Understanding Our Blessings
Ephesians 3:1-9
The Joy of the Gospel
For many people, the gospel has always been a source of some confusion. On one hand, a person can find passages that speak of salvation through faith and not of works, such as Ephesians 2:8-9. However, other passages call for a person to endure to the end, as seen in Matthew 24:13. Still yet, Acts 2:38 called for repentance and baptism in order to receive forgiveness.
Furthermore, a debate surrounds the security of a person’s salvation. There are some passages that speak to a person being sealed unto the day of redemption; such is the case in Ephesians 1:13-14. Yet, Hebrews 6:4-6 described a person who had partaken of the Holy Ghost and was unable to be renewed after falling away. This calls into the question the strength of that sealing of the Holy Spirit.
Despite these supposed contradictions and inconsistencies, there is an answer. When we come to understand that not all of the Bible is about us, we are able to clearly see our gospel. Passages that speak to baptism for forgiveness, being judged according to works, and enduring to the end are all in reference to the people of Israel. Our gospel is one that by grace through faith and not of works. Our sealing of the Holy Spirit is sure and certain. We did not work for our right standing. As a result, there is nothing we can do to lose that right standing.
When the Bible is properly understood, it gives us great joy. Where we were once confused, now we are confident. The passages that caused anxiety have now been resolved. We can rest in the blessed assurance of the gospel. Any one who has experienced this new knowledge can testify that it is truly a blessing.
The Ramifications
While the feeling of freedom and peace in the gospel is nothing short of spectacular, there are ramifications to this gospel. If we are going to accept that our gospel is by grace through faith, being distinct from Israel’s promises; we will have to accept that some well beloved passages are not about us. In fact, the vast majority of passages are not about us.
This means that, while we are very grateful for our gospel, we can feel robbed of our favorite passages in the Bible. It is for this very reason that some people can struggle with the concept of Israel having certain promises that are distinct from ours. Many church-goers have sat through many sermons and Bible teachings in which Israel’s blessings have been applied to believers today. If this has been a person’s experience of doctrine, it is perfectly understandable why you might feel robbed of blessings.
Why So Many Misunderstand the Bible: The New Covenant
In Matthew 26:27-28, Jesus was with the disciples in the upper room having supper. This is the famous passage in which he declared that the cup was his blood of the new testament. It was “shed for many for the remission of sins.” Furthermore, Hebrews 12:24 tells us that Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant.
A vast majority of the Christian world has taken this verse to mean that the new covenant was established when Christ died on the cross. Furthermore, since Christ is our savior and we are justified by his blood, the church age is the fulfillment of the new covenant. From here, pastors, Bible teachers, and others studying the Bible will search the Scriptures for more information concerning the new covenant. It is from this practice that so much bad doctrine is produced.
For example, consider Jeremiah 31:33-34, in which God promises in the new covenant that the recipients of it will have the law written in their hearts. Each person will have the knowledge of God with them. This same principle is found in Ezekiel 11:19-20. From these passages, it is often applied to those who believe the gospel. The argument goes that since we are in the new covenant, the Holy Spirit changes our nature so that we will obey God’s will. We will also have knowledge from the Holy Spirit so we can know the things of God.
Ezekiel 37:26 also described the new covenant. It would be a covenant of peace, everlasting, and one in which God would set up his sanctuary with them forever. Concerning this verse, you can find commentaries teaching such things as, “In Ezekiel's context, it anticipates the rebuilding of the temple, symbolizing God's return to His people. Theologically, it foreshadows the incarnation of Christ, who is the true temple (John 2:19-21](https://biblehub.com/john/2-19.htm)), and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers, making them a living sanctuary ([1 Corinthians 3:16.”
A Common Pattern
In order to make the new covenant about us, we have to spiritualize its meaning beyond any justifiable reason. In the case of all these verses, they are framed within the context of Israel. This is why the phrase “spiritual Israel” or “true Israel” must be used by the commentaries. If these passages are about the actual descendants of Jacob, we are wrong in our application.
In part two, we will explain the conditions for receiving the new covenant. In the meantime, consider John’s words in 1 John 3:6-9. Can any of us really declare that this passage describes us? Has any of us sinned since we have been saved? Either we are fooling ourselves, or this passage is describing someone who has truly had the law written in their hearts. How about Hebrews 10:26, in which the Bible declares there is no sacrifice remaining for those who sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth?
If we wish to apply passages about the new covenant to ourselves, we need to be consistent. Truthfully, while we may feel robbed of some verses, we rob ourselves of our blessings when we try to make the new covenant about our gospel. Let’s be willing to take the Bible for what it says and be content with what we have.
