Life Project Blog

Introduction

            You will remember the word hesed from our discussion of the Old Testament.  It is the word used most often to describe God in the Old Testament.  You will also recall that it has two elements: keeping covenant, and aiding your covenant partner to keep his part of the covenant.  We will continue to use this word because it is so expressive, and because it has no counterpart in the English language.  When translated into English, words such as faithfulness and covenant keeping are used. Jesus used four words in parallel with this concept: service, love, rule and submit.  Paul used the expression “one another” frequently to describe the same thing, which is to take care of the best interests of the other person.  The exact nature of those best interests were determined by the relationship circumstances of the two; i.e. their covenant. Taking care of the best interests of your relationship partner is an example of hesed.

Service

Jesus told a parable about a master and his three servants, the Parable of the Talents (Luke 19:11 ff.) is what we call it.  In this parable, a master gives his three servants a sum of money to care for in his absence.  His instruction is to put the money to work until he returns. Two of the three invest the money and receive a return by the time the master comes home, the third buries it in the ground to keep it safe.  The first two are rewarded upon the master’s return: they are called faithful and trustworthy. The third is punished, for he has not realized any return for the master.  The point of the story is that the first two servants cared about and acted in the best interests of the master, while the third acted in his own best interests.  The first two servants demonstrated hesed, the third did not.

Initiative and Stewardship

Jesus told another parable to demonstrate the role that human initiative should play in stewardship. In Luke 16:1 ff. Jesus tells a story about a manger who was called to account by his master.  Knowing that his situation was in peril, he called in several of the master’s debtors and forgave their debts, thus earning their appreciation and friendship. He then left his master’s service with the probability of gaining new employment.  While Christ doesn’t endorse the dishonesty of the move, he commends the initiative shown by the manager in looking out for his interests saying that Christians must likewise use their creativity and initiative in the Lord’s service, less the dishonesty.

In many examples, Jesus instructed us that it is insufficient to simply do one’s duty.  To get ahead, to gain true appreciation, we must put the Master’s interests ahead of our own, and use initiative in advancing those interests: this was true stewardship. See Luke 12, 16, 17; 1Cor. 4, 2Cor. 4. True hesed is being a faithful and true servant, one who uses his ingenuity and initiative to advance the interests of the covenant partner.

Rule and Serve

When the disciples were talking amongst themselves about who would be great in the coming Kingdom, they each saw themselves in powerful and important positions. Jesus, upon hearing this, gave them a new definition of what it meant to rule:

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matt. 20:25 ff.

            Jesus indicated that there are two ways to rule: first, one could rule by the exercise of power, and second, one could rule by serving others.  It was service to others that he had in mind.  Consider this: Jesus came to earth to die for our sins. By doing this, He came to serve His covenant partners: us. Just as He came to serve, so also should we serve our covenant partner: Christ. In English, there are two possible definitions of the word “rule”. One is someone who exercises power, such as a king or president. The other is a standard of measure.  It is the second that Christ expects of us, that we should be ones whose service to the Lord provides the standard for others to follow: that is Biblical leadership.

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

1Peter 5:1-4

            In this passage, Peter has taken directly from the teaching of Christ to define rule and leadership as a Christian: it is about setting an example of humility and service, not about power in the earthly sense.

Rule and Love

Jesus defined service and rule both as putting the interests of the other person ahead of our own. Love was also defined the same way: the three are in parallel.  In the New Testament, love is not simply an emotion, it is a manner of behavior towards others.  (John 15:15; 15:12) Paul linked the concepts of love and service just as Jesus had:

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Gal. 5:16

John wrote on this subject often:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

1John 3:16

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

1John 3:10

But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him

1John 2:5

            Paul defined love with a series of words…

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

1Cor. 13:4-6

            Doing what was right for the other person was “love”. The ultimate “right thing” for others was to be reconciled to God through Christ, that they too might be Christ like. Thus, Jesus defined three words with the same meaning as hesed: serving, ruling, and loving. In each case, the meaning is keeping covenant― like Christ. Serve like Christ. Rule like Christ. Love like Christ.

Love and Submit

            Obedience and submission were not simply to follow instructions without question. Submission became another action that was meant to be in putting the interests of others first.  Christ submitted Himself to the cross willingly. This was the ultimate action of putting the best interests of others first, for His death on the cross was done to promote the best interests of His covenant partner: Mankind. Christian submission is not about letting anyone exercise raw power over you; it is all about putting the interests of your covenant partner first.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Eph. 5:21

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Heb. 13:17

            The standard for all of this is Jesus. To serve one another as Jesus would serve is to be like Him.  Jesus was held as the perfect example for our behavior:

Jesus cited as example:

Courtesy	1 Peter 3:8
Doing right	1John 3:7
Walking in the light	1John 1:7
Knowing God	1John 2:3
Living in Him	1John 2:6
True light	1John 2:8
Being perfected	1John 3:2
Purity	1John 3:3
Sinless life	1John 3:4-6
Love of brothers	1John 3:16
Assurance of the Spirit	1John 3:24-25
Assurance of God’s love	1John 4:7-11
Being born again	1John 5:1-5
For treating others	Matt. 25:40
Standard of suffering	1Peter 2:21
Giving	2Cor. 8:9
Leadership	1Cor. 11:1

New Covenant Terms

In the Old Covenant, Man’s promises were the terms of the covenant: Man’s obligations.  That these obligations needed to be kept was obvious, and those obligations are clearly listed.  What are our obligations (terms or stipulations) living under the New Covenant?  This is not as easy to answer as it is for the Old Covenant.  The New Testament, unlike the Old, does not contain lists of things we must do or not do; in fact, the New Testament is not a record of rules and regulations at all.  The New Testament is not the covenant. The New Testament is the record of the covenant, it bears the covenant, it gives a brief background and history of its conception, and it gives an explanation as to how the covenant is to be executed… but it is not a legal code book. It contains practical discussions of problem solving, and it shows how the Apostles used the new means to end the old system of decision making, and all of this was based not on a legal code, but rather on the execution of a mission assigned to us by Christ Himself:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matt. 28:18-20

            The New Covenant priority is to complete the mission; we are required to do whatever it takes to MAKE DISCIPLES.  In all that we do, this is our obligation, our duty, and our priority above all else. If we operate in this fashion, we are keeping covenant. If we are keeping covenant, we are “like Christ”.  Little else need be said.

Category Terms

            Jesus gave us His command to make disciples, and this word “disciples” sums up our proper aim. He gave a considerable amount of instruction on what a disciple is, how a convert becomes a disciple, and how a disciple should behave. In this term, we find parties, terms and promises. (See Acts 6:1,7; 12:24; 16:5) Being a good disciples involves being as much like Christ Himself as possible (Luke 14:26) following the word of Christ (John15:7-12), willingness to suffer as He suffered (John 15:20), and doing the kinds of things Jesus did, thus becoming fully perfected, equipped, matured… fully like Christ (Luke 6:40) Jesus used the term disciple interchangeably with the term “servant” (John 15:20).

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30

            Note here Paul’s use of parallelism: Making disciples is parallel with election. Perfecting them is parallel with stipulations of covenant. Becoming perfected is the summation of the promises.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

1John 3:2

            Another term that deserves notice is “mystery”. The “mystery of God” when used in a ministry context means covenant. Jesus was the mystery revealed (Matt. 12:28). The spreading of the Gospel was the mystery being revealed (Mark 4:11). Paul stated that the mystery was no longer hidden (Rom. 16:25 ff.). In Ephesians Paul defines the “mystery”:

Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles 

the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Eph. 3:2-12

Parties:            Israel and Gentiles in “one body”

Terms:             “The administration of the mystery”

Promises:        “In the promises of Christ Jesus… unsearchable riches”

Ministry of Reconciliation

Paul seldom used the word “covenant” in his writings. Rather than say “Old Covenant” he preferred the term “Law”, for he knew it was part of the Covenant. When speaking of the New Covenant he often used the name of Christ, for he knew that Christ is the personification of the Covenant. In the following passage, he demonstrates his thinking by using a parallel in which he begins with the word “covenant” and then used the word “ministry” which then changes to the term “ministry of reconciliation”.

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2Cor. 3:6  New Covenant stipulation is ministry.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:… We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

2Cor. 5:18,20 Ministry is the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, New Covenant stipulation is the ministry of reconciliation.

            Chapter three discusses the two covenants; chapter four discusses ministry and being a servant of Christ, and Christ’s definition of a servant (disciple). A servant advanced the best interests of his Master. The best interest of Christ is for all men to “believe and obey” the Gospel, become reconciled to God and live like Christ.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2Cor. 5:18-21

            When you sum it all up, the terms of the New Covenant are to do whatever is necessary to complete the mission outlined in the Great Commission. The text does not actually list a set of regulations; of do’s and don’ts for the Christian to follow, for the New Covenant is all about God’s PURPOSES, not following a code. When we place the correct priority on the mission of making disciples, and our lives are lived as Christ’s servants, then we are like Christ. Therefore, the stipulations of the New Covenant are to become and live LIKE CHRIST.