I received an anonymous comment on my last devotional and I appreciate all comments. This devotional is for that one and maybe others who have the same concern.
The Bible is very clear that, at some point in history, the Old Testament or 'covenant' was done away, and the New Testament or 'covenant' was brought into effect by God.
Jeremiah 31:31 reads, "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah."
Hebrews 10:9, "…He takes away the first that He may establish the second."
There are many Bible students who are not sure when the New Testament went into effect. Did it begin at the birth of Jesus? Did it begin at the death of Jesus? Or did it begin on the day of Pentecost when the first gospel sermon was preached following the death of Christ?
The Bible itself answers this question for us.
Hebrews 9:15-17 we read these words as inspired by God's Holy Spirit, "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives."
The Bible teaches that Jesus is like a person who writes a will or "testament." The writer of the testament is referred to as the "testator."
In his will, all of his possessions will be given to those to whom he designates. However, the will does not go into effect until the testator dies. Since Jesus is the testator, His testament did not go into effect until his death.
Therefore, the New Testament went into effect at the cross when Jesus died.
This explains a misunderstanding many have involving the things that men were told to do to be saved in the Bible.
Why was the woman caught in adultery in John 8:11 told to "go and sin no more" and yet Cornelius was "commanded" to be baptized in Acts 10:48?
John 8:11 tells us, "And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
Acts 10:48 we read, "And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."
The answer to this dilemma comes from correctly understanding when the New Testament went into effect. Even though the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are a part of the New Testament canon or writings, they contain the history of the period during Jesus' life leading up to his death.
The book of Acts contains the history of the events that took place just after Jesus' death. So, even though the four gospels are a part of the New Testament canon, the events they contain are at the very end of the Old Testament period of history!
Everyone mentioned in the four gospels, and up to Christ's death, was living under the Old Testament period including the woman taken in adultery; including the thief on the cross with Christ.
Cornelius, on the other hand, lived after the death of Jesus and under the New Testament period of history.
Therefore, because he lived under the New Covenant or New Testament, this is why he was commanded to be baptized.
This is a good example of how Bible students are to "rightly divide the word of truth" when studying the Scriptures.
Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
2 Timothy 2:15, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Now go do the right thing and obey God rather than man-made teachings. God Bless...
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