New Testament (Spiritual) Giving (5)
Adigun
TODAY let us look at the third dispensation of the Divine dealings with mankind. It is different from the lawless period between Abraham and Moses. It is also different from the LAWFUL period between Moses and Jesus Christ. It is a period between Pentecost and the Rapture. The church of Jesus is not under the Mosaic Law as we have previously established in Rm. 2:14; Rm. 3:19 and 1Tim 1:7-9. It is under a new law called:
• Law of the Spirit of life Jesus Christ – Rm. 8:2
• Law written on the tables of our hearts – Heb. 8:10
• Law of Liberty – James 1:25; 2:12 • Law of Love – Gal 5:14
• Law of Faith – Rm. 3:27
As soon as Jesus came on the scene, a new dispensation and a new era began. Jesus called the Old Testament an old garment and the New Testament a new clothe. Both cannot be joined together. He referred to the Old Testament as an old bottle and the New Testament a new wine. Mixing them up resulted in the doctrinal confusion around us today (Mt. 9:16-17).
Jesus says that His Presence signifies the passing away of an era (Jn. 4:23-24/Heb. 10:9). The Bible makes it clear that the Old Covenant is faulty and replaced with a new covenant (Heb 8:7). It speaks about an era in which we would be directed not by the Law but by the Holy Spirit (Rm. 8:14); an era in which the factor constraining our giving is not the Law, but Love (Jn. 3:16).
No wonder, Paul, the apostle, could boldly say that he is a minister of the New Testament, (not of the letter of the Mosaic Law, but of the Spirit of Life) - 2 Cor. 3:6. We made it clear by God’s Word last week and as mentioned above that the Mosaic Law is not for the Gentiles. Let me wax a bit bolder to ascertain that even the Jews to whom the laws were given are no longer beholden to them according to scriptures because the Law has a Purpose (Rm. 3:19-22) and a Duration (Gal. 3:19, 24-25 and Rm. 10:4). The MOSAIC LAW HAS EXPIRED (Heb. 8:13). Therefore, it is futile and powerless in bringing justification and righteousness to even the Jews (Gal 3:16).
Please, let us repeat for emphasis that the emergence of Jesus in the spiritual landscape is an absolute game changer. The promise of God for Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus and from thenceforth a new covenant emerged. The church of Jesus today needs to understand Divine Purpose. It is a big shame that the materialistic Laodicean church of this age are singing “Abraham’s blessings are mine.” This is wrong. Abraham has ONLY ONE BLESSING, which is mine – JESUS CHRIST. Note that in Gal. 3:14, there is only one singular blessing. And what is the blessing? Gen 22:15-18 gives us a revelation of that blessing “through whom all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” Peter, the apostle tells us that Jesus is the fulfilment of this blessing in his first message on the day of Pentecost (Acts 3:2426).
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Bro. Kunle Adigun, Friends of the Bridegroom International Ministries (FOBIM)