A Better Covenant

 

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. - Gal 4.21-24

We acknowledge that circumcision was apparently what had the Galatians stumbling, but these verses are referring to the two covenants as a whole very plainly. The Old Covenant was the law of Moses given in Mount Sinai in the wilderness. The Galatians were being rebuked strongly by the Holy Ghost, through the Apostle Paul, for falling back to the law as the guide for their lives. Let us say right here, lest someone misunderstand and falsely accuse, that we do not believe that the law is of no effect under the New Covenant. We believe, rather, that the law of Christ requires much more of us than the law of Moses did, but it sets men free while the law of Moses "gendereth to bondage."

What About This "Wilderness Walk" For A Christian?

The wilderness walk was not a part of the law of Moses, but it happened under the law of Moses. While there are many lessons to be gleaned from Israel's walk through the wilderness, the main lesson to be learned is that over and over the Bible uses this "wilderness walk" as a warning to us today. It is NEVER referred to in any way as an example we should follow or as a way to explain or excuse our sin, our unbelief, and our unfaithfulness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should NOT lust after evil things, as they also lusted. - 1 Cor 10.6

Our problem with the "wilderness walk" is the way it is being presented. It seems to be commonly taught and accepted in our ranks that the "wilderness" is a normal - if not necessary - part of the life of a Christian. Sure, we will have our times of discouragement and problems, but that is a far cry from the "wilderness" as the children of Israel practiced it. To use the "wilderness walk" as an explanation or excuse for the discouragement and defeat of modern Christians is not rightly dividing the Word of God. The main thing about the wilderness was their unbelief. God got angry over and over with them about this and was set to destroy them because of it. They were in the wilderness as a result of their unbelief and disobedience. It was only a short journey from Egypt to Canaan, yet they spent forty years in the wilderness as punishment. We are warned in the book of Hebrews: "lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief," and the example we are given NOT to follow is that "wilderness walk."

How can this then be incorporated into the walk of a New Testament Christian and be taught as normal, and even a necessary part of our journey? "Evil heart of unbelief?" "Departing from the living God?" How can that be reconciled with 1 John 5.4?

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

or Romans 8.37 speaking of our trials and persecutions:

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

or Romans 8.2-4 talking about the spirit-led walk:

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Do you not see that to teach the "wilderness walk" as a normal Christian experience "gendereth to bondage?" We should preach the Bible as it is and not try to conform it to the lifestyles of what we see in those who claim to be Christians today. In order to comfort those who are defeated and going through trials many have taken up this approach to the wilderness walk. Now it has evolved to the point that many give a testimony where they went to the bars and committed adultery and all sorts of vile sins AFTER they were saved, and their explanation is that they were simply in the wilderness. This is a distortion and a misrepresentation of what the Bible teaches on this subject. Such testimonies and teachings leave others with the impression that it is normal for a Christian to live a life of defeat and doubt, and even wallow in sin. If that is the Christian experience under the New Covenant, we have many problem Scriptures in the New Testament.

On the contrary, consider what effect the true teaching of the Bible would have on people. Instead of telling them that defeat and doubt are inevitable, tell them that faith is the victory that overcometh the world. Instead of giving them a way to explain and excuse their sin and unbelief, tell them that "sin shall NOT have dominion over you." Instead of telling them how hard it is to be a Christian, why not tell them to cast their burden upon the Saviour, for He careth for them? Instead of telling them that they are rotten sinners who can't please God, even with their very best efforts, tell them they are the temple of the living God and have the Holy Ghost on the inside to guide them into all truth. The children of Israel had none of these promises, but WE DO under the New Covenant, and therefore MORE IS REQUIRED OF US.

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