THE FOUR MAJOR COVENANT AGREEMENTS

THE FIRST AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL ISRAEL

TYPE OF AGREEMENT

The first agreement was an exclusive agreement between God and the individuals who comprised national Israel. Moreover, this agreement  was open-ended.

An Exclusive Agreement

The agreement was made exclusively  with the nation of Israel, but other people could participate in the agreement  if they met its terms and conditions.

A National and Individual Agreement

The agreement  was made with the nation of Israel and each individual Israelite. See the books of Exodus, Leviticus,  Numbers,  and Deuteronomy for details of  the national and individual terms and conditions of the agreement.

An Open-ended Agreement

The agreement  could be added to or subtracted from  by  God, but not by the Israelites (Ex.19:5-6).

MAJOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• The Israelites were to obey God (Ex.19:5-6; chps.20-23).
• The Israelites were to worship only the Creator God (Ex.20:1-7, 25).
• God was to bless and protect the Israelites.

BENEFITS FOR ISRAEL

God provided physical benefits and the opportunity to participate in the first resurrection.

BENEFITS FOR GOD

The  Israelites  would be his treasure as a  kingdom of  priests and an example of the benefits that would come from obedience to his way of life (Ex.19:5-6).

AGREEMENT DURATION

The agreement was a perpetual agreement that would last as long as national  Israel  kept their part of  the  agreement  (Ex.31:16; Lev.23:14,21,31,41; 24:5-8; Deut.28:15).

AGREEMENT RATIFICATION

The  agreement was written in stone and in a book;  then, it was attested  to  orally and sealed with the blood of  a sacrificial animal (Ex.24:3; 24:12; 34:1-5; 24:8).

THE NEW AGREEMENT WITH RE-GATHERED ISRAEL

At  the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, two major things happened that concern the old and new agreement with national Israel:

1. The old agreement was canceled.

2. The  a new agreement was ratified with the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. This new agreement is now awaiting the re-gathering and re- establishment of Israel as a sovereign  nation after the return of Jesus Christ. It is at this time that the new agreement with national Israel will come into force.

TYPE OF AGREEMENT

The new  agreement will be made exclusively with the re-gathered tribes of Israel as a whole; it will be an exclusive agreement between God and the individuals who will comprise national Israel. Moreover it will be a closed agreement.

An Exclusive Agreement

The agreement will be  made exclusively with re-gathered Israel (Ezk.20:33-38; 36:24-28), but other people will be allowed to participate in the agreement if they meet its terms and conditions.

A National and Individual Agreement

The agreement allows both Israelites and non-Israelites to worship God  and  have the  opportunity for eternal life (Zech.14:16-19;  Acts  10:34-35; Rev.21:1-7, 24-27). Moreover, each person who comes under this agreement will be dealt with on a  personal level (Jn.6:44,65; Ezk.20:35).

A Closed Agreement

The agreement  cannot be added to or subtracted from by either party (Heb.8:8-10; 10:16).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Individuals must repent of past sins (Ezk.20:35; Acts 2:38).
• Individuals must worship the true God.
• Individuals must keep the terms and conditions of the agreement.
• God will give individuals called to salvation during this age of salvation spiritual tools  to help them perform their part of  the  agreement (Jer.31:31-33; Heb.8:8-10).

BENEFITS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL

God will provide physical benefits and the opportunity to have eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

BENEFITS FOR GOD

The  Israelites will be priests of God and an example to all nations of the benefits that come from obedience to God's  way of life.

AGREEMENT DURATION

The physical aspects of this agreement will last until the end of the harvest of humanity into the Kingdom and Family of God, but its spiritual aspects will last for eternity  (Heb.13:20; Jer.31:34,37; 32:40; Rev.21:3-7).

MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND AGREEMENTS WITH NATIONAL ISRAEL

The following are some major differences between God's first  and  second agreements with national Israel:

• In the second agreement, the  Priesthood is the Zadok-Levitical Priesthood instead of the Aaronic-Levitical Priesthood (Ezk.44:15; 48:11).
• In the second agreement, animal sacrifice for the atonement of spiritual sin is no  longer necessary, because of the  perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Heb.10:4-18).
• Under the first agreement, only Israel was required to go to the place where God placed his name and worship him there. Under the new agreement, all nations are required to come to Jerusalem to worship in order  to  receive  blessings (Zech.14:16-19).
• Those individuals who fulfill their part of the agreement will have the spirit of God  dwelling within them (Acts 1:4-8; 2:38; Heb.8:10), and they will receive eternal life as sons of God (Rev.21:1-7; 22:14).

THE AGREEMENT DURING THE GOSPEL AGE

Those who are called to salvation during the gospel age have an agreement with God the Father that is different from the first and second  agreement with national Israel in many ways, because they have been given different promises, benefits, terms, and conditions that are a part of their special calling.

TYPE OF AGREEMENT

Individual Agreement

The agreement with the elect of God during the gospel age is made between God the Father and each individual  (whether he or she is an Israelite or non-Israelite) that he specifically calls to salvation (Jn.6:44,65; Acts 2:39,47).

Closed Agreement

The agreement  cannot be added to or subtracted from by either party (Heb.8:10;10:16-18).

MAJOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Individuals must repent of past sins, be baptized, and receive God's holy spirit (Acts 2:38).
• Individuals must worship and keep the terms and conditions  of the agreement (Heb.6:4-8).
• God gives those called to salvation during this age the  tools to  help them perform their part of the agreement  (Jer.31:31-33; Lk.24:49; Heb.8:8-10).

BENEFITS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL

Each receives physical benefits, the opportunity to participate in the first resurrection, be king and priest in the Kingdom and Family of God, and be given immortal life as a son of God.

BENEFITS FOR GOD

God shares eternity with his immortal spirit sons.

AGREEMENT DURATION

The agreement will last for eternity once the individual fulfills his part of the bargain (Heb.13:20).

AGREEMENT RATIFICATION

The  agreement  is overtly committed to by  the  individual  upon being baptized in water.  God then seals the agreement by placing  his spirit into the individual's mind and spirit, and thereby, he  infuses his laws, precepts, and principles into that  person's thought process (Jer.31:31-33; Acts 2:38).

MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND AGREEMENTS WITH NATIONAL ISRAEL AND THE GOSPEL AGE AGREEMENT

There  are  some major differences between the first  and  second agreements with national Israel and the agreement made with those in the gospel age:

• The Priesthood has been changed  from the physical Aaronic/Levitical priesthood to the spiritual Melchizedec-Christ Priesthood (Heb.4:15; 5:1-10; 6:20; 7:1-17).
• Animal  sacrifice for the atonement of spiritual sin and physical defilement is no longer necessary under this  agreement because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Heb.10:4-18).
• The temple worship system is not necessary for people  under this  agreement because the spirit of God dwells within them  and they are a temple of God (Acts 1:1-8; 2:38; 2:1-4; 1.Cor.3:16-17; 6:19; Heb.8:10).
• Individuals other than Israelites are also called to participate in this agreement (Gal.3:26-29; Eph.2:11,13,19).
• Individuals called during the gospel age have direct access to God the Father through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ  (Eph.2:18; Heb.4:15-16).

Rewards for Service

Individuals who fulfill their part of the agreement will receive the following rewards for fulfilling their calling and diligent service to God the Father and Jesus Christ:

• They will be eternal and immortal spirit-beings   (1.Thes.4:13-17; 1.Cor.15:1-58; Rev.20:4-6; 22:14).
• They will be co-heirs of all things with  Jesus Christ (Rom.8:17; Eph.3:6).
• They will be  Kings and Priests  in the  Kingdom  of  God (Rev.2:26; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6).
• They will  be immortal sons of God in the Family  of  God (Rom.8:14,16-17; 1.Cor.15:39-54; 1.Jn.3:1-2).

By V. O. Jones and B.L. Cocherell, file b4w13