Call-In Classic Christianity Radio – Bob George P698 (01-07-22)
Understanding the New Covenant vs the Old Covenant
Marriage and divorce are topics of conversation that come up for Christians many times as being held as a hammer over someone’s head, especially if they are or have been divorced. Yet it’s so vitally important to put things in the proper perspective. Divorce, marriage and remarriage in the New Covenant vs divorce, marriage and remarriage under the Old Covenant are items that need to be addressed and placed in the proper context. First off, we need to understand which side of the cross we live under right now, and also to understand that Jesus taught under the Old Covenant of the law. He taught that because He needed to bury us under it completely. Only Jesus could and did obey the law. We can not obey it.
The first caller, Michael called from Atlanta Georgia. He called about marriage and divorce.
Bob explains the New Covenant and points out that we live on the New Testament side of the cross. We live in the New Covenant. We live under a new will of God. The old Covenant was the law, and no one could obey the law.
So let’s look at what the New Covenant says in regards to marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:1-40
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
The bottom line. Bob says if you are both Christians, stay married. And he shows how we are under the new Covenant not the old.
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The second caller was Frank calling from New Orleans Louisiana. He called about post traumatic stress. Also, things were bothering him with friends and others and was wondering what should he do.
Bob mentions to ask for wisdom.
James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
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Another Frank called from Indianapolis Indiana and wanted to know what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Bob clears up what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is. It is the denial of the testimonial of the Holy Spirit about Jesus Christ. That is the only sin that keeps us from Life. God offers us Life. God offers us the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. All our sins have been taken care of at the cross. We have been forgiven of all our sins. If we deny the finished work of Jesus we are denying the testimonial of the Holy Spirit of telling us that in our hearts. The only sin that is not pardoned for is the denial of Jesus. It is the only sin that must be repented of to have eternal life.
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Lawrence called from Victoria Texas. He had a question in regards to Catholics going to a confession booth and asking a priest for forgiveness of sins. He wanted to know how to explain to them that there is no need to go to a priest for confession.
Bob explains that it doesn’t matter whether a person is a Catholic or a Baptist, but they all need to understand what Jesus did on the cross. In essence, what do we really think Jesus did on the cross? Do we really believe that Jesus took away your sins? Do we really believe that God is not counting your sins against you? So many times, people give lip service to the word of God. They don’t believe what it says.
2 Corinthians 5:19
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
1 John 2:2
2 “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
If your sins have been taken away, what does it mean? Instead of believing the scriptures they focus on what they do do themselves. The Catholic goes to the confession booth and the Protestant goes to the virtual confession booth and ask for ongoing forgiveness. There is no difference. Many get it in their mind and think that it is the Catholics not doing the right thing by going to a confession booth and asking for forgiveness of sins, yet they themselves are still not walking by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross themselves. They keep on asking for what God has already done.
We need to understand that no man will go to hell because of their sins. There is only one sin that must be repented of. All the other sins were taken care of on the cross. We don’t keep ourselves clean based on what we are doing. It is now a life and death issue. When a person comes to Him by faith, He gives eternal life the moment he places faith in Him.
When Jesus said it is finished; it means it is finished!
Hebrews 10-11-13
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.
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