All that he asked was that we receive what he wanted to give. This is the only thing Grace will ever ask of you. “Receive.”

Jesus = grace

Jesus may not have said “I love you” but those who met him went away knowing they were dearly loved. Just ask John. For the rest of his life he went around telling people, “I’m the disciple Jesus loves.” So are you.

To know his love is to know his grace. They are inseparable. God is gracious because he is love.

Why did Jesus come? He came to reveal the grace of a good God who loves us like a Father. He came to bring us good news of great joy that is for all people.

https://escapetoreality.org/2012/02/02/jesus-reveals-what-is-grace/

Janeyinspires:
Even when I've seen grace-Jesus,I still keep coming here to be sure I'm following the footsteps of grace.

Yes oo

Janeyinspires:
Morning

Morning Janey..

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bennyann:
I salute you my unique bro

Thanx my dear.

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bennyann:
If you haven't visited the religion section, you wouldn't have been inspired to intercede to such extent, so you can't frown at the religion section now. If you don't visit it occasionally, it might become easier to lose the intensity of your intercession.

I noticed you're more concerned about the young ones in Christ, especially those new to this section. You can create threads for them. That's kind of your specialisation for now. You can maintain that or add more to your interest later as long as they bring glory to God and draw some souls to the kingdom.

Some are here to train soldiers in Christ like jiggaz. Some are here at the other side of the battle ground like alBHAGDADI - This guy seems to be chosen for winning souls from Islam and he does it with much passion, knowledge and grace.

Some are here to come face to face with the atheists before they say Christians are close minded and are unreasonable beings. So before they turn others to think they're godless, the soldiers meant for this role are already there to bring to null such counsel. Analice107, felixomor, kingebukasblog etc

Don't leave this section like that. Let it build you, let it give you bones so when you see nairaland in the real world, they won't move your emotions but rather move your spirit to holy anger and move you to bring something positive out of them all. Be someone who can be in the midst of demons, but still know how they reason, because you wouldn't be ignorant of their devices and you can sill stand your ground for Jesus and not be shaken.

My dear, some of us are hell razers. We're sent to hell to lose souls and that role isn't an easy one. This section is not a place for milk dear, but there are people in charge of babies here already. You can decide to be all over.

But I will take your advice, infact we will. Because in all these wars, we shouldn't forget to look into the mirror often and transform ourselves into the image of God while on the battleground. We shouldn't forget to have time to refill our lamp with fresh oil.

Your point is noted dear, but we need you here. We need you strong but spend time alone with God first interceding, till He moves you to come here occasionally or move you to a greater height different from all these.

I see you dear.... Shalom....

Those two i mentioned, it's not as if i was a child when i watched them... i be teenager then. The ones i watched as a child, i can't remember their names.

morning

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twosquare:
These are my lists, mention yours:

- Agbara Nla (Ultimate Power)

- Ise Owo E

- Egun Aimo (This one scare me die)

- Ogun Atile Wa

- Agba Woli

- Alade Okunkun (Can't remember if I watched this)

Cc Lalasticlala, Olaadegbu, oaroloye, jiggaz, CharlyG1, An2elect2

Ultimate Power... Then there was this movie called Anti Christ, its a very old Nollywood movie... I was scared to death cos of what the Anti Christ was doing to people that didn't rapture... it was scary

“We should do everything Jesus said,” is one of the most dangerous and thoughtless doctrines you’ll ever hear. And you’ll only hear it from hypocrites. I guarantee you that those who say we must do everything Jesus said aren’t doing everything He said themselves. Jesus said, “Be perfect” (Mt 5:48). If you are not perfect, then you have no business demanding perfection from others.

Jesus preached words that the whole world needs to hear but you are not the whole world. Some of what He said was meant for other people:

Jesus called the Pharisees sons of hell (Mt 23:15). You are not a son of hell! So why would you heed words meant for the sons of hell?

Jesus also told the Pharisees they belonged to their father the devil (Joh 8:44). You belong to your Father in heaven (1 Jn 3:1). So why would you heed words intended for the devil’s children?

Jesus even preached to the devil (Lk 4). Are you the devil? Then you should not assume that words directed to the devil were meant for you.

Some of what Jesus said was meant for another time. For instance, Jesus preached the law to those born under the law. Since you are not under law, the law that Jesus preached to them is not for you. If you think you must keep the law to be righteous/blessed/holy/forgiven, then you have set aside grace and Christ died for nothing.

Jesus was the greatest law preacher who ever lived. Yet He never preached the law to non-Jews and He didn’t preach it after the cross. In a recent post I explained how and why He preached the law. In my next post I will show you five ways that Jesus also revealed grace. (It’s going to be good!)

Jesus’ law ministry reached its fulfillment on the cross. The law-keeping covenant has come and gone. The new covenant of grace, in contrast, is eternal. As we will see, Jesus’ revelation of grace is as important today as it ever was.

https://escapetoreality.org/2012/01/30/do-everything-jesus-said/

Evening

word

morning

“Don’t stray too far from the red letters,” is a piece of advice often given to new preachers. It means, stay close to the teachings of Jesus and you can’t go wrong. It sounds good, but it’s actually bad advice. Everything Jesus said was good and wonderful, but not everything He said was meant for you. Read the red letters of your Bible and you will find both stories of unprecedented grace and merciless declarations of law. Mix these messages and you will end up confused and double-minded. The solution is not to balance law and grace – you can’t – but to filter everything you read through the finished work of the cross. To make sense of what Jesus said, you need to understand what Jesus did and why.

Jesus lived under law

Jesus lived at the crossroads of two covenants. As humanity’s representative He came to fulfill the old law-keeping covenant in order that we might relate to God through a new and better covenant forged in His blood. Since the new covenant could not begin before He died, Jesus lived all of His pre-cross life under the old covenant of the law:

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Gal 4:4-5)

Jesus was born under law, circumcised by law, and presented in the temple according to the law. Every Jewish person that Jesus met was also born under law. We need to keep this in mind when we read the red letters of Jesus.

What law did Jesus preach?

To those under the law, Jesus preached the pure and unadulterated Law of Moses. When religious people came to trap him with theological puzzles, Jesus would respond with, “What did Moses command you?” (Mk 10:3). If someone asked, “What is the greatest commandment in the law,” Jesus would provide an answer from the law (Mt 22:36). In His law-keeping ministry, Jesus honored the Law of Moses:

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. (Mt 23:2-3)

Since the law-teachers often made Jesus angry, we might conclude that Jesus was opposed to the law. He was not. Jesus had no problem with what the Pharisees were preaching. “Do everything they tell you.” What really burnt His toast was their hypocrisy – they weren’t practicing what they preached:

Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. (Joh 7:19)

Why did Jesus preach the law?

Like every grace preacher, Jesus esteemed the law and the purpose for which it was given. The law was given to silence every mouth and hold the whole world accountable (Rms 3:19). The purpose of the law is to make us conscious of sin and reveal our need for a Savior.

Since Sinai, the Jews had had fourteen centuries to learn what the law would teach them – that the flesh is incapable of dealing with sin. However, the law-teachers and Pharisees had ring-fenced the Law of Moses with their traditions and interpretations. By honoring their traditions ahead of the law, they diluted the law and removed the key to knowledge. As a result, the menace of sin was not fully recognized and the self-righteous weren’t silenced.

If the law had been allowed to do its proper work, the Jews would have been primed and ready for a Savior. Every one of them would have had an experience like the one Paul describes in Romans 7. “Nothing good lives in me. Oh wretched man that I am!” Live under the condemning ministry of the law and you will inevitably come to this question: “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” If the law-teachers and prophets had done their job, then the entire nation of Israel would have gathered outside that stable in Bethlehem in eager expectation. “He’s here! The Savior has come!” they would have said. “The One who will deliver us from the curse of the law and reconcile us to God has been born. Glory to God in the highest!”

Sadly, it didn’t happen. Since the law-teachers had been negligent, Jesus had to do their job before He could do His own. Before He could save the world from sin, He had to preach the law that made sin utterly sinful. Before He give Himself as the answer, He had to make sure we were asking the right question. Who will deliver us?

So Jesus became the greatest law preacher of all time. As the prophet Isaiah had foretold, He made the law magnificent. He lifted up what others had knocked down and raised the standard to glorious levels of perfection. Never again would mankind be without excuse. You want to know what God expects? Just read the Sermon on the Mount. In it Jesus says that God demands perfection and nothing less.

How did Jesus preach the law?

Preaching the red letters of Jesus is a bit like drinking whatever you find in the laundry. If you’re not paying attention – if you fail to distinguish His life-giving words of grace from His death-dealing words of law – then you could really do some damage. Don’t believe me? Then consider these red letters:

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Mat 6:14-15)

This is one of the most-quoted passages in the Bible and it is vintage law. It is a killer scripture. It is not good news. This verse should make us shudder for it says that our forgiveness hinges on our ability to forgive others and we are poor forgivers indeed. Men sin against us repeatedly. Have we honestly forgiven them all? What if we miss one? And what do we say to those who have been raped and abused? What do you say to a young child who has been molested? “Sweetie, you need to forgive that evil man otherwise God won’t forgive you.” That’s not grace. That’s the condemning ministry of the law in full bloom. How do you forgive the unforgiveable? You can’t! Then you’re in trouble. The law condemns you as an unforgiver. Now you’re beginning to recognize your need for grace and this is a good thing.

Any time you read a conditional statement from Jesus, you should interpret it as law. “Do not judge and you will not be judged” (Lk 6:37). That’s good advice but it’s also law. To avoid something (judgment) you have to do something (don’t judge). It’s a blessing you have to pay for. And anytime Jesus makes a threat, you should interpret that as law as well. “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment” (Mt 5:22). That’s bad news for anyone with a brother!

The law is not for you

Jesus came to reveal grace but those who are confident of their own righteousness are incapable of receiving it. They don’t see their need. What they need is the law and Jesus gave it to them in spades. But Jesus’ larger purpose was to give us His life and His righteousness. So He also told stories about God justifying sinners and shepherds finding lost sheep. Then He went to the cross fulfilling the law on our behalf that He might be the end of the law for all who believe (Rom 10:4).

Jesus’ came to set the captives free and give sight to the blind. The law sets nobody free. But the law does reveal your need for a Great Deliverer.


https://escapetoreality.org/2012/01/14/the-greatest-law-preacher/

jiggaz:
Evening

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noted

nnnn

morning

morning

analice107:
And He will preserve you till rapture.
Maranatha. Let Him come.

Amen...

Wilgrea7:
in the Lord's prayer.. i believe it says “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us".. not “forgive us because we believe you sent your son to die for our sins"

Nawa oo you are different then. I have never seen anyone that says he's a Christian but yet deny Jesus. Jesus is the essence of Christianity.