The Spirit of Reconciliation: Annulling the Covenant with Death • First Fruits | Messianic Teaching

Introduction: The Urgent Need for Reconciliation

In this insightful Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, the speaker, possibly Matthew Vander Els, explores the profound themes of reconciliation between Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua and the pivotal concept of annulling the covenant with death through his sacrificial act. The message emphasizes that while the death and resurrection of Messiah Yeshua are central to the Christian faith, their implications extend to the entire world, including the Jewish people, God’s covenant nation of Israel. The teaching challenges conventional understandings and encourages a deeper look into the scriptures to foster reconciliation and mutual respect between these two integral parts of God’s covenant people.

The Covenant with Death: Humanity’s Tragic Choice

The teaching begins by addressing a fundamental issue: the covenant with death. This concept, rooted in the rebellion of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, signifies humanity’s choice of death over life by disobeying God’s commands. This original sin established a pattern, and humanity has been inclined to follow this path ever since. What compounded this problem was that God had chosen Israel as the means through which he would bring the nations back to life. However, Israel also fell into this covenant with death. The prophet Isaiah spoke of Israel making a covenant with death and a pact with Sheol, seeking refuge in lies and falsehood. This covenant meant that when judgment came, they believed it would pass them by.

God’s Seriousness About Covenants: Lessons from Scripture

The speaker underscores that God takes covenants very seriously. His universe operates on laws and standards that apply to everyone equally, and the integrity of his rule depends on the fulfillment of these standards. Words, especially those spoken in the context of covenants, carry significant weight. The story of Esau selling his birthright for a meal illustrates how a seemingly impulsive decision and oath had lasting and irreversible consequences in God’s eyes. Despite Esau’s later regret and tears, he could not reclaim what he had willingly given away. Similarly, the account of Joshua and the Gibeonites highlights the binding nature of a covenant, even one made through deception and without explicitly consulting God beforehand. God honored the covenant made by Israel’s leaders, even centuries later during King David’s reign, when a famine struck the land because Saul had broken that ancient oath by killing some of the Gibeonites. These examples serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of keeping our word and the seriousness with which God views covenants.

The Annulment of the Covenant with Death: Messiah’s Ultimate Sacrifice

The teaching then moves to the pivotal act that breaks the covenant with death: the death and resurrection of Messiah Yeshua. By becoming human, Yeshua took the penalty of humanity’s covenant with death upon himself and triumphed over the grave, offering a fresh start to humanity. This is the core message of the scriptures and the testimony of those who have accepted his invitation to life. God’s plan, though sometimes appearing counterintuitive to human understanding, was to use Messiah’s suffering and death as the means to redeem mankind. Even Yeshua’s disciples initially struggled to grasp this necessity. The willingness of Yeshua to submit to the Father’s will, even in the face of immense suffering, exemplifies the attitude believers should have. Paul emphasized this, urging believers to have the same attitude as Messiah Yeshua, who humbled himself to the point of death on a cross, leading to his ultimate exaltation. Paul understood that Yeshua’s blood is the means by which God cancels the covenant with death.

The Inclusion of the Nations: One New Humanity

The death and resurrection of Israel’s Messiah not only opened the way for every person to have fellowship with the Creator but also to have fellowship with one another. Paul’s writings in Ephesians speak of Messiah breaking down the wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles, creating one new or renewed humanity from those who were once considered separate. Non-Jews, referred to as Gentiles in the flesh, are now part of the commonwealth of Israel. They are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Messiah Yeshua himself being the cornerstone. In him, the whole building is being fitted together into a holy temple for the Lord, and believers are being built together into God’s dwelling place in the Spirit.

Application for Everyday Life

• Cultivate Respect: Develop a deep respect for Jewish people and their historical and ongoing relationship with God, recognizing their vital role in God’s covenant plan.
• Seek Understanding: Strive to understand Jewish traditions, customs, and perspectives without demanding they conform to non-Jewish expressions of faith.
• Reject Replacement Theology: Actively reject any theological framework that suggests God has replaced the Jewish people with the church.
• Embrace Unity: Recognize that Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Messiah are both part of God’s covenant people, forming one new humanity in Messiah.
• Practice Humility: Acknowledge that God’s ways are often beyond human understanding and avoid making definitive judgments about others’ relationship with God.
• Extend Grace: Offer grace and understanding, recognizing that individuals are on different journeys of faith and understanding.
• Focus on Shared Identity: Emphasize the shared heritage in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, building bridges based on this common foundation.
• Pray for Reconciliation: Regularly pray for greater understanding, respect, and reconciliation between Jewish and non-Jewish believers worldwide.
• Share Your Faith Respectfully: Freely share your belief in Yeshua the Messiah with those who are open, but do so with sensitivity and respect for their existing beliefs.
• Keep Your Word: In all your interactions and commitments, strive to be a person of your word, reflecting God’s own faithfulness to his covenants.

References

Bible Verses:

• Isaiah 28:14-15
• Genesis 25:29-34
• Matthew 27:11-26

Books and Resources:

• Tree of Life Version Bible
• The Bible

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