A Sign Of The Covenant

BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

“I will give them one heart and one way of life, to reverence me at all times, for their own good and the good of their children after them.” Jeremiah 32:39

One Way Of Life – The old beliefs die hard.  Tradition is difficult to revise.  Comfortable conclusions resist correction.  But a love of the truth will lead us to constantly reconsider what remains questionable.  As contemporary believers, we might need to review our thinking about the “new” covenant, but Jeremiah certainly doesn’t need to.  He has it straight from the mouth of God.  He uses a word that cements the permanence of the covenant in as strong a way as possible.

The Hebrew phrase lev ehad vederek ehad (one heart and one way) makes it clear that YHWH describes a unity in commitment (heart) and a unity in behavior (way). The word ehad is found in the Shema.  It is a particularly critical word in Judaism, marking YHWH as the only true God, the one and only divine being.  Since this passage is in the same context as Jeremiah’s revelation about the “new” covenant, it seems obvious that the “new” covenant is intended to be the only way of life for all of God’s people. Describing the one way of life with the same strength as the declaration of monotheism emphasizes the centrality of this covenant.  There is no substitution and there are no alternatives.  There is one and only one way of life that teaches men to show reverence and awe (yare) for YHWH and is also for their own good (tov).

How is it that we missed this?  Maybe our lack of understanding of the “Old” Testament caused us to overlook the core beliefs of the New Testament Jewish background.  We acknowledge that circumcision was a sign of the covenant.  God declared it so.  But did we fail to see that the covenant from Sinai was also a sign – a sign that we are God’s people under His authority directed by His instructions?

“One way of life” is a pretty startling pronouncement in our world.  We are cultural and ethical polytheists.  We have succumbed to the epistemological bankruptcy of the West, arriving at the place where everyman’s inner life is his own creation, where truth is what works for me.  It is virtually impossible to argue the idea of one way of life today.  Even within the 28,000 denominations of the “unity” of Christianity, there is no consensus about how to live.  Peter Leithart is correct when he says that Christianity (not Christians) is institutionalized worldliness.  Christianity mimics the organization, ethics and epistemology of the world.  It’s up to the Christians to change that – to live according to God’s instructions as the one way of life.

The real question is this:  Why don’t we?  Most responses are about inconvenience than about truth.  We have accommodated to the culture.  It’s hard to break the patterns.  It’s difficult to explain to our neighbors.  We are in captivity in Babylon.  It might be useful to read God’s instructions to His people when they went into Babylon 2500 years ago.  God’s advice worked then.  I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work now.

Topical Index:  one way, ehad, Jeremiah 32:39, Torah

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carl roberts

Yes, G-d did fulfill His promise to give us (all) “One Way.” He gave us His only begotten Son, the LORD/ADONIA, Yeshua HaMashiach, the LORD Jesus, (who is the) Christ. He Himself said, (who is the incarnate word of G-d)- “I AM the Way.” My confession? He is the Way. (yes, and the Truth, and yes, and the life). We (all) need to be looking unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our Faith.
(Helpful household hint)- “Before Abraham was, -“I AM”. My friends (and family)- “It is written.” My confession?- “He IS the great I AM.” Yeshua is Hashem, the Name above all names. Jesus is LORD. (did you view the period at the end of the previous sentence?- wonderful!) Not was, -not will be, (now)-IS.
When we were given this Wondrous Gift, (G-d incarnated into human frame and flesh)- we (all) were given – “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” “Follow me” are His words, written in His book. “Do as I do,” the Teacher said unto the Students. He is our Journeyman, we are His apprentices.
Christ, my friends, is the center, the compass and the circumference. “Christ is all, and in you all” (“it is written,” or if you prefer, “thus saith the LORD.”
There is one covenant- “the blood covenant”- that runs the length of our Bible. In “both” testaments or convenants, the blood covenant is found. And now this covenant of blood, foreshadowed in the old(er)
covenant is revealed and fulfilled in the new(er) covenant. No more blood of bulls and goats to “take away” sin, but as (again from the mouth of ADONAI) He said, “This is the new Testament (Covenant) in my blood, drink ye all of it.” We are to be partakers of the life, death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua. It is now His blood that atones for our sins. It is because of His death, we (all) now have life. -Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, Christ was lifted up upon the tslav, the execution stake. The cross my friends, -lest we forget. He was crucified,- for me He died,- on Calvary. Oh but that is not the end of this..(lol!- no, no, and no!)- but wait! – there’s more.. so much more.
Yes, and amen- “No man” (does this include everyone?) comes unto the Father, but by Me.” (my words? no. His.- He said this.)
Who was whipped, scourged, rejected, spat upon, reviled and hung naked upon a criminal’s cross? We (we), crucified our Creator. “For G-d was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” Yes, G-d did (just as was foreshadowed), did provide Himself, the Lamb. “Behold the (Passover) Lamb” that takes away the sins of the world is the master theme of His-story written in His book. “We (all) do err, not knowing the scripture nor the power of G-d.”
One way?- My friends, – “-it is the LORD.” “Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart.” It is written: -“But as many as received Him, to them gave He the authority to become the children of G-d, even to them that believe in His name.” Is He welcome in our hearts? Is this (now) living,reigning and ruling Sovereign Savior welcome in our homes? -Will we (today) reject Him even again? -No. “As for me and my house, we will serve ADONAI.” LORD Yeshua, -you are welcome in my dwelling place. Immanu’el come to live with us, that we may know and love you intricately and intimately as you know us and love us.- Amen.

Pastor Paul Sims

Messianic Torah abiding Christians is the way my personal path is leading me to preach Skip. Pray for me because the only real Hebrew/Jew I know is Christ.
Pastor Paul

Skip Moen, Ph.D.

Actually, you know quite a few more. They are readers and contributors right here. Plus you get a first hand endorsement of my dear friend and Messianic Jewish rabbi, Bob Gorelik, who gave us so much great teaching in Israel.

Gayle Johnson

Skip,

You have repeatedly challenged us to be on the lookout for pragmatism in our thinking, so I catch myself repeatedly doing that. Today, I see that you also have gone there:

“God’s advice worked then. I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work now.”

Hmmm, whose reasoning is this? Just poking fun here, as I totally agree with this statement. Where else would we look for help, but in the instructions already provided to us? Yes, that would be the first place. Then, I submit that it would be prudent for believers everywhere to ask for guidance if there is a ‘new thing’ (probably more like an old thing, but new to us) that we should be doing.

I want to live in a world where all believers follow His instructions, and they (and their children) are so blessed that they stand out like a light on a hill, and that even the unbelievers are happy to see them and to interact with them because the ‘blessing’ rubs off on them, too!

Mary

Hi Gayle,
I agree with you. This is something I struggled with for SO many years as a novice in the faith. Of course, I still struggle today, but on another level. Having been “raised” in Pentecostalism, my faith was founded on the supernatural/misdirected aspects of practical living, mixed in with the legalistic mindset of works based performance. Talk about confused!! Now I am “homeless” having left this church I “grew up” in and although I find a freedom in being able to listen to teaching that allows me to dig deeper, I long for the skin on fellowship I once had there.
The point I wanted to agree with you on is the blessing others are able to “see” when our hearts desire is to obey the Master with a wholehearted love for Him. This has opened up a whole new world of witnessing for the glory of Christ! Many of those disenchanted with church, Christianity and self exalting Christians will see the goodness of G_d through Yeshua’s disciples. THEN, as 2 or 3 are gathered together in the Name above every Name, He will be in their midst! HalleluYah!

Skip Moen, Ph.D.

Thanks Gail. You had me going for a minute there.

Pastor Paul Sims

Thanks for the reply.my concer is for the “torture”and rejection of family and friends and part of my congregation! I love them all and my heart as a shepherd doesn’t want to leave anyone! My calling is from G_D ALMIGHTY and not man. I was trained in formal classes but something was amiss and I have found it and now I have to act upon my findings prais the LORD!

Skip Moen, Ph.D.

Here’s some help (maybe). I have a great number of graduate students who are pastors and who have gone through the same sort of transformation. I leave them with two words: GENTLY and OBEDIENTLY. Be gentle with those who you so desire to come alongside. They will feel threatened, confused, even lied to. They will need to SEE IT IN YOUR LIFE before they can trust you are taking them in the right direction. For most believers, it isn’t about the theology. They frankly never knew what the theology said anyway. It’s about trust. They have to trust you first. THEN, take four or five aside and spend your time with them. You cannot affect 200 until you have changed the lives of 12 (or 6). Gather those who are ready. Let them lead the rest.