The Message and the Old Covenant: Difference between revisions

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William Branham mentioned the "old covenant" 16 times in over 1100 sermons.  He mentioned the term "new covenant" only 11 times.  As a result, it is clear that he did not understand the importance of the new covenant or what it meant.
William Branham mentioned the "old covenant" 16 times in over 1100 sermons.  He mentioned the term "new covenant" only 11 times.  Does this mean that the differences between the new covenant and the old covenant are not important?  What does the Bible say about this?


 
=What is the "new covenant"?=
=Is the "Old Covenant" still relevant?=
 
Paul refers to the Ten Commandments are the "ministry of death" in 2 Corinthians 3:7 and the writer of Hebrews tell us that:
 
:''...by calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one '''obsolete'''; and '''what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear'''.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Heb 8:13.</ref>
 
How does an obsolete covenant relate to the new covenant Gentile church?
 
==What is the "new covenant"?==


Jeremiah speaks of the new covenant:
Jeremiah speaks of the new covenant:
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:''Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Heb 9:15.</ref>
:''Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Heb 9:15.</ref>


==The apostles' letter to the Gentile churches==
=Is the "Old Covenant" still relevant?=
 
Paul refers to the Ten Commandments are the "ministry of death" in 2 Corinthians 3:7 and the writer of Hebrews tell us that:
 
:''...by calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one '''obsolete'''; and '''what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear'''.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Heb 8:13.</ref>
 
How does an obsolete covenant relate to the new covenant Gentile church?
 
=The apostles' letter to the Gentile churches=


In Acts 15, we find Paul and Barnabas in Jerusalem telling the apostles about their concerns with certain people who were preaching that the old covenant applied to the Gentiles such that they were required to keep the law.  The apostles and elders of the Jerusalem church met to consider the issue.
In Acts 15, we find Paul and Barnabas in Jerusalem telling the apostles about their concerns with certain people who were preaching that the old covenant applied to the Gentiles such that they were required to keep the law.  The apostles and elders of the Jerusalem church met to consider the issue.
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#Why were three of the commands related to food?
#Why were three of the commands related to food?


===Why were these four commands the only requirement?===
==Why were these four commands the only requirement?==


James argues that the Gentiles who turn with faith to God should not be burdened with issues of the law.  The council of elders in Jerusalem asks Gentiles to be sensitive about four matters and to refrain from:
James argues that the Gentiles who turn with faith to God should not be burdened with issues of the law.  The council of elders in Jerusalem asks Gentiles to be sensitive about four matters and to refrain from: