Truths that save the soul - One Sovereign God, Who is Father

John 5:16-18 "For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working. 18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God."

Introduction: Jesus said what?

A chain of events were set in motion that shifted the hostility of Jesus' enemies into high gear, when Jesus had healed the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda. Whatever their hostilities towards Him were, those animosities were cloaked under religious devotion and pious expression. Something about this particular miracle unleashed the pent up resentment. The Jewish leadership were looking for ways to undercut Jesus' ministry. Luke 6:7 records for example - "The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him." According to commentators, the Jews had devised 39 ritualistic laws concerning what one could do and not do on the Sabbath. Whenever the paralytic man that Jesus healed took up his bed and walked (John 5:8-9), that action broke Jewish religious law #39. 

If breaking of the Sabbath wasn't enough, the straw that would send Jesus' opponents into orbit would be the explanation Jesus gave them concerning why He did the miracle. In short, Jesus claimed to be not only doing the works of God - but, that He was performing such works as One equal in authority, power and glory as the Father. We know that Jesus made claims or did actions that served to demonstrate His identity as the God-man. In claiming the God of Israel as His Father meant that Jesus was setting Himself in an unprecedented category of having "an-in" with Yahweh. The Old Testament scriptures asserted Yahweh as "Father" of the nation of Israel in the sense that He was the God of Israel who had chosen and called them (see Deuteronomy 32:6). For Jesus to say that Yahweh was "His" Father was to express a category that, in Jewish ears, was not only unprecedented but highly inappropriate. In Mark 2:7 we read about the Jewish officials response to Jesus' pronouncement of forgiveness of sins to a man: “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” To say that "God was His Father" was Jesus' saying that He and the Father were equal and One in being whilst being distinct, Divine Persons. 

Today we want to follow Jesus' radical claim of deity. Contrary to what many say, namely - that Jesus never claimed to be God in the course of His earthly ministry - we will discover certain truths that Jesus unfolded that save the soul. Today's post features one of these saving truths: One Sovereign God, Who is Father. 

Saving truth: One Sovereign God, who is the Father

As Jesus expands on His response to the Jewish leadership desiring to persecute Him, He states in John 5:19 "Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." This astonishing statement indicates that Jesus claimed nothing short of being able to behold the Father, Yahweh of Israel - with unmediated, unveiled eyes. According to Deuteronomy 32:39 and other Old Testament passages, no man has ever beheld the face of God and lived. The Jews equated direct experience and seeing of God as grounds for death (see Judges 13:22). Such a truth was the Old Testament's way of drawing the line of division between the Creator and the creation. In Isaiah 6 we find that not even the angels of Heaven have ever directly beheld the face of Yahweh, since they worship Him with wings veiling their faces.  Undoubtedly, John here in John 5:19 is reminding us that Jesus, though being truly man, was also truly God. Only the Son could truly behold the Father, since He shared in the same nature as He (see John 1:1 & 1:18).

As Jesus unfolds this truth of One Sovereign God who is Father, He intersperses His exposition with statements of His own unique relationship with the Father. Jesus never departed from the Old Testament truth that God was indeed One God, One Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Jesus' statements about the Father would had fallen in line with Jewish orthodoxy and with the Old Testament itself - since no one disputed the Deity of Yahweh as "Father". Five particular statements in John 5:21-26 are made by Jesus pertaining to the Father as One Sovereign God that can be traced back to specific Old Testament texts that assert such truths. The Sovereign God, Who is Father.....

1. Raises the dead. John 5:21a and Deuteronomy 32:39.

2. Final Judge of the all the earth. John 5:22; Genesis 18:25b and Daniel 12:2

3. Worthy of worship. John 5:23; 1 Chronicles 16:29

4. Savior alone.  John 5:24 and Isaiah 43:11

5. Self-sufficient. John 5:26 and Psalm 90:2

This first eternal truth "One Sovereign God, Who is Father" is a truth that saves the soul and is central to the Gospel, proclaimed by Jesus and the church today

The affirmation of the Father as the One true and living God is a cornerstone to saving faith. Old Testament texts such as 1 Samuel 2:1-2; Psalm 67:1-2 and Isaiah 43:10-11 affirm the uniqueness of God in His existence and His power to save His people. New Testament texts such as 1 Corinthians 8:6 never backed away from the Jewish affirmation of there only being "One God" or "Monotheism". One Savior. One Creator. Such statements affirmed the unwavering allegiance to the reality of One True and living God as the sole Savior. When the Jews had crossed the Red Sea, the proceeding plagues had served to dismantle the Egyptian polytheism and to show that such deities were fakes that could never save. Pharoah had set himself up as a deity and ended up drowning in the Red Sea. 

When we come to the New Testament, the affirmation of the One true and living God as the cornerstone of saving faith doesn't cease. Hebrews 11:6 notes for example: "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." The historic Christian church has made this great truth part of its confession of the Gospel that saves. For instance, the "Apostle's Creed" begins in this manner: "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth...".1 The Nicene Creed, still recited by many Christians the world-over today, begins in the following fashion: "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible."2 As a more contemporary example, the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 says the following in part about the Father: "God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ." 3

Closing thoughts

As we close out today's post, we have noted Jesus' unfolding of His true identity in John 5:21-26. His astonishing statements regarding His own deity served to present eternal truths that save the soul - the first of which being: "One Sovereign God, Who is Father". This first major truth provides the bedrock for what will be Jesus' revelation concerning His own equality with the Father and thus - His claim to Deity. Such truths are vital for Christians to understand. Without the correct knowledge of who God is and what He is like, Christians cannot identify the work God is doing in their lives. Moreover, the very definition of salvation in the Bible includes this first affirmation of "One Sovereign God, Who is Father". I'll close today with 1 John 5:20 - "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life."

Endnotes:

1. http://www.reformed.org/documents/

2. http://www.reformed.org/documents/

3. http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfm2000.asp

The fruit of kindness

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness".

Introduction
Recently I had lunch with a chaplain of a local Christian ministry in our area. This man shared with me how he often will end-up ministering to some of the harder-to-reach people groups in tough situations. In meeting with this man, I noticed how he had a quality of kindness and gentleness that bespoke of an inner-strength within him. The kindness or gentle-quality of this chaplain went beyond human kindness. In the situations he talked to me about, the most effective way he seemed to build bridges to other-wise hostile people was through the Spirit-given fruit of "kindness" or "gentleness" spoken of by the Apostle Paul in the above passage. What makes such a virtue so precious in the Christian's life? What is meant by the fruit of "gentleness" or "kindness"? Today we want to briefly explore the fruit of kindness.

Christian kindness is connected to God's kindness
Whenever we talk about God's qualities or attributes, theologians often speak of those qualities which He shares with human beings, particularly His people. Such qualities shared between God and His people are called "communicable" attributes. Whenever we say God "communicates" a trait to His people, we are speaking in a comparative fashion, since human beings as His image bearers express those qualities in a creaturely way. So with respect to this Holy Spirit given virtue of "kindness", we find the Bible speaking frequently of God's "kindness" or "gentleness". For example, in Romans 2:4 and Romans 11:22 we read of the "goodness and kindness" of God leading sinners to repentance. At bottom, God is not only "Good", but "Kind". Such kindness or gentleness is far-from a deficiency in God. If anything, God's kindness to His enemies speaks of His goodness. As a matter of fact, God is so-good as to possess an overflow by which He can still show goodness even to those that have no desire to return the favor. The kindness of God speaks to the essence of His grace shown to all men in general and to those who respond to His overtures of grace in particular. 

Based upon what we observe of God's kindness, we could say then that this virtue of kindness or gentleness operates without any underlying motive of expecting kindness in return. Often-times, plain expressions of human kindness proceed on the basis of "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine". With the manner of kindness mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5:22, the kindness or gentleness is an unconditional, no-strings-attached type of kindness. 

Christian kindness is connected to Jesus Christ
In Titus 3:4 we read of how Jesus Christ's incarnation as God in the flesh counts as the "kindness of God" making the ultimate appearance in our world. he whole text of Titus 3:4-5 reads: "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." Christ's very life was a total expression of kindness and gentleness. Again, we musn't conceive of this virtue as meaning Jesus to be some type of weakling. Far from it! To express this sort of kindness and gentleness in the face of situations that were anything but kind or gentle meant that Jesus had control over His response to those around Him. As God, the Person of the Son already had this particular Divine attribute of kindness. Whenever He came in His decisive revelation as the man, Jesus, this Divine quality of kindness was refracted and expressed in and through His perfect humanity. Jesus demonstrated this Spirit-wrought virtue of "kindness" or "gentleness" in its most purest form. As Paul writes in Colossians 3:12-13 "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."

So Christian kindness as a virtue of the fruit of the Spirit is connected to God's kindness and to Jesus Himself. Let's consider one final point about this Spirit-given virtue of kindness....

Christian kindness is needed in our churches and our world
Imagine how people would respond to Christians and the church if this virtue of Spirit-wrought Christian kindness was at the forefront of our dealings? Paul connects this to the task of evangelism, by first noting in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 "And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says,
“At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”. Paul then says later in a few verses in 2 Corinthians 6:4-6 "but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love." Such kindness can speak volumes in our evangelistic efforts.

Or how about in how Christians carry themselves in the culture? In the Old Testament we find the main character Ruth expressing her desire to ultimately marry Boaz in a custom where she approached him to be what was called her "kinsman-redeemer". In such a custom, whenever a widow's husband died, it was appropriate for her to be betrothed and married by her dead's husband closest relative (whether a brother or some other male relative). Such an arrangement meant that the "kinsman" would take on the widow's debts and property, hence "redeeming her". For Boaz, Ruth's expression of "kindness" spoke volumes to him. We read in Ruth 3:10-11 "Then he said, "May you be blessed of the LORD, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. 11"Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence." Such an incredible virtue like Christian kindness can go a long way in establishing one's character and rapport before others. 

Our churches definitely need to have more examples of such a virtue like the fruit of kindness. If for anything, our churches ought to be characterized as centers where people can see a level of kindness unfounded in any part of the world. God's kindness expressed through the Spirit-wrought virtue of kindness can result in influencing others towards Christ. Jesus Himself reminds us in Matthew 5:16  "In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Or again, the Apostle Paul states in 1 Timothy 5:25 reminds us - "Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed."  

Closing thoughts
Today we focused on the fruit of Christian kindness. We saw its importance in how it is connected to God's kindness, Jesus' expression of kindness as God in human flesh and then how our church and world needs this kindness.

The fruit of long-suffering

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness."

Introduction
I am sure you have in your home a "power-strip" to which various electrical-powered devices are connected. Most of the time we find "power-strips" near computers or in kitchens. Such devices have multiple outlets all routed into one cord and plug that in-turn plugs into a wall-outlet. Power-strips enable people to access the power they need through multiple outlets. Whenever we think of the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22, such a list of virtues act as the Holy Spirit's power-strip for the Christian to plug their obedient Christian life into whilst living out their faith.

In past posts we have studied Paul's description of what is termed "the fruit of the Spirit". We have looked at the first three of these fruit: love, joy and peace. One could say that these first three fruit deal with Christian virtues that enable the Christian to relate to God from the inside-out. Today's post will feature the beginning of the second set-of-three in the nine fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 - namely "patience" or as some other translations render, "long-suffering". 

How God's "incommunicable" and "communicable" attributes aid us in understanding the fruit of the Spirit
One of the truths we learn about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 is that they are virtues born-forth by the Holy Spirit in the Christian who attends to following in obedience in Jesus Christ. Since the Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity, He connects the Christian to those virtues and qualities that makes Christ-likeness possible. The particular virtue of "long-suffering" or "patience" can be better understood in connection with what we term God's "communicable attributes". 

One of the most profound studies one can undertake is to consider the attributes of God. Attributes are those expressions and traits of God's very being by which He expresses Himself. When God acted in history toward His people, He would reveal to them a quality or feature of His very being by which they could behold and worship Him. Theologian Elmer L. Towns notes the following about God's attributes on page 98 of his "Theology for Today":

"The nature of God defines his existence, whereas the attributes of God reflect His nature through attitudes, actions and points of relationship with His creation/creatures."

As theologians have studied the being and character of God by way of His attributes, two general categories have been offered to try to handle the subject. The first of these are what we call God's "incommunicable" attributes and the second type of attributes are termed "communicable". To negatively illustrate these words in a different context, we all know what a "communicable" disease like a cold-virus is all about. One can be at work or school and someone can suddenly sneeze on you. The next day, you find yourself exhibiting similar symptoms as the person from whom you caught or had "communicated" the cold. Thankfully, ailments such as cancer are "incommunicable", which means, they cannot be transferred by human contact. 

To positively illustrate these same words, what happens when an excited parent places gifts underneath a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and the children open such presents the next day? The excitement of the parent is somehow communicated to the children at the sight of those gifts. Now if there is a goldfish in that same room, that goldfish will be no more excited by the opening of the presents than if it were any other day. Such experiences are "incommunicable" with respect to the fish.

With God and His relationship to human beings, we understand that their are some attributes which (by analogy, mind-you), we share to-a-certain extent with God. In other words, there are attributes of God that are "communicable" and others attributes that are "incommunicable". Hence, Divine attributes such as infinity are "incommunicable", since only God is infinite. However, other attributes, like "long-suffering", is a moral quality that finds its comparative expression in the Christian. 

What God's long-suffering or patience communicates to the Christian who partakes of the fruit of "long-suffering"
God is described in scripture as a "long-suffering" or "patient" God (Exodus 34:6; Romans 2:4; 1 Peter 3:20). Other passages in the Bible describe Christians as being able to express "long-suffering" or "patience" as well (2 Timothy 3:10). Old Testament believers, such as the prophets, exercised "long-suffering" or "patience" (James 5:10), with Job offered as a chief example (James 5:11). Certainly we find passages that indicate that God's communicable attributes, like "long-suffering", are to be expressed by believers. Romans 15:4-6 describes how the scriptures connect God's communicable attribute of long-suffering to us: "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Further study reveals that Jesus Himself is the contact point between us and Himself in Hebrews 12:3 "For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." God's long-suffering in the Spirit's working gives us a spiritual "long-fuse" with which to handle life, challenges and provides the power to endure hardship. 

Closing thoughts
As we considered the fruit of "long-suffering" or "patience", we discovered that by considering God's communicable attribute of "long-suffering", we can better understand this particular fruit. We also discovered that long-suffering is a vital virtue for the Christian, since it gives us the tools we need to persevere, the wisdom to handle life's challenges and the strength to look to Jesus - our Mediator. 

P5 - What the Christian "has" to live for God - Promise of a heavenly home

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Introduction:
Over the last few days, we have considered what Jesus gives the Christian to live the Christian life. Whenever it comes to the Christian life, the New Testament urges the Christian to understand what all they have in Christ. The world, the flesh and the Devil work hard to detract followers of Jesus from their true identity. In 2 Corinthians 3-4 we find at least four things in the Christian's possession. We have noted three of them in the last few posts...

1. Positional Standing with God. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

2. Power to live for God. 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1

3. Person of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:2-12

Today we aim to finish out our series on what the Christian "has" with respect to living the Christian life. We will look at the fact the the Christian has a fourth important resource for living a life for God in this world, namely the promise of a heavenly home. 

The nasty here-and-now and the sweet-by-and-by
The first three resources have to do with living the life of faith in this world. With that noted, what else does the Christian "have". The Christian life is undoubtedly lived out in this world, yet, it is not just about this world. There is a world beyond this world that presses in on the Christian. The Old Testament prophets often spoke about the Heaven, eternity and the destiny of believers in faint outlines. When Jesus came on the scene, the reality of Heaven was brought to bear and the tangibility of such an "other-worldly" reality was shown to had "broken-into" our world by the coming of Jesus. The New Testament letters grant us even further exposition on the realities and glories of Heaven, with the Book of Revelation devoting entire chapters on the subject. 

When it comes to the subject of eternity, we find in the Christian a seed of hope that cause one to pine for the world-to-come. The late Dr. Adrian Rogers once remarked that the Christian life is not only about life in the sweet-by-and-by, but also about the nasty-here-and-now. Undeniably, the Apostle Paul is keenly aware of the "nasty-here-and-now" in 2 Corinthians 4:2-12. He switches gears and writes about the reality of the Christian's heavenly home driving them onward towards godly-living. In 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 we find the leverage of his argument for our heavenly home, with 2 Corinthians 4:17 being the fulcrum: "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." This reference to the "sweet-by-and-by" contrasts with the present hardships. According to the Apostle Paul, the believer's heavenly home is without compare. 

What the New Testament has to say about the Christian's heavenly home
We know from other scriptures that the concept of Heaven being likened unto a city is found throughout the Biblical authors. According to Hebrews 11:9-10, Abraham the patriarch had been in search of it through faith. We as Christians are already designated a citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem above (Galatians 4:26; Philippians 3:20). Presumably these references are talking about the "third heaven" where believers in the Lord go when they die in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:5-6; 12:4).

The scriptures speak also of what will be a "New Heavens and a New Earth" (1 Peter 3:13). Jesus then told his disciples in John 14:1-3 that He is going away to "prepare a place" which we can presume to be the grand city described in Revelation 21 and 22. The whole point of Revelation 21-22 is to demonstrate that God in Christ with His people will come to tabernacle, and thus Heaven will characterize earth and earth's physical nature will characterize Heaven in the Eternal glory of those chapters.

A quick tour of the New Jerusalem
The place we call "Heaven" right now will no doubt be glorious. However, whenever we think of the New Heavens and Earth being prepared for by the Savior, we find a reality that will be even better than the current place called Heaven. We first of all note it is a Heavenly city (Revelation 21:10-11). This is most likely the same city spoken of by Jesus in John 14:1-3. 

As a heavenly city, it is secondly a costly city, composed of solid diamond gemstones (Revelation 21:12) and other costly materials such as gems and transparent gold (21:15-20). 

Thirdly it is a promised city, as seen by the names of the patriarchs and apostles inscribed on its gates and foundations (Revelation 21:13-14).

The fourth thing we can note about this city is its size: 1500 miles in each direction, with the same length characterizing its height. Quite literally this is a cube that is the size of North America or most of Europe. The height of this city has led many sound interpreters to conclude that the city may be composed of multiple stories and levels. To wonder if there would be enough space to live, some rough calculations yield that if the New Jerusalem, with all of its levels being a mile of distance from top to bottom (and this 1500 levels high) had tracts of space laid out for 8 billion people, each person would easily have 250 acres! What we must realize of course is that God is a big God and that the whole point of large proportions in any of His creations is to display His glory (Compare Psalm 19:1-6).

So in being a heavenly, costly and promised city that is quite grand in scope, we can notice yet another trait, fifthly that this city is a God-centered city (21:22-25). In as much as its studded gemstones and unfathomable beauty describe the New Jerusalem, without God as the light and the Lamb as the light, this city would never shine, would never be precious and would never be grand. 

We can note yet another trait, number six, that this city will be a life giving city (22:1-5). Notice how this city has a healing tree, a river of life and unending light.

So let us quickly review what we have noticed thus far about the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:9-22:5

1. Heavenly City
2. Costly City
3. Promised City
4. Large city
5. God-centered City
6. Living City

Why our heavenly home is cause for living the Christian life in this world

The New Testament visions of the believer's future heavenly home spark a rich desire to live for God in the here and now. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:18 "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." Christians are a people that are ever pulled in two directions. The "outer-man" in these verses tugs our soul into this reality, this world. We often find ourselves tethered to making a living so as to nearly forget what life's meaning is all about. We are decaying and fading away. The other direction is the pull of the "inner-man" in these passages. The realities of eternity burn ever-brighter in the spirit of a man. Caught in the middle of this ongoing tug-of-war is our soul - the seat of personality, emotions, mind and choices. 

To know that as a Christian, I have a heavenly home, drives me onward to live for God. I find in these verses the supreme explanation as to why one must endure the hardships of life as a Christian. God is fitting us for eternity. Would it be that the believer's heavenly home lead their gaze of faith to point upward to Jesus. 

Closing thoughts

These last several days have been devoted to exploring what the Christian "has" to live the Christian life. We've noted four main truths from 2 Corinthians 3-4:

1. Position with God

2. Power to live for God

3. Person of Jesus Christ

4. Promise of a heavenly home 

P4 - What the Christian "has" to live the Christian life - Person of Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

Introduction:
Over the last few days, we have considered what Jesus gives the Christian to live the Christian life. Whenever it comes to the Christian life, the New Testament urges the Christian to understand what all they have in Christ. The world, the flesh and the Devil work hard to detract followers of Jesus from their true identity. In 2 Corinthians 3-4 we find at least four things in the Christian's possession. We have noted two of them in the last two posts...

1. Positional Standing with God. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

2. Power to live for God. 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1

Today's post is going to continue by noting the third and perhaps most important blessing Jesus could give to the Christian - namely Himself. Thus we find that the Christian "has"...

Person of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:2-12
In the opening passage of today's post we discover the profound truth about our salvation: we don't merely receive grace as some type of abstract power from God to live the Christian life. Instead, we obtain the Person of Jesus Himself. In the argument of 2 Corinthians 3, Paul reminded his readers that they are heirs along with him of the New Covenant promises in Jesus. Indeed, the Christian receives a positional standing in God at saving faith. Such positional standing is what the New Testament refers to as "justification", which is to say - God's legal declaration and crediting of the sinner as having Christ's righteousness at saving faith. 

But then we also found that with the position comes the power to live the Christian life by way of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. All of these wondrous truths are spelled out in the New Covenant promises predicted in Old Testament passages like Jeremiah 31:31-34, proclaimed by Jesus Himself as the Mediator of the New Covenant in Luke 22 and initiated in the church at Pentecost in Acts 2. 

To have position with God and power from the Holy Spirit is indeed remarkable to think about when it comes to how we live the Christian life in a hostile world. However, we have the remarkable truth elaborated in 2 Corinthians 4 that we also have the Person of Jesus Christ. To have Him with us through the Holy Spirit's ministry is cause for wanting to renounce the world and its allurements and embrace Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Treasure (2 Corinthians 4:1-4). Once the blinders are taken off by God through the hearing of the proclamation of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:5), it is at that juncture that Christ is brought to us, and we to Him, by the agency and work of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Though Christians have the Person of Christ in this life, no one said it was going to be an easy life
2 Corinthians 4:7 notes the "treasure" we have contained within these "earthen vessels" of our humanity - "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves." The "treasure" that Paul refers to points back to the prior verse which makes mention of the "glory of God revealed on the face of Jesus Christ". 

Christ Himself is the treasure. We have Jesus in terms of all He achieved, all that He is in His ascended glory and Person and all His activities that He works forth on our behalf. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary makes the following observation:

"Self was not the matter or the end of the apostles' preaching; they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer, who saves to the uttermost all that come to God through him. Ministers are servants to the souls of men; they must avoid becoming servants to the humours or the lusts of men. It is pleasant to behold the sun in the firmament; but it is more pleasant and profitable for the gospel to shine in the heart. As light was the beginning of the first creation; so, in the new creation, the light of the Spirit is his first work upon the soul. The treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels."

Albert Barnes in his commentary on this text observes:

"Paul in the previous verses had spoken of the gospel, the knowledge of Jesus Christ, as full of glory, and infinitely precious. This rich blessing had been committed to him and his fellow-laborers, to dispense it to others, and to diffuse it abroad. His purpose in this and the following verses is, to show that it had been so entrusted to them as to secure all the glory of its propagation to God, and so also as to show its unspeakable value."

We have the Savior, delivered to us by way of the Gospel by the Person of the Holy Spirit. With that truth affirmed by the apostle, why then must this treasure have included the hardships of trial and testing? After summarizing all that he and his ministry partners had to endure for Jesus' sake, Paul notes in 2 Corinthians 4:10 "always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." 

It is quite interesting how, in the ancient world, to access various substances of great value, their less valuable containers would need to be broken. A rose's scent, when crushed underfoot, would emit its sweet aroma. In Luke 7:36-39, when the woman with the alabaster box of perfume poured such upon Jesus' head, she had to break the alabaster box that contained that valuable perfume. Or again, we find Mary in John 12:1-3 pouring a type of perfume called "nard", which could only be accessed by the breaking of the small vessel she had with her. 

So Paul closes out with these words in 2 Corinthians 4:11-12 "For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you." The Christian life has as its treasure Jesus Christ in the Gospel. The point Paul is making though is that such a treasure must needs be accompanied by the testings and trials for it to be distributed to those who find no value in it. Once the treasure of Christ in the Christian is unleashed, God's grace by His Spirit attends such a life devoted to Him. Christ is disseminated among those who are lost. Saving faith issues forth from such hearts that respond to such overtures of grace from God through the believer. 

Closing thoughts
Today we considered how the Christian has the treasure of Christ in the Gospel. The Christian is an earthen vessel. We have Christ and all He is and all He has done and all He is doing. He our prophet speaks to us through the scriptures. He our Priest prays ever for us and appeals to the Father on our behalf. He as our King reigns over us by the scepter of His Word. Thanks be to God, Jesus Christ is not hermetically sealed off in history nor in Heaven. By the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, the Person and work of Jesus is made available to the Christian. In sharing with the Deity of the Spirit, the Person of Jesus as truly God is enjoyed. In like-manner, though the Son's glorified humanity is localized in Heaven, yet by the Spirit's work, His humanity is also enjoyed by His people who are united to Him in saving faith. We enjoy the whole Savior, deity and humanity - and rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ is accessible to us 24/7. By the Gospel of Jesus we have the royal decree of the King concerning His commitment and love to us. 

P3 What the Christian "has" - power to live for God

2 Corinthians 4:1 "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart."

Introduction:
In yesterday's post we considered what the Christian "has" in Jesus Christ. We first of all noted that the Christian has a position before God. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 states: "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God." Today's post wants to consider a second reality possessed by the Christian - namely "power to live for God". 

Energy to run
I'll admit that I'm one of those crazy people who love to run. About every morning I lace up the shoes and go out for a good 5 mile run. Admittedly, when I crawl out of bed, my body is tired and tempted to crawl back into bed. However, I grab hold of a special can of power that, when mixed with water, provides energy. Such a mix is called "pre-work-out" powder. Once I have consumed that liquid, in 30 minutes the sleepiness is gone and I'm ready to hit the road or treadmill. 

Whenever it comes to living the Christian life, we have a continuous power-source on the inside - the Person of the Holy Spirit. The Christian life is a marvelous life not only because of one's positional standing before God, but also because of the power to live it and proclaim it. 

The need for power to live for God
Paul refers to the "ministry" he and his readers had a share in with respect to the great commission and the commonality of Christian experience. The question is: what was the ministry of which he spoke? When one traces back through 2 Corinthians 3, we come to 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

The ministry in which we all share is none-other than the Holy Spirit working in and through the Christian to point them and others to Jesus. Such a task is impossible in the flesh. However, whenever we think of how much the Holy Spirit works in the Christian to empower them, we find out the blessing of what we have - power to live!

As one goes back further to 2 Corinthians 3:6, we find Paul making the comment of how the Holy Spirit gives life. Indeed, we are reminded of the miracle of the New Birth granted by the Holy Spirit at saving faith. Then Paul traces through a comparison between what is called "the ministry of death" vs what will be the ministry of which he describes the Christian having. 

Moses in the Old Testament represents what the Bible calls "the Old Covenant" and giving of the law. The Law of God, summarized in the Ten Commandments and their attendant subsidiary commands, ceremonies and rituals - was meant to express what God expected of His people. The Law of God demanded the people to be a holy people, demanded that the people forsake their worldly ways and demanded that the people worship God. The Old Covenant or law provided a context in which the Old Testament saint (saved by grace alone through faith alone in the promise of God) could live out their walk with God. 

The problem was that the Old Covenant was never designed to impart life. Instead, whenever the Old Testament believer would interact with the Law of God or Old Covenant, all they could conclude was that they could not live out what God had commanded. Paul speaks of how the law of God was intended to show "sin-as-sin" and point to the need for grace. In Romans 7:7-12 we read:

"What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good."

The Old Covenant or law of God could only command and demand, but not deliver and create the power necessary to live the Godly life. Indeed, the Old Testament believer drew what they could from the promises and prophecies about the coming Messiah, as well as the Holy Spirit's ministrations in the Old Testament. Indeed, the saints of God did have "the Spirit of Christ" as described in 1 Peter 1:10-11 "As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow." However, it was very clear: the Old Testament's pattern for the walk of faith was in need of an upgrade. 

My computer will once in a while have a little box pop-up, informing me that it wants to install "up-grades". Now I'll admit, whenever I'm working on something and that little box suddenly appears, I push it off until a later time. But do you know, once the computer has done its upgrading, it works better and is able to handle more demanding tasks. 

Power to live for God
Paul's point in 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1 is that the ministry which Moses had was no-doubt glorious. He had came off of Sinai with the glory of God on his face (Exodus 34:29-35). The problem was though was that the glory with which he had on his face would soon begin to fade. One writer has noted that the veil he placed over his face was not so much intended to curb the fear of the people in seeing his face glow, but instead, to prevent them from seeing what was the fading away of such glory. Whenever people buy flowers, the florist will sometimes spray the bouquet with a special solution that promotes longevity. The enjoyment of the flowers is prolonged. As we all know, after a week or so, the flowers fade and wither way. 

But to think that for the Christian, there is no a limitation of power, but unlimited. Paul's point is to show us that unlike Moses and the people of the Old Testament, we can behold and enjoy the glory of God that won't fade. The Holy Spirit is the Agent of such power. Jesus describes Him as being likened unto a fountain of living water springing up inside the Christian (John 7:37-39). The Christian is commanded to be filled-by, led-by and influenced by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16,25). We have the power of the Holy Spirit made available to us by obedience (Acts 5:32); prayer (Luke 11:11-13) and taking in of the scriptures (Colossians 3:16). 

Closing thoughts
Thus when we arrive again at 2 Corinthians 4:1, we understand then the nature of the ministry we "have": namely the ministry of the Spirit Himself working in us and through us. The Holy Spirit's main task is to make me in experience whom I already declared to be in position by God. We tie together our position in justification and process of sanctification by the daily, living reality of surrender and obedience to the known will of God that welcomes the Holy Spirit to fill-us anew. He will empower-us with what we need to understand the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:10-13); excel in prayer (Romans 8:26); witness to unsaved loved ones and friends (Acts 1:8) and live out the daily realities, struggles and triumphs, disappointments and joys of this thing we call the Christian life. Amazingly enough, as we live by the power of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we discover that all along it is He living the life through us! 

P2 What the Christian "has" - positional standing with God

2 Corinthians 3:4 "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God."

2 Corinthians 4:1 "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart."

Introduction
I'm sure readers can remember the first car they ever had the privilege of either purchasing or being purchased for them. After my first year in Bible College, my father and I went down to a used car lot to look over some potential automobiles. It had become very clear that I needed a car to drive the two hour trip to and from college to home. When we started meandering our way up and down the rows of pre-owned vehicles - there it was: a 1979 yellow Pontiac Firebird. I remember begging and pleading with my dad for that car. Sure, it was faded in the paint, the tires were worn and the motor was on its last leg; nevertheless, it still had the famous Phoenix (which by now was a little faded, or is it my memory of the car?). Anyway, my dad denied my request. Instead, we ended up purchasing a 1988 Ford Tempo, like the one pictured below:


At the time I was not completely happy with the choice of the Ford Tempo, but as always, my dad knew best. As I got to driving that car, I began to realize what I truly had. For one thing, that little car was unbeatable in the snow. The gas mileage was great for a guy like me who lived on a shoe-string budget. Truly to have my own set of wheels made the initial disappointment fade away. My wife and I had that little Tempo as our first vehicle. I'll admit the day we had to sell that car was a sad day. It had been a good little car. 

Whenever it comes to the Christian life, the New Testament urges the Christian to understand what all they have in Christ. We may at times be tempted by the world, the flesh and the Devil. Yet, all three conspire to detract followers of Jesus from their true identity. In 2 Corinthians 3-4 we find at least four things in the Christian's possession. Today's post will cover the first - positional standing with God.

1. Positional Standing with God. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6
When the Christian understands who they are and whose they are in Jesus Christ, they realize that they are accepted in Him. God accepts the Christian due to the fact that at salvation, His life and achievement were exchanged for my sin and rebellion. On the cross, Jesus had already exchanged Himself for me so that He could be treated as the chief of sinners (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). 

So what does the Christian have in their new position with God in Jesus Christ? Whenever we survey 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 and other passages, we discover the following:

a. New Heart. 2 Corinthians 3:3 "being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

b. New role. 2 Corinthians 3:6 "who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

c. New Guest. 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

d. New Wealth. Ephesians 2:6-7 "and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

e. New identity. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."

f. New Address. Philippians 3:20 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." 

The Christian is valuable to God due to who they are in Christ and what He is expressing Himself to be in them. Now when we look through 2 Corinthians 3:1-6, we find Paul making mention of how the Holy Spirit as written on our hearts in such a way as to make us a living epistle or "letter" of Jesus Christ. 

In my desk drawer is an envelope with my late-father's handwriting. Do you know that what makes that envelope so precious? it is not the paper, nor the ink; instead, its knowing that he had written on that envelope. Do you know dear Christian what makes you valuable in God's sight? your new life in Jesus. As a Christian, your life has upon it the handwriting of Deity. The Holy Spirit began writing on your heart at the moment of saving faith. The Father had planned from all eternity what He was going to do in His loving intentions toward you (Ephesians 1:4-5; 2 Peter 1:1). He sent His Son to purchase you (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 4:10) and His Spirit in the Son's name to call you to Himself (John 16:8-12). Ever since the beginning of your salvation, God had declared you worthy by justification. The Spirit of God is working forth a process, called sanctification, whereby He is conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ. Once God begins writing His letters on your heart - those words of love cannot be erased, nor repealed. 

So in Jesus Christ, the Christian has a position with God. In the next post we will consider a second thing possessed by the Christian - power for living. 

P1 Four things that the Christian "has" to live for God

2 Corinthians 3:4 "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God."

Introduction:
The last several days have been devoted to discovering how it is we have our adequacy in God. Such a discussion speaks to "who we are" and "whose we are" in God, in Christ. As one begins to scan the remainder of 2 Corinthians 3 and 4, we find four particular possessions which the Christian has from God. 

Now before we get underway into this line of thinking, an illustration can be offered to help orientate our thinking. I can recall years ago when one of the great-American past-times was inviting your friends or neighbors to come and take a ride in your new car. Whenever we would take such rides, the fresh aroma of "new-car" smell and the glimmer of gadgets would fill our senses. Such experiences served to discover what all different sorts of "options" were possessed by the owner. 

Whenever it comes to the Christian life, the New Testament urges the Christian to understand what all they have in Christ. The world, the flesh and the Devil work hard to detract followers of Jesus from their true identity. In 2 Corinthians 3-4 we find at least four things in the Christian's possession. In other words, there are four things that the Christian "has"....

1. Positional Standing with God. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

2. Power to live for God. 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1

3. Person of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:2-12

4. Promise of a heavenly home. 2 Corinthians 4:13-18. 

Over the next several days, I would like us to explore these four wonderful areas possessed by all Christians. The main thought will be that once we understand what we have in God through Jesus Christ, we will be less inclined to fret over and get distracted by what the world, the flesh and the Devil tells us that we need to "have".  

More tomorrow...

How God's Covenants Guarantee our adequacy in God

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

Introduction
Yesterday we considered how the Christian comes to find their adequacy in God. We noted that the way in which we discover such adequacy is by three interrelated truths:

1. Indwelling Holy Spirit
2. Identity in Jesus Christ
3. Empowerment to do God's will

Today we want to note the guarantee we have that we can find our adequacy in God. The Apostle Paul connects our adequacy in God to the concept of covenant. All that was looked at in yesterday's post has its guarantee from God by what Paul unfolds for us here in 2 Corinthians 3 and chapters 4 and 5 - namely the New Covenant.

God's covenant making relationships with His people expresses His guarantee of finding our guarantee in Him
God is a covenant making God. A covenant in the Bible refers to a binding agreement made between two people or two parties. We see all sorts of examples in the Bible where God made covenants with His creation (Jeremiah 33:19-20); Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15, 20-21); Noah (Genesis 9); Abraham (Genesis 12;15;17;22); Moses and Israel (Exodus 19-20); David (2 Samuel 7:13-16) and Israel (Jeremiah 31). Without question, God's relationship with His people was expressed in terms of covenant. After all, covenantal language was something the people would had readily understood, since the ancient world included the idea of covenants made between various people.

We can note elsewhere in the New Testament how God's covenantal promises (connected to what the Old and New Testaments refer to as His "New Covenant") provides the guarantee of our adequacy in God. Hebrews 9:11-15 states: But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"   

By the Person and work of the Lord Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant, we find in His achievements on the cross and from the empty tomb the basis for our adequacy. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit's application of Christ's achievements at salvation grants us the experience of this adequacy. As Hebrews 9:15 summarizes: "For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."

Closing thoughts Truly this concept of "covenant" unlocks for us avenues into which we can begin to understand the relationship God's people have with Him, and He with them. The concept of "covenant" sheds much light on explaining how we have the guarantee that our adequacy is indeed in God as revealed in Jesus Christ. In each of the covenants of scripture we find the identity and confidence of God's people anchored in the God who made covenants with them. 

Why God used covenants in the Bible

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

Introduction
Yesterday we began considering how God's covenant-keeping-relationship with His people guarantees our adequacy in Him. I thought we would dive a little deeper into what the Bible has to teach us about the nature of covenant, how we see various covenants expressed in the scripture, and how they relate to us today with respect to finding our adequacy in God.

The nature of covenants 
In the Old Testament we see examples of covenants made between people like Jacob and his uncle Laban in Genesis 31:43-55. In a typical covenant, there would first be some sort of preamble or rehearsing of the prior history of relationship between the two people (Genesis 31:43-44). Next we would see a visible sign to indicate that the relationship and exchange of promises were being made (Genesis 31:45-47,51). Thirdly, oaths, promises and sanctions were verbalized to express blessings and curses associated with the keeping of or the breaking of the covenant (Genesis 31:48-50, 53-54). In the oath-making part of the covenant, it was common for the parties to evoke the name of God so as to communicate the binding nature of the relationship. Then finally, there was the reaffirmation of the covenantal agreement, with both parties agreeing to the terms (Genesis 31:51-55). 

How we see various covenants expressed in the Bible
Such a covenantal arrangement like the one we see in Genesis 31:43-55 was common in the ancient world. Such a covenant was called a "conditional-covenant", meaning "I do my part, you do your part". The one major example of a "conditional covenant" we see God making with Israel is in terms of the blessings and cursings He issued forth in the covenant at Sinai at Exodus 19-23. For the people to enjoy the relationship of which God was prepared to have with them, there needed to be a response on their part. As theologian Michael Horton notes on page 543 of his systematic theology: 

"Conditioned as it was on Israel's faithfulness, the theocratic kingdom was shakable, as the exile - and the destruction of the temple - testified." 

We do find of course that the Mosaic Covenant was not just strictly a pure conditional covenant. The blessings and cursings were connected to the wider backdrop of what God unconditionally pledged to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Such promises were initially to be fulfilled by Israel, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, inaugurated in the life of the church today and will at Christ's return be expressed when Israel is restored as a nation. The person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the key to fulfilling all the promises and covenants God made with His people. Michael Horton again notes:

"However, the kingdom has been inaugurated in Christ's death and resurrection is inviolable. It has come, is coming, and will one day come in all its fulness". 

There were of course covenants which entailed a superior party agreeing to provide both the basis and means of fulfillment in the covenant. In other words, whenever a weaker party had no way of bringing about the goals of the relationship, the stronger party would pledge to bring about the outcomes desired in the covenant upon pains of great cost to them. In most extreme cases, the greater party would pledge themselves to suffer the curses if in the event they broke the covenant. These types of covenants were deemed "unconditional covenants". 

Usually such a covenant would be symbolized by the stronger of the two people walking through slaughtered animals as proof of their commitment. In Genesis 15 we find God making such an "unconditional covenant" with Abraham. The prophet Jeremiah also makes mention of such a ritual in Jeremiah 34. The Reformation Study Bible notes: 

"As other Ancient Near Eastern texts and Jeremiah 34:18 indicate, by passing between the torn animals (signifying the punishment due those who break the covenant) God invokes a self-maledictory oath or curse upon Himself should He fail to keep His covenant. Because He could swear by no higher authority, God swears by Himself to keep the covenant terms."

How the New Covenant replaced the Old Covenant and how it guarantees our adequacy in God
Thus when God made His covenant with Abraham and His descendants, He was making an unconditional covenant. Certainly the Mosaic Covenant at Sinai was designed to regulate the terms of the relationship between God and His people. In as much as the Mosaic Covenant (called later in scripture "The Law" and in the New Testament "The Old Covenant") served to spell out what kind of life the people of God were to live in relationship to God, it could not grant the power to live such a life. Such a covenant was designed to show the people how inadequate they were to pull-off the promises given to them by God. 

In short, the point of the Old Covenant was that the people of God needed God - since He is their adequacy! The Old Covenant could only demand that people find their adequacy in God, but could never deliver the desire to pursue Him as such. 

Closing thoughts: How the New Covenant connects us to Jesus, Who is our adequacy in God (since He Himself is God in human flesh)
Thus when we come to later passages like Isaiah 12; Jeremiah 31-33; Ezekiel 20; 36-37 and Joel 2:28-31, we find God had intended all along to issue forth a second covenant, a new covenant, that would provide the power needed to live for Him! Hebrews 8-9 explain why there was a need for the New Covenant, since the Old Covenant could not empower the people to see their adequacy in God. Instead, all the Old Covenant could do was point and demand the people to find in God their sufficiency and completion. This is why Paul makes such a big deal of his calling (and really every Christian's calling) to be sharers and ministers in the New Covenant. Our adequacy in God results from what Jesus achieved on our behalf. Remarkably, all who follow Him in saving faith have the opportunity to participate in the blessings of the New Covenant which He won for them and to find their adequacy in God.