31 - What DIFFERENCE does it make ?

Let's get down to basics and see what ramifications result from a misguided approach to Scripture - ignoring the "Jesus is Covenant" style. I mean - if it makes NO difference - why even bother ?

First - the issue of Salvation - that seems like something important ! Since Jesus IS Covenant, then HE represents us in Salvation and relationship. Represents is the huge difference maker here. It is also the big difference in meaning. Let's deal with it in several different facets.
1. If Jesus "took the exam and by faith we get HIS results in our folder" we know our "mark" on our spiritual report card. We also keep Jesus as our FOCUS - harmonizing with "In EVERYTHING He has preeminence" Colossians 1:18. Important - but only the beginning. If salvation is not focused on HIM - and His performance - how could we have complete faith IN HIM ? How could we have salvation (Ephesians 2:1-10) "not of ourselves, not of works" and become HIS workmanship ? How could we possibly be saved by the Faith of Christ- what meaning would "Faith in His name" hold for us ? How could the explanation of baptism as "being raised by faith in the working of God" have any validity - as salvation by grace through faith ? (Colossians 2:12) So - my pilgrimage is about being saved by what Jesus did on the Cross - and salvation being paid for at that point - but also that it comes to us as we express our faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Think about those two words - Savior has become a "religious" word - but it originally simply meant "one who delivers" - and Lord means the one who had complete control - like a king or a owner. So - that phrase "by faith in Him" - really does mean what it says it means. Other phrases come alive in this regard as well - "through faith in His blood" (well, maybe we should realize that the phrase meant through faith in His given life or given blood - a representative of a life - in sacrifices and even in covenant ceremony.) BLOOD always represents LIFE - from the blood of Abel - to the blood of animals. The concept is referred to in Hebrews as the author claims that Christ's blood SPEAKS better than the blood of Abel or animals. (Cf. Hebrews 9:11-14; 10:19ff. especially 12:24 and 13:20-21.)

If Jesus is NOT the New Covenant, we have no hope of salvation, no boldness to come before the throne of Grace and no confidence on Judgment day which we SHOULD have - 1 John 4:17. IF HE IS the New Covenant - then our faith in HIM is very much confidence producing; very much assurance producing. AND - our faith IN HIM is very practical - very natural - as confidence in a "Deliverer" like David against Goliath should have been. Please note - Israel may not have had a LOT of faith in David - but once the head of Goliath lay on the ground - they confidently began a Victory mop-up over the Philistines. The Victory over Goliath was REAL and experienced by those who saw their deliverance as a done deal. We should see what Jesus did for us as Savior the same way - a done deal. Get involved in Victory ! Lay claim to what HE accomplished - and enjoy your freedom in Christ - well that means we need to understand that phrase - "in Christ" a little better - our focus for next time - for now - let's just realize one more ramification - in Covenant, people or nations always had a Covenant Ceremony to show what happened. In it they declared what was to happen and what the results would be - that should have been our baptism ceremony - but that got off the track so far - not sure if we even CAN get back to it - think of it like a Marriage Ceremony - which is meant to be a Covenant concept - two people say out loud their intentions and claim each other as husband and wife for FOREVER ! As far as I know - I'm only 65 - but I have never heard a single person who actually thought the wedding ceremony was what bound them together - their personal VOWS do that. The ceremony is to make it PUBLIC and to share the JOY of the occasion with others. Baptism was meant to be a covenant ceremony of making public one's VOWS and surrender to another in identity and loyalty. All of those words are Covenant words.

We miss so much by not allowing the Covenant concepts to be our structure for ceremony of joining with God in Christ ! Again - I have not to this point heard a groom after the ceremony say "I have now earned my wife" - but rather - we have been joined by God to each other ! Well - so many things, so little time - more to come