musterion
Well-known member
This is part of an email I received some time ago; wondering what you MADs in especial think of it.
We were made partakers of their new covenant. In Ephesians 2,
We are no longer strangers from the covenants of promise. This includes the new covenant."<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">11 </sup>Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">12 </sup>That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">13 </sup>But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">14 </sup>For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">15 </sup>Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">16 </sup>And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">17 </sup>And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">18 </sup>For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">19 </sup>Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;"
We can't be partakers of Israel's passover Lamb without being partakers of the blood of the new covenant. In Hebrews 10 it says,
"<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">29 </sup>Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
Notice,
Christ's blood is the blood of the new covenant. If we are partaker of the blood we are partakers of the new covenant. They cannot be separated. In Ephesians 1 Paul says,"... the blood of the covenant ..."
"<sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; ">7 </sup>In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
Christ did not have two separate bloods. Christ has one blood and it is the blood of the covenant.We are partakers of the new covenant. God grafted the Gentiles into the good olive tree so that the Gentiles could be partakers of the covenants and blessings given to Israel.
You can't say that Jesus has one blood for Peter's group and another separate blood for Paul's group. It's all the same blood. It is the blood of the covenant.
The same goes for the Holy Spirit. God did not give Peter's group a Holy Spirit and then give Paul's group a separate Holy Spirit. There is only one Holy Spirit.
To be partakers of the blood is to be partakers of the blood of the covenant.