But one of the elders said, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has prevailed to open the scroll and loose its seven seals." - Revelations 5:5

« Doctrines :: What do you know about the New Covenant?

What do you know about the New Covenant?
 
1. What is a covenant? A covenant is a binding agreement between two or more people.
2. Are there any differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?
The New Covenant completely replaced the Old Covenant. 2 Corinthians 3:2-18; Ephesians 2:14-17; Hebrews 7:1-28; Hebrews 8; Hebrews 9:12-28; Hebrews 10
3. What were the most important or essential laws to follow under the Old Covenant? List any specifically if you can.
There are over 3000 laws in the Old Covenant. The Sabbath (Saturday) is just one example. On it, you shall not do “any work”-- you, your son or your daughter, male of female servant, or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you… shall surely be put to death. If you erred in ONE, you were guilty of all. (James 2:10)
4. Are the laws the same under the New Covenant?
No, the Old Covenant was fulfilled by Christ’s death, and replaced with the New Covenant, a better covenant enacted on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)
5. What are the most important or essential laws to follow under the New Covenant? List any specifically if you can.
Acts 15:19-29; Acts 21:25 (no greater burden than these Essentials…)
6. Who was the Old Covenant written to? ONLY Jews
7. Who was, and is, the New Covenant written to?
Anyone who believes, but there is s difference in Jewish and Gentile believers and what laws they are to follow.
8. Are Gentiles to follow the basic laws of the Old Covenant? No, Gentiles are free from the Laws of Moses and from circumcision. (Acts 15)
9. Are Jews to follow the basic laws of the New Covenant?
If they have accepted Jesus, they are as free from the Law of Moses as we are. All Jews, without Christ, are out of Covenant anyway because they have no way to atone, even under the Old Covenant (no temple).
10. What is the foundation of the Old Covenant?
The Mosaic Laws and circumcision
11. Is the foundation of the New Covenant different? If yes, list what you think the difference is.
Ephesians 3:1-7; Hebrews, Chapters 5-12 We ALL are now priests and we ALL are heirs to the promise made to Abraham. Christ died once and for ALL.
12. What do you think is the most important book of the Old Covenant?
13. What do you think is the most important letter, epistle or book of the New Covenant? Explain briefly why it is so important.
We believe it is the book of Acts, because it lays the foundation for the four decrees and sets the pattern whereby we may rightly divide the Word of Truth in the rest of the New Covenant.
14. Is there any one letter, epistle or book that you know that ties all of the others together? If yes, what is it?
The Acts of the Apostles.
15. What is the Law of Moses? The Pentateuch, or Torah--the first 5 books of the Old Covenant.
16. Is there one letter, epistle or book that Paul delivered to all the cities? Is there one that all were built upon or around? If yes, which one? Acts 15:23-29
17. Can you name the cities or regions Paul and Timothy visited?
Follow the pattern in the book of Acts, beginning in Chapter 15, verse 30 and continue.
18. When did the Jews receive the Holy Spirit? Acts 2
When did the Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit? Acts 10
Did it all occur at the same time? If yes, when did it occur?
(Can you back up your belief with scripture, or are you stuck in a manmade church doctrine with no scriptural or HISTORICAL proof?) They occurred 7-10 years apart.
19. Did the Jews still sacrifice in the tabernacle after Pentecost? Yes. Acts 21
20. Can the Jews sacrifice today? Explain.
Not within Old Covenant law. Even at the time of Jesus, they were out of covenant. The ark was no longer present. They could not, and cannot, atone. (Hebrews 9:15-28, esp.24.) The ark was a mere copy of the heavens. If the temple is restored, JEWISH BELIEVERS IN JESUS WILL BE PERMITTED TO MAKE ANIMAL SACRIFICES.
21. Can Gentiles offer blood sacrifices? Explain.
No. Look at the four decrees. Acts 15: 19-29 Abstain from blood.
22. What is a Jew? A Jew is a descendant of the son of Noah, Shem. Genesis 11:10-32 and a descendent of Abraham.
What is a Gentile? Anyone not physically born a Jew
23. Who was the first Gentile convert in Europe?
A certain woman named Lydia, in the city of Thyatira, in Macedonia (Acts 16:14)
24. The Apostle Paul speaks many times in the epistles regarding a “Mystery”. What is that mystery? Ephesians 3:1-7; I Cor 2:1-16; Eph. 6:18-20; 1Timothy 3:8-10 = Acts 15:23-39
25. What is a mystery?
A mystery is a hidden truth which can only be seen by divine revelation.
26. What is fornication (sexual immorality)? Any illicit or immoral sexual act, mental or physical, which is outside of and corrupts God’s binding covenant of marriage.
27. What is idolatry? A sacrifice to any God but the true and living God- anything which comes before Christ in a person’s life.
28. What is a decree? A decree is a binding law or principle; something ordered or settled by authority.
Can you name any decrees in the Bible? Acts 15:19-29
29. What is a church? Name two of the first churches. Did Gentiles establish them?
A. A Body of Christian believers.
B. Jerusalem and Antioch.
C. No, Jews who believed in Jesus established them.
30. Apostle Peter had a revelation about a great sheet. What did it mean?
See Leviticus 20:25. Four-footed animals, crawling creatures and birds of the air--(make a distinction)
Compare this to Acts 10:10-16, Acts 11:5-10, and Acts 15:7-11. Four- footed animals, crawling creatures and birds of the air--(make NO distinction)
If the Old Covenant has not passed away, isn’t this a contradiction in God’s Word? Certainly not! Because the Old has been fulfilled and has passed away, and we are NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW as Gentiles.
31. Who was Cornelius?
Acts 10--the first full-blooded Gentile, with his friends and family members, to receive the Holy Spirit
32. The Jews who were with Peter and Cornelius were “amazed (astonished)”. Why? Acts 10-11
They had NEVER SEEN A GENTILE RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT PRIOR TO THIS!!
33. How much time (approximately) was there between Acts 2 and Acts 10? 7-10 years
Between Acts 10 and Acts 15? 7-10 years
34. Define sin. Anything which separates us from the Father, God
Define iniquity. Temptation, weaknesses
Define transgressions. The breaking of established laws
Define obsolete. No longer in use; done away with
35. Who are the “Sons of Abraham”? Galatians 3:6-7
36. under the Law of Moses, and the Old Covenant, only a person from the tribe of Levi could be a priest in the temple? Explain.
Under the Old Covenant, the temple priests had to be a descendant of Aaron, and of the tribe of Levi. No other could touch the sacrifice or it was defiled.
37. Jesus was a member of an established tribe. Name it.
Judah.
Under Mosaic Law, was Jesus eligible to be a temple priest? No, He was not a Levite.
It says in Hebrews that Jesus is our High Priest. How did He qualify? His death and blood was our final atonement. He is now the only High Priest, in the order of Melchizadek. (Hebrews 6-7)
38. Who was the Apostle Paul? As Saul, he was a Pharisee who persecuted believers of THE WAY. After his conversion, he was the writer of 2/3 of the New Covenant.
39. God chose some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
What are the responsibilities of these offices?
Apostles- those who organize, build and establish; one who has seen Jesus; one whom we follow as they follow Christ; after good counsel, they are the final word in leadership.
Prophets- those who speak life, lead, empower, guide and encourage, based on the Word of God
Evangelists- those who train and compel others to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved
Pastors- those who lead with compassion and wisdom; leader of the local church
Teachers- those who exhort and train from the Word
Five-fold ministries--a modern term used to describe those who touch on and are gifted in all five areas
These leaders are to EQUIP THE SAINTS for the work of service (ministry). Eph.4:12
40. Is there an order in leadership? Explain.
CHRIST FIRST, the rest will follow… The list in Ephesians 4:11 is a general guideline of the hierarchy of the faithful. But the set-man, or overseer, usually the local pastor, is the head of each local church in the absence of an apostle, prophet or evangelist. In a five-fold ministry, one man is designated as head over all, with deacons and elders below Him entrusted to help lead and administer that body.
41. Where, in the Bible, did the New Covenant begin? Acts 1:1
(The Gospels are the “bridge” from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.)
42. Is there a New Covenant priesthood? Hebrews 6:10-12:3
43. Under the New Covenant, what is our inheritance?
Ephesians 1
44. Have you been filled by the Holy Spirit? See Acts 10; Galatians 5:13-25 Check Yourself!