On the path to Light, the glory of Christ shines from the lamp of the Word to show us the way. We realize there is a light for the flesh, different from the light for those of the Spirit.
The Covenant of Noah is still in effect. There remains a requirement from God for all humanity to follow. Not just having civil government, but a civilized government. It is safe to say most governments today do not fulfill this very well. This is no surprise to us, given God's chosen nation could not adhere to the standard very long. The specific obligations were assigned to that nation alone, tuned to their situation, simplified for their benefit. The Covenant of Moses was a particular implementation of the Covenant of Noah, among other things. By carefully reading that Law, we can abstract useful principles for understanding what Noah means.
Nature itself is reflects this understanding, and responds by God's command to our human obedience, by providing those things promised by the Law. However, it all points to something far higher. Even under the Law, the Covenant of Abraham was in force, as it was under Noah alone. Those who offered to Jehovah what He demanded of Abraham found themselves living by a higher Law of God. While accountable to Noah and Moses on one level, they knew on a higher level, in a living spirit, those things did not lead to God Himself. While the Law provided an indication of how one came to God, it was not itself that path. Therefore, at some point, that Law must end, reach a terminus, when the full revelation of that path would be granted. The Law would be fulfilled, it's requirements fully satisfied, its purpose ended. While continued observance may well continue triggering Nature's response, the Law itself would be dead, for Nature was not under Moses.
Moses was ended by Christ. For now, it is enough to understand the Covenant of Christ is the fulfillment and termination of Moses, and builds on top of Abraham. It adds at least one thing to Abraham, the presence of Jesus' own Spirit to empower fulfillment of His covenant. While Abraham could hear from God via ritual seeking for a word, and via angelic messengers, we have the Word Himself in us. It becomes possible to fulfill all the previous covenants via our sacrifice with Christ on the Cross. Living from the Cross is everything the Lord ever wanted from His creation.
The Covenant of Noah was written in Nature. The Covenant of Moses was written in words on scrolls, solemnified with ritual animal slaughter. The Covenant of Abraham, extended into Christ, was in the Spirit Realm, solemnified by the Blood of Jesus. We could spill ink and electrons for ages to come and not clearly state what man's mind should know of this thing. The nature of Truth is not an object, nor can it be objectified, stated in propositions, nor told in any human language. It can be merely indicated at best, for it remains something which only Spirit can communicate to spirits. Truth is a Person, not a static entity.
Biblical Literacy must build on a realization of the limits of words on paper. The Book is precious, but it is not God. It is a record of the Word, not the Word itself. We are bound, accountable to that record, but only as it comes to life by the Spirit in our spirits.
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By Ed Hurst
17 March 2009
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