Skyscraper Ministries/Lectures/Annual Baptisms/The Other Seventy Training Academy
All workshop materials within this series were written
by
Dr. Ammar Saheli
The
Covenant Love of God & the True Worshipers
Part 1
An Introduction of Concepts: Covenant, Love, & Worship
The
designed goals of these lectures are to stimulate the human mind to think
on the spiritual things of God from a biblical perspective, allowing His Word
to penetrate the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The optimal goal is for someone
to fall in love with Christ, becoming an obedient child of God. An obedient
citizen to the Covenant Love of God will truly be transformed into a True
Worshiper.
We begin our discourse by investigating three central and critical concepts of the Bible: Covenant, Love, and Worship. For depth and accuracy some Hebrew and Greek terminology will be used for succinct definition purposes.
Terminology Defined & Explained
Covenant
Covenant: In the Hebrew language the term covenant (Beriyth) is defined as a cutting or a contract (i.e. Jeremiah 34:18). In the Greek language this same word (Diatheke) is defined as a contract or a testament. From a biblical glance we understand a covenant to be a solemn contract or pact, entered into by two people. The logistics and ratifications of the covenant will be discussed later.
There were many covenants made in the Bible, but four of unique importance. God made a covenant with Noah, promising that He would not destroy the world again by flood:
Ø
Genesis 9:8 And God spake unto Noah, and to
his sons with him, saying, 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with
you, and with your seed after you.
God made a covenant with Abraham.
Ø
Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years
old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty
God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between
me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
Through the covenant that
God made with Abraham, all people are offered salvation through Christ.
Ø
Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the
nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
God made a covenant with Moses.
Ø
Exodus 24:7 And he took the book of the
covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the
LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
God made a covenant with the world through His Son
Jesus Christ.
Ø
Hebrews 13:19 But I beseech you the rather to
do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now the God of
peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of
the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you
perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well
pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and
ever. Amen.
Love
Love: In looking at the concept of love we will use Greek terminology. Once the correlation between God’s covenant and His love are discovered, true worship and true worshipers will automatically follow.
To truly understand Gods love three Greek words must be understood. They are defined below:
Ø Agape: The ultimate disposition of unconditional love. (1 Timothy 6:11; 1 John 2:15)
Ø
Agapao: Love in action or love directed at a recipient. (Luke 6:27-28;
John 14:15; Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 12:11)
Ø Agapetos: The subjects of Love. Particularly of
God’s love, identified as the beloved. (Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7; 2 Thessalonians
2:13)
Similar to
the homage paid to God from the true worshiper, the love of God is directional
and intentional. God is Agape [love] and when His love is put into
action (John 3:16) it becomes Agapao, directed toward His beloved
(Agapetos). The passage below diagrams God’s intricate love.
Ø 1 John 4:10 Herein is love [Agape], not that we loved [Agapao]
God, but that he loved [Agapao] us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for
our sins. 11 Beloved [Agapetos], if God so loved [Agapao] us,
we ought also to love [Agapao] one another.
Worship
Worship:
As with the
term love, we will use the Greek language to define the term. In investigating
the concept of worship two Greek terms must be explored: Latreia & Proskuneo:
Latreia is translated service or worship and it is
what the Christian does everyday of his or her life. An example of this type of
worship is exemplified in Romans 12:1, and it speaks about the daily,
living and reasonable service every Christian must render to God. Latreia
indicates to the member of the church that service and worship to God is
everlasting.
Proskuneo differs from Latreia in that it
speaks to the attitude and formal acts of worship. In the Greek language Pros
is a preposition of forward direction. Proskuneo is what the
Christian formally does when he/she is singing, praying, communing, listening,
and giving to God on Sunday. Worship is what the baptized believer does to God
and not the reverse. Proskuneo literally means to prostrate in homage to
God, pledge allegiance, and devotion to God, and to kiss like a dog licking his
master.
The primary
objective of formal worship to God is to deliver sweet, prepared, intentional
kisses to Him. One rhetorical question: Based on how you are living your life,
does God want your kisses?
Part 1 Summary
Because of
the internal love of God, He allows interested, obedient, and willing believers
to enter into a covenant relationship with Him. In gratitude, thanks, and love
to God, the church intentionally responds to the salvation of God by truly
worshiping Him.
The Covenant Love of God & the True Worshipers
Part 2
Covenant Commands Obedience!
Introduction
Through understanding love, correlated with the concept of divine covenant, a person must begin to conceptualize how the covenants of Old Testament times were entered. It is extremely important for the student of the Bible to gain insight into how covenant relationships were entered. This is necessary to help the New Testament Bible observer learn how to enter into a covenant relationship with God today. In investigating how a covenant relationship with God is executed today, one soon learns the importance and seriousness of this relationship.
In this lecture, the ratifying details of the covenants between God, Abraham, Moses, and the church will be explored. The primary elements and agents in these three covenants were physical sacrificial vessel(s), blood, and obedience.
Covenant Details
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far
off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
Once a person realizes the sealing agents of a covenant, they can understand that the laws contained in a covenant must be consistently obeyed. To help illustrate this reality, three covenant examples are provided.
Abraham: God established a covenant with Abraham and it was contingent upon
Abraham walking before God. In other words, for the covenant to be maintained,
Abraham had to remain obedient to God (Genesis 17:1-2). The covenant God
established with Abram also necessitated change, thusly, he was given the name
Abraham (Genesis 17:5). In sealing this covenant relationship blood was
required. In Genesis 17:11-12 God instructed
Abraham that every male child 8 days old was to be circumcised. The blood of
circumcision ratified the covenant relationship and obedience maintained it.
The connection will be made later, but in Genesis 17:14 uncircumcised
Israelites or purchased servants were considered covenant breakers.
Moses: Moses was instructed to enter into a covenant relationship with God. In
Exodus 24:3, 7 the Israelite Nation made a vow to keep all the
laws of the covenant relationship they entered into with God. Covenant commands
obedience! Moses did some truly fascinating things to ratify the Israelite
covenant relationship with God (Read Hebrews 9:19-22).
- He offered
burnt & peace offerings: Exodus 24:5
- He put half
the blood from the sacrificed animals in basins: Exodus
24:6
- He sprinkled
half of the blood on the altar: Exodus 24:6
- He sprinkled
blood on the book, tabernacle, & vessels of ministry: Hebrews
9:19, 21
- He sprinkled
the blood on the people: Exodus 24:8
Jesus Christ: The book of Hebrews provides the Bible student with
vital information pertaining to the New Testament Covenant and blood of Christ.
- The New
Testament Covenant is a better covenant: Hebrews 8:7-11
- The covenant
blood of Christ is far superior than the former covenant blood of goats
and calves: Hebrews 9:11-12; 10:1-2
- Just as the
representative sacrificial animals of the old covenant had to shed blood
and die, so too did Christ have to shed His blood and die for the new
covenant to commence: Hebrews 9:16-17
- The sacrifice
of Christ only sanctifies members of the church: Hebrews
10:10, 14, 29
- The new
covenant brings a new way of worshiping God: Hebrews 10:19-20
Part 2 Summary
The covenants made by God with Abraham and Moses all consisted of obedient living, temporary ratifying animal blood, and death of the sacrificed animals. When a person enters into a covenant relationship with God today the same agents are at work: The death of Christ, Blood and water of Christ, and continued obedient living to the commands and doctrine contained in the covenant. Covenant commands obedience to its laws. No covenant comes without laws, and covenant laws can only be given and changed by God.
The Covenant Love of God & the True Worshipers
Part 3
Covenant Love, Commands, Doctrine, & the Christian
Introduction
During this particular study we want to dive into the evidence of a true Christian, those who follow God according to His covenant commands. Based on our previous lessons, it is already apparent that the church is only the Bride of Christ because of God’s unmitigated grace and providential covenant love for Her. The love of God is manifested through the fact that He allows men and women to enter into an intimate covenant relationship with Him.
The essence of this dialogue is based on the fact that
Christians must adhere to and obey the biblical commands and doctrines that
govern the church. Because worship is the immediate thing to follow after a
Christian understands God’s covenant love, our doctrinal commands will be
centered on worship. This lesson will also carry over into part 4, The True
Worshipers. Two terms will be briefly defined: Commandment &
Doctrine.
Definition of Terms
Ø The Greek term for commandment is Entole and it is defined as an authoritative prescription.
Ø The Greek term for doctrine is Didache and it is defined as taught /learned instructions. The interesting thing about the concept of doctrine is that it implies that a subject is learning or has learned.
Covenant Love
The covenant love of God for the church is summed up in the two verses below. Before the death of Christ, non-Jewish people were strangers and aliens to covenant relationship with God. But now, because of His blood and evident love for the entire world, people of every ethnicity can enter into a bonded relationship with Him, through becoming a member of the Body of Christ.
Ø
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were
without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by
the blood of Christ.
The Christian
Covenantal Response to Commandments & Doctrine
As seen in our definitions, the
authoritative prescriptions of God are to be learned and followed. The commands
of God, given to the church, are considered doctrine. When doctrines are
inflicted upon a church that are not from God, they are biblically defined as “Doctrines
of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). There
are superlative benefits to keeping God’s commandments and doctrine. About His
commandments that coincide with His covenant, Christ said the following (Notice
the phrases I have underlined for you):
Ø
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my
commandments.
Ø John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Ø
John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have
I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye
shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and
abide in his love.
Ø
John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do
whatsoever I command you.
The Holy Spirit commanded John the Revelator to address the church and those seeking Christ with the following words:
Ø
1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is
the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him
also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the
children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Many people claim to know God, have an intimate relationship with Him, and even love Him. You would probably have a huge battle on your hands if you said to someone that they really did not love God. However, God indicates that if we love Him and respect His covenant, we will do what He says. Christ even tells us that if we do His will, we are His friends (members of the church).
Many people even claim to be following God, but they are not following and keeping His doctrine. Maintaining an awesome love for God, keeping and following His commandments and doctrines, separates a true worshiper from a mere worshiper. The following words of John the Revelator are absolutely profound and critical to salvation and the Christian faith.
Ø
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and
abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the
doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
The Christian is to learn, obey, and maintain the teachings
of Christ. The doctrine includes divine authoritative prescriptions for daily
Christian living as well as worship. When biblical doctrine is altered or
ignored a person becomes a covenant breaker and does not have God on his/her
side. Some critical doctrines of devils will be explored in our concluding
lesson, The True Worshipers.
Additional Passages on Doctrine