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NASB | Luke 22:20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 22:20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood. |
Subject: Is baptism a sign of the New Covenant? |
Bible Note: Hey again, Tim. You wrote: "Is this the way that the average Jew understood circumcision?" I don't know, but the important question is, what did God mean by it? "It seems to me that they viewed circumcision as necessary for being part of the covenant, which of course is why Paul had problems with the Judaizers" I think that the problem Paul has with the Judaizers was their refusal to understand that the people of God included those who were not part of God's covenant through Moses. Their problem was failing to understand how Christ's revelation had changed the way God works. One did not have to become a Jew in order to be a covenant member anymore. "But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity." --Ephesians 2:13-16 I also see throughout the Bible a distinction between the covenant people of God and those who are truly God's children. Obviously, there is considerable overlap, but the two groups are not completely identical. Jesus stressed this when he pointed out to the Pharisees that their ancestor may have been Abraham, but their father was the devil. Likewise, I do believe that baptism includes us in the covenant people of God, but that being part of the New Covenant and being saved are not synonymous. Just like we had the Achans and the Nadabs and Abihus and the Manassahs who were among God's covenant people but most definitely not saved, so we have those who breakers of the New Covenant as well. "They tried to take the same approach with salvation." And they were wrong to do so. Covenantal membership is not synonymous with salvation (not to mention the fact that the New Covenant represented a completely new dispensation of God's redemption). "But, more to the point, there still isn't any New Testament verse which speaks of any kind of sign of our New Covenant, so I would hesitate to apply that term to anything." Not me! You know what a rash guy I can be sometimes! :) --Joe! |