We have taken this digression from Ephesians 1to take a look at the Old and New Covenants. They existed in Old Testament times and New Testament times and are still present in individual believers and churches today. These two covenants represent the spirit of bondage and the spirit of liberty. They existed in the home of Abraham and they existed in God's home, the temple.
First, let's review the scripture about Abraham's home from a New Testament scripture. “It is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants. Abraham and Sara's choice to have a child through Sara's bondservant was a decision made in the flesh, while God brought them the promised child Isaac as they came to wait on God in faith.
It is important for us to recognize that one great cause of weakness in Christians is the Old Covenant spirit of bondage still rules their lives. Nothing but spiritual insight and understanding of the spirit of liberty and wholehearted acceptance and experience of the spirit of liberty of the New Covenant will bring us to that intimate relationship that God desires with each person He created. In Romans, Galatians and Hebrews we repeatedly see how believers were held fast in the bondage of the Old Covenant. In order to come to a full acceptance of our identity in Jesus Christ, we must first understand the implications of living in the freedom of the New Covenant promises. If we live after the flesh and the will of man, we are living in the spirit of bondage. If we choose to live by faith in the promises of God and His power, we live in the spirit of liberty.
This transition can also be seen in the Old Testament teachings of the temple. The priests could enter into the Holy Place to draw near to God. They were not allowed to go into the Most Holy Place because a veil separated these two areas and this veil kept them at a distance. Once a year the High Priest was allowed access into the Most Holy Place to be in God's presence. But we read in the New Testament that at Christ's death this veil was torn, and we are told His blood on the cross gives us full access to enter into His holy presence.
We have been given full access to the presence and throne of God. As it states in Ephesians 1, we are seated with Him in heavenly places. We have a choice to live a double life, living half flesh and half spirit. We can choose to live by our own fleshly self efforts or by the grace of God and the promises which Christ purchased for us with His own blood. As we continue to take a look at Ephesians 1 and the identity we have been given in Christ, let's ask God to help us understand and fully experience deliverance from sin and how to walk in the full power and blessings of the New Covenant promises. The veil has been torn and we have been invited into God's Holy presence. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the mystery of this new birth experience and all we have gained in coming to know Jesus Christ. We truly “belong” to the God of this universe and the security of that is sealed by the Holy Spirit. The spirit of the life that is in Christ Jesus has made us FREE from the spirit of sin and death.
We will continue on Wednesday with our study of Ephesians 1. For more understanding about the two covenants, I recommend E.W. Kenyon's The Blood Covenant and Andrew Murray's Covenants and Blessings.
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